Callicorp LLC

My daughter has been going to FOTF since she was 8 months old. As a new mom, I was very selective with which daycare I would be able to trust my baby with. After touring FOTF and meeting with Diana my nerves were calmed. They made it easy for us as new parents dropping her off. They provided formula, wipes and snacks and even washed her clothes! Every Friday is music class and we look forward to the personalized holiday artwork she creates. The app is also helpful to see what is going on through out the day. My family and I love getting her pictures at "school". She is now in the toddler room and thriving. She truly loves going there and is happy. Shout out the teachers in the baby room and toddler room. Too many to mention that have made this such a positive experience.

My son has been attending FOTF since he was about nine months old and is now in the toddler room. We have had a fantastic experience with all the teachers, especially Denise. Our son eagerly greets her with a hug, and it is clear how much she genuinely cares for the children. The rest of the staff are equally wonderful, and we feel confident and reassured knowing who our son spends his days with. FOTF keeps the children active and engaged with nature walks, playground and water play, arts and crafts, and music. Our son often comes home singing new songs and showing us new skills and interests he has learned at “school”. The centre provides all meals, wipes, and even takes care of the children’s laundry, which significantly eases our daily routine. I can simply drop him off each morning, knowing he will enjoy healthy, balanced meals and snacks without any extra worry. I would highly recommend FOTF to anyone seeking a childcare facility in the Metuchen area.

We have been using FoF for over five years now for day care, summer care and school. I have to say without a doubt it has been the best child care experience that I could have imagined. They staff is attentive to the children and truly caring. Ms Diana who runs the school is super thoughtful about the kids' needs and gives them experiences that enhance their social, emotional and educational development. The spaces that the kids work and play in are safe and clean all the time (despite having kids there). And the hours are SUPER accommodating for parents who work an extended schedule or who have commutes. I would recommend this center to anyone and everyone in need of child care.

Though our baby was only with Friends of the Family for three short months, it was a crucial transition period for all of us. I can't say enough good things about the director and the teachers (especially those in the Infant Room!). I felt good about my daughter being under their care and was very sad to leave (due to relocating). I could tell how much our little one connected with the teachers, as she was always quick to smile at them. They not only took amazing care of our daughter but also formed a partnership with me (a nervous, first time mom) and put me at ease. The environment is, in fact, very family-like, and they are very down to earth. I'll always be grateful for our three months with them!

My oldest son started at Friends of the Family 12 years ago when he was 10 weeks old. My husband and I had just moved to NJ and had no family within a two-hour drive to help us. We were completely lost. We toured multiple daycares but were sold as soon as we met Diana at FOTF. Since then we enrolled our daughter at 11 weeks old (8 now) and our youngest son at 10 weeks old (3 now). Through the years some staff members have moved on but we have never had cause for concern. Diana has always put the health, safety and happiness of the children above all else so if a staff member is not following suit they are relieved of their post immediately. When we found FOTF we didn’t just find babysitters for our kids, we found our extended family in NJ to help us raise our children to be well rounded, intelligent and caring individuals. I grew up in an all white neighborhood where a person’s differences stood out immediately. I can honestly say that my children are blind to race and ethnicity. At FOTF there is no prejudice. My children have great friends for life and do not tolerate anyone talking down to them or their friends. My oldest is in middle school now but still talks about his time at FOTF. He remembers all of his teachers and classmates. Since they have all moved on to different schools at this point he loves crossing paths with them around town and reminiscing. He is also thankful that he can still attend the summer camp as a camper/counselor in training (next year) to see all of his school age friends that return in the summer. My daughter is in third grade now and excelling in all her classes, largely due to the fact that she attended full day kindergarten at FOTF (Edison schools only have half day now). My oldest son and daughter both left FOTF after kindergarten reading at a 1st/2nd grade level, writing full sentences, adding and subtracting, drawing and with a knowledge of different cultures and science experiments. They were both more than capable of handling 1st grade in the public schools which helped a lot with the social transition to larger class sizes, new teachers and new classmates. My youngest is just starting preschool now and loves going to school every day. He runs in to hug his teachers and friends each morning. He has given us a ton of trouble potty training at home but Diana’s staff have been great with him at school. He is down to 1 accident a day at school after only a week of training. He tends to get too excited with the afternoon staff comes in and his sister arrives from school and forgets to use the potty. From experience with my others I know that they will continue to work with him and assist my husband and I in our efforts to have him completely trained in the near future. To anyone that is looking for a healthy, safe, caring and fun learning environment for their infant, toddler, preschooler or kindergarten I whole-heartedly recommend FOTF. Diana and her staff are our extended family. If ever my husband or I get caught late at work and can’t make it to the kids before closing, the first thing we hear from FOTF is not to rush. They have no problem staying late to watch the kids if it means we arrive safely without rushing and risking an accident. My two oldest children may not attend FOTF on a daily basis anymore but I know that they are always welcome at FOTF and because they know my children so well and ask about them often I still consult them on any issues that come up in school or developmentally. Their influence in my family’s life and our children’s development goes well beyond what we ever expected and we can’t thank them enough. Although my youngest will move on to public school in a few years I know that FOTF will always be part of our lives. If I could double/triple the highest rating for them I would.