After a lot of media attention related to day care issues all over the country and stories of…read morechildren being neglected/forgotten, I approached our day care options very carefully and cautiously. It is important to keep in mind that not everyone's experiences exemplify the all-around experience, and not every teacher is the same. The teachers in the classroom make a world of difference to the experience of the family entrusting them. With that said, we have been exceedingly fortunate to have had our nearly 2 year-old under the care of Ms. Ann, Ms. Kenisha, and Ms. Susan here. They have all shown what appears to be an honest interest and care for our child. They provide daily care sheets that let us know what he/she ate (of huge importance to me), how they engaged him/her 'academically' (at the toddler age, this would be like singing a certain song, learning about a certain color, working on please/thank you, etc.), diaper changes, naps, and communication to the parents if diapers or wipes are running low. It is an efficient system for communicating those things you are hoping your child is doing/eating/learning. We have popped in without notice on several occasions to really do our own form of 'random inspection,' if you will - really we wanted to verify that at random points midday that our child was being attended to as necessary, playing well, eating well, napping well, etc. So far each visit has been great and we have never experienced any issues with any of the staff that has cared for our child. The management has been wonderful as well. Ms. Stacey does a wonderful job of remembering you and your child's name, and any issues or questions with tuition, payments, general care questions that I have sent them via email have been responded to very promptly. You can research the facility/franchise online and see the technology available to the students. There's a great play town that the older kids get to take advantage of (our toddler is still too young at this point), there are two separate outdoor play areas complete with toys, slides, and ample room as well as seating and shade. They do apply sunblock to the kids, which is a nice touch. We have also been told that as our child gets older and moves up to the next class, they will work on potty training as well. We have seen our child's vocabulary and social skills absolutely BLOSSOM since we have started with this TLE. As I said, we have been so lucky to have the great teachers our child has right now. As our child grows and switches to another class, that story may or may not change, but I will update my review as necessary. For now, I am happy to report that we are extremely satisfied with the care, attention, and developmental/educational lessons that these caring teachers have provided for our child.

We have had a terrific experience at this daycare (TLE). Our daughter started at 13 weeks old…read more After the childcare situation we'd planned on since before she was born fell through at the last minute, I showed up at TLE a bit desperate. With three days left before I was supposed to start back at work, I count myself so lucky that they happened to have one spot open in the infant room! Ms. Regina in Infant Room B is a wonderful caregiver. She is always calm and steady, always positive and warm. Her classroom is peaceful, and the kiddos in there seem very content. I was worried that our daughter, who struggled with bottle feeding, would go hungry at daycare. Ms. Regina was willing to work with her and now our kiddo is happily taking five bottles a day. What's even more amazing is that, after I told Ms. Regina I was really struggling with missing my daughter while at work, she started writing extra notes in the daily report. In addition to knowing when my baby napped/ate/was changed, I get to read little details like, "She seems to be especially fond of one of the other babies in the room," or, "Today she smiled while her teacher held her up to the window and talked about the arrival of spring." Those little glimpses into her day show me that she's getting attention and love, and they make all the difference to my peace of mind. Overall, everyone at this center seems kind and sincere. While our daughter does spend some time in bouncy chairs (which is unavoidable when one person cares for multiple infants!), I was thrilled to see that she is more often being held or hanging out in a Boppy pillow on the floor while looking happily at the other babies. Ms. Wendi, the director, is very personable and patient with new parent concerns. She also called promptly on the two occasions that my daughter had an "incident" -- throwing up and getting a small scratch. This made me feel very secure that our kid was safe at TLE. Before enrolling, when I looked for reviews of this daycare online, I didn't find that many -- so I'm especially happy to add my opinion and say that I'd definitely recommend TLE to friends and would say it is worth every penny.

My son attended Chapel Hill KinderCare for several years until recently (we needed a place closer…read moreto home versus the workplace). We had a great experience - special shout outs to Ms. Melissa and Ms. Alba, Ms Trinity and Miss Emily, the incomparable Ms. Jasmine, and to the fantastic leaders Ms. Jessica and Ms. Sherrell. My son has a severe egg allergy and they always made sure to keep him safe with parties and treats. I appreciated the communication from leadership and teachers.

I've had an exceptional experience with this KinderCare branch. Jessica and her staff are very…read moreaccommodating and show a real passion for child care. I was apprehensive about going with a child care center because of the virus, so I only used care.com. I finally decided to give the child route a try, and I'm impressed. There is also an app that gives you updates on everything from pictures to letting you know when their diaper is changed.

I've had my child in this daycare for a year and I've really been impressed by the quality of care…read morehere. I did an intensive research process to discover this daycare -- visited 5 in this area and called every single one in Chapel Hill region. This was hands down the best one. Community: The daycare is a co-op model, which means that parents are asked to volunteer to help with small projects and that the profits they earn go back to help fund the education of their caretakers. I think this really makes a difference for feeling like you are paying and investing in a community, rather than a corporation. Lower ratios: most daycares go with what the state mandates - 1:5 for babies, 1:6 for 1-2 year olds, and 1:10 for 2-3 year olds. Coming from another state; this is just abysmal. They start at 1:3 and then do 1:6 for 2-3 year olds. Anyone who has been in a daycare room when all the kids are there knows that this should really be the max. Price: it's a bit more costly than other daycares in the area, but it's worth it in my opinion. They do accept vouchers so you can look into that if you need. Location: maybe from a lot of people, but southern village is a great place. The kids can go on field trips to the huge park or this weaver street. Outdoor play: They do a lot of it and are very diligent about bug spray and sunscreen. They have a wonderful play yard with plenty of room, shade, and toys. They do water play in the summer twice a week. Potty training: they are very supportive with potty training and will sit your child on the potty every 30 minutes if that's what's needed. Drop off/pick up: not sure the earliest time you can drop off - maybe 7 or 730? Latest pick up is 530. Discipline/style: they are warm and gentle, but also good at enforcing boundaries. I've seen them engaging in more gentle methods like making positive suggestions for alternatives rather than just saying no. The structured scheduled helps kids know that putting away toys, sitting down at meals, washing hands, and going potty every hour are non negotiables.

When we moved to the area from Washington, D.C. a year and a half-ago, my biggest concern was how…read moremy then-2-year-old daughter would transition to a new daycare setting. Thankfully, CHDCC went above and beyond to welcome my daughter to the school and to meet her needs (and mine!) during that first week. Throughout our time at CHDCC, my husband and I have been incredibly impressed by the quality of the teachers and staff. Our center in D.C. had frequent staff turn-over and it has been such a gift to watch our daughter grow and thrive with a consistent, experienced early childhood professional. This teacher magically potty-trained our daughter in the first two months at school and supported her social, emotional, and cognitive growth each day. We were lucky enough to loop with her from the 2 year-old to the 3 year-old room, making for another smooth transition this year. Everyone at the center is warm and welcoming and I am always blown away by the fact that every adult in the building knows my daughter by name and looks out for her well-being. I am a huge fan of the play-based learning that takes place at CHDCC and love how her teacher differentiates instruction to cater to both the abilities and the interests of each child. I would highly recommend CHDCC to other parents and plan to enroll our second child in the infant room this year.

My daughter started at Wildflower when she turned three, and she's been loving it! The kids spend a…read morelot of time outside everyday, not just at the playground but also in the woods, at the mud pit and bike path. She has so much fun, coming home tired and content. The teachers are nurturing, loving and attentive. I especially appreciate how they educate kids to be wholesome human beings, care for each other and solve conflicts among themselves.

The teachers are the most patient and positive human beings I have ever come across, and have made…read moremy daughter's first experience with out-of-home care the best I could hope for. Her imagination and confidence have both blossomed since she began there. I only wish the program extended to kindergarten and beyond.

Over $100 a day at 5 days a week is overpriced, especially for a daycare that lacks…read moreprofessionalism. This place is disorganized, the staff is non chalant, and their prices change based on who's paying. I paid less for 12 hrs then I paid for 8 hrs. I asked the staff 3-4 times is this all of my sons belongings they assured me it was, only to get home and find out his 2 toys he bought along with him were missing, also his shoes were missing. Staff said it fell out his book bag. The staff did not care that I had to fight thru rush hour traffic after working a 16 hr shift just to double back for my son's belongings. Do better, people work too hard to have their belongings go missing. (His mom drops him off and I pick him up, idk what he arrives at the daycare with.)

This is my go to, even though we now live 40 minutes away, for back-up, easy, quality childcare. My…read moreson has been coming here on preschool and daycare closure days, or just while I run errands, since he was 2. We have never had a bad experience and my son LOVES it. He actually asks to go here instead of his regular preschool and talks about their range of trucks and toys. Truly a big indoor playground. It feels very safe and clean as well. I'm pretty fastidious and do my due diligence about any place I take my only child/pandemic baby, and we come here consistently at least once/month. Only drop-off place I trust and my child loves it. Thank you!

I (briefly) taught a morning yoga class at this new-age daycare center. (Those of you who know me…read moreare laughing. I was an unlikely and probably unsuitable candidate for such a position. Here's a typical exchange between a child and myself... Child: :silence: Me: So... erm, what did you ask for from Santa this year?) Take that scenario -- multiply it by a bunch of kids aged 2-5, add distracting video games and Elmo toys, and subtract two wrestling boys and one little girl still crying over being dropped off. Now, you try motivating anyone to do a Downward-facing Dog! Anyway, even though my time as a teacher quickly expired, I got a good feel for this place and for the owner, Mastenah. She's wonderful, by the way, and her two girls --I'm convinced-- are the cutest and sweetest girls in all of Durham. The center has come a long way, and quickly, in Mastenah's hands. It's brightly painted and full of fun things (books, toys, blocks, a piano for sing-along) for toddlers. But the best thing about Wonderland is it's new-concept methods. In addition to yoga they offer cooking, pottery, Spanish, martial-arts, and more. (Heaven help whoever has to instruct that martial-arts class!) There's an outdoor play-set for more traditional play too. Mastenah bought the upstairs floor and is making plans to expand the daycare center. Wonderland is in the same building as a Montessori school, so many of its methods are in line with that, though it's not technically affiliated with the school. They offer flexible pick-up and drop-off times. All of the teachers are CPR certified. If I had kids (well don't hold your breath), I wouldn't hesitate to register them here.

Our children ages 3 and 1 are attending Wonderland full time all summer as part of their summer…read morecamp childcare program. It's the first time for both of them to be in full time childcare 8:30am - 5:30pm, 5 days a week, and it's a fantastic experience for both of them! They both are very happy. My son (the 1 year old) absolutely loves his teachers. This was the first place I've ever left him where he doesn't cry when I hand him over to someone else (including grandparents!) Instead, he sometimes cries when I pick him up and it's time to go home! I love the building - extra tall lofty ceilings, spacious play areas, and a friendly welcoming environment. And I love the staff - the teachers are all so nice!

We love this school, and whatever happened with the 1 star administration, we have felt nothing but…read morekindness, respect, and professionalism from the current administration. This school us beautiful in every way, with such heart and soul. I want to invent a time machine so I can go back to being a kid and enroll myself here. Enough said.

This is an excellent Montessori school. We're sending our son to pre-school there. Although it is…read morepretty expensive ($8k+), he has really developed there and the educational staff there is top notch. Montessori schools can be a crap shoot since Miss Montessori in her infinite wisdom never trademarked her school name or philosophy. So any joker can call themselves a Montessori school. There are a few in Chapel Hill like this. However this school is a legit Montessori school. It's accredited by one of the big Montessori organizations and they take their training seriously there. I think all of the teachers are Montessori certified, most of the helpers too. What really impressed me on the tour was that all the teachers have been there for many years. They're all really dedicated to the children and letting them explore their world. The facilities are ridiculously nice. They have wonderful playgrounds and the middle school is new. They have a new music and art building which is amazingly nice. You get what you pay for in this case. They have very active parents who organize multiple fundraisers for the school. I've got no reservations about sending my son here.

Staff was very friendly at this YMCA and the instructor for the Yin yoga class was extremely…read moreknowledgeable, professional and friendly. Facility seemed very clean. The only thing I would like to see for yoga would be blankets, bolsters, and straps.

I'm not sure why this Y gets a poor rating. It's perfectly fine for what anyone needs to complete…read morean exercise task. And they have an indoor pool and plenty of classes The staff here is always kind and helpful. They have early and later hours and a variety of equipment. It's a great place to meet new people in the various classes too.

This is such a wonderful daycare. We have three children and have been through several childcare…read moreoptions, but this was by far our favorite! It is a loving, nurturing atmosphere, with low staff to student ratios. The teachers, Maddi and Ana, have been there for several years. They are flexible and loving, and we miss them so much since moving! As an added bonus, they prepare their own healthy meals on site. I can't say enough good things about this place!

Highly recommend! A wonderful environment for kids. Clean facility and wonderful staff!read more

As a family of two busy professionals, I'm not quite sure how we'd have gotten by with a newborn if…read morenot for Suzi at Nurtured Baby. Flexibility with early morning drop-offs and later pick-ups has been a godsend. Our daughter has been at NB for over a year now and loves it. She happily runs in every day, is warmly greeted, and then sits down to a delicious all-organic breakfast. I know because parents are welcomed to take part in the spread as well! The small group size, high caregiver-to-baby ratio, and mixed age philosophy has been wonderful for our daughter. She comes home every day clean and happy, having learned new words, songs, and activities from her caretakers and baby pals. She even asks (...constantly...) where her NB friends are - and I couldn't ask for a better review. As for negative reviews on this site: NB is a group of ~8 families, and I know all the other parents there. I do not recognize those reviewers; they have never used NB to my knowledge. The fact that both accounts have written just one review and were created on the same day is suspicious, to say the least.

Suzi and the staff at Nurtured Baby are absolutely wonderful! Our son has been going to Suzi for…read morealmost 2 years (since he was around 5 months old). We could not be happier with her program. I know that he is very well cared for and loved at Suzi's (and he loves going!). Nurtured Baby is so much more than a traditional daycare. The space is a beautiful and inviting home environment. She has a very low teacher to child ratio and offers day/time flexibility(!). Organic foods. Non toxic products. Learning through play. I honestly didn't think we'd find such a wonderful place. I'm very grateful for Suzi and her staff. Balancing work and family isn't always easy, especially at first, but Suzi has certainly helped us along the way. We will forever be thankful to have found Suzi.