Explore + Discover Early Learning Center

My child attended Explore and Discover this past year for its innagural year. We were drawn to the school for the high-​quality of the teachers, the play-​based philosophy and various amenities, including music and an art room. In the first few months, the director quit and the school went without one for six months or so, hiring a replacement in the last three months.
The period without a director was chaotic. Since hiring a new director, things are falling back into place, but problems remain. All of the teachers my child started with last September have moved on. The newer teachers do not seem as experienced or educated as those that they replaced. The teachers are also all quite young, as is the staff in general, and it does feel like they might benefit from hiring some more experienced educators.
The bottom-​line is that for children under two, it’s a unique environment that doesn’t have too many competitors in Manhattan. For children over two, where there are more options, Explore and Discover isn’t as competitive. It’s a new school, with new teachers and new administrators. I’m sure in time the school will live up to what it promises or hopes to be, but there’s some work to do in getting there.

My husband and I both work full time and have spent lots of time researching the best care for our infant son. We spoke with numerous friends and family and interviewed a few nannies. We came across Explore and Discover late in my third term of pregnancy. The concept really intrigued us. I am a child therapist and really understand how important it is for infants to interact in a warm, nurturing social setting to help them develop communication skills. My biggest fear was the lack of interaction with a nanny could hinder my son’s development. The cost of the Explore and Discover program is in-​line with the cost of a full time nanny. My son has been enrolled for over a month. So far my husband and I are extremely pleased with the program’s responsiveness to both our son’s needs and our needs.