LOVE this place! I have been working here coming up on a year now and it is by far the best place…read moreof employment I have ever had. The kids are amazing and coworkers are great to work with! Recommend for both childcare and a place to work!!!

From the owner: Ithaca Community Childcare Center (IC3) is a non-profit, NYS-licensed, and NAEYC-accredited…read more(National Association for the Education of Young Children) center that has been serving the community since 1976. We offer care for children between 8 weeks and 10 years old, and are committed to providing families with the highest standard of child-inspired, professionally-nurtured care and educational opportunities. Our innovative continuity of care program is nationally recognized. By providing a safe environment where children can explore and experience hands on learning, we offer a truly child-centered approach. We are proud of our committed staff and low teacher turnover. The average number of years a teacher has been working at IC3 is 12 years! Our experienced, professional, nurturing teachers will help your child grow a lifelong love of learning. Come see why IC3 is such a great place to play, learn, work, and grow!

Both of my boys have attended preschool here. The teachers are great, and the boys were always…read morehappy. This is definitely not a childcare though. Most students have stay at home Moms or a nanny.

Our daughter has been enrolled here since she was 6 weeks old and it was the best decision we have…read moreever made. We love the staff here as they have so much compassion and love for the kids in the center. In the infant room the teachers are very flexible and make sure the infant's day is as close to a day at home as possible. They allow you to bring in food and snacks from home once the infant is old enough for solid foods and have no problem adjusting to any meal substitutions. Our child loves coming to the center and lights up every time she sees her teachers. They incorporate age specific activities in their curriculum to further the child's growth. Education is a big part of the curriculum in all classrooms which is very important to us. The Gingerbread House was voted best daycare center in Syracuse for a reason and I would highly recommend enrolling your child(ren) here.

my son attended smart start from 4 to 16 months and we are only stopping because we are moving to…read moreanother state. They are super accommidating and allowed us to use cloth diapers and glass bottles. When we started my baby had a hard time napping and they did whatever they could to get him to nap, even having someone hold him for an hour long contact nap. My son LOVES Miss Kristen in the continuity room. It was so reassuring leaving him with people he cared for and I feel, truly cared for him.

I am so glad a preschool like Smart Start exists. It can be hard to find high-quality and…read moreaffordable childcare; it can be especially hard to find such care for infants. The staff in the infant room have all been warm, bright, creative, patient, and so awesome at responding to the ever-changing needs of our little girl. She had not been in daycare before--we had a sitter who came to our home--and they worked with us to help make the transition as easy on her as possible. And, as she has grown and developed, they have provided new activities to keep her engaged. (Shout out to Ms. Alyssa, Ms. Katie, Ms. Hillary!) Walking in, you frequently hear the joyful squeals and chatter of children in the older classrooms. The setting is great, too: big outdoor play areas, lots of grass and trees, and the kids get plenty of fresh air and exercise. I just can't say enough good things about our daughter's experience there. Ultimately, I knew we made the right choice enrolling her at Smart Start because, when I would come to pick her up, I'd peek in the window, or stand around the corner where she could not see me--and my girl always looked happy.

Amazing place. All of my kids loved it. Great staff. It always felt like a school than a daycare in…read morea good way. My kids learned a lot there. Caring and loving teachers. Chris and her assistant are pretty cool as well.

Today was my daughter's pre-k graduation and she will be heading off to Kindergarten in the fall;…read moreshe has attended Kindercare since she was 18 months old. Every day, my husband (SU prof) and I (hs teacher) knew that we were bringing her to work with teachers, administrators, and support staff who knew our daughter well and cared for her, taught her, and loved her like she was their own. It is so hard to leave your child in the care of others, but those extra-special people at Kindercare make it feel like leaving your little one with family. We were incredibly happy with the curriculum, but more happy that each day is play-centered. The other students and families are kind and great community. Every teacher knows each student in the school - truly, it is a special place that we will both miss and recommend.