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Cacarina
Two girls!
Member since 12/09 2971 total posts
Name:
Cari
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Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
Anyone have great recommendations for daycare centers near the Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack area or Bethpage area? We will be moving to Smithtown (very close to Hauppague) and I work in Bethpage.
DD will be 2 in June and we're looking for a center that provides meals, is open until at least 6pm and doesn't close for every single school vacation/snow day. I was looking at one and it seemed to be geared more toward teacher parents and I need more coverage than that.
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Posted 4/28/14 1:28 PM  |
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TwinDani
We are complete <3
Member since 3/11 1750 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
My girls go to Small Wonders in Hauppauge. It is a great daycare and in the state building in Hauppauge. They provide breakfast, lunch and snacks. They only closed maybe 2 times this winter and early a few times when it got really bad. Last winter I do not remember them closing at all maybe during that huge storm. They are also open on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve until I believe 2:00 pm or 3:00 pm.
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| Posted 4/28/14 1:55 PM |
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Cacarina
Two girls!
Member since 12/09 2971 total posts
Name:
Cari
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Re: Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
Posted by TwinDani
My girls go to Small Wonders in Hauppauge. It is a great daycare and in the state building in Hauppauge. They provide breakfast, lunch and snacks. They only closed maybe 2 times this winter and early a few times when it got really bad. Last winter I do not remember them closing at all maybe during that huge storm. They are also open on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve until I believe 2:00 pm or 3:00 pm.
Thanks for replying - that is RIGHT near where we are moving! I'll definitely be looking into this.
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:01 PM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
In bethpage - look at the Kiddie academy. I take my DS to the one in Farmingdale which is right off 110 but I know a few people on here go to the Bethpage one and like it.
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:15 PM |
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Cacarina
Two girls!
Member since 12/09 2971 total posts
Name:
Cari
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Re: Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
Posted by alli3131
In bethpage - look at the Kiddie academy. I take my DS to the one in Farmingdale which is right off 110 but I know a few people on here go to the Bethpage one and like it.
Thanks - I've heard really great things about this Kiddie Academy.
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:27 PM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
My son attends Ivy League in Smithtown. It is on Brooksite Drive so somewhat close to Hauppauge - kind of on the border.
I know they have options to pick up late because I think their "typical" hours are 8:30am-5:30pm and that works for us but I know other parents drop off early and pick up late. Yes, it would be nice to have the option of early drop off for us sometimes but I love the facility and staff so much that I make it work. They are also a little on the pricey side but compared to other places in Smithtown (I looked at SEVEN day care facilities total) the difference was anywhere from as little as $30 dollars a month to as much as $85 a month and I just can't see going to a place I didn't love as much over $85 over the course of a month. I just buy less Starbucks, haha!
Jude is in the duckling room because he is young - seven months. I think the duckling room is six weeks until like 18 months or so.
Then, there's the frog room - God the kids are so cute in that room. They are like 18 months up... I guess until maybe four years?? I don't even know lol. But wow they have a great room, great staff, and amazing activities. I know they cater the food in for them - one of the staff members mentioned that they choose from an organic menu and they have all the stuff delivered daily. I don't have personal experience with this because my son is a baby and I provide the food because it's mostly formula.
Anyway, they may have more specific info on their website and I recommend a tour and speaking with Denise, who is the director there. For me, it's the CARING and LOVING staff that are made up of SUCH warm, wonderful, and caring people -- good, quality, and driven people. They really are picky when they hire and I'm lucky to have a group of people who TRULY care for Julian's well being and love to do all sorts of activities with him rather than just "watch" him.
So, for the staff and for the fact that they do so much with them -- the older kids, in fact, do tons of great things: they start teaching them mandarin, they do yoga, they do all sorts of arts and crafts, they have music time, they have a sixteen acre campus that when the weather is nice they take them out to enjoy. It is wonderful.
They also have a fantastic, very highly rated summer camp and if you are a daycare person they give you a discount to then attend the summer camp. I plan on sending my son to that when he is old enough. So excited for him to enjoy that because of how much they do with them.
I'll post some of the things they have done with Julian so far in the duckling room -- activities are a little bit more limited since he is young but they still do SO much considering he's just seven months old. They also take him out in strollers and on the swings a lot which is great.
Here's the site -- I'll post pics from me :)
http://www.daycareativyleague.com/
OH and by the way, they also have a shutterfly account and post pics often of the kids so you can see what they are doing. They have a secure site with password for safety. They also have a lock on their facility and are very safe that way, too. I liked the fact that Ivy League felt HOMEY to me, like my house, that it felt warm and that it felt old school in certain ways -- it is family owned and operated since 1967 and has a private elementary school on the campus as well as the amazing summer camp so I just liked that and it has a long-running reputation. I remember growing up in Smithtown always knowing about it.
Out of the seven places I toured and researched to DEATH, this was the place I loved most. No place that I looked at was exactly perfect - it's just the nature of it, but this place - the one or two things that wasn't perfect, wasn't a concern like meaning nothing having to do with his well being so I overlooked it. Like the fact that they don't have way late hours unless you opt to pay extra to extend them. MY SECOND CHOICE, that I will definitely say I recommend and think was a great place was BEST Learning Center right on 347 in Smithtown. You can look up their site too. I did like them. Again, smart and caring staff that's on the ball and you can tell they would be safe there, have a good time, and learn a lot. That's what I care about.
Obviously for me too was no crib sharing, a BIG stance on the importance of good nutrition, and overall just great activities and things that will help him develop and learn while enjoying himself.
Here's their site if it helps!
http://www.bestlearningcenter.com/
So yeah out of the seven places I loved Ivy League and Best Learning Center the most --- the other five I would not recommend at all. Like I'd sooner die than send my son there.  Thank God for unplanned visits. 
I'll post activity pics! 
Hope that helps, good luck, and a warm welcome to the neighborhood!!!
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:30 PM |
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ndblovah
Be happy always
Member since 1/07 1880 total posts
Name:
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Re: Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
Posted by DaniRella
My son attends Ivy League in Smithtown. It is on Brooksite Drive so somewhat close to Hauppauge - kind of on the border.
I know they have options to pick up late because I think their "typical" hours are 8:30am-5:30pm and that works for us but I know other parents drop off early and pick up late. Yes, it would be nice to have the option of early drop off for us sometimes but I love the facility and staff so much that I make it work. They are also a little on the pricey side but compared to other places in Smithtown (I looked at SEVEN day care facilities total) the difference was anywhere from as little as $30 dollars a month to as much as $85 a month and I just can't see going to a place I didn't love as much over $85 over the course of a month. I just buy less Starbucks, haha!
$85.00 a month? That's your total costs per month for daycare? Or is that the daily rate?
To the OP I found these two sites very helpful in finding a daycare
I would find my area or surrounding areas on this site, look up webpages and then check out their facility on the NYS site.
Then I would review any violations here
NYS state
daycare
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:41 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
Posted by ndblovah
Posted by DaniRella
My son attends Ivy League in Smithtown. It is on Brooksite Drive so somewhat close to Hauppauge - kind of on the border.
I know they have options to pick up late because I think their "typical" hours are 8:30am-5:30pm and that works for us but I know other parents drop off early and pick up late. Yes, it would be nice to have the option of early drop off for us sometimes but I love the facility and staff so much that I make it work. They are also a little on the pricey side but compared to other places in Smithtown (I looked at SEVEN day care facilities total) the difference was anywhere from as little as $30 dollars a month to as much as $85 a month and I just can't see going to a place I didn't love as much over $85 over the course of a month. I just buy less Starbucks, haha!
$85.00 a month? That's your total costs per month for daycare? Or is that the daily rate?
To the OP I found these two sites very helpful in finding a daycare
I would find my area or surrounding areas on this site, look up webpages and then check out their facility on the NYS site.
Then I would review any violations here
NYS state
daycare
I think she meant the DIFFERENCE in prices between the daycares she looked at were at most $85 a month.
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:42 PM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
Here ya go...
This was the VALENTINE Julian made for DH and I...
The outside:
The inside LOL:
On the swings:
They sent him home with these two pics once because he loved the swings so much, he didn't want to come out so:
They had to scoop him out and take him inside for his nap! HAHA!!
St. Patrick's Day...
He's the kind of boy who makes how he feels very apparent so it is VERY apparent he loves it there as he giggles on the way there each morning.
Recent pic of him :)
Hope that helps and GL! 
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:44 PM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
Posted by NervousNell
I think she meant the DIFFERENCE in prices between the daycares she looked at were at most $85 a month.
Yes!!! Sorry lol should have made that clear.
So, it broke down to, at most, 85 dollars more a month which is roughly 21 bucks a week so yeah LESS Starbucks! 
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:45 PM |
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ndblovah
Be happy always
Member since 1/07 1880 total posts
Name:
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Re: Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by ndblovah
Posted by DaniRella
My son attends Ivy League in Smithtown. It is on Brooksite Drive so somewhat close to Hauppauge - kind of on the border.
I know they have options to pick up late because I think their "typical" hours are 8:30am-5:30pm and that works for us but I know other parents drop off early and pick up late. Yes, it would be nice to have the option of early drop off for us sometimes but I love the facility and staff so much that I make it work. They are also a little on the pricey side but compared to other places in Smithtown (I looked at SEVEN day care facilities total) the difference was anywhere from as little as $30 dollars a month to as much as $85 a month and I just can't see going to a place I didn't love as much over $85 over the course of a month. I just buy less Starbucks, haha!
$85.00 a month? That's your total costs per month for daycare? Or is that the daily rate?
To the OP I found these two sites very helpful in finding a daycare
I would find my area or surrounding areas on this site, look up webpages and then check out their facility on the NYS site.
Then I would review any violations here
NYS state
daycare
I think she meant the DIFFERENCE in prices between the daycares she looked at were at most $85 a month.
I was going to say SIGN ME UP !! Thanks for clarification
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:45 PM |
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ndblovah
Be happy always
Member since 1/07 1880 total posts
Name:
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Re: Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
Posted by DaniRella
Posted by NervousNell
I think she meant the DIFFERENCE in prices between the daycares she looked at were at most $85 a month.
Yes!!! Sorry lol should have made that clear.
So, it broke down to, at most, 85 dollars more a month which is roughly 21 bucks a week so yeah LESS Starbucks!
LOL thank you. Your son is adorable. Love all the things they do with him there. Makes it so important to feel comforatble with a place you love.
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:46 PM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
Posted
To the OP I found these two sites very helpful in finding a daycare
I would find my area or surrounding areas on this site, look up webpages and then check out their facility on the NYS site.
Then I would review any violations here
NYS state
daycare
Great references. I used this to help as well. Although I didn't go totally by it. Ironically, I found one place that I visited in person that was a HORROR SHOW to have no violations on the sites and yet two places I thought were very very nice had one or two violations - minor and more paperwork crap and not much to do with the safety of the child or anything bad but it just went to show me that I had to use these sites IN CONJUNCTION with researching myself and not as a basis only... unless of course there was a glaring safety red flag on the site.
Message edited 4/28/2014 2:50:11 PM.
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:48 PM |
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Cacarina
Two girls!
Member since 12/09 2971 total posts
Name:
Cari
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Re: Daycare Centers near Smithtown/Hauppague/Commack OR Bethpage
Posted by DaniRella
Here ya go...
This was the VALENTINE Julian made for DH and I...
The outside:
IMAGE
The inside LOL:
IMAGE
IMAGE
On the swings:
IMAGE
They sent him home with these two pics once because he loved the swings so much, he didn't want to come out so:
IMAGE
They had to scoop him out and take him inside for his nap! HAHA!!
St. Patrick's Day...
IMAGE
He's the kind of boy who makes how he feels very apparent so it is VERY apparent he loves it there as he giggles on the way there each morning.
Recent pic of him :)
IMAGE
Hope that helps and GL!
OMG - how cute is he!!! Looks like they do some really awesome things with the children, even at such a young age. It is nice to see.
Thanks for your detailed review, it is much appreciated. My dd has been going to the same daycare here in Astoria since she was 3 months old and I am having a REALLY hard time with the idea of taking her out of her comfort zone and putting her somewhere new. I am probably going to be like you and research every single daycare out there!!!! Thanks again.
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| Posted 4/28/14 2:49 PM |
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