About Ant's Farm
About Ant's Farm
Ant's Farm Childcare Center
Ant’s Farm will be joining the Central Florida community in Summer 2025. Our center is a unique, farm-themed world designed just for children with sensory processing needs. We will provide full-time and part-time care, Summer camp, holiday camp, before and after school care, and respite/nanny care.
Our Inspiration
- Our Co-Founder Patty and her husband, Chris, along with their daughter, Deirdre, adopted a sweet baby boy in 2020 named Anthony. Within 6 months they realized Anthony was not hitting the same developmental milestones their daughter had. Concerned, they consulted their pediatrician. At first, they were told that each child grows differently and to not worry so much. Meanwhile, Anthony or Ant as he is nicknamed, was attending a well-known daycare facility. Patty worried every time she left him because he seemed so withdrawn and overwhelmed by the loud noises and chaos. There would be times when she would take him to the car to go home and he would cling to her and cry and cry and cry like he was holding in frustrations all day long.
- After expressing her concerns to Chris, as a family, they decided that one of them would leave their job and stay home with Ant. Over the next three years, Chris stayed home with Ant and took him to countless specialists to find answers. Ant finally received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and was considered nonverbal.
- With a diagnosis in hand, they enrolled Ant into an ESE program with the public school system. At first, they felt like this would be the answer, this would be the help they needed. However, the ESE program did not include before or after school care. If they were to enroll Ant in the extended learning day with the school, Ant would be sent to the cafeteria with all the other kids in the program. The school did not separate or accommodate Ants needs in the extended learning program. Understanding this would not work, the family made sacrifices so that Ant could leave school after his ESE program. Once again, they were left with inadequate care for Anthony.
Creating a Different Experience for Families Like Ours
- Imagine now, a center where every detail is designed with these unique students and all students in mind. From the lighting used, the playground installed, the curriculum taught, the food served, the team hired… everything is curated just for these children by real-life caregivers and professionals.
- Ants Farm is not a medical facility or a therapist office. Ants Farm is an inclusive child care center built from the ground-up for all students of all abilities to learn, grow, and flourish.
Core Values
- Inclusivity: We embrace and celebrate the diversity of every child, creating a welcoming environment where all individuals feel valued and understood.
- Empathy: We approach each child and family with compassion and sensitivity, recognizing and responding to their unique sensory and developmental needs with kindness and patience.
- Personalized Care: We commit to tailoring our programs and interventions to fit the individual strengths and challenges of each child, ensuring they receive the most effective support for their growth.
- Respect: We honor the individuality of every child, promoting self-expression and autonomy while ensuring that their dignity and rights are always upheld.
- Safety: We prioritize a secure and safe environment where children can explore, learn, and thrive with confidence.
- Growth and Learning: We are dedicated to fostering a love for learning and discovery, providing opportunities that challenge and engage each child according to their abilities and interests.
- Communication: We maintain open, transparent, and respectful communication with families, ensuring they are informed and involved in their child’s journey.
Our mission
- Our mission is to provide a nurturing, inclusive, and stimulating environment tailored to the unique sensory and developmental needs of children with autism and other sensory challenges. We are dedicated to fostering each child’s growth through personalized care, specialized educational approaches, and a compassionate team of professionals. Our goal is to empower every child to reach their fullest potential while supporting their families and promoting a sense of community, understanding, and respect.
Tailored services to meet the unique needs of our Farm Families.
Ant’s Farm will be joining the Central Florida community in Summer 2025. Our center is a unique, farm-themed world designed just for children with sensory processing needs. We will provide full-time and part-time care, Summer camp, holiday camp, before and after school care, and respite/nanny care.
To learn more or be placed on our early enrollment list, please email info@antsfarm.org.
