New York City is quite a child-centric city and accordingly it has numerous day care centers for infants & young children. The NYC department of Health and Daycare Bureau has strict guidelines that govern the operation of these centers. Centers also need to be licensed by the New York State Family and Children Services before they can begin operations and accept children.
Some of the highly ranked and popular daycare centers in New York City include:
- Lil’Thinkers (http://lilthinkersfamilydaycare.org/)
610 W 141st Street
New York, NY 10031
Phone: +1 347 688 1498
This day center, which is located in a private home on the west side of Manhattan, offers a daycare program for children aged 6 months to three years. Its program includes art, music as well as sign language and Kinder music. Rates vary with age of the child and the program chosen. - The Manhattan Kids Club New York
21 East 13th St #1
New York, NY 10003-4405
Phone: +1 212 741 3774
This day care accepts children aged three months up to the age of two years and offers full day programs which are available two, three, or even five days a week, starting from 7:30am to 6pm. The day care also provides hot lunch, morning and afternoon snacks and diapers. It is manned by a staff that is made up of trained, licensed professionals. Monthly prices for its programs range from $800 for two days a week to $1,500 for five days a week. - The Bright Horizons Company (http://www.brighthorizons.com) also operates a number of day care centers in several parts of the city. The charges for programs at these various centers vary with the age of the child as well as the program that is chosen.
Mother and Toddler Groups
- The Gymboree Company (http://www.gymboreeclasses.com) is a recognized leader in classes for children and it offers mother and toddler playgroups at several of its locations in New York City. Classes usually include games, music and singing and play gyms. A 17 week program at a Gymboree center is currently priced at $1500 and this does not include the $50 initiation fee which is payable by new members.
- The 14th Street Y (http://www.14streety.org/) as well as the 92nd Y (http://www.92y.org/) also offer mother and toddler groups. These classes have programs that offer development of motor skills, art, music and signing. Classes at both these organizations are available to both members and non- members. Details of current prices are available on the websites of both these organizations.
This by no means a comprehensive list of all the child care and early learning centers that are available in New York City. The city is equipped with numerous such centers which are located in all its five boroughs. Go City Kids (http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com), which a valuable resource for parents in New York City, has a directory of child care and early learning centers which are located in every borough of New York City.
Nannies
Nannies (both live-in and live-out) are a common feature in New York City especially in the borough Manhattan. New York City moms who work full time often rely on full time nannies to look after their offspring. These nannies are expected to work approximately 55 hours a week and generally tend to work from Monday to Friday or from Tuesday to Saturday as they are expected to have two days off in a week. Most people prefer to employ nannies, who have a legal status i.e. who have the right to work in the US.
New Yorkers who can afford to employ a live-out nanny currently pay approximately $650 a week as wages. The IRS or the Internal Revenue Service (http://www.irs.gov/) requires all employers to file payroll taxes for nannies who receive more than $1700 (2009) cash wages in a calendar year. This tax is popularly known as Nanny Tax though many employers choose to employ nannies ‘off the books’.
Popular sources for nannies are the various listings which can be found on the web sites of organizations like the Parents League of New York(http://www.parentsleague.org/), Go City Kids (http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/region/new-york-ny-usa) and even the popular classified site (http://www.craigslist.org), the New York City edition. Also see our Domestic Help > Housekeeper Section for agencies that help place nannies.
