The Nurturing Place

Being first time parents is hard. Being first time parents in New York City is even harder. We thought we only had two options, a daycare that cost slightly less than Harvard or a nanny who pays more attention to her cell phone then the kid.
Whether it had been fate or pure coincidence we had stumbled upon The Nurturing Place on this very site. Hesitant at first, as with anything that looks too good to be true we decided to give them a call. Of course they were full at the time and offered to put us on a waiting list.
A couple weeks had gone by and we received a phone call saying a slot would be opening up. They asked if we would like to come in for an interview. We were immediately impressed that they interview all families they are considering first.
Fast forward 7 months and we couldn’t be happier with our choice in childcare. Mrs. Tai and her assistants have become extended family. Its like being part of a small community as you get to know each of the parents and children due to the intimate setting.
With this type of environment, the children not only become close to one another, but they have plenty of one and one time with the providers.
They hold music, art and yoga classes. Take field trips to museums. Go outside daily (weather permitting). And provide healthy snacks, breakfast and lunch.
Mrs. Tai has great values and is committed to helping each of the parents raise well behaved, respectful and over all good people. We can’t recommend The Nurturing Place enough. It truly is a hidden gem of the Upper West Side.

My daughter recently started attending the Nurturing Place and it has been a truly great experience. Mrs. Tai and her staff are amazing. Everyone is very patient and loving and they have become like family. The Nurturing Place provides a very loving environment while also providing structure. I am so happy with all that my daughter is learning and I am fully confident that she will be beyond prepared when it is time for pre-​k. In the short amount of time we have been there I have already noticed a significant amount of growth in my daughter and I couldn’t be happier.

Update to the review 9÷26÷13
My family remains happy with the care our son receives at The Nurturing Place. My son is now 2 years old (33 months) and has been attending TNP since he was 8 mos old. He loves Ms. Tai and Ms. Renee, he has friends that he can’t stop speaking about and he is learning a wide variety of enrichment, academic and social activities. #stilllovingthenurturingplace

I’m glad to be apart of this family. As the assistant at The Nurturing Place I must say I love my job. I’ve been working at the daycare now for a year and it feels like I have been there longer. My boss/​director Mrs. Tai is a wonderful woman and caretaker for all her children. She treats them all as if they were her own. Just like the name of her daycare she is very nurturing, caring, loving, kind, genuine, warm hearted and humble, not just to the children but to the parents and also to me. She has a great relationship with her parents and also the children. She doesn’t treat any of her children different doesn’t have a favorite she treat them all the same.
The Nurturing place is full of fun energy warm spirits and nothing but love. Seeing all of our children puts a smile on my face even on a bad day when I get to work I forget why I was upset. Being around these children you can never have a dull moment they keep us laughing and always on the move. Our hours of operation is Monday thru Friday from 8am to 6pm and we also offer extended hours for parents who may have a longer work schedule. We offer music and art class weekly. Music on Mondays and art on Thursdays. We have a wonderful woman that comes in and construct the classes the children love her. When there’s no music and art we do what we call circle time with the children in which we teach them ABCs, numbers, shapes, colors, days of the week, body parts, 1^st and last name coins etc. The group of children we have are so smart and learn so fast you teach them one time and they get it right then and there no hesitations. During the summer we go on field trips and community walks. Due to the weather and season now we stay in but we try and make the best of it.
Working at the Nurturing place it has taught me a lot. It taught me how to b patient and also made me more mature as a young lady and as a mother. This is my 1^st time working at a daycare and I must say it’s the best experience in my life I love all these children and I consider them as my own and I do my best to take care of them and make sure that they are protected and safe.
Last but not least I want to acknowledge the woman that put this whole business in effect Mrs. Tai. If it was not for her this place would not be how it is today. She is an amazing person and provider she takes very good care of all the children and is well connected with them all. I see how she works with them and help them and also teach and nourish them. She is kind hearted and is someone you would want to to have take care of your child. Her daycare is a group family daycare and she have a small group and she likes it that way because that’s how she can be able to build her own individual relationship with her children. She’s the best and I love and respect her and I’m so grateful to her for giving me this opportunity to work with her and the children. I love my job I love my children and I love The Nurturing Place, if u join I’m sure you would love it too.

The Nurturing Place lives true to its name. The daycare director, Mrs. Tai and her assistant Ms. Renee are wonderful teachers, caregivers, and substitute mommies when you are unable to be with your child during the day. Operated out of the director’s cozy apartment on W91st at CPW, Mrs. Tai maintains an affordable but competitive rate for her services. I did extensive research into daycares in the area on the UWS-​nothing compares. These other daycares that charge a college tuition sometimes don’t even change your child’s diaper and will call you to do it and almost purposefully create a cold atmosphere of being distant, non-​cuddly, and rigidly structured with no room for flexibility for your parent/​child needs and situation. The Nurturing Place Daycare is the complete opposite.
Mrs. Tai has a daily routine of circle time, playtime –indoor/​outdoor playground (dep on weather; during summer– sprinklers!), lunch, nap, play time, circle time. They organize field trips, and have twice weekly music and art class with a specialized teacher. Mrs. Tai even organized her first Family Day in June around Father’s Day and it was spectacular. The fathers were honored with certificates, she had a bouncy house, Spongebob, a magician, balloon maker, and even her own family cried as she thanked all the parents for making her business dream come true. She strives to build community and culture represented by the potluck dishes from the respective families present at Family Day.
The Nurturing Place is also very diverse. There are all ages, languages, and race/​ethnicities represented of the student and parent population. My son has grown both physically and developmentally– learning how to walk, sing songs, ABCs, and count to 20 at only 19 months old.
Its rolling admissions, so call to see if she has availability for your child (depends on age and spots). She will talk to you over the phone and then invite you in for a visit and interview. My husband and I talked to all the parents because we came around pick-​up time and each one gave a glowing recommendation.
Hope this helps those of you looking for an amazing place where you know your child is loved, safe, and taken care of.

Our son was 15 months old when he started attending Nurturing Place this past spring. It was a trying first month and half for him to adjust to daycare, however the staff was very supportive and always provided daily status updates — this was very comforting to my wife and me.
Mrs. Tai is professional, big-​hearted, while being firm and treats her charges as family. Ms. Renée and the rest of Mrs. Tai’s team are warm, loving, and patient, providing the kids with a safe, social, fun & educational environment. There is the ideal mix and balance of discipline, structure, teaching and learning. 8am to 6pm hrs of operation are a godsend for working parent (s). Meals and snacks are provided and the physical space is large for a Manhattan home based daycare.
Regular classes/​visits by outside instructors in sign language and music, in addition to museum trips and outings to Central Park offer enrichment and exercise.
The population at the daycare is diverse and really a mini United Nations with kids ranging in age and background, whose families originally hail from Asia, Africa, Europe (East & West), Latin America, the Caribbean and the Good Ol’ USA.
My wife and I searched far and wide for the right daycare from the UWS to Harlem (we live in Manhattanville) and we feel very fortunate to have found The Nurturing Place. It is a hidden gem and a wonderful, affordable resource for parents with children ages 6 months to 4 years. Our experience has been so positive that we’ve committed our newborn twins for spring ’15.
The daycare is steps away from Central Park on a quiet, safe block across the street from P. S. 84. I usually take the M104 bus or IRT # 1 subway for drop-​off in the mornings and often will drive the family minivan in the evenings between 5 – 5:30pm for pickup — I’ve never had a problem finding parking on the block: 60+ times.
As a lifelong advocate for quality education and having served on the board of directors of a Central Harlem based educational non-​profit, I whole-​heartedly recommend The Nurturing Place — it is the home daycare platinum standard for those living in zip codes: 10 024, 10 025, 10 026, 10 027 and beyond.

Nurturing place is great place. It’s completely affordable. What’s more it’s very proper and professional daycare. You can rely on Taihisha. I put my son there since he was six months until 15 months. At the beginning I also have doubt if she can take care of five kids with assistant help. Time has proof everything. Taihisha put her love to her job. She is very tough and responsibility. If any accidents happen, she always filed an accident report. She always fed the baby healthy foods and sometimes give me suggestion about how to prepare baby foods. Although it’s a family care and run by herself, she arranged all activities and learning program. She is very capable. After we move out the neighborhood, we put our son to new daycare at Bayside. He seems enjoy less compared to Taihisha place. I remember my son didn’t want to leave Nurturing place every time when I pick him up. He always looks happy when I go to pick him up. And after we left place for 2 months, my son still remember «circle time» and some words which he learned from Nurturing place. Taihisha’s place is not only doing things professionally but also she really put her love to the kids. My son loved her, we loved her. I miss her! I will highly recommend to any mom if you lived in upper west side and you want an affordable daycare. Nurturing place is the right place to go.

I love the Nurturing Place! It is a great daycare. Picking a provider for our child was very serious; we wanted a place where he would be safe, loved and enriched. We found that at the Nurturing Place! Ms. Tai is warm and attentive to the children, she provides the children with the much needed structure for this age range. She is constantly coming up with fun field trip and outings for the children. And most importantly — my son is happy!!!

Taihisha Joyner and the Nurturing Place staff are extraordinary! After lengthy deliberation to switch my daughter’s daycare, I’m sorry I did not do so sooner. Ms. Joyner offers a diverse and structured learning environment with a professional, loving and patient demeanor. She balances her love with calm, clear and consistent discipline. And she seeks to be consistent with how I parent my daughter at home which gives my family an experience of support and partnership in raising our daughter. I have absolutely no complaints. The fees are competitive, however there is no monetary price that would be enough for the peace of mind provided by this superior quality daycare. It’s amazing how much more effective I am at work because I am confident my daughter is being taken care of so well. And, a happy mommy makes for an even happier baby!