How enrollment works
Get in touch
You call (215) 809-2500 or email stmary@brighthorizons.com. Tell us your child's age and the days you need. A conversation about your family follows, and the answers shape what comes next. From there, you choose a time to visit.
Tour the room
You see the classroom your child would join. You meet the teachers who run it. You watch how the room is arranged and how the morning moves. Ask anything that matters to you. Then you decide whether it fits.
Enroll and settle in
You complete enrollment and plan a first week that suits your child's routine. Shorter days at the start often help. You and the teachers agree on what the first morning will look like. The Family Information Center holds the day-to-day details once your child begins.
What to have ready
Before the first day, most families gather a few papers. Enrollment forms come first, then a health form and an immunization record. Emergency contacts and the names of people allowed to pick up your child are part of it. Ask the center which forms it needs and how it prefers to receive them.
Pack a full change of clothes, labelled with your child's name. Outdoor gear follows the season: a hat, boots, a warm layer. Nap items matter for children who rest, and a comfort object helps others settle. Label everything you send, so it finds its way back.
Sort out the drop-off routine before the first morning. Decide who brings your child and who picks up. Tell the teachers how you would like to hear about the day. A short exchange at the door is often enough; longer questions can wait for a quieter moment.
The first weeks
The first days are usually shorter, so your child can get used to the room. A familiar object from home can help. A teacher greets your child by name and shows where things go. You say goodbye the same way each time, which makes the parting easier for both of you.
At pickup, teachers often tell you how your child ate, slept and played. They mention what went well and what was hard. That daily exchange is how you follow the week. Most children settle into the rhythm within a short while, and you can ask whenever you want more detail.
What families ask
What about tuition?
Ask about current rates when you call or tour. They depend on your child's age and schedule.
Can we visit before deciding?
Yes. A tour is how most families decide, and children are welcome to come along.
What should my child bring on the first day?
Most families pack a change of clothes, labelled with the child's name. Outdoor gear for the season and nap items are common, too. A comfort object from home often helps a child settle.
How do you handle the first weeks?
The first days are often shorter, so your child can get used to the room. At pickup, teachers tell you how your child ate, slept and played, and you can ask for more detail whenever you like.
What does a typical day include?
A day is built around arrival and hello. Play and learning fill the middle of the morning. Meals and rest follow, with outdoor time when the weather allows. Pickup closes the day, and the teachers often share how it went.
How will I know how my child is doing?
Teachers speak with parents at pickup about how the day went. Ask about naps, meals, or a moment your child returned to again and again.
Do you offer part-time or flexible schedules?
Schedules depend on your child's age group and what is open at that time. Ask the center what is available for the days you need.
What if there is no place right now?
You can ask the center to tell you when a place opens for your child's age. Ask how it keeps families informed so you know what to expect.
What should I ask on the tour?
Ask what hours the center keeps and whether meals are provided. Ask how pickup works and how the first weeks are handled when a child is settling in. Ask what the day looks like from morning arrival through afternoon, and how teachers share news with families.