Clark College Child Care Center

I am with rybeewoods on this one, and not really sure where the motivation for that first review is based but let me tell you about OUR experience: This place is amazing, and had it not been for them I wouldn't have been able to accomplish the things I have in the last 5 years. I had our second daughter 5 years ago and decided when she was 6 months old that I wanted to be a Nurse. I signed up for classes at Clark, and here I am about to graduate with an Associate of Arts and all my Prerequisites under my belt, but I am also coming away from my experience the member of a community that I am glad to be a part of. My husband and I took a Parent/Infant Classes with our daughter, as well as the Parent/Toddler classes, and then the next 3 years our little one enjoyed a great preschool experience, with a loving staff, and a great many volunteers and students who WANT to be there. They cover ever facet of the learning experience and as far as safety, I had been "carded" several times to assure that I was in fact my child's parent, and not some random stranger dropping in to kidnap a child. At Clark, the children are put in the driver's seat of their own experience. They are taught to deal with conflict resolution on their own (with the gentle guidance of the trained staff.)They are taught that rain or shine, fresh air and some exercise can be a good thing. Clark is currently adding a 5 million dollar expansion to their already amazing facilities, and we look forward to attending the open house in the Fall to see the extensive work that the college has done to assure that the children of our community have an incredible place to grow and learn. Did I mention that this IS the cheapest child care in town, and is open to the community? If you ARE a student, you will be assured knowing that if anything happens with your child, or even if they are just missing you, you can be by their side, from anywhere on campus, in less than 2 minutes. more

(responding to Paul0110) It's funny how the things that you write as negatives are some of the reasons why I absolutely love the Clark child care facility. I respect your opinion (especially when it comes to our children we have to do what we think is best!) but for others out there who might see the world differently I'd like to share... I want my children to learn to take ownership of their choices, to learn to make healthy choices. What better way than with potty training and wearing a jacket! I love that the staff will let my child choose to wear a jacket (a choice that my child is fully capable of making). The consequence of my child not wearing a jacket is that they either get cold or they don't. Not a big loss either way and a great learning experience. When I send my kids to school I learned quickly (like you) that they're going to come home dirty...but I was excited that they were given the opportunities to explore the outdoors, to experiment, be creative with art, and to play. (God knows I'd rather them paint at school than at home!) Those are good things, things I value, and if it costs me a couple bucks more in clothes it's more than worth it. The "mandatory class" that you speak of was another aspect that I loved and that only cost me $13 (so by "more money" you meant a shade over $10) At Clark they have a holistic understanding of childcare. Their hope is to bless the whole family, to give the whole family opportunities to learn, play together, and spend time in your children's learning environment. Essentially the things that they invite you to do are to visit your children one time while they're in class, attend their quarterly class meetings where you're able to discover what they're learning, make an "all about me" book for your child to take to school (a photo album essentially), etc. These are great things that I might not do if I weren't invited to by the Clark staff. Anyway sick kids, muddy shoes, potty accidents...those have been normal occurrences in my children's life...and I wouldn't expect much different from my child's learning environment at Clark. Maybe that's the big difference, you're viewing it as day care whereas the Clark staff truly views it as a place to discover, learn, and grow for short people. more

Nobody knows what is going on over there. Rude staff. My fully potty-trained child had to wear diaper, because nobody would take him to the restroom. They don't know if its cold outside you have to put coat on the child, not just let him run outside wearing a T-shirt. The same with a rain boots, they are required, but nobody uses them when its rainy and muddy outside. So result is ridiculously dirty clothes, ruined new shoes, and after all runny nose and sick child.They accept sick kids. Place is dirty, kids takes their naps on the floor, while other kids, and parents, and stuff, and don't even know who walking around them.They might check their stuff background, but the place is always full of people, and you never know if its safe to leave your child on his/her own. And last, but not least you have to be part of a mandatory class that cost more money and many hours attending at their meetings. Hello??? I need a day care, not just a place where I should watch my kid and pay for that, while I should be at work. more