About Us

Golden Apples Learning Academy LLC,  is owned and operated by Michelle and Felipe De Paula.  Michelle is a former elementary school teacher with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She has taught and cared for infants through first grade. 

Golden Apples Learning Academy is licensed and complies with all applicable licensing regulations and standards. These standards relate to our home, staff, health, safety procedures, nutrition, child ratios, and record keeping. We believe that these standards are in the best interest of the children. 

Our facility is subject to inspection by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

We are licensed by the State of Florida as a Family Child Care Home, License No. F07VO0394, since 2024.

Our Philosophy

We believe that all children grow and develop at their own pace and while it is important to ensure children are ready for kindergarten and for life experiences, we also feel they should not be hurried through childhood.  Our goal is to provide a safe learning environment where kids can simply be kids.  

We feel play is an essential aspect of young children’s lives. It is essential to their well-being and development.  Our daycare program provides time for free play as children need these experiences.  New concepts, new skills and new understanding come to children through play.  

We balance play with structured activities such as table time, circle time, open-ended art activities, music, meals, clean up, etc.  Our curriculum follows the early learning standards set forth by the Florida Division of Early Learning.  Teachable moments provide learning opportunities on any given day. Looking up a bug they may have seen on the playground teaches them not only the information about the bug (science), but that books, magazines, and computers are resources.  We strongly feel that developing their love for learning and exploration is every bit as important as their care and safety!

We believe social skills and self-help skills are essential for each child to develop and we reinforce this through modeling responsibility, acceptance, caring, sharing and respect for all children and adults.  We strive to meet their individual needs as well as the group’s needs as a whole.  We believe given these experiences and opportunities, children will develop a positive self-esteem and love of learning that will follow them throughout their lives.