Wantagh childcare: New center targets working families

A new childcare facility in Wantagh has opened to serve the village's high number of working parents.

Creative Play Childcare Center began operations in September at 3309 Merrick Road. It accepts children from infancy through age five. The facility was co-founded by Melissa Borger and Dhanaive Nunez.

The center operates five days a week from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It also offers extended hours for parents commuting from work. According to aggregated data, nearly 17.5% of Wantagh residents work from home, while more than 64% work outside the home. Borger, who has lived in the area for 25 years, said the founders engaged with local families before launching the business.

Residents expressed interest in smaller, more individualized care settings. The center limits enrollment to 38 students. The infant room holds eight children, the toddler room holds 12, and the prekindergarten classroom holds 18.

Staffing varies by age group. The infant room, which serves children from 6 weeks to 18 months, is led by a teacher, an assistant, and a floater. The toddler room, for children aged 18 months to 3 years, is supervised by a certified teacher, an assistant, and a floater. The prekindergarten room, for children aged 3 to 5, is instructed by a lead and assistant teacher.

Nunez described the curriculum as Montessori-inspired, emphasizing learning through play. She cited her grandson's lack of social progression in a traditional childcare setting as a motivator for choosing a play-based approach. The founders spent a year completing the preparation and approval process with the town of Hempstead and the Office of Children and Family Services.

Nunez previously opened group family daycares in Elmont and Valley Stream in 2023 before partnering with Borger. Borger brings nearly 35 years of experience in healthcare and business operations to the venture.