Working at the University of Waterloo? Where are the Best Daycare Centers on And Near Campus?

daycareWaterloo is a growing city with lots of opportunity, and nowhere is this more evident than on campus at the University of Waterloo. If you’re purchasing Waterloo real estate and plan to work on campus, it’s important to know where you can drop off the little ones for the day. Luckily for those seeking daycare near Waterloo University, there are on- and off-campus options that will keep your children safe and entertained while you work. These daycares are close to the Waterloo campus and offer the best in childcare, so you can have peace of mind while playing your part at one of Canada’s premier universities.

 

On-Campus Options to Keep the Little Ones Close

Recognizing the needs of employees with young children, many Canadian universities now offer on-campus daycare services for staff. The University of Waterloo has not one, not two, not three, not four, but five different childcare providers, all of which offer on-campus centers. These daycare centers are currently separate entities, but will soon be merging into one centralized campus daycare.

The Hildegard-Marsden nursery on Frank Tompa Drive is a provincially licensed daycare program for children aged three months to six years. The nursery offers full day care as well as a summer camp, and is run by a board of parent-directors. Monthly rates range from $545 for a part-time preschool program up to $1300 for infants. The weeklong summer camp program is just $220. The nursery also has day rates available, ranging from $40 to $60 per day depending on your child’s age.

Other on-campus options include the Klemmer Farmhouse, Paintin’ Place Cooperative Daycare, and Kids & Company in TechTown. All daycares are provincially licensed and offer full-time and part-time programs.

In the PAS building, on the ground floor, the Early Childhood Education Centre is a government-licensed program offered by the University of Waterloo Psychology department. The ECEC offers a variety of programs for children aged 32 months to five years, ranging in cost from $160 to $375 per month. This center doubles as an observational facility for graduate students who are pursuing degrees related to child psychology. Parents who wish to enrol children here will need to sign waivers that give faculty and grad students permission to observe their children for research purposes. Most research is non-interactive in nature and is facilitated with the use of one-way mirrors. Professional Early Childhood Educators are on site to provide top-level education and care.

 

Off-Campus Daycare for Commuters

Waterloo has a number of great daycare options available for those commuting to and from campus. The Region of Waterloo government’s Children’s Services department runs several childcare facilities in Kitchener, Cambridge, and Elmira. All educators are members of the College of Early Childhood Educators and have received certification through the HighScope Educational Research Foundation.

 

There are also several non-government daycares throughout the city that offer childcare, including Butterfly Learning Centre, the non-profit Owl Child Care Services (with seven locations throughout Waterloo Region), and the YMCA.

All three are within a fifteen-minute drive of the university campus.

 

Waterloo Region is growing, and the influx of so many new parents has resulted in daycares opening up spots all over the tri-cities. The University of Waterloo offers its staff a variety of daycare programs at varying prices, with several spots open in multiple centers. There are also several great off-campus options, including government-run facilities in three nearby cities, a non-profit daycare in Waterloo, and the YMCA. With so many options, it should be easy to find an affordable childcare venue that suits your needs.

 

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