As you’re searching for the home of your dreams in the Maplewood and South Orange, New Jersey, areas, you now need to start your hunt for the perfect preschool or daycare center for your family. Thankfully, Essex County is childcare-rich with its variety of offerings, from part-time to all-day options, both religious and non-denominational. And don’t limit your search to schools and centers just in Maplewood and South Orange. The neighboring towns of West Orange, Millburn, Short Hills and Livingston have equally good centers and are only a few minutes away.
Once you narrow your list down a handful of possibilities, be sure to ask for a tour of the facilities during the day so that you can see it up close and in action. Are the children happy? Do the teachers seem happy? For more questions to ask, click here.
Each family is unique with their own specific set of needs, but there’s something on this list for everyone. And just like when you knew your new house was “the one” when you walked through the front door, trust your gut when searching for preschools and daycare centers. With proper research and patience, you’ll also find the perfect daycare or preschool option for your family.
MAPLEWOOD
Kinder-Gan Preschool incorporates learning centers in the classroom, such as art, math, science, blocks, computers and writing, to provide an environment of choice that is designed to challenge the children.
www.maplewoodjewishcenter.org/
Le Parc Place, in the heart of Maplewood village, nurtures and develops the unique talents and abilities of each child through creative exploration and artistic self-expression, with lesson plans that are adapted to include various learning styles.
www.leparcplace.com/
Morrow Memorial Preschool is a co-op preschool in the heart of Maplewood village where parents and caretakers assist the teachers with day-to-day activities. www.morrowpreschool.org/
Prospect Co-Op Nursery School is designed for families that want to be involved in the early education of their children, through involvement with the preschool curriculum, administrative decisions and day-to-day activities.
www.prospectpreschool.org
South Mountain YMCA is one of the largest providers of childcare in the area, with programs designed to nurture the potential of children, promote healthy living and foster a sense of social responsibility.
www.metroymcas.org/south–mountain–ymca/south–mountain–ymca
SOUTH ORANGE
Baird Center Preschool, available to Maplewood and South Orange children, combines educational and recreational activities while encouraging social interaction to provide a balanced preschool experience.
childcarecenter.us › … › Essex County Child Care Centers
Bobbie’s Playhouse is an in-home daycare center in South Orange that provides a warm, loving and nurturing environment along with a structured social environment to foster academic and developmental growth.
www.crazykelvin.com/bobbies/
Buzzing Bees In Home Childcare is a family owned and operated facility that focuses on helping a child develop cognitively, emotionally, socially and physically in a fun, nurturing environment.
www.buzzingbeeschildcare.com
Little Stages Child Day Care, offering services for infants through pre-kindergarten, is a family oriented environment that encourages a child’s development in fun and welcoming ways, and where all styles of learning are recognized.
Littlestages.com/
Mickey Fried at Oheb Shalom offers a warm, creative environment where children can learn as they play while focusing on Jewish traditions and religion.
https://www.ohebshalom.org/nursery-school
Montrose Early Childhood Center, a new school for special needs and general education children, offers both full and half day programs where the special education and general education students are mixed to promote self confidence and achievement for all students.
www.somsd.k12.nj.us
Our Lady of Sorrows Nursery and Preschool, offers services for children 6 weeks through pre-kindergarten, teaching respect and responsibility through play-based programs founded on Christian love and community.
www.olschurch.com
South Orange Country Day School offers a progressive child-friendly environment that stimulates learning, promotes independence and encourages personal responsibility for all students.
www.socds.com
Temple Sharey Tefilo Israel Iris Family Preschool offers a stimulating, stress-free environment that emphasizes individuality, creativity and communication and where children are encouraged to grow and develop confidence with a positive self image.
https://www.tsti.org/early-childhood-center
Thelma K. Reisman Preschool of Beth El provides a warm nurturing Jewish environment for young children to grow physically, academically and socially.
www.bethelnj.org/content/preschool
Totri Day Care focuses on the emotional, social, intellectual, and physical growth of a child through exciting, enriching activities in a fun, bilingual (English/Spanish) and developmentally appropriate environment.
www.totrichildcare.com
Village Babies Development Center is an early childhood development facility in South Orange where children are offered a gentle, secure and unique development experience through play-based programs.
www.villagebabies.com
Weekday Cooperative Preschool is a multicultural cooperative program where teachers strive to form a solid foundation for future education through social interaction and a hands-on approach.
www.weekdaycooperativepreschool.org
WEST ORANGE
JCC Metro West offers a nurturing friendly atmosphere in which to build self-awareness and self-esteem through a special ethics and values curriculum, and with an enriched program filled with language, reading, math, science, art, music, and fun.
jccmetrowest.org
Playhouse Cooperative Nursery School offers a play-based curriculum designed to help a child develop academic skills and knowledge as well as social skills with lessons tailored to the interests of the students in the classroom.
www.playhouseonline.org
Tutor Time in West Orange offers The School Readiness Pathway which features developmentally appropriate programs with specialized curriculum and customized learning plans that are based on a child’s developmental needs and milestones.
tutortimewestorange.com
MILLBURN
Alpine Montessori offers a strong academic program in a warm, nurturing environment where each child’s unique abilities are supported and developed and where intellectual, social and physical skills are reinforced.
www.alpinemontessori.com/schools/millburn-short-hills-school
Hedwig Gruenwald Early Childhood Center at Congregation B’Nai Israel offers a nurturing environment where children learn and grow through hands-on experience, experimentation and play, and are exposed to Jewish customs, traditions and concepts on a daily basis.
www.cbi-nj.org/
Millburn Co-Op Nursery School offers a unique two-year program that draws on various teaching philosophies, where children challenge themselves based on their abilities, and where families are encouraged to participate in the school environment.
www.millburncoop.org/
Neighborhood House Nursery School is operated by a non-profit, community based organization that provides a home-like setting where the children learn, participate in community activities and learn to respect other cultures.
www.neighborhoodhousenursery.org/
Open Door Nursery School, located in Wyoming Presbyterian Church, focuses on the physical, intellectual, social and emotional development of children through interaction with their friends and teachers.
www.opendoornurseryschool.com/
St. Stephen’s Preschool provides quality, affordable childcare in the community and offers a warm, loving, play-based educational environment, where no religion is taught, and where children learn to respect others and celebrate people’s differences.
ststephensmillburn.org/preschool/
SHORT HILLS
Christ Church Nursery School uses play and hands-on experiences to make learning fun and meaningful, while giving children the opportunity to develop self-confidence and independence through music, movement, art and science.
www.christchurchnurseryschool.org/
Far Brook School offers preschool care at the lower school, and children foster friendships, a sense of community and a love of learning through play-based experiences.
www.farbrook.org/
St. Rose of Lima Academy offers a faith-based program designed to nurture a child through all aspects of development, building skills, creativity and confidence.
www.saintroseoflimaacademy.org/
The Montessori Children’s Academy uses traditional Montessori methods to provide a challenging, yet appropriate learning environment that engages a child’s curiosity and helps them develop a love of learning.
www.themontessorichildrensacademy.com/
The Rabbi Barry H. Greene Early Childhood Center at Congregation B’Nai Jeshrun strives to instill a love of learning in each child through multi-sensory and thematically based lessons, to empower students to become independent thinkers, and to celebrate their Jewish heritage, customs and traditions.
www.tbjshorthills.org/#!early–childhood–center/c165
LIVINGSTON
Aquinas Academy offers a faith-based early childhood program within a spiritual environment and is a training site for education majors from Seton Hall University and Caldwell University.
www.aquinasacademynj.org/aanj/Preschool/
Early Childhood Center at Temple Emanu-el of West Essex offers an introduction to Judaism while at the same time providing a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment to help each student become respectful, responsible, independent and creative individuals.
www.emanuel.org/
Iris Berman Nursery School strives to give its students the tools and the foundation to succeed in a Jewish day school as well as in their future lives through an integrated approach to learning.
www.suburbantorah.org/nurseryschool/
Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy supports the emotional, social and spiritual development of a child through a stimulating learning environment where they can discover and explore new experiences.
https://www.jkha.org/
Learning Experience has been built on the three key cognitive, physical and social principles of education and care, which have been renamed “learn, play and grow,” to enrich a child cognitively, physically and communally.
https://thelearningexperience.com/our-centers/nj/livingston/livingston
Little Angels Christian Montessori offers a traditional Montessori education within a Christian environment where each child can develop and discover the world around them.
www.lacms.org/
Little Tots Academy is committed to the development of the whole child with “learning through fun” activities designed to develop and reinforce the child’s confidence at whatever skill level they achieve.
littletotsacademy.com/
Peanut Shell Child Care Center – West Essex YMCA provides a safe place to develop skills, relationships and build self-reliance through the YMCA principles of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
www.metroymcas.org/west–essex–ymca/ymca–child–care/
St. Barnabas Kindercare in Livingston provides engaging lessons that combine fun and learning through independent exploration, structured activities and hands-on learning in an enriched environment.
www.kindercare.com/
The Early School of Temple B’nai Abraham strives to provide an educational and emotional foundation for success when a child enters kindergarten by combining enriched educational and relationship-building experiences.
www.tbanj.org/the-early–school
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