GainesvilleMoms.com

Hello. My name is Jeanann and my family is relocating to G'ville (I'm alum, Go Gators!) from California this coming June. I am currently expecting (due March) and have a 15 month old boy. I read a previous forum on here talking about daycare recommends and was wondering if anyone else had something to add to it. My son currently attends a Montessori center which is great but very pricey. Any ideas or recommendations would be much appreciated

Hi Jeanann! I don't have any daycare recommendations but wanted to say hi and welcome! My family and I moved here a year ago this month from California. What part are you in now? We lived in L.A. (Burbank), but I've lived in different parts of CA, too (grew up in the Central Valley). I love it here! Anyway, I hope all your move goes smoothly and the transition well for your little ones.

Hi Marianne. Thanks for the welcome! We live in Winters right now, real close to Napa Valley...I work at UC Davis. It is beautiful where we live but I am looking forward to moving closer to family (they all live in central FL) especially since we're having another baby. The cost of living in FL is sooo much more reasonable too so hopefully all will go as smoothly as possible. Nice to meet ya

Good luck w/ everything you will be juggling in the upcoming months! Welcome to Gainesville. I look forward to possibly running into you at a Gainesville Mom’s function in the near future!

Welcome Jeanann! We are also pretty big Gator fans. My hubby graduated from UF a few years ago, and I will be graduating this Spring. What did you study?

Hi Stacy. I studied Psychology with a minor in Zoology with a pre-vet curriculum. I would still like to get into vet school one day but am focused on my babies for now! I'm really hoping the economy is not as hard in G'ville as it is where we are. My hubby's been trying to find a job for the last 8 mos...and he has an AA and is an Army combat vet, crazy economy!

I've been really happy at O2B Kids on Newberry Road. They have 4 locations in town, and a few of them have infant rooms if you need care for your new baby. They are reasonable in price, and offer a lot of classes for the kids to take.

I haven't heard of Winters. I grew up in Turlock, just south of Modesto. But you will find it is much more affordable and a great place to raise kids here. From my conversations with my family in CA, the economy is much worse there than it seems to be here. It has hit everywhere, but CA has taken a big with, especially with the housing market. We were able to buy a house here, and our total mortgage (with taxes and insurance) is less than our 2 bedroom apartment in L.A.! And the weather (except for the summer) is pretty comparable to the weather in SoCal. I just love it here.

I recommend INCAF Montessori in Alachua or Millhopper Montessori. When my Carlee was little, she really benefitted from the Montessori school system. She was and is a couple of years ahead of her peers. She got a perfect FCAT math score this past year. She was doing AR (Accelerated Reader) tests in Kindergarten on her own. She won the Geography Bee this year for the whole school at Wiles. What more could a parent ask for? I attribute it to her early learning situation.

We like Holy trinity downtown. It is close to where we work and they really do take care of your little one. Kaylee loves it.

I second Holy Trinity! My five month old loves his school (well, I say that because he bursts into giggles when I drop him off) and I couldn't be happier with his teachers.

Rachel

Thanks for the advice ladies...Can you tell me how much the places you recommend cost? i.e...the Montessori schools and Holy Trinity? Do you have to be affiliated with the church to take them there? I just got quotes from the Sunshine House and Kindercare...any opinions on those places?

Thanks again.

You can go to myflorida.com/childcare and look at all the inspection reports for any licensed daycare in the state of florida. It will also tell you how many children the school is allowed to enroll and how many were there on the day of the report and if ratios are kept properly.

My son goes to KidWorks, they have two locations. The one my son goes to the NW center recently had a director change which has really improved the center. We have been going there for about 3 years and we love it. My son loves going to school, sometimes when we come to pick him up he says "Mommy can you come back later" I just love that. Also they have webcams so you can watch your child while at work. They are a little pricey though. Hunter is 5 and we pay $140/wk. Infants are currently $190/wk and for a one year old $175/wk but I think they give a multiple kid discount.
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Goodluck in your search.

My family loved Imagine Learning Center for our son. Link

It kinda depends on what "style" you want. KidWorks and O2B kids are bright, stimulating (I think overstimulating), more teacher-directed. Imagine is chiuld-directed, more freeplay, provided snacks are organic. I preferred this style and my child thrived there.