My son just recently "grew out" of daycare, or whatever you want to call it...
We had the best experience with Marisa and her staff! I was so sad that we had to leave because we had grown so fond of everyone there. Every morning, my son ran into the kitchen, where he found Marisa making breakfast for her son, and she greeted him with giant hugs, kisses, and laughter. It was so clear that she (and the other teachers) truly adored him, and he returned their love.
They gave me just the right amount of information at pickup... a basic summary of his day--usually no more than a sentence--and any important things I might want to know, like if he struggled to nap or didn't eat well. We have experienced daycares (yeah, plural - our first two places both had family emergencies which caused them to have to close) on either end of the spectrum: one place had NO info on pickup, and the other gave me way too much info all day long, which stressed me out.
Finally, they cook lunch for the kids every day, which really takes a load off of busy parents!!
But the love they all exhibited daily was what I found most impressive and comforting. I was never anxious or worried leaving him in their care.
Regarding the language barrier... I didn't think it was a big deal. Once you get to know them all, you get to where it's not a problem. And Marisa is super quick with email, so communication was never a problem for us.
I feel that my son really thrived there, and he is now doing great in preschool because he had such a solid foundation with Little Bears Daycare. We will miss them for sure!!
Useful bits of info:
- Hours are 8 - 6
- Snacks & lunch provided
- Parents provide diapers, wipes, rash cream, sunscreen, and a change of clothes
- They change their clothes every day, so be prepared for that.
- They only close on the major holidays - there are enough backup teachers that they don't have to close when someone is on vacation or out sick.
- If you have an FSA and need receipts, you'll need to ask for them, but Marisa is very responsive to the request and supplies them quickly.
- Nap is at around 1-1:30, and if got there at 4:30 or earlier, several kids might be still sleeping... so early pickup is a little awkward sometimes. read more