Carol & Rusty Ballestrini
Ballestrini's Child Care Centerbegan with a deep-rooted love for family, a commitment to excellence, and a determination to provide high-quality childcare to the community. In 1984, Carol and Rosario “Rusty” Ballestrini were newly married and soon after, they were blessed with their first child, Russell, in 1985. At the time, Carol was active-duty in the U.S. Army stationed in Groton, Connecticut, and Rusty worked as a mechanic in Niantic. When it was time for Carol to return to work, she enrolled Russell at a local childcare center. However, on his first day, Carol couldn’t bring herself to leave him there—the center simply didn’t meet her high standards. Determined to stay close to her son, she hid him under her desk at work until her boss gave her an ultimatum: “Either the baby goes, or you both do.”
With the difficult decision made, Rusty became a stay-at-home dad. Shortly after, in 1986, Carol and Rusty welcomed their daughter Andrea. Around the same time, Carol’s journey into childcare began through an unexpected fender bender with another woman. As both women shed more tears than necessary, Carol confided that she didn’t want to return to work but needed income. The other woman mentioned she needed childcare, and in that moment, an idea was born. By the end of 1986, Carol had opened her own licensed home childcare center.​
Over the next few years, Carol and Rusty expanded their family, welcoming Michael in 1989, Veronica in 1991, and Joey in 1994. As their family grew, so did the demand for childcare in the Waterford area. In 1991, Rusty left his job as a mechanic, and together, the couple operated their home-based center. However, the need for childcare far exceeded what they could offer from their home. In 1994, Carol and Rusty took on their most ambitious project yet—purchasing and renovating a historic Greek Revival home that most saw as a “fixer-upper” at best.
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Balancing their growing family (with Carol pregnant with their fifth child) and running a daycare by day, the Ballestrini family worked tirelessly through the nights to transform the building into a childcare center. Rusty, with his boundless energy and hands-on skills, did most of the work himself, from painting murals to building playgrounds and classrooms. Their four children, eager to help, pitched in with tasks of their own. In August 1995, their dream became a reality when they opened their first licensed center, offering care for children ages 3-12. In 1998, they expanded the property to accommodate infants and toddlers.
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With a growing waitlist and families traveling from across the state, Carol and Rusty decided to open their second location in Salem, Connecticut, in 1999. Much like their first center, the Salem location started as an empty space, and once again, Rusty took on the majority of the renovations. This time, though, he was able to do most of the work during the day, leaving the nights for family time. Weekends, however, remained a family affair, with everyone pitching in to help expand the business.
By 2008, the Ballestrinis were thriving, running two successful centers with the help of dedicated staff. Their eldest daughter, Andrea, completed her college education and began assisting with administrative tasks. Together, Carol and Andrea decided it was time for one final expansion. Their third center, a new construction project, opened later that year, marking the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and family effort.
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Today, Ballestrini’s Childcare Center stands as a testament to the Ballestrini family’s resilience, love for children, and commitment to providing safe, nurturing environments for families in the community. What began as a small home-based business has blossomed into a cherished childcare provider, touching the lives of countless families throughout the years.
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Carol & Rusty with all their children and grandchildren
Carol & Rusty with Grandchildren
Our Philosophy
At Ballestrini's Child Care Centers, our goal is to provide each child with the highest level of quality care in a group setting. We believe that as children grow, they need a positive self-image, supportive role-models, and both structured and creative learning opportunities to effectively guide them through their development.
The teaching staff at Ballestrini's work to develop well-rounded children by presenting a positive first school experience. This is achieved with a developmentally appropriate curriculum based in the areas of math, reading-readiness, science, social studies, technology, creative arts, free-play and health. Our activities at Ballestrini's Child Care Centers encourage learning and growth in a manner that is appealing and exciting for children.
At Ballestrini's Child Care Centers we strive to be your child's
"Home Away From Home."
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Hours of Operation
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6:30am - 6:00pm
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Monday - Friday
Teacher to Child Ratio
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1:4 - Under 3 years
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1:10 - Over 3 years - 12 years
Teachers and Staff
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Experienced and dedicated.
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​First aid and CPR certified.
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Screened and background checked.
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Ongoing training and education.
Parental Interaction
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Open door policy.
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Daily parent/teacher communication.
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Optional parent/teacher conferences.
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Opportunities for field trips chaperoning.
Ballestini's Child Care Centers are licensed by the state of Connecticut.
Meet Our Staff!
Ms. Andrea
Executive Director
