The Story

The idea of Full Heart Child Care all started back in the summer of 2016, when Ed and Mandy Gigliotti enrolled their daughter, Aliana in a local, family owned child care center next door to the building they had recently renovated to run their businesses.  Mandy kept having this feeling in her heart that it needed to stay a daycare,  so they spoke to the director who assured them nothing was going to change.  A couple weeks later, families were notified that the center was closing....immediately.   Ed and Mandy were blessed to have the opportunity to be able to buy the property and with a couple books on Amazon and help from a former real estate client (Amanda Hellebush), were able to fully renovate and open as Full Heart Child Care in the spring of 2017!  The most important goal was to create a facility that is warm and welcoming to families, has highly qualified teachers, offers organic meals and healthy choices, and also prepares our children for kindergarten and beyond.  One of Full Heart's core values is that it takes a village to raise a child and that is really what it's all about.   The trust built between families and teachers is what makes it such a special place.  The staff are honored to be a part of raising each and every child.  Through electronic daily reports, a focus on health, wellness, social skills, and Christian values, and a genuine investment in the education of young children, the Full Heart Community has and continues to touch so many families in the Rochester area.  The name Full Heart was chosen because every child's heart and soul should be as full as possible and not just full in terms of knowledge, but full in terms of feeling so much love from their caretakers. 

Ed &Mandy Friend-Gigliotti & Amanda Hellebush

Our Programs

Infants: 6 weeks to 18 months

In our infant program, we provide individualized care for each baby. Children are introduced to stories and poems, colors, sensory experiences, outdoor play, and more! Ongoing vocabulary development is supported through teacher narration and sign language. As they grow, infants will practice basic self-care skills such as hand-washing, along with social skills like sharing and taking turns.

Toddlers: 18 months to 2.5 years

Our comprehensive, faith-based toddler curriculum includes weekly themes that are relatable to children and linked to what's happening in the world around them. Expanding upon the infant curriculum, toddlers will enjoy varied sensory experiences, process-based art and craft projects, gross and fine motor activities, STEAM exploration, and more. Children in our toddler program strengthen their social skills as they become more aware and interested in the other children around them, and they benefit from the caring classroom communities we build. Our toddlers follow a semi-structured schedule that includes outdoor play, group nap time, and family style meals!

Early Preschool: 2.5 to 3.5 years

Our Early Preschool program ensures a smooth transition from toddlers to preschool and is designed for children who are not eligible to enter kindergarten at four years old. Children will take part in a play-based learning curriculum with monthly themes that includes teacher and child led activities, independent play, and faith-based learning. They will work on self help skills (i.e. dressing and undressing) as well as potty training.  Early Preschool children will have many opportunities to use music, art, and play to build early literacy, math, science and social skills. We will focus on the development of the whole child by encouraging a variety of activities, learning games, and gross motor play. Children will be able to play outside, rest, and have family style meals daily.

Preschool: 3 to 4 years

Our play-based preschool program consists of a comprehensive, faith-based curriculum with opportunities to explore and learn in many ways! Children have the opportunity to further develop their fine motor skills, early math and literacy concepts, and social skills through open-ended play, process-based art and craft activities, and exploration in the classroom. A developmentally appropriate Circle Time helps to develop large group skills, while children also have ample time to pursue their individual interests and explore in small groups. Outdoor play, rest-time, and social cooperation complete the components of our preschool curriculum.

PreK: 4 to 5 years

Our PreK program helps ensure readiness for Kindergarten and beyond! Building on their work through play in the Preschool classrooms, PreK children will continue to develop their fine and gross motor skills, early math concepts, and pre-reading and pre-writing skills, and positive approaches to learning (including problem solving, creativity, and persistence). Our comprehensive, faith-based curriculum includes developmentally appropriate opportunities (like Circle Time and large group games) for PreK children to strengthen their group skills, while we continue to support and build social competence and positive peer relationships as well. Children will receive a portfolio at the end of PreK with work samples from the year, showing they are prepared academically, socially, and spiritually for Kindergarten and beyond!