Since ELI classes happen during the daytime, many ELI students take their children to day care so that they have a safe and educational place to stay during the day.
Learn more about:
How to choose a daycare center
Choosing a day care center is a big decision. Here are some important questions to ask:
- Is it close to home or classes?
- How many children in each group?
- What is the child/teacher ratio?
- What is the teaching/childcare philosophy?
- What is the training/experience of the teachers?
- What are the hours and attendance policies?
- What is your policy on caring for sick children?
- What are the activities?
- What are the fees?
- Do I have to pay when my child is away on vacation?
Visit the center with your child.
For more tips, visit the Zero to Three website.
![](https://sites.udel.edu/elifamily/files/2020/04/markus-spiske-OO89_95aUC0-unsplash-683x1024.jpg)
Day care centers
Here are some of the day care centers in the area that are sometimes used by ELI parents.
Note: the ELI does not endorse any day care center; parents are advised to visit and research day care centers before enrolling their children.
Willa Road Children’s Center
420 Willa Road, Newark | +1 (302) 738-2008
Casho Mill KinderCare
1520 Casho Mill Road, Newark | +1 (302) 738-5953
Tarbiyah School and Daycare, Masjid Isa
706 S. Old Baltimore Pike | (302) 533-8114
Newark Day Nursery
921 Barksdale Road, Newark | (302) 731-4925
Blossom and Bloom Early Learning Center
1933 Kirkwood Highway, Unit C | (302) 294-6451
Newark Christian Childcare
680 South Chapel Street, Newark | +1 (302) 369-3000
(Students and families are not required to be Christian in order to enroll)
University of Delaware Early Learning Center
489 Wyoming Road, Newark | +1 (302) 831-6205
Christina Early Education Center
620 East Chestnut Hill Road, Newark, DE 19713 | +1 (302) 454-2720
Bear Early Education Center
2884 Summit Bridge Rd, Bear, DE 19701 | +1 (302) 836-5000
ABC Kids Academy
1098 Elkton Rd., Newark, DE 19711 | +1 (302) 366-8537
Paxson Lane Kindercare
100 Paxson Dr., Newark, DE 19702 | +1 (302) 834-6931
Kiddie Academy of Elkton MD
100 Kiddie Ln, Elkton, MD 21921 | +1 (410) 398-1110
What does your child need at daycare?
There are many important things to consider as you prepare your child for day care.
Name tag
The first week in day care, your child should have a name tag with:
- Name
- Address
- Parents’ names
- Parents’ cell phone number
This will help the day care staff to learn who your child is, who you are, and how to reach you easily.
Emergency contact information
Schools and daycare centers must be able to reach you in an emergency. Give the school the cell phone number where you can be reached during the day, so they can call you if your child gets sick or hurt.
If your cell number changes, remember to give the new number to the school immediately.
Clothes and coats
Children should wear:
- Comfortable play clothes
- Sneakers or shoes with rubber soles
During nice weather, children go outside everyday.
No sandals, flip flops, or shoes with high-heels - A raincoat or winter coat, hat and gloves, when it is rainy or cold
- Young children need an extra set of clothes and a towel.
Write your child’s name on everything they bring to school.
Food choices
If your child does not eat some foods because of allergies or religious reasons, please send a note telling which foods your child should not eat. This information will go into your child’s file so that lunch helpers can help your child with what to eat.
Learn more about shopping for food in Newark >
Please see the resources below for some meal-related resources:
- Packing healthy lunches safely
- Keeping food safely in your home
- Protecting your family from food poisoning
- Tips for keeping kids healthy (includes: recipes for meals, snacks, desserts; instructions for making your own baby food; baby bottle tips; feeding high-energy kids; etc.)