When looking into most of the daycare options in Metuchen, Friends of the Family (FotF), stood out…read morefrom the pack. After being there for almost 4 years (age 2-6) and hearing about other daycares in town, we can say it was the best option for us and our daughter. A few highlights based on our experience: - Best hours with flexible schedule offerings (12 hours day, half days, partial weeks) - Fair pricing with no nickel and dining for extra hours, monthly fees, etc. Being independent allows them to avoid additional overhead of the franchise daycare options. - Incredible staff with little turnover, which is a big issue at many places - Caring owners with great attitudes and always reinvesting in the facility - Outstanding full-day kindergarten program (with included before and after care hours), led by Miss Kerri. Kids leave this program well prepared for 1st grade. - Perfect location downtown with plenty of parking and allows us to be close to everything (restaurants, dance, taekwondo, train station, etc.) We highly recommend you pay them a visit and seriously consider them for your child

I was told the waitlist was "very extensive" to the point they are unaware of when they can bring…read morein new clients, yet they are accepting deposits to become a client. I would not recommend a place that cannot keep track of the children and their attendance.

My son just entered Kindergarten this year and I can't recommend the school enough. Great caring…read moreteachers and a very nurturing environment. They have a weekly class blog so that you know what is going on in the class. Its only been a month of school and they already learned how to do tallies, graphs, probability. Its very focused on the core academics. My son is taking the after school program so now he is learning 2 languages Mandarin and Spanish. I thought he would hate it instead he looks forward to it and comes home talking to me like hey do you know how to count in Spanish? (He learned this just after 1 week of class) They also have yoga classes and the teacher is amazing, he can't wait to show me all these poses. I have seen his confidence grow so much in the past month. In his previous school he was a very quick learner and I was worried he wouldnt be challenged and just bored. I couldn't be more wrong. They tailor the homework and work to your child and aren't afraid to push them. If you are looking at private schools, in my opinion PJS is the top tier. I toured all of them in the area, PDS, Chapin, Friends etc. and at the end I took a chance with PJS only because I loved the open space. I was worried that academically it might not have been up to par with the other private school or public schools (I live in one of the top districts in the area). I have two friends going to the private schools mentioned (Kindergarten) and PJS quite frankly raises the bar. I think it is because of the new curriculum they have been using. This is a great school. You will not be disappointed sending your child here, if I only knew then what I do now. The choice would have been a no brainer.

Princeton Junior School (PJS) is a very special place. Our son has been lucky enough to be a…read morestudent at PJS for four years. The school has helped him grow and learn, but most importantly PJS has helped him grow to love learning! In his lessons he has found a joy in discovery and growth and a curiosity that will serve him well for the rest of his life. Our PJS student tells me that "This school is the best! The teachers are all really nice, we have great lessons and projects, and we learn a lot!" The IB orientation helps to teach in a way that each individual student can get the most from the lessons. Being part of an international community as an IB school is present in the population of the school and the curriculum they teach. Princeton Junior School is not just important to our rising 5th grader. Our entire family has found a community in PJS that supports our child and all of us, that has introduced us to families that have become our friends, and that we are proud to be a part of. Our child is the most important thing in our lives, and Princeton Junior School is a place that has earned our trust and our gratitude in helping him develop and grow into a strong student and curious global citizen.

Very difficult to leave this school (moving out of town). We greatly appreciate all of the love,…read moreprayers and support that Dayspring has shared with our 3 year old son. The standard for his care and education has been set extremely high by Dayspring. We love the specialized attention and the relationship he had with nearly ALL of the staff. We will truly miss them.... there isn't ANY other preschool/ daycare like this place. Trust me.... I've lived all over New Jersey.

Just did a walk-through today for their facility new clean up-to-date staff seems very caring and…read moreinterested in your children's learning and well-being

My son has been attending Little Angels Family Daycare since he was one year old. The facility is…read moremeticulously clean and new, and the price is very reasonable. They also have a convenient lunch arrangement where my son can buy lunch each day. When you go for a tour, ask "Mimi" and "Mo" (the owners) about the impressive safety and security features. The communication between the school and myself has been excellent. When I pick up my son, Mimi and Mo take the time to give me a quick review of the day and share progress with me, along with the weekly progress notes, and they are available for meetings as needed. Even more important than all of that, my son loves being there. Each day we drop him off and pick him up happy and healthy. He loves his teachers and has had a special relationship with each of them at each stage. They have been patient and kind through my son's "terrible twos" and have been willing to work with us and try whatever they could to promote his growth and development. We are amazed by what he learns academically and socially each day. I highly recommend Little Angels and we have already reserved a spot for our second baby who will be born this spring.

We couldn't be happier with Little Angels ! The staff is incredible with the kids, treating it more…read morelike a school setting where learning and growth are prioritized. They give individualized attention to each child while also fostering a wonderful sense of community within the entire class. The owners are truly amazing people who go above and beyond to teach the kids essential values like respect and self-confidence. They also emphasize healthy eating habits, which has made such a positive impact on the children. It's clear that these lessons stick because all the kids are kind, respectful, and supportive of one another. This daycare has been such a positive experience for our family, and we highly recommend it to anyone looking for a nurturing, enriching, and well-rounded environment for their child! Our daughter Danica truly loves this place and my wife and I are blessed to have them. From the Giordano family

Went here a long time ago for kindergarten. Very big school with a rock wall in the gym. The…read moreplaygrounds are small, though. I like the trailers that have classrooms inside. I like the art teacher.

Wonderful place to send our kids. Love this community and the values it teaches our kidsread more

Freehold Montessori School was my (now four-year old) daughter's first introduction to a…read moreclassroom/learning environment and we could not have been more grateful and appreciative of the entire experience. Nothing has compared to the peace of mind of dropping her off every day knowing that she was being thoughtfully developed in a safe and joyful environment by an academic staff that would embrace her individualism while instilling within her the skills to become a life-long learner. Honestly, our only regret was not enrolling our daughter sooner. While I cannot say enough wonderful things about this school, here are the most immediate that come to mind: 1. Ms. Margaret - If only we could clone Ms. Margaret and put her into every classroom across the country! She is truly an effective teacher that is passionate about sparking curiosity in her students and ensuring they are given the tools to maximize their potential. She effortlessly goes beyond "textbook" teaching to insert micro lessons about everyday life. The students are constantly learning in a fun and memorable way. Ms. Margaret also understands that every student is different, she is very tailored in her engagement. While we did not have the pleasure of working with teachers from the other buildings, I have to assume they are just as spectacular and aligned with the overall vision and philosophy of the school. 2. Relatedly, we were very appreciative of the thorough parent-teacher/director feedback loop at FMS. Parent-teacher conferences are in-depth and productive. We were given the details of our daughter's performance, saw samples of her work, side by side progress in her writing, and tangible examples of her day-to-day/contributions to various activities in the classroom. We were given the gift of learning about our daughter in a completely different setting and were able to understand areas we could reinforce at home. 3. Similarly, the school director - Ms. Yogi - is prompt, accessible and always acting in the best interests of the students. If we ever needed anything, she was very responsive, took action immediately and was incredibly thoughtful in following-up. During my initial tour of the school with Ms. Yogi, I noticed that she not only knew each student across all three buildings by name - but she truly understood each child and their personality/needs. She is an impressive leader and has cultivated a nurturing and emotionally secure environment for her students, while delivering excellence in academics. Within the first few minutes of speaking with Ms. Yogi, I knew this was the school for my daughter. Having meticulously researched and visited most preschools within the area - I can say FMS operates in a class of its own. There is no other school out there that provides a nurturing, yet academically enriching and diverse learning sanctuary. I am confident that any parent enrolling their child here will be just as pleased with their experience.

I feel very comfortable with my son here. He learns more than just academics, but also how to treat…read morepeople and how to deal with his emotions. Very supportive staff. They Communicate with parents, and provide a safe place for my son. It is clear he enjoys being at this daycare. Provide opportunities for sports, stretch and grow activities. Definitely suggest this place to others, affordable and still provides great care.