Allston – October 05, 2026 -- First Chapters Preschool has opened an 8,000-square-foot flagship location at the new Enterprise Research Campus in Allston, Massachusetts, offering eight age-based classrooms for children from infancy through Pre-K. The center is already serving families living and working in the surrounding area.

First Chapters is part of Babilou Family, which has run early education programs for more than 20 years and operates over 40 centers across New England under brands including Little Sprouts, Heartworks and Building Blocks.

Safety shapes the classroom design

Babilou Family research with parents found that safety ranks as the top priority when choosing early childhood programs. Alexandra Loos, M.Ed., Vice President of Education for Babilou Family US, said children need to feel physically, emotionally and psychologically safe before they can explore and take healthy risks. She noted that First Chapters educators complete training at the company's Academy focused on following each child's individual pace and interests.

Six principles guide the curriculum

The school follows Babilou's Sustainable Education framework, built around six areas: physical and emotional safety, nurturing natural curiosity, integrating nature into learning, respecting children's individual rhythms, promoting inclusion and diversity, and collaborating closely with families.

The campus includes a dedicated STEAM room

The flagship site features a Discovery Room for STEAM exploration, an outdoor play space with daily covered access, light tables, seasonal dramatic play areas, and a reading nook stocked with books representing diverse children. Lee Galbraith, President and CEO of Babilou Family US, said the company aims to lay groundwork for sustained learning starting at birth.

An open house kicks off this week

First Chapters is hosting weekly open houses for interested parents, with the inaugural event scheduled for October 6.