West Essex YMCA Peanut Shell Day Care — Local services in Livingston

Peanut Shell's NAEYC Accreditation (National Assoc. for the Education of Young Children) distinguished this center, from many in my area. As an educator, I was very familiar with the NAEYC standards. It was nice to see them in practice whenever I was present. Once I visited the center and met the director, the staff, and saw the space (which allows for multiple eyes on your child at any given time), my interest soared. My son started when he was about 21-22 Months of age, until he was ready for Kindergarten. There are so many wonderful things about Peanut Shell that a first time Mom, such as myself found invaluable. The staff is very caring, attentive, and patience. They offer an enriched learning environment with a certified teacher being a member of their staff. There's lots of sensory play, field trips, as well as special guests (musicians, artist, animals, dentist, horticulturist), they provide foundational academic skills, attention to hygiene, and nutrition. As a member of the peanut shell family, your child will have access to the local YMCA and the many programs it offers, which we utilized; such as soccer clinic & swim instruction. At Peanut Shell, my son participated in year long enrichment activities ,offered on site (additional payment required, directly to vendors), such as "Mad Science" and "Tumbling". You can stop by anytime unannounced, they offer great space for outdoor play, daily communication log for the younger ones, there's ample parking in the mornings & during pick-up. The center hours are great, and they almost never closes. The center is warm and friendly. Highly...

We have been a part of the Peanut Shell family for over 6 years. All three of my children attended full time – two of them since infancy. My youngest is still in the Pre K 3 class. Each time I got pregnant I researched other day care centers in the area to see if there were cost savings elsewhere. I was never able to find a superior center or more cost effective services. (Additionally, Peanut Shell offers need based financial assistance for those who qualify) This was also the only center where an actual parent approached me during my tour and personally recommended the center. I find myself doing the same thing now! Since Peanut Shell is NAEYC accredited, it has stricter teacher/child ratios in each classroom and an excellent curriculum. I can attest to the curriculum as both of my older kids went into kindergarten already reading and writing thanks to Peanut Shell! Now, they both love stopping by to pick up my youngest so that they can visit their old teachers. It is truly a nurturing and loving environment. The center offers field trips for the Pre K classes and since they are part of The Y, the Pre K classes also go to swim and gym weekly at the West Essex Y. During the summer it transitions into a camp environment and the Pre K classes go to swim and gym twice a week. I can’t say enough about how truly special...

My wife and I spent months researching and visiting multiple child care facilities in the area before settling on Peanut Shell. Since we are both educators, our standards were extremely high and Peanut Shell exceeded all of our expectations. We were impressed with the professionalism of the staff, who are all extremely caring and nurturing to all of the children. In addition, the classrooms are clean, organized, and wonderfully decorated with children's art projects and information for parents.

Our daughter is now entering her third year and we couldn't be happier watching her blossom into the wonderful person that she is today. She has had notable improvements with her interactions with other children as she continues to learn valuable skills like patience, teamwork, and respect. The center offers a variety of musical and physical extensions that have given her confidence as she discovers the growing...