The Children's Academy in Spring Hill is your cheapest option. But it's not your best.
They seem understaffed, though they claim to be within guidelines. My son was in the toddler room and though the teacher was nice and had good credentials, she rarely had help even when she was above the 6 child per person ratio (one time she had 14 by herself and tried to call back up and no one came). The attention to each individual child was impossible. My son, who is sweet, smart, and needs extra love, did not receive much one-on-one time. She had to divide herself among the big criers. Also, my son started acting out when he was here. Hitting, yelling, throwing things. Sure, you might say he'd be like that anywhere, but he goes to an in-home daycare now in Franklin and all bad habits are gone.
Maybe your child will thrive in a big group and can be more self-sufficient. If that's the case, then maybe Children's Academy is good for you. However, there are some other things to consider. There isn't any real curriculum as far as I could tell. At least not that I was informed of. They just played and pretty much just let the kids entertain themselves. Of course, I don't want my child to be in an overly structured environment at 18 months, but some engaging activities to stimulate his mind are appreciated. Not just "keep him occupied until mommy comes back". Again though, if this is something you think sounds good, it will work for you.
Another point: Management was very ill-prepared for my arrival. I was on the wait list and though they called ME to start my child there, I was not given the proper paperwork by the front desk. When I called to complain (after having to sit in the lobby and fill out all the paperwork the day Alex was being dropped off), the director kind of brushed it off. I was unimpressed with how they handled me. They always seemed so busy and didn't care about the individual.
I wouldn't say this place is bad for everyone, but it was a bad fit for me. I want my child to be engaged--he's smart, he's loving, he's sweet, and he needs more than someone to just make sure he won't get hurt. And who knows what went on while I wasn't there because the teacher, though educated and nice, wasn't always so understanding of the children's needs (because she was stressed and was used to crying). I didn't feel that my child was nurtured very well and it showed in the way he acted out. read more