Early Childhood Enrichment Center

My child was a student at the ECEC for 4 years starting at 18 months. His experience was one of plenty of outdoor time. His teachers would take the kids out in all kinds of weather, we were told to bring rain gear, winter gear, sunscreen etc. They dug for worms, planted things in the garden, observed a halloween pumpkin slowly being eaten by the squirrels. Summers the whole class went to Thorton for swim lessons. When weather was too severe - they had an indoor play room and they could use the gym inside - complete with tricycles and a mini climbing wall. The nap time was sufficient, as my child got older quiet time was for looking at books or listening to audio books with headphones on. The ECEC was exceptional in terms of diversity, activities, quality teachers (they have special lessons - spanish, yoga, sign language, etc.). They were also EXCELLENT on nutrition and insisted on fresh fruits and vegetables in every lunch - no fruit snacks or processed foods. My child learned to eat PLAIN yogurt (no sugar) with fresh fruit! To this day he is a healthy eater because of being at the ECEC. As a working parent - I can't tell you how great it was to know my child was safe and well cared for when I was at work. At the end of everyday, he did not want to leave. He was a Ladybug and a Chipmunk (rooms at the ECEC) and we loved every moment we are there! Thank you ECEC!

At first I was very impressed with ECEC, but like with many things, when you looked close, things weren't so nice.  First, hope your child likes to sit quietly for long periods of time and is OK with limited physical exercise.  Due to the fact that the outside facilities are not conveniently located off the classrooms combined with so many other groups using the onsite facilities, if it's raining or any other form of pricipitation falling from the sky, the teachers either don't want to be bothered or are obsessively concerned about the child getting muddy or slipping, that they often don't go outside.  And if it were to get warmer later in the day, they can't go out later as other groups are using the playground.  Though their nap time is only an hour, there is another hour immediately following that the lights remain off and the child must be quiet for fear of waking the few children that actually nap for over an hour.  Why they don't just wake everyone up after an hour or 75 minutes at most, is a mystery...I suppose it's a convenient way to give teachers a lunch break, but two hours of a 3-5 year old being quiet...that's not daycare, that's day prison!  Also, the rooms are extremely cramped and have way too many children for their size. Apparently there is no square foot requirement in the state of Ohio or they would surely fail.  The directors have lost their interest in being innovative or try new things.  The children don't go on any field trips, rarely take walks, despite being told they do, and have few outside visitors to eduate or entertain the children.  I expected so much better and was very disappointed.