Choosing the right daycare is an important decision, and we're honored to be considered as part of your family's journey. We provide a safe, nurturing environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive while giving parents peace of mind.
At Nana's Day Care, each child is treated as an individual. Our experienced caregivers create developmentally appropriate activities that promote cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth. Daily routines balance structured learning—early literacy, language development, and basic numeracy—with hands-on play, creative arts, and outdoor time to support curiosity and healthy habits.
Explore our daycare
Our Philosophy
Encourage independence from the beginning
Together, we outline a path forward that’s realistic, strategic, and tailored to your specific needs.
Respect the whole child
You’re part of the process. We keep communication open and decisions shared—no black boxes or surprises.
Provide a calm and responsive environment
Every project is different. We stay flexible and responsive to make sure the process fits your flow—not the other way around.
Partner with parents
When we deliver, it’s not just a finished product—it’s a solution you can trust, backed by real care and effort.
Meet Our Instructors
Owner-Provider
Building Confidence, Character, and Joy Through Play
For me, some of the best childhood lessons happen when children are moving, exploring, laughing, and figuring things out together. Since joining Nana’s Day Care in 2002, I have brought my love of sports, active play, and teamwork into the everyday experiences that make childhood so special.
My background in sports has shaped the way I connect with children. I enjoy creating opportunities for them to move their bodies, challenge themselves, try new things, and discover what they can do. Whether we are playing an outdoor game, practicing a new skill, or learning to work together, I see these moments as opportunities to develop confidence, patience, cooperation, and resilience.
I believe children learn valuable lessons when they have room to explore and the freedom to make mistakes without being afraid to try again. Winning isn’t everything, and neither is getting it right the first time. Learning to take turns, encourage a friend, solve a problem, and keep going when something feels difficult can be just as meaningful as mastering a new skill.
As a father of two boys, I have also experienced how much children learn through everyday family life, shared activities, and the examples set by the adults around them. At Nana’s Day Care, I enjoy bringing that same spirit of encouragement and discovery to the children we care for.
Having spent more than 20 years working with children and families, I know that every child has their own personality, interests, and way of approaching the world. My goal is to help each child feel included, capable, and excited to participate, while making room for plenty of laughter and fun along the way.
At Nana’s Day Care, I bring an active and playful approach to our shared work, helping children discover that learning can happen everywhere, from the playground to a simple game with friends.
Athos Oliveira
Owner-Provider
A Heart for Early Childhood and a Home Where Children Belong
Since opening Nana’s Day Care in 2002, I have been passionate about creating a place where children feel safe, understood, and genuinely loved. My approach to childcare is rooted in my interest in child development and my belief that the early years are an important time for building confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
I pay close attention to the little things that make a big difference: a child finding the courage to try something new, learning to express their feelings, making their first friendships, or discovering something that sparks their curiosity. Every child develops at their own pace, and I believe in giving each one the patience, encouragement, and individual attention they need to flourish.
For me, caring for children goes beyond providing daily supervision. It means getting to know their personalities, understanding their needs, celebrating their progress, and helping them feel comfortable being themselves. Through play, meaningful interactions, and age-appropriate activities, I strive to create an environment where children can explore confidently while developing important social, emotional, and practical skills.
As a mother of two boys, I also understand how much trust it takes to leave your child in someone else’s care. I value the partnership between parents and caregivers and believe that open communication and mutual trust help children feel secure and supported.
After more than two decades of welcoming families into Nana’s Day Care, one of the most rewarding parts of my work remains watching children grow into their own unique selves. My goal is for every child who comes through our doors to feel that they belong, that they matter, and that they are always encouraged to learn, grow, and be themselves.
Rosana Oliveira “Nana”
The Oliveira Family
At the heart of Nana’s Day Care is our family.
Since opening our doors in 2002, we have had the joy of not only caring for children in our community, but also raising our own two boys alongside the families we have come to know and love.
Our oldest son, Athos Jr., is 22 years old and is preparing to begin law school. Our youngest, Porthos, is 18 years old and has recently started college. Watching our boys grow from little ones into young men has been one of our greatest joys, and we are incredibly proud of the people they are becoming.
Over the years, Nana’s Day Care has been a big part of our family’s life. Our children have grown up surrounded by the laughter, energy, and love of the many children and families who have walked through our doors. In many ways, our daycare family has become an extension of our own.
We are grateful for every family who has trusted us with their children and allowed us to be part of their lives. After more than two decades, Nana’s Day Care continues to be a place where family, love, and caring for one another come first.
From our family to yours, thank you for being part of the Nana’s Day Care family.
Client Reviews
“We feel incredibly lucky to have found Nana's Day Care. From day one, it's been clear that this is not just a daycare, but a truly loving, family-run home where children are deeply cared for and known as individuals.
Nana and Athos have created a warm, nurturing, home-like environment that strikes the perfect balance between structure and play. The days are filled with activities that support curiosity, confidence, and development, while still feeling cozy and personal rather than institutional.
What really sets Nana's apart is the level of communication and partnership. Nana is thoughtful, responsive, and genuinely collaborative with parents. She took the time to understand our child's needs, coordinated seamlessly around appointments, and always kept us informed. We felt listened to, supported, and fully trusted her with our son's care.
It's obvious how much love and intention goes into everything they do. Our child was happy, well cared for, and truly known -- which is all any parent can ask for. Nana's Day Care feels like an extension of our family, and we would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone looking for a nurturing, high-quality, in-home daycare in Marin..”
-Nadia D
“Nana's Daycare is a warm, nurturing home daycare. Our daughter attended from 8 months to almost two years old, and it truly became her second home. Nana and Athos are caring, attentive, and very knowledgeable about early childhood development.
They provided wonderful support around developmental milestones and transitions, always offering thoughtful guidance tailored to our child. Nana made the transition into daycare especially easy by sharing prompt updates and photos, which gave us real peace of mind.
Our daughter grew into a confident, emotionally aware toddler and transitioned smoothly into a larger daycare afterward. Nana runs a well-organized, thoughtful program, and we highly recommend Nana's Daycare to any family looking for a trustworthy and loving environment.”
-Illina F
“Our 2 year old son has been thriving at Nana's Daycare since he was 9 months old. We are so happy and thankful that we found Nana and Athos! He is our first born, and we were so anxious to have him start daycare as we both went back to work, but Nana and Athos quickly eased those fears. They pour so much love and care in to what they do - and our son was so happy to go to "school" each and every day! He has made lifelong friends, and has truly grown so much in terms of social and emotional growth while in their care. We couldn't recommend Nana's Daycare enough!.”
-Kellie M
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any additional questions please contact us.
-
We welcome children from 2 months old through 3 years of age. Our program is designed to provide loving, attentive care during these important early years, with an environment where infants and toddlers can feel safe, supported, and encouraged as they grow and develop.
-
Our licensed capacity allows for a ratio of up to 7 children per provider, depending on the ages and needs of the children in our care.
However, throughout most of the year, we intentionally maintain a much smaller average ratio of approximately 4-5 children per provider. This allows us to provide more individualized attention, respond to each child’s needs, and create a calm, nurturing environment where children can thrive.
-
We believe every child develops at their own pace, and our goal is to provide a loving, supportive environment that encourages each child to grow with confidence.
Through everyday play, activities, routines, and meaningful interactions, we support children’s social-emotional, physical, cognitive, language, and communication development. We provide age-appropriate experiences that encourage curiosity, independence, movement, creativity, and learning.
Because we care for children from infancy through age 3, we pay close attention to each child’s individual development and interests. We work closely with families to share observations, celebrate progress, and support children as they reach new milestones.
Most importantly, we understand that development is not a race. We meet each child where they are, encourage their individual strengths, and give them the time, attention, and support they need to grow.
-
We believe that every child has their own time and pace when it comes to potty training. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so we follow each child’s readiness and work with them patiently and positively.
Potty training is a team effort between the child, the family, and our providers. We communicate with parents about their child’s progress and work together to keep routines and expectations as consistent as possible between home and daycare.
We encourage children without pressure, celebrate their progress, and support them through accidents and setbacks with patience and understanding. Our goal is to make potty training a positive, comfortable, and confidence-building experience for every child.
-
Yes! We believe outdoor play is an important part of a child’s day. Weather and safety permitting, we provide outdoor play every day so children have opportunities to move, explore, enjoy fresh air, and develop their physical and social skills.
Our outdoor time is age-appropriate and supervised, with activities that encourage children to explore their surroundings, practice gross-motor skills, and have fun. We also understand that infants and toddlers have different needs, so we adjust activities and expectations based on each child’s age and development.
-
Yes! For children 12 months and older, we offer breakfast, a morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack. Providing meals and snacks is optional for families.
Before participating in our meal program, children should have been introduced to a variety of foods and have no known food allergies or dietary restrictions that would require special meal preparation.
We believe mealtimes are also an opportunity for children to learn healthy habits, explore different foods, and enjoy social time together in a relaxed and positive environment.
-
The health and safety of the children in our care is always our top priority. As a family-owned and operated childcare, we take a hands-on approach to maintaining a clean, safe, and nurturing environment.
We follow appropriate hygiene and sanitation practices, including regular handwashing, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, and maintaining a clean environment throughout the day. We also closely monitor children for signs of illness and communicate with families when a child is not feeling well.
-
Our Illness Policy
A friendly reminder from Nana’s Day Care: Please help us maintain a healthy environment for all children by keeping your child home when they are sick. Your cooperation helps prevent the spread of germs and protects the entire daycare community.
Please keep your child home if they have:
A fever of 99.5°F or higher
Symptoms of a contagious illness
Vomiting or diarrhea
Symptoms that prevent them from comfortably participating in their regular activities
Children should be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to Nana’s Day Care.
If your child has mild cold symptoms, such as a runny nose, mild cough, or sneezing, they may attend daycare as long as they do not have a fever or other signs of a more serious illness. If symptoms worsen or your child develops a fever of 99.5°F or higher, they will need to stay home until they have recovered.
We understand that children can occasionally get sick, and we appreciate families working with us to make thoughtful decisions based on their child’s well-being and the health of our daycare community.
Thank you for helping us keep Nana’s Day Care healthy, safe, and nurturing for everyone.