Home Business a Dream for Norwood Mom

Chrissy Gagliard has worked with children all her life, but she said it’s now great to bring it all home.

Gagliard, owner of Chrissy’s Little School in Norwood, said she’s been a camp counselor, a babysitter and a preschool teacher in her time.

“I taught in Wellesley for ten years,” she said. “I started babysitting when I was 11 years old. From there, it’s just always been something I wanted to do. Kids are all I’ve ever known and it’s really been my world.”

Gagliard said teaching young children educated her as much if not more than the kids.

“I love their reactions to new things, the excitement in their hearts and eyes over something as simple as a bug or a rock,” she said. “You learn so much from a child that you wouldn’t know unless you spent some quality time with them. It’s just as rewarding to me to teach them something as it is for them to learn.”

Gagliard said she had always loved to work with small children, but it was when she learned the rewards of responsibility that she found her calling.

“When I started camp counseling and kids were depending on me, that’s when I knew this is what I wanted to do,” she said.

Gagliard said though she enjoyed teaching in a school, it became taxing to juggle work and taking care of her own three children.

“I am first and foremost a mom,” she said. “I have a five year old named Caitlyn, a four year old named Brian and 20 month old boy named Charlie. I was contemplating going back to work, but my son is going back to school and I wanted to have the flex time to be able to be home after school. It’s important to me to still be able to be with him after school and work during the day, so now I set my own hours and have my own business.”

She added though she enjoyed the school environment, she always felt a more personal one-on-one approach with children works the best.

“I’ve always dreamed of doing it,” she said. “It was kind of the plan when we bought this house eight years ago. I think the six to one ratio is important. There are more one on one opportunities. It’s a nice transition for kids that have separation anxiety of are shy in large groups. It’s less overwhelming, some of the preschools can have 26 kids in a class and that can be too much.”

Gagliard added though it is a comfortable environment, it’s still a school.

“We’re not a daycare,” she said. “There’s a structure and a curriculum. I truly believe in learning through play.”

Chrissy’s Little School is located on 19 Hoyle St. and is now accepting students.