Great staff, great experience for both of my boys. If you want piece of mind and want your child to make progress, this is the daycare for you. Highly recommended! read more

Fabulous school, great environment for preschool. My children are now 24 & 28 and this was a wonderful start to life! We made wonderful friends and are still connected. Ronna and her family have created a fabulous environment for learning. read more

I have had 2 great experiences at Cradles! Both of my girls were well taken care of and the staff there was Amazing. Every time I dropped my children off I always felt great and knew that all their needs were being met!! Love them read more

I've been taking my daughter to this daycare for a year and will be taking my second soon. They are extremely trustworthy and very accommodating. The prices are reasonable for the amount of attention and care your little one receives. My daughter began in the 2-3 year old room with Naima and Lily and they are like second moms to my daughter. I can say all the teachers are great. Ronna the owner is very kind and understanding as well. Highly recommended daycare for worrisome parents like me :) read more

There are two types of daycares and our family has experienced both: 1. Business based daycares 2. Family based daycares. CCC is the second kind, and it makes a huge difference. Not only is this place run by a family, but the staff are also a "family" of sorts and many of them have been working there for 10+ years. At our last daycare, one of the big business ones, we were paying out of the nose and there were teachers coming and going every week. It was hard to keep up and it was hard to have to keep leaving my daughter with strangers. At CCC, not one teacher has left since we started over a year ago, except for one who retired after several decades. That is phenomenal for any business, and it speaks volumes for the kind of people Ronna and Ely are and the kind of place they are running. After moving up to the next age group, my daughter still sees her former teachers every day and it is so comforting to our family that there is this kind of continuity in her life when we can't be with her. We are so happy. My daughter runs into her teacher's arms every morning. She has so many great stories to tell every night when she gets home. They do all kinds of fun and experiential activities with the kids, including everything from taking them to Lamb's Farm each year to putting on a fun holiday show for the parents. They make tie-dyed shirts, learn how to plant things, decorate tricycles for 4th of July, and my daughter's class even has caterpillars for each child right now so they can watch the life cycle. They've helped us potty train our daughter and they teach her the most wonderful things through play! That is the best way for these little ones to learn and they get it. They also play outside whenever they can and that is very important to us. If you are considering enrolling your child in CCC, know this: you will not have to worry about your child. The staff and management all care greatly about the little ones in their charge. They are easy to communicate with; I see Ronna every day when I come and go (sometimes she's holding a baby or helping a toddler use the restroom!); I very rarely saw the director at our other daycare. I know I can always email with a question. To sum up, our experience with CCC is leaps and bounds more positive than our experience with the big business daycare we came from. Don't be fooled by the fancy facilities at the business based centers you visit; that will mean nothing to your kiddo. We feel so lucky to have found this gem! read more

I went for a tour with my son a couple days ago and at first I thought this was a great daycare. Today I tried to contact Ronna and when I finally got in contact with her I told her I was interested and I wanted to apply, but she immediately cut me off and stated " you know I spoke with the teacher in the classroom and I mentioned to her that your son has special needs(Down syndrome) and she thinks it would be too overwhelming for her since she already has two kids with autism who they weren't aware about until later on." I couldn't believe what I was hearing... she kept saying "I know it sounds bad but we don't specialize with kids special needs and the teacher is too overwhelmed with the others because they can't feed themselves and they are all over the place." There's nothing in their guidelines stating they don't accept children with disabilities. They had available space.. I immediately stopped her and corrected her saying "so you're basically saying that I can't apply because my son has special needs?" To me that sounds like discrimination. After I simply told her thank you for your time and hanged up. I cried for a moment, no mother ever wants to hear things like this.. but I realized I should be thankful in a way, I wouldn't want to place my child anywhere where he isn't wanted because of who he is. read more

We wanted to like this place, we really did, but we just couldn't. This place is extremely dirty. they never clean the toys, there are toys that look like its had dirt on them for the past few years. They let parents and kids walk on the carpet with shoes on.. the same carpet they also let your kids crawl and lay on.. how is that sanitary? Ronna only cares about the money. Sure during your visit she may seem nice and caring, but once your child is enrolled, she only smiles at you when you give her the check. Oh and that check doesn't go towards new toys or new equipment for the center. So don't expect to see new CLEAN toys or beds or rugs. Because they're satisfied with the way everything is. They also allow older kids to visit the infant rooms. Have they ever heard of how germs and diseases are being passed on? These older kids are running around playing with the infant toys while the infants are lying down on the carpet. Where they can easily be kicked by one of the running kids. That doesn't seem safe to me. I came in to pick up my child one day, to find her laying on the floor playing, and some toddler running circles around the infants laying on the ground. WTF? The teachers there are lazy. I've seen teachers walking the kids around the block only instead of walking they sit at one of the stairs off to the side and talk on their phone while the kids sit in the buggy probably bored to death. I've seen this multiple times on the way to pick up my cild. While kids are playing at the playground, their teachers sit on a chair 25 feet away. Very responsible of them to keep an eye out on the kids. I guess this is their break time. My kid had a new child in her room every day I came to visit. It wasn't a child that was originally in her room, but I guess their thought is.. "one more can't hurt right?" Did I mention that they leave infants unattended? I came to pick up my child and the teacher was outside the room while the kids were alone inside. How is that safe? Our last straw with them is that someone threw up on our child.. not another child in her class, but a different child that happened to be in the room with my kid when she threw up. Seriously? I was ready to go insane when I found out and complain.. but guess what? Ronna was on vacation.. probably spending the money that was suppose to go towards new toys or equipment. How conveniant! Crappy day care, with crappy teachers, and a very crappy owner who cares nothing but the $$$. I plan on reporting them to DCFS because of all this crap and the crappy protocols they have. Please save yourself the trouble and send your kids elsewhere so you can get some peace of mind that your child is in a safe and caring environment. read more

I cannot recommend Cradles Cribs and Crayons highly enough. We've had an EXCEPTIONAL experience with them for 4 years now. If we have another child there's NO QUESTION where he/she will go for education/daycare. Previous reviewers have mentioned the lack of turnover and family atmosphere that is pervasive. They're spot on. Our son adores his teachers and classmates. They do an amazing job with exposing kids to gardening, understanding seasons, and bring some tissues to the Holiday Play because if that doesn't move you - you'll need to see a doctor. It's adorable. My wife an I looked at a Goddard School nearby and considered Montessori. We regularly remark how thrilled we are with our choice of CCC. The pricing is reasonable, but the experience for our son and family has been invaluable. If you live in the area - look no further. This place is a gem. Early education is important and from our perspective, CC&C does it RIGHT. We're grateful. read more

We sent our daughter to this daycare/preschool, and she started kindergarten this fall. When she started she was already well ahead of the other students in an acedemic sense. They also had many extra activities, including bringing in a music instructor, field trips, and holiday concerts. They really prepared my daughter well for the rest of her life. The owners and staff there are incredible. They really take interest in your child, and care for them as if they were their own. It was really more like a family there. The staff has all been there for years, and it shows in the way they care for your child. I loved the care they provided, and would recommend them to anyone. read more

Cradles is the most wonderful place. It truly is. Both of my children attended this daycare from the time they were infants to the time they graduated to go to kindergarten. We were fortunate to have them be a part of our lives for over 10 years! Ronna, Ely and the all the staff at Cradles are terrific and loving and... well, I just cannot express how happy we were to have chosen this daycare. As a working mother, I was very happy that they were there for me. We were so sad to say goodbye at the start of this school year because everyone at Cradles became a part of our extended family and community. We will be going back to visit soon since my youngest keeps asking to see his teachers at Cradles! Both of my children learned so much and had so much fun. Academically, both of my children were ahead of the rest of the children in their kindergarten classes. They have a love of learning that was fostered by the environment at Cradles. When they were infants and toddlers, they were learning and playing and doing so many things that engaged them throughout the day. Their proactive teachers took an interest in all the kids and everything that they did. My children learned how to be fair, how to share, and how play with other children while learning colors and shapes. They learned music when they were two, had a winter holiday show every year, went on field trips to the zoo, to plays, to the Botanic Gardens, to Lambs Farm, and, of course, our family's favorite, the Pumpkin Farm. They got to be in a Fourth of July parade, met the Villages First Responders, have a Hawaiian Day, a Sports Week, a Pajama Day, made a Thanksgiving turkey, go to weekly trips to the Water Park, a Bounce House day, and kinds of wonderful things that kids love to do! The facilities are clean and the toys are continually being cleaned and disinfected (I've seen it! A prior reviewer said that this was not their experience, so I wanted to mention it). There is always communication between the staff and parents. Safety is a number one priority for the staff and they are CPR/First Aid trained. When there is a bump or scrape, TLC is administered along with the Band Aid and ointment. Bottom line, I would highly recommend Cradles Cribs and Crayons. I feel lucky that I found them over decade ago and I truly believe that Cradles had a positive impact on my kids and they are better people for being a part of the Cradles family. As a parent, I trusted them with my children and had complete peace of mind when they were in their care. read more

This is the most wonderful daycare EVER with the most loving, caring staff imaginable. I don't know what that other lady was talking about - every single person who attends here RAVES about it!! I wish there were more than 5 stars to give!! Both my children currently attend CCC and I could not be happier. In fact, 1.5 years later I still can't thank the owner and staff enough ever single day for making our lives so wonderful! The teachers love the kids as if they were their own. My son races through the door everyday to give each teacher a huge hug. And my one year old can't get out of my arms fast enough so she can go cuddle the teachers. My one year old and four year old do projects everyday, and are constantly learning new things in a very fun manner. They have dentists, fireman and other visitors during the year and the kids love it! In the summer there is always something fun going on whether its a field trip, crazy hair day, pajama day, water day, etc. They also clean the center and the toys all the time. I can't tell you how many times I have seen all the toys taken out of a classroom so each one can be scrubbed down...and the classroom too! The teachers and owner also really work with you on the best thing for your child. My daughter needed medication 1x a day and they were so accommodating and helping us with her needs. My son is also in speech therapy and the teachers and owner take time after every session to speak with the therapist so they can help my son continue to progress. Every parent I have ever spoken with goes on and on about how wonderful this place is. IT IS TRULY A GEM!!! I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT EVERYONE WHO WORKS HERE AND THE PLACE. Thank you so much to Ronna, Ely and the rest of the teachers for making our lives so wonderful and for making my children and so many others so happy and healthy! read more

It's been real pleasure taking our son to this daycare, he has grown up and has learned so much along with having tons of fun every day. The kids are involved in many different activities, have many projects every week, discuss different topics and have very existing visitors (policemen, firemen, dentist), have tons of field trips and very fun summer program We sent our child just a few months after his 4th birthday, not knowing any English, very shy and worried little person, he blossomed in front of our eyes, now he speaks very well and will enter Kindergarten with so much confidence. They made his transition to the English educational system very smooth for less than a year, how amazing is this, we're very thankful. All the teachers are very kind, caring people, our son loves each one of them and wants to visit during school off days. Looking forward to the day we enroll our second son. read more

This place is fantastic. Both my kids attend here and they could not be happier. We are so pleased with their development, the friends they have made and the wonderful teachers. As we drop our kids of each morning they, literally, run and jump into the arms of their teachers. This really is an incredibly caring and loving place. We are so happy we found them!! read more

I just love this school. I have 2 boys aged 5 and 3.They have both been there since they were 1 yrs old.I work all day and needed a place that could keep the kids till 5-6pm.It's such a long time to be without my kids. I looked around for a long time before choosing a daycare.I spoke with every director and parents of many schools and was by far most impressed with Cradles Cribs & Crayons. The director was professional yet very warm. I had a long chat with her.After talking to her for about an hour I just knew that this was the place that felt right. The teachers are so nice and adore the kids.I've already known them for 4 years and am so sad my older one is graduating soon.Both boys love coming to school and run and give a big hug to the director/owner everytime they see her. I've read past reviews that were commenting on the director. I have to say that after 4 years i've never had a bad experience with her. I can't imagine leaving my kids with a person I didn't trust %100. She is one of the most kind and caring people I know.The vast experience she has with childcare is priceless. I would highly recommend this daycare to anyone who wants to have peace of mind that their children will be well taken care of and loved. read more

I had to join YELP just to write this review, as I'm completely confused by the negative review here. I have two children who attend CCC, my oldest has been going for nearly 4 and half years, my youngest for over a year. Our experience has been overwhelmingly positive. Here are some of my thoughts: 1. The staff is caring and loving. I feel like they really know and love my children. Every time my oldest moved up a room I cried because I was going to miss the teacher so much, and then the next teacher was just as wonderful. 2. The owner, Ronna, also seems very invested in the kids. I've had many conversations with her about my children, their development, ideas for them and their health, etc. 3. They have virtually no staff turnover. In the 4 years we've attended one teacher has left to pursue a completely different career. From talking to friends who use other daycares in the area I think this level of retention is uncommon and I think it speaks to the family atmosphere that the owners have created. 4. The teachers know what is age appropriate for the children and strive to help them accomplish new things. In the time we have been there they were always the ones letting me know when my oldest was ready for a new milestone. They helped initiate and teach the following: going from bottle to sippy cup to regular cup, going from formula to milk, introducing solid foods, potty training (including during sleeping), ABCs, counting, writing child's name. I have complete confidence that my children will be beyond ready for kindergarten when the time comes. 5. The staff is concerned about the health needs of the children. If a child is sick they will notice, quarantine them as best they can, and have you come get them and keep them home until they are not contagious. This is critical for the health of all the children in the center. When your child is ready to return they are very willing to administer prescriptions with a doctor's note and parental consent. My youngest uses a nebulizer and they have administered many nebulizer treatments at my request. 6. On a daily basis they do so many fun and active things with the children. They take the babies for walks in the strollers. They take the older kids on walks to the park or in the summer to the sprinkler park once a week. The oldest kids work in a little garden outside. When you arrive end of day they are always, always, always playing outside in their play yard and they SLATHER my kids in sunscreen. 7. On a weekly and monthly basis there are so many fun and educational "extra" things they do. They have policeman and fireman and dentists come to the center to give talks. The older kids go on field trips to museums, farms, etc. The owner plays guitar and sings with the kids and they have a holiday show where the kids sing and dance. 8. They clean the toys. I have seen it. They vacuum every day. They have the floors and carpets professionally cleaned often. The children wash their hands when transitioning from activities. They have a "no stuffed toys and no blankets" rule as they transfer germs. I think the facilities are about as clean as you can expect them to be when approximately 75 children pass through each day. 9. The price of tuition includes a hot lunch that is brought in for the kids every day. No packing up a bag lunch every morning. My children love this center. They are happy and thriving there. I thank my lucky stars that we found this place on our first try so many years ago. I've referred two other families here whom are having an equally good experience. read more