6 weeks to Pre-Kindergarten; After School Program includes pick-up; Summer Day Camp up to Age 10
Keystone Star 4 rated program, which is the highest rating a Preschool can earn in PA. Come visit with us and see why families agree that we are the top choice (and best value) in child care / preschool for the Langhorne and Yardley communities and neighboring areas.
Top curriculum aligned with PA. learning standards. Our school represents society. Children come from many races, cultures, languages and religions to learn together and appreciate their differences.
Ages 6 weeks to 12 years (includes After Care and Summer Camp)
Hours of operation: 6:30a.m. - 6:30p.m.
�Certified Staff (must have a high percentage of teachers with education degrees to be a STAR 4 program)
�Chef Prepared Lunch Provided Daily
� High Reach Curriculum (www.highreach.com)
�After School Programs
�High Tech Security
�Monitoring Cameras
�Computer lab
�Math and Science
�Language Arts
�Parent/teacher conferences to discuss child's progress
�Recommended Center By State of PA DPW
�Equal Opportunity Care Provider (EOCP)
�APPLE / CCIS and other subsidized programs welcome. We do NOT charge the difference in tuition for APPLE / CCIS families!
For more information about Children Central Child Care / Learning Center, located at 882 Town Center Drive (near Sesame Place), call 215-752-9330. Also visit www.childrencentral.net.
Keywords: children central, child care, day care, preschool, day camp, summer camp, learning center, children birthday parties, parties, infant care, toddler care, transportation, Pre-K, growth, development, learning
Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
Our preschool was established in 1992. The current owners, Kevin & Sharon Port have run the school since 2009.
What is your primary product or service?
Infant - Pre-Kindergarten. After-School Programs and Summer Day Camp. We offer Adventure Camp in the summer for children who have graduated kindergarten up to age 10+. Chef prepared lunch served daily.
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
‘Mr. Kevin’ and ‘Miss Sharon’ own and manage Children Central as a husband and wife team on a full-time basis. They take great pride in making sure their preschool is run according to the highest standards, which is confirmed by the Keystone STARS organization as a STAR 4 rated program, the highest rating a preschool can earn in PA.
Kevin was an International Sales and Marketing professional in the consumer products field for over 20 years, which included approximately 7 years in Japan. His areas of responsibility included preschool and language learning products, such as Mattel, Fisher-Price and Franklin. Kevin earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA in Communications and an MBA in Marketing from New York University. His biggest influence for his interest in education comes from his parents. His mother was a Kindergarten and first grade teacher for over 25 years and his father started out as a middle school teacher and then spent over 30 years selling The World Book Encyclopedia.
Sharon’s experience is in corporate HR for over 10 years, and running her own real estate business. She earned her BS degree in Business Administration from the University of California at Riverside, and MA in Organizational Behavior. She worked for corporations such as Hilton Hotels, Duty Free Shops, Colony Advisors, and Herbalife amongst others before switching careers to her true passion in real estate. After working a few years for Prudential CA. Realty she opened her own firm, South Bay Cities Real Estate Consultants, with a partner. Little did she know at that time that her very most important job, motherhood, was just around the corner! After a couple of years of being a stay at home mom to their first born, she and Kevin decided to fulfill their long awaited dream of owning a child care center together.
Kevin and Sharon combine their interest in education and business skills to manage the school daily. Children Central is truly a family run business with the owners’ constant hands-on approach to every detail of the school. Being parents to young children themselves, they know exactly what other parents are going through and thus strive on a daily basis to strike the perfect balance between running a well-organized school, as well as one that accommodates the greatest needs of the parents.
Kevin and Sharon manage the school so that it is able to provide the best in: 1) Education by allowing the children to learn through structured play; 2) Socialization that includes assuring that each child reaches his/her developmental goals, as well as providing the opportunity to engage and interact with children of varied cultural and racial backgrounds; 3) Nutrition by offering a healthy lunch and snacks made by their chef on staff; 4) Cleanliness provided by a professional cleaning company that comes five nights per week to make sure the school is kept very clean and smells good when we open each morning; 5) Security so that parents have a peace of mind about their child’s well-being during the day, so they can attend to the needs of their own busy work day.
Most importantly, Kevin and Sharon believe in simply ‘letting a kid be a kid’ by creating a fun and safe place to play, learn, sing, dance and laugh their way through first singing their ABCs to learning how to read a book. Children Central is the ideal place for parents who are looking for a loving, nurturing as well as academic place for their child.
Once you visit Children Central, they are certain you will agree!
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
Children Central is a Keystone STARS 4 program, the highest rating a preschool can achieve in PA. The Keystone STARS organization only visits and observes preschools rated STAR 3 and 4. For families, this means that the STARS organization confirms that we have a very high percentage of teachers with degrees in early childhood education and that the curriculum follows the PA. early learning standards. A lot of research has proven what children should be learning at every age and the early learning standards mean is that in every classroom, the children are learning what their age group is expected to know and a whole lot more, as we have very high expectations for our students and teachers.
Families at our school appreciate the fact that we have a professional teaching staff with degrees in early childhood education, and not 'kids teaching kids.' In addition to the lunch our chef prepares daily. two snacks are included in the tuition for Toddler through Pre-Kindergarten. Also, the Toddler through Pre-Kindergarten children love Kids’ Music Round, which is included weekly on Thursdays. Spanish is taught as part of the curriculum in Preschool and Pre-K on Tuesday mornings. We also offer the optional sports program called Amazing Athletes, which is on Mondays for age two and older.
Families also love that Children Central is NOT a corporation or franchise! We have limited school closings for holidays when most companies are closed; and no week long closures! Teachers participate in 24 hours of professional development annually per Keystone STARS requirements
Families love the extra benefits which include free coffee to go on Monday mornings and a very inexpensive Date Night on a Friday every month, so our parents have a chance to go out for the evening and know their children are in good hands.
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
We have one location in Langhorne, PA. that is approximately 10,000 square feet. We are conveniently located Hwy. 95 and Hwy 1, in between Sesame Place and the Oxford Valley Mall.
Provide detailed directions to your location
882 Town Center Dr., Langhorne. From Oxford Valley Rd. turn onto N. Buckstown Dr., which is how you would to go to Sesame Place with the Mexican restaurant on your left corner. After you pass the big parking lot for Sesame Place on your right, you will make the first right onto Town Center Dr. (you can only make a right turn). You will be on Town Center Drive and the road will curve to the left. Just before the big water tower, you will make a right into the parking lot. The sign out front says: 880-888, drive in and stay to the left of the building. Our big entrance is halfway down the parking lot.
If you should have any problem finding us, just give me a call and I’ll get you here.
What type of payments do you accept?
Credit card, check, cash, online payments through banks
Which areas do you service?
Langhorne, Yardley, Fairless Hills, Levittown, Bensalem, Morrisville, Newtown and surrounding areas
Who owns your company or runs daily operations?
Mr. Kevin and Ms. Sharon Port are the owners, and Miss Melissa is the Director. Our 3 Administrator are ALL full-time. You will always find at least one of them, if not all 3! Miss Melissa arrives earlier, and the Ports usually close the school each evening.
What are your hours of operation?
6:30AM to 6:30PM, Monday to Friday.
What is the best compliment anyone can give you?
These are a few actual comments we have received:
1) As an educator, I know how important it is for young children to have well rounded experiences in their early years in order for them to develop to their highest potential. I researched many options in the area and was thrilled and relieved to find Children Central. After visiting several child care centers, I knew Children Central was the best fit. They offered much more than the high priced chain centers (KinderCare, Goddard School). They have a quality curriculum, clean facilities, happy and loving teachers, delicious lunches made by their own chef, a wonderful playground and so much more. I feel confident that we made the best choice, especially with the Keystone Star 4 rating! Colton loves the Kid’s Round Music program. He has learned so many new things!
2) My 2 year old daughter currently attends Children Central. As a mom and as an educator for 13 years; I sought a place where my daughter was not only taken care of, but where she would grow in all areas. I sought growth in the areas of social. I sought growth in the areas of social skills, self-help skills, cognitive, and the arts (music, art, etc.). Well, I found it!!! Most of all my daughter is very happy at school (she calls it her big girl school:-)
Looking for a Learning Center/Child Care was a journey – very stressful journey. My daughter attended another facility for 8 months; nevertheless, I’m not sure who was more unhappy my daughter or I. I constantly requested communication in regards to her day: intake of food, diaper, and activities; nevertheless, I did not get this information. I would find out about things that she had done, when the art projects would come home weeks later. Most of all, she would cry every morning at drop off. In the afternoon, she seemed happy; however, she looked like a tornado just hit her.
Well, here we are just 6 weeks into our attendance at Children Central. She stopped crying at drop off after 3 weeks – this is a first for us. She is very happy and neat when we pick her up in the afternoon. I am aware of her everyday events. Children Central provides you with daily grams, weekly pictures (love it!!!), plenty of information around the room and facility to be informed of your child’s day. I am happy that we found this place…looking forward to a few great years! I highly recommend it!
What is your favorite quote or Bible verse?
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
― Dr. Seuss