| Author |
Message |
    
Elizabeth Sarkisian
Citizen
Username: Elizabeth_s
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 2:47 pm: |     |
My family will soon be moving to Maplewood and will need full time daycare or nursery school for our not quite 2 yr old son. I would appreciate any suggestions, as it seems limited for those under 2.5yrs.
A few specific questions...
1) Anyone know of an "after school" solution if going with the highly recommended Beth El program?
2) How long does it take to get off the wait list at the Y?
3)Anyone know of family group daycare options?
Thanks for any advice. -Elizabeth & Family
|
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 407
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 4:19 pm: | |
South Mountian Nursery and Kindergarten (this is different from and unrelated to the South Mountain Y) would be an option for you -- they take children starting at 18 months and are open 7AM to 6PM. I say this with some caveats, though. The program is moving next year. The owner bought a building on Newark Way, and the renovations have not begun yet. Also, I'd only recommend it for your child if the teacher Amy is returning next year for the two-year-old class. She is superb. Amy has been there more than 15 years and is warm, loving, professional, and wonderful with the children. However, I don't give as high marks for the three and four-year-old classes. So . . . if you can't find anything else AND Amy returns to SMNK AND the renovations on the new place are done by the fall, THEN you should consider SMNK. Also, don't take their printed prices at face value. Everyone negotiates with them. |
juju's petals
Citizen
Username: Jujus_petals
Post Number: 10
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 7:34 pm: | |
Uh, I have to respectfully disagree with shoshannah. The three-year old class at South Mountain has been a great experience for our three year old. Anne, in particular, is a terrific teacher -- perceptive, creative and warm. On the other hand, I do agree that Amy is just a wonderful teacher as well. We miss seeing her each day. For the record, my child was a the Y and we moved her to take advantage of what we thought were more talented teachers at South Mountain. Nothing was really wrong with Y, just that Amy and Anne were better for our child. |
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 1048
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 9:58 am: | |
If you want to know how long the wait list on the Y is likely to be I would talk to the director, Marie. The Y has been great for our kids. I'd be happy to answer any specfic questions about the Y. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 273
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 7:32 pm: | |
You can also check out St Stephen's in Millburn. Our son has been going there for two years and love it. They open at 7:15 and close at 6pm. The teachers there are nice and caring, and wonderful with the children. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 1013
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 9:25 pm: | |
For those with kids at the Y. Have any of you previously signed up for the summer camp? The application seems to indicate a nice park-like setting however, when I asked they said that the camp is basically in the Gym and multipurpose rooms.
However, if the camp is like the daycare my son should enjoy it regardless, despite his visions of green grass etc. If anyone has any feedback I'd appreciate it. BTW, he's five so he'd be in the Yknots program. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1728
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 9:31 am: | |
They basically play in the back lawn at the Y (on the Jefferson side), the playground at the Y, and they go to the Maplewood Country Club in the morning for swimming and play on the lawn by the pool. I just called a Y and asked that very question. My son is signed up for Y Knots. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 1015
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 9:39 am: | |
Alg - Thanks. We'll be seeing you there. |
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 1073
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 2:00 pm: | |
We're signed up too. The head of the Y Knots program is my son's current preschool teacher and she is great. |
chocoholic
Citizen
Username: Shrink
Post Number: 138
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 2:31 pm: | |
My children are at SMNK. My youngest is 4 and is doing well in the 4 year old class. The oldest attends Kindergarten and then goes there for a half day program. I have been pleased with the program. |
ceceliac
Citizen
Username: Ceceliac
Post Number: 27
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 8:32 pm: | |
My daughter has been attending South Mountain Nursery & Kindergarten for two years and her little sister will start there in Sept. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Amy, Anne (the amazing 3 year old teacher who came to SMNK last year from Sharey Tefilo) and Janet and Barbara who teach the 4 and 5 year olds. My daughter's experience has been very positive. The school is moving next year and the building they purchased needs lots of work to become a true preschool setting but I've been happy enough there to give the new location a shot. The other thing about them is that they are very flexible in terms of how many days you want and whether you want full or half days. For two year olds, so many of the other local programs, although equally praised, only have half-day programs and that didn't work for me as I work two days a week and needed a 9-3 day for two days. |
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