The Gateway Family YMCA - Elizabeth Child Development Center

This y will put children five to six years ahead of other children

I love this place! From the moment I took a tour I felt like this would be my childs second home. I can tell that the staff really cares about every child, even if the child is not their student. The JJC has done so much for me. I feel that by the time my child is old enough for first grade he will be more then ready, he will be confident and happy and that means a lot to me as a single mom. If you are looking for a preschool that you can drop your child off at and not worry while your at work ... this is the place to be. I told my friends and now 4 of us are here. We are like a little family... a home away from home. : )

I don't know what these parents were talking about but I loved the Y when my child went to school there. He was there for four years and never once did my child have an issue. Of course he received colds and scratches just like the other little ones but that's expected from a daycare where they are around other children.
The teachers there treated my child and all of their students with love and respect. My son learned so much during his time there.
The only problem I had with the center would be the high turnover rate for the teachers. My son had three teachers when he went to the blue room in six months before he went to public shcool. It's a shame. If its pay, then the higher ups need to give the dedicated staff there a raise and keep the good teachers put! I would hate to see this Y go down the drain especially when my son and I had such great memories.

NOT RECOMMENDED - This was my 17 month old's first day care in February 2011 after I had started a brand new job. The very first day she came home with a deep scratch on her face. A year later she still has the scar. They said she was going up a slide while another child was coming down and the child scratched her in the face. Day 3 they called me at my brand new job and said she had a 103 degree fever. After an entire night in the ER it turns out she caught the flu from someone at the daycare. I was furious because either one of the other children's parent was neglectful by allowing their sick child to contaminate other children or one of the care givers was sick. My daughter had never been even caught a cold before. I asked them for a refund and offered to pay for the three days she spent there and they refused to return any money. They stated there was no way I could prove my daughter got sick there and that she may very well have caught the flu from someone at home, yet it's just her and I. Every time I went to pick her up the care givers were gathered in a corner conversing and the children running around unattended. I think unfortunately they are all about the money (like many places) and need better qualified employees. Also they should consider altering their refund policy on a case to case basis. I wouldn't wish the neglect on anybody's child. Don't consider them for your child care needs.

I wouldn't reccomend anyone to bring their children here. I switched to a different location. Children get hurt everytime they are under staff with too many children in one class.