There’s one township 10-year-old that can claim it has the maturity level of a 40-year-old.
Charlotte Cox, 1, (l) and Avery Brooks, 11 months, play at Millstone’s KinderCare Learning Center Aug. 14. That’s because Millstone’s KinderCare Learning Center, which is celebrating being in existence at 36 Trenton-Lakewood Road for a decade this year, is part of a franchise that turns 40 this year.
In the past four decades, the KinderCare Learning Center franchise has become the leading private provider of early childhood education and care in the United States with approximately 1,800 community based centers in 38 states and the District of Columbia serving more than 300,000 children everyday, according to Jennifer Smith, director of the Millstone KinderCare Learning Center.
Smith has worked in the company for the past 17 years. She started right out of high school, working part-time at the franchise’s Howell location. She said both of her children, who are grown now, were KinderCare babies, having gone through the center’s kindergarten program. Smith now directs the Millstone center, which serves 60 local families.
Above: Dominick Inzilla, 2, plays at Millstone’s KinderCare Learning Center on Aug. 14. Left: Shaan Moon, 3, (l) and Natalie Mathis, 4, play house. “Our philosophy is that each day children learn through play,” Smith said. “We do different activities, starting with infants, that develop language skills, senses, and cognitive thinking. In the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes, students do activities involving reading, math and science to prepare them for elementary school.”
For example, the center’s cooking projects not only teach children how to make food such as pizza, but also advise on the basics of math, such as measuring, Smith said.
Students also engage their creativity through arts and crafts projects, according to Smith.
“We believe in process over product,” Smith explained. “The process they come up with for completing projects is what matters most. Children can draw and create whatever their vision of the world is. If a 2-year-old’s vision of what a face is has a misplaced nose, it’s not about the misplaced nose, it’s all about how they learn.”
families. She said most families are concerned about safety and curriculum when enrolling their children in an educational childcare program. “We have strict safety standards, such as a keypad entry to our facility,” Smith said. She continued, “Parents are also concerned with the curriculum because when their child gets to elementary school, it’s not like when they were little. Kids nowadays know a lot when they enter school, such as reading and basic math.” Smith said at KinderCare Learning Centers, the curriculum grows with the student, giving them the early learning skills needed to excel emotionally, socially and educationally. “Our curriculum is regularly updated to align with national and state accreditation standards so they can enjoy peace of mind of knowing their child is getting the best care, support and education,” Smith said. KinderCare Learning Centers also offer enrichment courses, which are supplemental educational opportunities that complement the center’s core curriculum. The specialized classes offered year-round in four-week units are taught in small groups with lessons tailored to children’s learning skills and styles. The classes include phonics, reading, math, Spanish and music. Smith also said that the center plays a larger role in the community by providing local Girl Scouts community service opportunities, sponsoring collections for soldiers stationed overseas and underprivileged children involved in state Department of Family Services (DYFS) programs, supporting the local Little League and donating to local food banks. “We really love Millstone,” Smith said. “It’s a great place.” The center is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The center offers part- and fulltime schedules, and also has a before- and after-school program, which includes transportation to and from the Millstone Township primary and schools. The center is currently providing tours of the facility and enrolling students in its fall program. For more information, visit www.kindercare. com. Smith said teachers and administrators at the school are just as hands on as the activities.
“We try to tell parents something that their child did today,” she said. “We are very involved in the growing of each child.”
Smith said she believes KinderCare Learning Centers are successful because they cater to the needs and concerns of