Our Story
Play
Grow
Shine
Nurturly Kids began...
...with a love for working with children and a belief that the places where they grow should feel safe, nurturing, and a little like home.
Our roots in early childhood care go back long before Nurturly Kids opened its doors. Peter grew up with family childcare as part of his life. His mother operated a family childcare home for 30 years, and her experience became an invaluable foundation for our own approach to caring for young children. She taught us practical, thoughtful ways to understand children's needs, navigate the little challenges of each day, and create an environment where children could feel secure and cared for.
As we prepared to start a family of our own, we began imagining a home we could share with other children in our community. We wanted to create a "home away from home" where infants and toddlers could play, learn, grow, and be cared for like family.
In 2022, Nurturly Kids Family Child Care opened in our San Mateo home. To the children, we became "Yee Yee" and "Sook Sook," Cantonese for auntie and uncle. Over the next four years, we had the privilege of caring for young children each day and building close relationships with their families. Our home became a place for predictable routines, messy play, first words and steps, big feelings, growing independence, and all the everyday moments that make early childhood so meaningful.
From Childcare to Pediatric Therapy
As Nurturly Kids grew, so did our understanding of the many ways children and families can benefit from additional support.
In 2023, Peter began working alongside a pediatric occupational therapist at a San Francisco clinic offering occupational, physical, and speech therapy. At the same time, we were gaining a different perspective through our childcare program. Parents often came to us with questions about their child's development, and some of the children in our care began receiving therapy services within the familiar environment of our childcare home.
We saw firsthand the difference that support could make.
We watched children build new skills and confidence when therapists, caregivers, and families worked together. Just as importantly, we saw how valuable it was for therapy to connect with a child's everyday life, rather than exist separately from it. Those experiences reinforced something we had come to believe deeply: children benefit when the people who know and care for them work together.
When our own son grew older, we knew it was time for Nurturly Kids to grow beyond our home as well. We considered what the next chapter might look like, including the possibility of opening a school. Then we connected with Dr. Marilyn Aviles, OTD, OTR/L, and the pieces began to come together. With our backgrounds in healthcare, years of hands-on experience caring for young children, growing experience with pediatric therapy, and a shared vision for family-centered care, Nurturly Kids evolved into the Pediatric Therapy & Enrichment Center it is today.
Nurturly Kids Today
From the very beginning, Nurturly Kids has been shaped by our love for caring for children and our desire to support the families who trust us with them. That continues to guide everything we do today.
Over the years, caring for children, listening to families, and learning alongside them have shaped the way we approach our work. Our care is personal, thoughtful, collaborative, and centered around each child and family.
Some of our former childcare families told us they wished we had opened a school. That means a great deal to us. While our path ultimately led somewhere different, our purpose remains closely connected to where we began. We are simply supporting children and families in a new way, while holding on to what made Nurturly Kids feel like family from the very beginning.
Today, we bring pediatric occupational, physical, and speech therapy together with enrichment, family support, and collaboration in one welcoming center. Our goal is to combine the warmth and personal connection of our childcare beginnings with thoughtful, evidence-based pediatric care.
What Guides Us
High Quality
Care
Every family who walks through our doors is unique, and we believe their care should be, too. We are committed to providing thoughtful, high-quality care that reflects each child’s individual strengths and each family’s needs. We create personalized treatment plans in partnership with families and strive to be a trusted source of guidance and support throughout their journey.
Start Where
You Are
Research shows that early support can make a meaningful difference, helping children build strong foundations for growth, development, and everyday life. While starting sooner can be beneficial, we also know that every child and every family has a different journey. Wherever you are today, we’ll meet you there with compassion, respect, and support, without judgment.
Family & Community Collaboration
Through enrichment activities at our center, we create opportunities for children and families to connect, have fun, and build a sense of belonging in a safe and welcoming space.
We also partner with families, caregivers, educators, and other members of a child’s care team to create consistent, meaningful support that extends into everyday life.
Rooted in
Research
We believe high-quality care begins with trusted evidence. Our pediatric specialists thoughtfully draw from current research, established best practices, and credible professional organizations to guide the care we provide. From therapeutic approaches and skill-building strategies to toys, equipment, and everyday tools, our recommendations are chosen with purpose to support each child’s development.
Diversity & Inclusion
Every child, family, and team member deserves to feel welcomed, valued, and respected. We embrace diversity across cultures, backgrounds, identities, abilities, beliefs, and family experiences, and are committed to creating an inclusive environment. At Nurturly Kids, we strive to create a community where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging.
Giving Back
We believe caring for children also means caring for the community around them. We are committed to giving back by sharing our time, knowledge, and resources in ways that support children and families beyond our center. Through community partnerships, education, outreach, and service, we hope to make meaningful support more accessible and help build a stronger, more connected community.