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September 2023 by Esther Wang
Teachers are very friendly, and I like that they don’t give kids screen time ❤️, so they have more time to develop their social skills, drawing, and reading books. I really appreciate it! Also, their kids' restroom is very cute. Teachers take kids there to change diapers or for potty breaks. God bless you all! Thank you for being my kid’s teachers.
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July 2023 by Erin
RLDCC is an incredibly special early childhood center. The teachers are kind, highly-qualified and knowledgeable, and all of the staff treat the children with compassion and respect. There are a lot of benefits to attendance here (e.g., comparable/lower tuition costs than other centers in the area, ample outside time, a developmentally appropriate curriculum, healthy food for the children), but at the end of the day the teachers and directors care about your child and your family, which allows children to feel safe and loved and ultimately learn and grow. I can confidently recommend RLDCC based on positive experiences with both of my children there.
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June 2023 by Vita Roy
This is the best daycare! The teachers and director are amazing and both my children love going in every day. I feel very reassured they are in a safe, happy, and caring place while I am away. I have had kids in every one of their groups, and each group is great with their own character and age-appropriate activities for the children. The playground is wonderful, with trees and other greenery, a very large sandbox and all the toys you’d want. Keep it up!!
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June 2023 by Hristijan Josifoski
Both of my children have been enrolled since Honeybee ages. We are so happy with how they are taken care of. The staff is well educated, diverse, and loving. The center has so many toys inside and outside. The kids are learning and playing in natural ways. They offer Kindergarten and is a much better experience, something similar to my childhood. They need the play! And RLDCC does this while teaching them so many things. My favorite is how they teach them self efficiency and independence within the routine everyday. So many places make kids into robots. RLDCC loves the child for who they are.
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June 2023 by Jasmine Ho
I’m astounded that Rutgers Livingston Day Care Center doesn’t already have five stars?!I’m truly a fan- here’s why:- They go OUTSIDE 2x a day NO MATTER THE WEATHER (dress appropriately!)- Large playground, including sand box, swings, etc.- They feed the kids 2 meals and a snack (no extra work of thinking and making what’s for breakfast/lunch- kids are always fed!)- Staff have been there for YEARS (low turnover rate/ teachers with lots of experience)- No screens! (I once toured another facility where a teacher was in a big empty room and just had an iPad and TV with Cocomelon on for the kids to watch and runaround to- WTH?) They get enough of screens at home and they’re young- go play!!I have 2 kids there currently (been here since 2021) and I can say without a doubt that they do so much activity everyday that I’m amazed. Painting with their feet one day, learning about and looking at insects and tree bark with magnifying glasses another day, making and baking different breads from all regions of the world- the list goes on.And their inclusiveness is astounding- there are so many different cultures and races that attend this school, and they try and celebrate each and every holiday possible. Holi, Chinese New Year, Purim, St Patrick’s Day, 2/22/22, etc. - if it’s a holiday, they’ll celebrate it- my 4 yo told me he made Hamantaschen and Challah bread- what daycare does that? This one!Additionally, the staff here are BEYOND awesome. They know every single parents’ names and kids names, even if they’re not in your class. They really want the best for the kids and try to expand their horizons as much as possible.With Covid, they were extra cautious and did not allow parents inside. Only recently have parents been allowed in, and masks have been optional. I’m happy that they took extra precautions- signifies to me they want to ensure everyone is healthy and happy- at school and at home.I can’t express how great the daycare is. The staff here really care about the kids, and are open to any and all suggestions. I’ve brought up several issues we’ve had, and they were all addressed immediately and with care. The Director is f-amazing, and if you ever have concerns, she listens, talks thru with you, and would be on top of it right away.If you’re looking for the newest, shiniest daycare with the latest tech, this definitely isn’t it. However, if you’re looking for an enriching place for your kids to thrive with caring teachers, there’s no better place than RLDCC.
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December 2022 by Samhita Yadavalli
We joined R-LDCC when my daughter turned 2.5 years old. My daughter went to KinderCare (Piscataway) starting at an early age of 2.5 months, and we switched to Crème de la crème (Bridgewater) when she was about 14 months old. Both her previous daycare centers are for-profit chains whereas R-LDCC is a non-profit organization that truly cares about its teachers and kids. My child is very outgoing and expressive, but she can become reserved (and go into a shell) depending on the teachers or people she is with. Last year when we joined R-LDCC my daughter warmed up to her new teachers within a week and there is no looking back since. Here is my detailed review of why I think R-LDCC is one of the BEST daycare centers ever.FEES: Based on my experience, the daycare fees are significantly more affordable than some of the big chains and if you are affiliated with Rutgers, you get an additional discount. What’s even more important to me is that most of the fees go towards the teachers’ salaries and amenities (as opposed to the pockets of the corporate heads as is the case at the other daycare centers). When you care for your teachers/staff, they are happier and can provide the best care for the children.TEACHERS: All the teachers at R-LDCC are well-trained, attentive, and competent. The Director and the Headteacher have done a great job recruiting only the best as their staff. I interact with the teachers regularly, and they are always knowledgeable about my child’s activities that day. The teachers take the time and interest to get to know each child and familiarize themselves with the child’s unique traits and habits. This aspect is evident to me in how they organize and conduct all the classroom/outside activities, where each child gets to play/learn in their own way without imposing or restricting a group activity. They are always willing and work with you to help especially if you are concerned about anything specific about your child’s development.CURRICULUM/LEARNING: Their curriculum is all about play-based learning and the children get plenty of outdoor time. I am strictly opposed to any sort of repetitive or rote learning methods, and it is so refreshing to see that the activities are not super structured and leave a lot of room for children to be creative and imaginative. From what I have observed and learned from my now 3-year-old daughter is that the teachers create a very inclusive classroom environment and use non-discriminatory language, which is valuable to me. At R-LDCC, they nurture the kids to become independent and there is also an emphasis on developing children’s social/emotional skills. They value diversity and celebrate different cultures and holidays throughout the year.FACILITIES/AMENITIES: As some people noted, the rooms and the building are old (like many buildings at Rutgers University). However, all the classrooms are always clean, and the facility is well-maintained. The playground is the best part of this daycare. Their outdoor play area is much larger than some of the other big/modern daycare centers and they have sand – which the kids absolutely love to play with! All meals are included so that is a big perk for busy parents.COMMUNICATION: Fee payments are done through the ProCare app, and photos of the children’s daily activities are posted on a website. There are 2-3 parent-teacher conferences held per year. Most of the communication happens either in person directly with the teachers or via email. They may not always reply immediately but that is because they are attending to the children most of the time. I am a tech-savvy person and I know other centers use fancy apps to update the parents (I have used Tadpole and Lifecubby at the two previous centers that my daughter went to).. Interestingly, I found more transparency at R-LDCC than at other places.Overall, my kiddo has been thriving and having great fun here. We love the staff and friends and enjoy going to R-LDCC.
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December 2022 by Hristina Tanaskoska
We moved to this country this past summer. I was very nervous about having to put my 3 y/o in a school where she does not know language and the people. I am amazed at how culturally responsive this day care is. My daughter loves her teachers and all her experiences are validated. This is often overlooked in early childhood centers. They are helping me build a happy and confident human.
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December 2022 by Abby Stern Cardinale
We love RLDCC. Our kids are very happy and see it as their second home. The teachers are amazing, kind, and loving. We are amazed by some of the things the kids have learned and we love to hear them tell us about their days.
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December 2022 by Christa Cillaroto
R-LDCC is excellent. Our son started at R-LDCC in the Summer of 2021. His first daycare (which we loved deeply) was unable to remain open during the pandemic. We were heartbroken and expected it to be near-impossible to find another daycare close to home that we would cherish -- especially in these difficult times. Friends recommended R-LDCC and we couldn't be more grateful. Nestled in a little corner of the Rutgers-Livingston campus, R-LDCC is a GEM. Across the board, the staff is knowledgeable, well-trained, warm, loving, and highly communicative. Staff retention is high, which speaks volumes to the positive culture, thoughtfulness, and caring atmosphere that emanates from R-LDCC. The center is entirely student-focused providing children with meaningful structure and balanced opportunities for independence. All classes engage students in different units of study throughout the year, allowing for focused learning/content exposure, exploration, play, and skill-building. Students are never over-tasked and content/instruction is age-appropriate. Our son demonstrates learning and progress regularly when we pick him up at the end of the day, but most importantly he enjoys being there and looks forward to returning the next morning. He has a tremendous amount of fun. Compared to many other daycare sites in the area, R-LDCC has superior outdoor playspaces accessible for children in all age groups served and they are outside as often as possible. Not to be overlooked, R-LDCC also provides breakfast, lunch, and snacks daily with accommodations for dietary restrictions and needs. This is a significant benefit. Also, families and students come to R-LDCC from diverse backgrounds and cultures. R-LDCC is consistent and committed to learning/teaching and celebrating differences, holidays, foods, and other cultural engagements providing students with exposure, appreciation, and enthusiasm for each other and broader understandings of the world. We love that our son gets to celebrate some of our family traditions and the traditions of others with the same respect and joy. We absolutely love sending our son there. We can only give R-LDCC the highest of recommendations.
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December 2022 by Santosh Nagarakatte
RDLCC has been great for us. The teachers have been amazing. Our toddler enjoys his time. We are happy with progress our honeybee has made in the last six months. Very convenient especially if you are faculty/staff at Rutgers.
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May 2022 by Srujana Y.
We joined R-LDCC when my daughter turned 2.5 years old. My daughter went to KinderCare (Piscataway) starting at an early age of 2.5 months, and we switched to Crème de la crème (Bridgewater) when she was about 14 months old. Both her previous daycare centers are for-profit chains whereas R-LDCC is a non-profit organization that truly cares about its teachers and kids. My child is very outgoing and expressive, but she can become reserved (and go into a shell) depending on the teachers or people she is with. Last year when we joined R-LDCC my daughter warmed up to her new teachers within a week and there is no looking back since. Here is my detailed review of why I think R-LDCC is one of the BEST daycare centers ever.FEES: Based on my experience, the daycare fees are significantly more affordable than some of the big chains and if you are affiliated with Rutgers, you get an additional discount. What's even more important to me is that most of the fees go towards the teachers' salaries and amenities (as opposed to the pockets of the corporate heads as is the case at the other daycare centers). When you care for your teachers/staff, they are happier and can provide the best care for the children.TEACHERS: All the teachers at R-LDCC are well-trained, attentive, and competent. The Director and the Headteacher have done a great job recruiting only the best as their staff. I interact with the teachers regularly, and they are always knowledgeable about my child's activities that day. The teachers take the time and interest to get to know each child and familiarize themselves with the child's unique traits and habits. This aspect is evident to me in how they organize and conduct all the classroom/outside activities, where each child gets to play/learn in their own way without imposing or restricting a group activity. They are always willing and work with you to help especially if you are concerned about anything specific about your child's development.CURRICULUM/LEARNING: Their curriculum is all about play-based learning and the children get plenty of outdoor time. I am strictly opposed to any sort of repetitive or rote learning methods, and it is so refreshing to see that the activities are not super structured and leave a lot of room for children to be creative and imaginative. From what I have observed and learned from my now 3-year-old daughter is that the teachers create a very inclusive classroom environment and use non-discriminatory language, which is valuable to me. At R-LDCC, they nurture the kids to become independent and there is also an emphasis on developing children's social/emotional skills. They value diversity and celebrate different cultures and holidays throughout the year.FACILITIES/AMENITIES: As some people noted, the rooms and the building are old (like many buildings at Rutgers University). However, all the classrooms are always clean, and the facility is well-maintained. The playground is the best part of this daycare. Their outdoor play area is much larger than some of the other big/modern daycare centers and they have sand - which the kids absolutely love to play with! All meals are included so that is a big perk for busy parents.COMMUNICATION: Fee payments are done through the ProCare app, and photos of the children's daily activities are posted on a website. There are 2-3 parent-teacher conferences held per year. Most of the communication happens either in person directly with the teachers or via email. They may not always reply immediately but that is because they are attending to the children most of the time. I am a tech-savvy person and I know other centers use fancy apps to update the parents (I have used Tadpole and Lifecubby at the two previous centers that my daughter went to).. Interestingly, I found more transparency at R-LDCC than at other places.Overall, my kiddo has been thriving and having great fun here. We love the staff and friends and enjoy going to R-LDCC.
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December 2021 by E R
I enrolled my son for about two years at this daycare center. By the time he left he was 4 going on 5. He seemed to really enjoy it. The teachers were friendly and he seemed to be adapting to the structure there. Although we originally had him at the Rutgers Psychology Child Development Center for daycare when he was 2, we decided to transfer him to the Livingston Day care because it was a better commute and it was highly recommended by colleagues.The first thing I had noticed when I entered the daycare center was how dated it looked and the classroom space was tight. Kids were almost on top of each other, (pre covid of course). This was very different from the previous daycare he was in that had amble space and had more updated communication apps for parents (Tadpole). The Livingston center did not have an app instead parents had to call the center when they needed to communicate with the teacher, for early pick up and absences. This quickly became inconvenient. Pictures were uploaded to a website I had to continue to search for when I needed to see him in class time. The meals were bland and servings small. He always came home hungry. There was a lack of parent involvement and barely any fun holiday celebrations.Aside from the lack of technology upgrades, over time I noticed a lack of diverse teachers. My son is biracial and it was important for me that he be taught by a diverse staff. Overtime, I saw that there was a high turnover rate among the staff of color and many did not stay for very long. I voiced my concerns regarding necessary upgrades and the need for long term diverse staff especially after the tuition was raised with no improvements. Those suggestions were mostly ignored. I decided to pull him out of the center at the end of his preschool year and place him in a robust kindergarten program near our home. It was the best decision I've made. Yes, the tuition was a bit higher but he loves it there because it's fun he says. They use smart boards to enrich classroom lesson plans, include parents in various holiday events and send daily reports of what was taught and what he ate, they also utilize an app to communicate and store photos. Although the staff could also use more diversity I feel more comfortable knowing he's getting the best possible education through a fun and interactive curriculum.I know this review is a bit long but I felt it was important that I write the most detailed and fair review of a daycare center for moms looking to give the best to their kids as we battle high cost daycare, demanding jobs and a desire to see our kids thrive in a futuristic world that includes high tech technology and blended families. It's still an uphill battle for parents who can't see every minute of our child's time at these centers but I've learned that the more transparent and accessible a daycare center is the more comfortable I feel leaving my child there.
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October 2021 by Elisa R.
I enrolled my son for about two years at this daycare center by the time he left he was 4 going on 5. He seemed to really enjoy it. The teachers were friendly and he seemed to be adapting to the structure there. Although we originally had him at the Rutgers Psychology Child Development Center for daycare when he was 2, we decided to transfer him to the Livingston Day care because it was a better commute and it was highly recommended by colleagues. The first thing I had noticed when I entered the daycare center was how dated it looked and the classroom space was tight. Kids were almost on top of each other, (pre covid of course). This was very different from the previous daycare he was in that had amble space and had more updated communication apps for parents (Tadpole). The Livingston center did not have an app instead parents had to call the center when they needed to communicate with the teacher, for early pick up and absences. This quickly became inconvenient when I'm rushing out the door and can't send a quick text to the teacher.. Pictures were uploaded to a website I had to continue to search for when I needed to see him in class time. The meals were bland and servings small. He always came home hungry. Aside from the lack of technology upgrades, over time I noticed a lack of diverse teachers. My son is biracial and it was important for me that he be taught by a diverse staff. Overtime, I saw that there was a high turnover rate among the staff of color and many did not stay for very long. I voiced my concerns regarding necessary upgrades and the need for long term diverse staff especially after the tuition was raised with no improvements. Those suggestions were mostly ignored. I decided to pull him out of the center at the end of his preschool year and place him in a robust kindergarten program near our home. It was the best decision I've made. Yes, the tuition was a bit higher but he loves it there because it's fun he says. They use smart boards to enrich classroom lesson plans, include parents in various holiday events and send daily reports of what was taught and what he ate, they also utilize an app to communicate and store photos. Although the staff could also use more diversity I feel more comfortable knowing he's getting the best possible education through a fun and interactive curriculum.I know this review is a bit long but I felt it was important that I write the most detailed and fair review of a daycare center for moms looking to give the best to their kids as we battle high cost daycare, demanding jobs and a desire to see our kids thrive in a futuristic world that includes high tech technology and blended families. It's still an uphill battle for parents who can't see every minute of our child's time at these centers but I've learned that the more transparent and accessible a daycare center is the more comfortable I feel leaving my child there.
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December 2019 by Cathy Florek
I can't adequately put into words how much we love RLDCC. They let kids be kids by encouraging exploration, messy play, and emphasizing building social and emotional skills. My son asks to be dropped off early, and doesn't like to leave.And, through this warm, nurturing environment, continues to develop a love of learning.
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December 2017 by Brandon Alderman
In our opinion, there is only one gold-standard for day care for our boys -- that is RLDCC. The staff and curriculum have had a meaningful and lasting influence on our children. I tell everyone at Rutgers to put their children on the waiting list...as soon as they get pregnant! Simply cannot provide a stronger endorsement.
