Welcome to our Pre-K family! We are delighted to have you and your child join us for an exciting journey of learning, growth, and fun. This is a wonderful time filled with new adventures, and we are honored to be part of your child’s early educational journey.

At Curious Children Child Care Center, we believe in nurturing each child’s unique strengths and interests, encouraging their curiosity, and fostering a love for learning through play, creativity and hands-on experiences. Our dedicated team of teachers is committed to creating a safe, joyful, and stimulating environment where every child can thrive.

We understand sending your child off to school is a big step for both parents and children, so we are here to support you every step of the way. As we embark on this journey together, we want you to know that your involvement and support are immeasurable. We value open communication and partnership with our families, and we encourage you to be actively involved in your child’s learning journey so that, together, we can make this a memorable and enriching experience for your child. Whether it’s through classroom activities, special events, or everyday interactions, we are here to ensure that your child’s pre-kindergarten year is filled with positive and meaningful experiences.

Thank you for entrusting us with the care and education of your little one. Let’s make this a fantastic year because together, we can create a positive and enriching experience for all our students.

Please contact the office with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. We are here to ensure that your child has a wonderful and meaningful Pre-K year filled with growth, laughter and new friendships.

Curious Children Child Care Center serves the culturally diverse community of South Orange and Maplewood. We provide quality pre-K services and offer parental support for working families in the surrounding communities. We encourage the involvement of parents and guardians in our program.

We are committed to providing a warm, welcoming and supportive atmosphere where children thrive and parents can feel assured that their children’s welfare is our first priority.

Our developmentally appropriate approach to early childhood care and education focuses on the whole child. We understand that each child grows and develops at his or her own pace when provided with nurturing guidance and adequate quality age-appropriate materials that allow them to play and grow. Our curriculum fosters confident learning that results in physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth.

Curious Children Child Care Center offers not just high-quality child care. We provide a safe, inclusive foundational program that stimulates the child’s curiosity, boosts self-confidence and love of learning, emphasizes safety, respect for others and fosters positive social and educational development.

Each parent or guardian is required to review, or complete, sign and return several documents to satisfy the registration requirements. These forms include:

• Anaphylaxis Emergency Health Care Plan
• Asthma Treatment Plan
• Authorization for Emergency Treatment
• Enrollment Application
• Expulsion Policy
• Guidelines for Positive Discipline
• Information to Parents
• Parent Receipt of Information
• Permission for Designees for Emergency Administration of Epinephrine
• Physical Exam Form
• Policy on Communicating with Parents
• Policy on IEP or IFSP Documents - Writable
• Policy on Management of Communicable Diseases - Writable
• Policy on Release of Children - Writable
• Policy on Technology and Social Media
• Request for Administration of Medication
• Universal Child Health Record

To ensure the safety and well-being of all our children, please adhere to the following drop off and pick up procedures the following drop off and pick up procedures.

Curious Children Child Care Center operates on the school calendar of the South Orange Maplewood School District. If you are unsure if the Center is open, please check here.

School Closings
All Early Dismissals and school closings related to Staff Professional Development Days, inclement weather-related conditions and National Holidays are listed on the District Website.

In situations of inclement weather or significant snowfall that necessitate a closing, you will receive a message from the district to that effect. For real-time updates and reminders, please log on to the district’s website.

We understand that these closings and holidays may require adjustments to your schedules. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact us at curiouschildren5@gmail.com.

Emergency Closing
In the unlikely event that the Center must be closed for any reason associated with the building, or an emergency, we will notify you by email or phone as soon as the decision is made to close and reason for it.

Family Outings
If you intend to take your child away from school during the semester, please notify us in advance so that we are aware of the whereabouts of your child. We are invested in the wellbeing of your child and this notification will remove any concern about the child’s absence.

The Center operates on the schedule of the South Orange/Maplewood School District.

Classes begin at 8:30am and end at 2:30pm, Mondays through Fridays.

Aftercare services are offered provided from 3:00pm until 6:00pm

For information on closing due to inclement weather, visit www.somsd.k12.nj.us. For emergency closings not related to weather, we will communicate with you by phone or email as soon as we have determined the need to close.

The Center is located in the South Orange-Vailsburg United Methodist Church at 150 South Orange Avenue, South Orange, New Jersey.