Leaving your children in the care of others can be...

Leaving your children in the care of others can be a very scary proposition for new parents, and the Simon Center has met and exceeded all of my expectations. As the result of a very scary incident with our first day care provider which included receiving a call from Child Protective Services (a call that no parent wants to ever receive), we immediately enrolled our then 2 year old in the Simon Center. Because we have had the experience of attending two different childcare centers, we were able to compare them, and the Simon Center wins hands down.

Enrichment opportunities: Weekly activities include yoga, art, Spanish, and Music for Life (where a music teacher introduces new songs and instruments from around the world). In addition, Mother Goose visits monthly and the children can dress up in costumes and act out different plays. On top of that, Mr. Bill comes to teach the children about the Chinese New Year and other celebratory occasions. The librarian comes monthly as well to read to the children and encourage their interest in books.

Staff and Directors: The staff have always been loving, communicative, and helpful. The staff turnover is low, and several teachers have been at the Simon Center for decades. They all know how to interact with children and are so patient. They provide daily emails and pictures describing the day's activities, as well as a monthly newsletter. The Directors are on top of everything. When a medical form isn't returned timely, they will follow up. When a child moves to the next class, they will immediately update the class roster and parent email list.

Food: The Simon Center has great catering. The meals are healthy, the menus are available in advance, and the children eat together family style, serving themselves.

Fun Events: The Simon Center puts on a wonderful family fiesta each year. They have an ice cream truck, a photo booth, and many games for the kids and their families. In addition, they have a book fair, pajama days, and a Thanksgiving feast for families to attend.

Facility: The facility is clean and safe. They practice safe storage techniques as cleaning agents are stored behind locked cabinets. They have a locked facility so that only family members and staff can gain entry.

They are a non-profit with no parent hour requirements. They are almost always open which is important when both parents work. I have had at least one child at the Simon Center for the last 4 years, and I could not be more pleased.