Best Daycare Centers in Toms River, NJ

One parent describes a highly positive experience with the staff, noting that their 16-month-old son, who typically struggles with separation, enjoys attending and never wants to leave. The review highlights the strong bond between the child and the caregivers.

Toms River Nursery School receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who consistently praise the caring staff, welcoming community atmosphere, and individualized approach to learning. Parents highlight strong academic curricula, safety precautions, reasonable costs, and the school's non-profit cooperative structure that demonstrates genuine staff commitment.

One parent highlights the school's small class sizes and teachers' individualized attention, noting strong communication and recommending the program for both their daughter and son. The reviewer emphasizes a personal connection, having attended the nursery as a child and now enrolling their own kids.

One parent highly recommends the center, highlighting the teachers' friendliness, professionalism, and dedication to student learning. The reviewer notes that their daughter is happy and learning significantly, expressing strong appreciation for the staff's hard work and above-and-beyond efforts.

The Peppermint Tree Child Development Center in Toms River, New Jersey receives unanimous 5-star reviews from parents who praise the warm, nurturing environment and exceptional leadership of Director Valerie. Parents consistently report their children thriving academically, socially, and emotionally, with strong emphasis on personalized care, parent involvement, and a supportive community.

Ocean Gymnastics Academy receives mostly positive feedback, with parents praising the teachers, staff, welcoming environment, and value for pricing. However, one parent reported a serious incident involving inadequate accommodation for a child with special needs (Down Syndrome, hearing loss, and feeding tube), resulting in the child being asked to leave after 10 minutes.

Smart Start Academy receives mostly positive reviews praising staff kindness, child engagement, and growth, with parents reporting children are happy and well-cared for. However, two negative reviews raised serious concerns about security breaches, lack of supervision, and inadequate staff response to behavioral incidents.

Westminster Nursery School receives universal praise from parents who highlight the caring, professional staff, individualized attention, and play-based curriculum. Children consistently show enthusiasm for learning and are well-prepared for kindergarten. Parents report strong emotional bonds between children and teachers, with many families choosing the school across multiple children.

Ocean Kids Academy receives consistently high praise from parents, with all 10 recent reviews rating the facility 5/5 stars. Parents highlight the caring and communicative staff, strong child development, and safe, welcoming environment that helps children feel comfortable and secure.

Parents consistently praise Kids Growing Early Learning Center for its caring, friendly staff and clean, welcoming environment. Children show enthusiasm for attending and demonstrate developmental progress in speech, social skills, and cognitive abilities. Communication between staff and parents is highlighted as a strong point.

The reviews provided do not pertain to Mulberry Bush Preschool in Toms River. Instead, they are reviews for various YMCA locations discussing their gym facilities, swim lessons, summer camp programs, and fitness classes. No actual parent reviews for the daycare center were submitted.

Cherry Lane receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from most parents, with praise for caring staff, nurturing environment, and child development support. However, one detailed negative review raises serious concerns about infant care safety, including a reported burn incident, feeding inconsistencies, and alleged retaliation after complaints were made.

Sung Star Academy receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with most parents praising the caring staff, child development, and convenient amenities like karate classes and flexible pickup hours. However, two recent negative reviews cite concerns about staff turnover, billing disputes after withdrawal, and inadequate child supervision including an unreported bite incident.

Hilltop Nursery School receives consistently positive feedback from parents who praise its cleanliness, organization, fair pricing, and nurturing staff. The facility has maintained a strong reputation over 40+ years as a family-owned business. Multiple parents express deep satisfaction with their children's experiences and would recommend the school.

One parent reports a severely negative experience, describing the facility as deceptive and stating that staff neglect children when parents are not present. The review highlights that the center appears attractive but fails to provide adequate care or attention to the kids.

One parent describes a highly positive experience, while another reports a dramatic decline in quality following a 2017 ownership change, citing staff turnover, increased costs, and safety negligence. The latter review details unreliable school transportation, late pickups with additional charges, and hazardous facility conditions during inclement weather.

Creative Castle Nursery School receives mixed reviews. Most parents praise the caring teachers, clean facility, good teacher retention, and their children's enthusiasm about attending. However, some parents report inconsistent discipline policies, unprofessional staff behavior, and concerns about discriminatory treatment.

Parents consistently praise The Learning Experience Toms River for its clean, welcoming environment and highly experienced, caring staff who genuinely invest in each child's development. Multiple reviewers highlight quick adjustments, noticeable academic and social progress, and accommodations for children with special needs. Children are reported to be happy and engaged, with parents feeling confident in their child's safety and care.

Parents consistently praise The Goddard School in Toms River for its caring staff, clean facility, and strong leadership under owner Alisa. Children are reported to be happy, engaged in enriching activities, and treated as individuals rather than just enrollees. Multiple parents highlight the personal attention their children receive and the welcoming family-like environment.