I have a lot of experience with Hudson Children's Center, as my 3 year old has been attending for…read morealmost a year, and my 13 year old attended when he was in daycare and pre-school.
There are some key points that set Hudson Children's Center apart from other daycare centers and pre-schools:
1. A good portion of the day is spent outdoors, in their large backyard filled with picnic tables, swing sets, and climbing structures.
2. The staff are caring and engaged, meaning you won't find them preoccupied with their phones.
3. There is a major focus on daily art projects and creativity.
4. There is a beautiful inground pool in the backyard. During summer, any potty-trained child is able to participate in daily free-swim in their floaties with staff in and around the pool, keeping good care of safety.
5. Also in summer, a dedicated swimming instructor provides private swimming lessons for every child whose parents opt to sign them up for lessons. The extra charge for private lessons is a major bargain.
The core staff are Robin and June who have worked at the center for many years. They set the tone for peace, calm, care, and creativity.
Every weekday morning, I bring my daughter to pre-school. I interact with the staff and the children. I feel welcome and comfortable. I know my daughter is well-liked and well-cared for. I know that every day, she is being enriched with creative projects and fun learning by her teacher, Wendy, and a great team. Every afternoon, when my wife comes home with our daughter, I see that our daughter is happy. She's had a great day at Hudson Children's Center.
My daughter's pre-school class is diverse, which is important to my family.
The center has a private, online group for parents. Almost daily, teachers share with us photos of our children participating in enriching activities, including gym time, programs with their dedicated music teacher, field trips, and general play/silly time.
I feel like the team encourages my daughter's creativity and individualism. Even at 3, she likes to choose her clothes. Sometimes she'll opt to wear a costume. When she arrives at the center with me during the morning, she is met with enthusiastic and supportive staff members who notice her, notice what she's wearing, and compliment her.
Depending on your work schedule, one negative might be that the center is only open until 5 pm, so you must arrive before then to pick up your child. Honestly, children are at daycare for so many hours during the day... They may arrive as early as 7:30 am... The 5 pm pickup time makes some sense. In my experience, after 5 pm, children are longing for their parent pickup and hoping the next person that arrives is their parent to pick them up. Of course, the "early" pickup time won't work for everyone's work and personal situation.
I recommended Hudson Children's Center without reservation. To summarize, my daughter is well-cared for. Her creativity is fostered. The education is enriching. The swimming pool and swimming lessons are a huge bonus and value. The staff are engaged, creative, and caring.
