Schools near Manalapan, NJ

“Great school !
Many of the teachers have been working there for years. My older kids did great there and my youngest is there now for “the summer camp””

“The staff at Lightbridge Academy in Manalapan are consistently friendly, compassionate, and genuinely invested in every child who walks through their doors each day. Their warmth and attentiveness make a noticeable difference in the atmosphere, creating a welcoming and nurturing environment. The center is also run with a high level of professionalism—clear communication, well-organized programs, and a strong focus on the well-being and development of the children. As a parent, it’s incredibly reassuring to know my child is in such capable and caring hands.”

“I am incredibly grateful to have discovered TLE for my son. We had previously tried other schools that did not fully understand his speech and general care requirements. The staff at TLE is remarkably patient, skilled, attentive, and kind. Their level of care and attention is truly exceptional. TLE was the perfect match for us!”

“Highly recommend Primrose Old Bridge for any parents looking for a safe and nurturing environment for their little ones. My nephew has been attending for several months now, and the care and attention he receives from the staff are exceptional. The facility is clean, and the activities provided are both educational and engaging. It's evident that the staff truly care about the children's well-being and development. I have peace of mind knowing that my nephew is in such good hands while he's there. Keep up the fantastic work!”

“We couldn't be happier with our experience at TLE. As working parents, finding a safe and nurturing environment for our kid was our top priority. From the moment we stepped through the door, we were greeted by warm and friendly staff members. Their loving and caring nature is evident in everything they do. The facilities are clean, organized, and well-equipped with age-appropriate toys and learning materials. We are also impressed with the daily activities and structured routines provided. They keep us informed about our child's progress, daily routines, and any upcoming events. It's comforting to know that we are always in the loop and can reach out whenever we have inquiries or concerns.We wholeheartedly recommend TLE to any parents looking for a nurturing and stimulating environment for their children. Thank you for being an exceptional!”

“This school is the best! My daughter has excelled in her learning because of all the teachers here. They really care about the kids here! It's a clean environment and the kids enjoy being there! I would highly recommend to all who are looking for a daycare!”

“My son Ean started at Start Kids Academy when he was just 15 months old, and he had such a wonderful experience. He learned so much and made great friends, many of whom still ask for him now that he's in pre-K. The teachers are absolutely fantastic, and the care they provide is beyond anything I could have hoped for. Now, my second child is also attending Start Kids Academy, and I wouldn't trust anyone else with the care of my little ones. I highly recommend this place! As Jaime said, 'we are family now.' I am truly grateful for all the love and attention they show to my children every day.”

“My son has been going to Kindercare at Old Bridge since he was an infant. Loved the teachers here (Miss Patty & Amanda), they are so loving and attentive. They always send you pictures, detailed notes on how his day was and you can see in the pictures that my son is having so much fun. Also, the staff is great with paperworks (thank you Miss Allison). I would recommend this place if you are looking for a new center.”

“My daughter has been going to Primrose in East Brunswick since July of 2020. The establishment is amazing. The director is amazing; Priom and her team is nothing but great and amazing educators. The education is by far one of the greatest preparing the next generation. The school is well organized, extremely clean, and you can leave your child with the care of Primrose knowing they are safe. Your children care is the first priority when it comes to Primrose. I highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a daycare/learning center.”

“My son doesn't want to leave some days. The teachers are kind and great him well. They send many photos and videos of my son daily. Staff are friendly. The play ground is open and clean. Very spacious.”

“Absolutely awesome preschool program! Had a good experience sending my kid to this school. The program is very well designed. STEM, language arts, dance, Spanish and music classes are a part of the program. All the classes are amazing and teachers are very good.”

“My son has been going to Applehill Academy in Howell for 2 years. He loves going to see his friends, his teachers and learn! I am so fond of the way Miss Heather leads her staff and spends time with the kids. Everyone there is always cheerful and excited to see us. I love the switch to Kids and Company as well. The app is awesome and I am always up to date on what my son is doing on a hourly basis. We are definitely an Applehill family!”

“A good area for walks near the forest, good food, good varied and exciting and educational activities, attentive teachers. Cleanliness. Management solves all problems quickly. Thank you very much to this kindergarten for its work and care for the children.”

“The Goddard School of Spotswood is the best! Each and every teacher and staff member are extremely caring, nurturing, and friendly. We have been sending our daughter here since she was 3 months old and now our son as well and they made the transition easy knowing they were in the best care. They are extremely accommodating to each child's individual needs and always quick to respond and answer questions. The curriculum and various activities keep them busy and they have been learning so much. Our children have the biggest smiles on their faces everyday and we feel at ease knowing they are in a safe, fun, and loving environment. Highly recommend this wonderful school!”

“Our kids have been going to Apple Hill Academy for the last 3 years and we love the school. My oldest graduated pre K and and is now thriving in kindergarten thanks to all the knowledge she gained at Apple Hill! I toured quite a few schools in the area before choosing and I was very impressed how quick they were to respond and answer all of my questions, Helene was polite, welcoming, and scheduled our tour right away. Our daughter loved it from the first day and has made many friends there. I like the fact that the kids do a combination of crafts, scholastic activities and outside play. They also learn word in spanish, sign language and learn about well being and calming techniques. They are exposed to different sports, cultures, learn about different holidays, foods/recipes and career choices. We will continue to take our kids here and highly recommend to family and friends!”

“Unbelievably dedicated and genuine teachers. Extremely admirable team work of real professionals with over 10 years of experience. Their gentle touch and dedication made every day for my daughter a wonderful time of learning with joy, making friends and creating most positive memories. Now she loves school! We went through 3 preschool prior with devastating tears every morning, when finally one of the workers felt bad seeing our struggles and recommended Tots and Blocks, because her granddaughter is happily attends it. Our whole family is forever grateful! Thank you for an incredible difference in my baby’s life!”

“We cannot say enough positive things about Genius Kids Academy, Ms. Marina, the staff, and the absolutely amazing experience they have provided for our daughter! Maddie started at Genius Kids this past September. Going to school for the first time, after being home with me for two years, she was extremely tentative and shy. However, within a few weeks, she was talking non-stop about her friends and teachers (Ms. Kate and Ms. Tina), singing all of her "circle time" songs at the top of her lungs, looking forward to Wednesday music classes with Ms. Tanya, and beaming from ear to ear whenever we mentioned her school. To say that she - and we - have LOVED Genius Kids is an understatement. My older son attended two different daycares when he was younger, and invariably we were dissatisfied with different aspects of them. This is not the case with Genius Kids. We have been thrilled every single day with the level of care, safety, attentiveness, communication, and nurturing provided. The staff works tirelessly to provide special experiences, activities, and memories for the children - shows throughout the year, festive events and parties, an abundance of cheerful and constantly-changing decorations, pool time and outdoor picnics, watching caterpillars turn into butterflies, daily songs and dancing. The children are always engaged and learning. It is remarkable how Maddie has learned numbers, counting, letters, shapes, and days of the week this year, the words to countless songs, how to be fully potty trained, and so many other unquantifiable skills - social/friendship skills, helpfulness, independence, maturity, confidence, and an expansive imagination that is constantly finding ways to engage in make-believe play (including her favorite activity at home, which of course is pretending that she is Ms. Kate and Ms. Tina leading the class). We are grateful that we have been able to witness Maddie's journey and incredible experiences at school thanks to the video monitoring, constant communication (updates/pictures), and high level of responsiveness from the staff. More than anything, what we have appreciated from Ms. Marina and the teachers is the level of genuine caring that they exhibit for the children. Genius Kids is not filled with disgruntled, transient teachers who are just working for a paycheck. On the contrary, every day we are confident that we are sending Maddie to a place where she is truly loved, where she feels special, where the staff's dedication is evident, and where she is in the best hands we could ask for. A place that brings her happiness and excitement, to which she is beyond eager to run out the door every morning. Genius Kids, because of you, Maddie has blossomed and flourished in so many ways. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done for our girl. Love, The Palumbos”

“We absolutely love this daycare! My daughter looks forward to going every morning. The teachers are incredibly caring and loving, and they truly treat her like their own. They offer delicious Russian food and snacks, and the kids spend a lot of time playing and learning both indoors and outdoors.

One thing that was very important to me is their strict sick policy—they don’t allow sick kids to attend, which means fewer illnesses spread. In her old daycare, my daughter was sick every two weeks, but since switching, she’s only been sick once in the entire year!

I couldn’t be happier with our decision to switch daycares. Thank you to the amazing teachers for all that you do!❤️??”

“I’ve been bringing my child here for over a year! I’m a loyal and happy member. My 18month old begs to come to “Gymbo”. My child climbs on everything in my house and needs an outlet, on days we go here he gets to climb, dance, socialize, and sing, then promptly passes out on the ride home, and is mellow the rest of the day. He loves the entire staff- Mrs Kris, Mrs. Dianna and Mrs. Alissa are his favorites. We will keep coming back and moving up to each age appropriate class, and I get to socialize with other parents with is great since I’m usually home alone with the toddler.”

“Choosing a day care for our children was one of the most difficult decisions we as parents had to make. Let’s just say the choice was very clear after touring a few local daycare centers and speaking with various individuals. Goddard Freehold has made us feel like family from day one. Now with two little ones there, the peace of mind knowing they are safe and learning on a daily basis is well worth it to me and my family. I would give Mr. John, Ms. Suzzane, Ms. Andrea and their entire staff 10 stars if I was able to.”

“We love Champions! My son has attended their aftercare program at MarEl since we moved here in 2020.Ms. Marie and Ms. Lisa are the heart of this program; they are compassionate, creative, and dedicated to the overall well-being of the children. They engage the children in interactive activites, homework assistance, and recreational/physical activities too. I love that he also gets to socialize with his friends and burn off some of that boundless energy every day.As a parent, Champions is invaluable -not just because of their affordability, but because it has also saved my sanity! I know he’s safe and happy, and I love that his homework is done by the time I pick him up. Sometimes there is just no time and energy for me at the end of the day so I appreciate having one less (but important) thing to worry about!Thank you Ms. Marie, Ms. Lisa, and your team.”

“All Thanks go to Monika and her staff! We really can’t thank them enough for all the hard work. Overall our 2 little ones are very happy at this place, and we noticed the significant impact on both of them in all their speaking, listening, behaving, communication, and social skills ever since they joined Childtime of Spotswood.”

“I found out about Kiddie Academy of Freehold from a friend back in 2021. I was a new mom and new to NJ so I just went with it even though it’s a 25 min drive from our home. The reason I started my daughter at a daycare is because she was a “Covid baby” and I wanted her to start socializing. But truly, I feel we got so much more out of this. After she adjusted, I really saw her developing much faster. Going over letters, shapes, numbers and colors every day along with a little art project she made to take home and hang on our wall. They use Tadpoles app to keep track of diaper changes and meals. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are also included in the tuition (a big plus in my book since I didn’t have to worry about cooking the night before, saving me time). And of course, the pictures they take of them are so adorable. KA is also the only place I know that has a camera that the parent can access during the day, so you can see what they’re up to for piece of mind. Some other things I really will miss are the events they have. The Halloween parade, the pumpkin painting contest, the Valentine’s Day dance, Mother’s day and Father’s day events, and the end of the year performance from almost all the grades is just so special. For the summer they make sure the kids are busy with fun activities and invite outside vendors to entertain the kids. You can also sign them up for dance or soccer lessons. One sweet touch they do is have a pianist come by to play songs for them. I also have to mention that even though there have been some staff changes through our time there, everyone has been kind and as helpful as they can. Miss Kristi and Miss Jessica always addressed my concerns. Miss Jeanette and Miss Kelly were so encouraging and kind to my oldest, and she had learned so much! And Miss Kikki was so patient with my youngest who is a sensitive girl and took her time to open up. There was no doubt Miss Kikki made a strong connection with her causing her vocabulary to expand quickly along with the confidence to express herself. One of the cutest surprises was seeing her come home with a new hairstyle almost every time. I felt like I was picking her up from the salon! During our time at KA I had been pregnant, working, and made the decision to go back to school myself. I have so much gratitude towards this place as I went through this stage of my life. But I also feel they deserve such recognition because so many places have taken away such things but this place has somehow kept it all.”

“Absolutely one of the best daycares in Monmouth County. The entire staff is always so welcoming and helpful, they truly enjoy where they work and it shows ❤️”