A Small World Child Care Ctr

Overall, this is a low quality daycare. The infant room and younger toddler teachers are experienced, nurturing, and generally good, but the older toddler and preschool rooms have unenthusiastic and, in some cases, inexperienced teachers who could benefit from additional training. On the early occasions that I've had to pick up my daughter, I've watched the teachers either in the classroom or on the playground with the children and they seemed more interested in gossiping with one another, rather than engaging with the children. Although I've had limited experience with her, the lower preschool teacher sounded more like a drill sergeant, rather than a teacher. I didn't want my child to have to experience that, and took her out. The director also seems to want limited contact with parents, as she is rarely in the office, or, if she is in, tends to hide (literally position her chair in her office so that parents cannot see her from the hallway) from the outside world. If you are looking for a short-term solution, you can try this daycare, but take your children out before they enter the older toddler room, and definitely find another facility for daycare or preschool instruction. more

If you're looking to save money, this is the place to go. But, you get what you pay for. Both of my kids came here for a little while before we decided to seek services elsewhere. Some of the teachers are pretty good and you can tell they really care for the children and are nurturing. For other teachers, it seems like this is more of a job than a career, and I do wonder what everyone's credentials are. On the one hand it's good that teachers rotate through the different classrooms so they and the children get to know each other. On the other hand, it does make me nervous when I overhear a teacher say to another ""I don't know why I'm in this classroom."" Or, when a teacher begins to tell you how to parent, and then thinks better of the situation, surely knowing that if s/he finishes the sentence that s/he started, it will not end well. The older children get breakfast and lunch and a snack each day, and the infants get a little snack in the afternoon when they're old enough to eat crackers. We were happy about this. The waitlist is top secret. When you get on it, you don't know which position you are in. When your child is birthed into this world, it's the same. 1 month before maternity leave is to end, mum's the word. This is an extremely frustrating process, especially if you have no back up and don't want to spend hundreds of dollars at other daycares putting in applications and trying to secure a spot. I really do wish the management was more understanding and human about this. Although they do work on federal grounds, this information should not require clearance from the highest levels. The entrance into the daycare is locked, you have to ring a bell so that someone can come to the door (good security, I do appreciate this). I don't think parents should be made to feel guilty for ringing the bell so that they may drop off their child, as that's the only way to get the child in the door. More often than not, you have to wait and wait and wait for somebody to come to the door. Sometimes the director or assistant director will come out of the front office, which faces the front door, and answer it themselves. Sometimes they remain behind their closed door and, after three rings or so, a teacher will leave their classroom to open the door. This can be frustrating, especially when you need to drive 8+ miles to get to work and are held up by a daycare center that is slow in opening its doors to you. If they (management) do answer the door, don't expect a smile or a warm greeting. Expect a brief ""hi,"" an acknowledgement of your child's existence, and then a retreat back to the office. Come on, they can do better than this. Surely they can fake it for a few seconds? Is the world of childcare so difficult that it hardens the hearts of those who manage the day-to-day operations? They do close at 6, which is pretty good. However, by late in the day management has gone home, and teachers have to go to the door if you ring the bell. This can take even longer than the morning. When you're tired, need to fight traffic and plan dinner, the last thing you want to be held up by is a locked door between you and your child. Maybe the director or assistant director could stay until the end of the day so that the teachers don't have to leave the children to constantly open the door? I'm not sure if things changed since we were there, but when Small World appeared in an Internet search and I was reading the other reviews (which I do believe are all true - everyone has different experiences), I just had to recount our experiences with this place. It brings back memories. more

My daughter has been at Small World since she was 3 months old. Overall, I have been extremely happy with the Center. Many of the teachers have been there for 10+ years and seem to be very happy there, which translates into excellent care for the children. It is a small center so all of the teachers know my daughter and she still gets to see (and give big hugs and kisses to) her favorite teacher from the infant room (one of the long-time afternoon teachers) all the time. The Center is well-run and is very reasonably priced. An added bonus is that lunch is provided. I highly recommend Small World. Pros: Low turn-over with Teachers; Open-Door Policy more

lovely small center on the grounds of the VA Hospital in Boston. Offering personal, warm, caring and stimulating care for children from birth to pre-K. My child has been enrolled for over 2 years and is simply thriving under their care. Bonus is the NAEYC accreditation. Pros: small, moderately priced, NAEYC, multicultural, multilingual more

Infant room - excellent morning teachers, the evening crew does the bare minimum. Toddler rooms - OK, but just meet the minimal requirements. Preschool - too small crowded rooms, not enough stimulation. Pros: price, free meals and snacks Cons: small rooms, not much kids activities, mediocre care more