Hello! I'm Christina Harrington, a passionate educator with 7+ years of teaching experience. I began my career in education as a Kindergarten teacher at Crossroads Academy, an independent school located close to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Thereafter, I went on to open Grow & Balance, my own successful in-home toddler program located in Richmond, Virginia. After taking time away to raise my son, I am truly looking forward to re-opening my doors as an in-home toddler school.
Christina Harrington
Director & Educator, Curiosity Cottage
K-6 Elementary Education Certification; 24 Master credits
For more details on Christina's background, along with reviews from parents, click below.
Curiosity Cottage limits enrollment to four children. This allows greater focus on each child, and builds stronger bonds across the class.
In a small-group setting, I am able to understand your child's learning style and emotional needs very well, and can cater activities around this.
Although our days are based on a structured schedule. If we have a really beautiful day we may extend our outside time or decide to bring our paints or building blocks outside!
As a small in-home school I am able to really get to know my students as well as the parents I serve.
The child remains at the heart of my teaching philosophy. I believe teaching begins with creating a connected environment, an environment where each child holds a unique relationship to me as their teacher as well as to one other.
Respect starts with taking the time to build a strong relationship with each student. I believe the art of relationship-building involves fostering a genuine interest in discovering, respecting, and nurturing each child’s innate talents and interests.
Observation is key to creating a child-specific learning plan. When observing children, I am always noting the child’s process during play, what materials and activities spark joy in each child, and how each child engages in play.
9:30 AM - Morning exploration and play
10:00 AM - Playful morning meeting
10:30 AM - Option of an art project or construction/building time
11:00 AM - Outdoor time
11:45 PM - Lunch time accompanied by a story
(12:30PM - Half-day students depart)
1:00 PM - Open play time
1:30 PM - Music and Movement
2:30 PM - Goodbye meeting
Curiosity Cottage opens its doors on September 8, 2020 and operates Monday to Friday. We offer families two formats:
9:30 am - 12:30pm
9:30am - 2:30pm
Professional Experience
Summer 2020- , Founder & Director
Curiosity Cottage, Scituate, MA
2016-2020, At-home mom
Scituate, MA
2013-2016, Founder & Director
Grow and Balances School, Richmond, VA
2011-2012, Kindergarten Teacher
Crossroads Academy, Lyme, NH
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Relevant Credentials
2012-2013, Student
Upper Valley Educators Institute, Lebanon, NH
2009-2010, Student
Boston Language Institute, Boston, MA
“I knew right away when I met Christina that she was a caring, loving soul; but what I couldn’t foresee was the laughter and joy she would infuse into my daughters’ lives. Not only are the days at her house filled with fun endeavors, but Christina facilitates each activity with a sincere enthusiasm, that is reflected in my girl’s life at home.”
- Ladak family, Grow & Balance family, 2016
“As a first-time mother of premature twins, I was very particular about who my children were in the care of. Christina immediately put my mind at ease and opened her heart to them. She was patient and understanding of each of their needs and created an environment that was safe to explore. I am grateful for my children’s time with her.”
- Ninan family, Grow & Balance family, 2016
"Christina is a natural teacher. Her gentle spirit and intelligence are a large part of her work. She has thoughtful responses to challenging student situations, is dedicated to her students, and is a reflective aware educator. One of Christina’s many strengths lie in her strong connection to her students. She holds a caring nurturing attitude towards all of her students. "
- L. Downs, Upper Valley Educators Institute, 2013
To learn more about enrollment for Fall 2020, please reach out using the Contact Us form.
251 Stockbridge Road, Scituate, Massachusetts 02066, United States
Monday - Friday: 9:30am - 2:30pm
Saturday - Sunday: Closed
Copyright © 2021 Curiosity Cottage - All Rights Reserved.
Made with love in Hingham, MA
Thank you to everyone for their interest in our learning pod. We are temporarily halting enrollment so that we can work through current inquiries.