My son went to Bright Horizons Bellevue from 3 months old up until his 6th birthday.( exception of 3 months for Stay at home order) Safety was always top notch at the center but now with Covid, its set the absolute highest standard. . Daily health checks before entering, and following all Covid policies and protocols gave me peace of mind. Every teacher wearing masks and even distancing markers before the lobby. It was like first class, VIP treatment. My drop offs and pickups were quicker now, even with a health screening. It never felt cold or stiff at all like I thought it might returning in the middle of a pandemic. And I didn’t worry about his safety the entire time.
From March-June, We stuck it out from home: Two full time working parents with demanding jobs, and A LOT of screen time for our 5 yr old. It was impossible to keep a structured schedule and as an only child, he was craving that social interaction again with friends. There was no amount of worksheets, craft kits, or educational apps to replace what he needed to learn in the classroom setting so he went back in July when the doors opened again.
It was such a relief when he went back. I started to actually be able to attend meetings and get thru my work during daytime hours. He was actually eating balanced nutritional meals again vs my last minute microwave meals. He was physically worn out from Playground time.( and excited to have a playground to actually use) When he got home from School, we would play board games or tell stories vs draining the ipad battery out in the evening time. He seemed to have his spark back again and was reenergized. Plus they were doing new activities like coding a robot and baking sugar free popsicles.
What makes This Bellevue daycare /preschool so special? Its got all the right ingredients and then some. The passion of the award winning teachers, chef, quality curriculum, inviting environment including art studio and stem lab, led by an experienced leadership team who care deeply about all the families.
A coworker once told me that if he ever had a kid, he knew he was going to send it to my daycare, and his reasoning was because he knew I spent countless hours researching, touring, reading reviews to an extent he knew he’d never do , and that’s actually true.
My son learned how to walk, eat with a fork, toilet train , write and sound out letters, conflict resolution, cut with scissors, balance on a bike, stand in line and follow directions, and draw and express himself. Literally, everything a kid needs to learn those first crucial years. He’s such a creative, problem solver who wants to do good in the world and I thank Bright Horizons Bellevue for that.
Our family has utilized Bright Horizons at Bellevue as an extension of our family since 2014. Our oldest son started at 15 months in the toddler room, and our youngest started at 5 months with the infant group. My oldest son has since graduated from BH and entered 2nd grade while my youngest is thriving in their Kinder prep class.
We have the pleasure of watching our children learn and play in a fun and dynamic environment. The exceptionally talented and caring group of teachers and educators continue to provide a sense of stability and routine that my kids enjoy. From art to science, math, reading, and sports – the learning is plentiful in an encouraging and respectful environment. The director and entire leadership team are helpful and incredibly responsive to any questions.
In this current environment, I appreciate the transparent communication of safety precautions and extra measures taken to keep the children healthy and safe. While there are other centers closer to our home, we choose to continue taking our son to a place that we trust.
