Joyful Noise Child Devmnt Ctr

I was at the MAX station right outside the Joyful Noise on 1st street in Portland this afternoon and witnessed a little boy and little girl getting their diaper's changed with the window curtains totally open. I don't have a child enrolled there but after seeing that I wouldn't have my daughter go there because who knows what kind of creeps and pervs. are outside that window, pictures could be taken without anyone's knowledge. I personally think that's completely inappropriate!! more

We looked at a couple of the centers and thought they were really nice and seemed to be a good match... but over a year later we are still on the waiting list and they won't return our calls to find out any status on the list. Both places we went to were more than glad to take our $30 (each place) to put us on the wait list. Now as we approach 2 years of waiting they just give us a line of ""we'll check and call you back"" and never do. Only after did we waitlist, did we find out that one of our co-workers has been on the list for 4 years. I know they are using folks to pad their budget, so save your $30 bucks and search elsewhere. Pros: you'll never find out Cons: happy to take you money more

Our children attended Joyful Noise many years ago, when the only center was in the Federal building, downtown. We were waitlisted then, too. Our son was admitted just after his second birthday, and I -- pregnant with our daughter -- cried on his first day. His teacher (""Man Stevie"") assured me that almost every mother cried on the first day! I felt as well cared-for as my children at Joyful Noise, made many lasting friends, and formed strong bonds with the teachers, several of whom stayed with our children at our home over the years when we had to travel for business. Both children thrived there. Not only was the environment stimulating, but it had the right mix of structure, social interaction and learning, and unstructured play. Lunches were nutritious and delicious (I still make Colleen's lentil stew at home!). Teachers were caring, attentive to our needs, and knew our children well. We have highschoolers now, and I must say that their humble beginnings at Joyful Noise helped prepare them to be self-confident and successful young adults with excellent social skills. The other night, as we waited at the Max stop on our way to the Blazers game, my 17-year-old son crossed the street to peer into the windows of the toddlers room. He came back with a big grin on his face. ""Best years of my life!"" he exclaimed. Pros: staff was wonderful: kind, caring, communicative Cons: parking could be difficult more

Joyful Noise owns four different locations near and in downtown Portland. As a previous emloyer for 5 years, I have to say that as a whole, they are great. But one in particular isnt so. The management is/was not that great and didnt make good choices about letting teachers quit and fireing teachers that were wonderful with the children. that taught children to develop on their own time, but not too late. It was just not stable for the children to have different teachers on a cycle not knowing who would be in the class. I just hope that the owner has made better choices, and has made the children the center focus. NOT about making money and how many centers to open to make more money. Sometimes quality of centers starts out great, but once more open its about quanity instead of quality. \r You have your opinion as do I, but I worked there. I may not have my ECE, but I have experince that is more than book learning. Pros: downtown close to work, the wonderful teachers Cons: Management, Owner more

If you are a working parent and you need full day child care there isn't any other place in town for you. However, if you desire an actual preschool seek elsewhere. This place is a day care. Not a school, please keep that in mind. \r \r \r \r \r \r more

I just read several of the reviews below and I am so surprised by the negative ones. We were on a waiting list for 2 years to enroll our daughter (we signed up when we were first pregnant) and she had to attend a different center until she was 18 months old. I noticed huge differences in her education and socialization once she started Joyful Noise. The teachers were great with her. At 18 month she learned a lot of sign language and various skills to learn how to share and use her words when she was wanting something or unhappy with something, it has been great. Every time she gets moved up to a new class I am sad she has to leave her teachers, but then I love the next class just as much, I think it is a great environment that allows your child to thrive and they are open to questions and give constant feedback. I completely recommend Joyful Noise, Pros: a great structured environment that kids and parents love Cons: if you are a non-federal employee - they are closed all federal holidays which can be tough more

After reading the comment from the person whose child attended Joyful Noise for a month and was so unhappy, I had to write with my experience. I have been an employee for 2 years and Joyful Noise has 4 Centers each with its own ""flavor"". It is a non-profit and is far from a corporate subsidiary. It is really too bad that someone would make such strong accusations with such little experience and information. It is ridiculous to think that your child will recieve one on one care at a Child Care Facility. Joyful Noise and its staff work very hard to make sure every child receives quality care while trying to meet the individual needs of each child. Most parents speak to their child's teacher on a daily basis not as Matry chose to ""on the occassions I spoke to them"". Had this person made more of an effort to connect with the staff, maybe he or she would have had a different experience. more

When I took my first born to his first day at Joyful Noise when he was just 3 months old, I didn't know what I was getting into. Somehow I thought I was being a neglectful parent because I was leaving a substantial amount of his waking time to ""strangers"". It didn't take me long to realize that I was doing exactly the opposite. My children THRIVE at Joyful Noise. They learn what small children should learn - how to have an open mind to other people (children & adult) and to their ideas. How to share. How to predict daily events. How to trust. How to be fair. How to feel comfortable in their own skins. How to feel comfortable questioning anything. How to engage as small children in small groups, large groups, and within the city. My children will be leaving Joyful Noise at the end of this month after 6 fabulous years. My eldest is too old for the center; I only wish they had an elementary school! My children are already grieving for the friends they won't see every day (including teacher-friends!). In the meanwhile, I am trying to figure out how I am going to be a parent without the loving, collaborative help of the wonderful staff of the center. Please don't roll your eyes at this and think ""... she's one of those parents who dumps her kids off so she can have a career..."". Quite the contrary - I have a husband who continually asks me to be a stay-at-home mom and I would love it. But I know my kids and they have NEEDED Joyful Noise. I have continued to work so that they could attend Joyful Noise. THAT was a revalation - it didn't start out that way 6 years ago... Let me finish by just saying this... whenever I mention to parent friends around the region that my kids go to Joyful Noise, the reaction ALWAYS is ""...how did you ever manage to get them in there? The waiting list is LONG!"". Hmmmm.... seems to me the waiting time for a seat/reservation at Brasserie Montmartre or Jakes is much longer than at McDonalds... you make the comparison... more

After reading a few of these reviews, I was taken aback. I am a staff member at Joyful Noise and have very positive things to say. I have worked in child care facilities for the past 8 years, and have finally felt like I am working somewhere where standards are high, and support is excellent. I can only speak from a teachers view, but I feel that this is an important one to consider, since I directly effect how your child?s care will be. The administration is extremely supportive, the pay is higher than any center around Portland, and we have benefits (which is such a rarity!). After working in various centers around Oregon, I am still in awe of the amazing facility, the quality staff that I work, and the great families that work with us to create the best success for their child while in our care. I would honestly recommend this center to any family that I care about. more

I have to say that when I saw the facility and location I thought that I had found a good match for my child. However, after a month of care I felt let down. This facility lacked to ability to provide a good learning experience with enough of the one on one attention a child needs. Their teachers seemed committed to making the best of a bad situation on the occasions I spoke to them but seemed to be receiving little to no back up. I found this less than surprising when I learned that far from the ""local non-profit"" I had been lead to believe they were, they were actually just another corporate subsidiary. more

My son was in Joyful Noise for 4 years. We always thought it was great. They are divided into ""classes"" by age. There was one class out of all that time that we felt he wasn't getting much stimulation. Of course, the location was excellent for me and that made it seem like an ideal place. I'd recommend it for folks working downtown. more

As a parent with a child that has been enrolled at Joyful Noise for several years, I have found that the administration lacks concern for the children, and -- though the teachers are commited to the children and their education -- the overall environment totes a progressive environment, but fundamentally fails in its delivery. more

If you are interested in an expensive holding pen for your child, than don't hesitate. However, if you want high quality care that puts the children's needs first, you better look somewhere else. more