New Wantagh childcare center caps enrollment at 38 for working families

A new childcare facility in Wantagh has opened with a strict cap on student enrollment to address local workforce demands.

Aggregated data indicates that 17.5% of workers in Wantagh operate from home, while more than 64% work outside the residence. The Creative Play Childcare Center, located at 3309 Merrick Road, began accepting students in September. The center serves children from infancy through age five and operates five days a week from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., including extended hours for commuting parents.

Melissa Borger and Dhanaive Nunez co-founded the business. Borger, a resident for roughly 25 years, stated that the team engaged with the community prior to opening. Families expressed a preference for a smaller, more individualized environment. The facility limits capacity to 38 students. The infant room holds eight children, the toddler room holds 12, and the prekindergarten classroom holds 18.

The infant room accepts children from 6 weeks to 18 months old. It is staffed by a lead teacher, an assistant teacher, and a floater. Children move to the toddler room, which serves ages 18 months to 3 years, upon aging out of the infant stage. That room is led by a certified teacher, an assistant, and a floater. The prekindergarten room serves children from ages 3 to 5 and is instructed by a lead and assistant teacher.

Nunez noted that the curriculum is Montessori-inspired, emphasizing learning through play. She cited her grandson, who is on the spectrum, as a reason for moving away from traditional methods after observing limited social progression there. Nunez previously operated group family daycares in Elmont and Valley Stream. Borger brings nearly 35 years of experience in healthcare and business operations.

The co-founders completed a year of preparation and regulatory processes with the Town of Hempstead and the Office of Children and Family Services. Borger described the neighborhood as a family-based community with many two-parent working households. She said the area lacked an individualized approach to care. Nunez stated the goal was to provide quality care with qualified, certified teachers for the Wantagh location.

Borger said the partnership with Nunez allowed them to build a center that differs from standard daycares. She described the project as a way to provide the type of childcare she wished had been available when her own children were young.