CHILDSPACE LLC

We've had two children at Childspace — one who started in the infant room and is now in the toddler program, and another currently in preschool. It's been one of the best decisions we've made as a family. As a local small business owner, having a childcare option I genuinely trust has made it possible to show up fully for my work. Knowing my kids are in a calm, caring environment where they're truly known (not just watched) makes a real difference on a daily basis. From the infant room on up, the care has felt responsive and personal. There's no rigid schedule being forced on little ones, just attentive caregiving that follows each child's cues and personal schedules. As our kids have grown, that same philosophy has carried through. Learning happens through play, which was important to us. They dig in the dirt, explore outdoors in every season, and come home tired in the best possible way. The center is small and community-oriented, which means the staff truly knows our children. It feels nothing like a chain or institution (which we and tried and did not work for us). If you're a family in State College or Bellefonte looking for play-based childcare, infant care, or a nature preschool program, Childspace is worth scheduling a tour. The enrollment process is straightforward and the teachers are wonderful with kids.

Childspace is one of the most joyful and thoughtful early childhood centers I have ever experienced. It is truly play-based, and children’s interests shape the flow of the day. It’s uncommon to see a center that values the connection between play and learning deeply, especially through open-ended activities that let children explore, experiment, and create in their own ways. During my time observing, I consistently saw children who were genuinely happy to be there. The environment feels calm, warm, and beautifully attuned to young children’s needs. Children have time to move, think, play outdoors, and follow their curiosity. Their social and emotional growth is supported respectfully, and you can see how confident and comfortable they are in the space. The staff are exceptional. They are kind and attentive to the children. Kelly is also wonderful because her leadership creates a caring and supportive community where both children and educators thrive. Childspace is a rare and remarkable place where play, learning, and care come together in meaningful ways. I highly recommend it to any family seeking a nurturing, joyful, and developmentally grounded early childhood center.

Our daughter had a wonderful experience here! The teachers really took the time to get to know our child and develop a bond with her. We could tell from the interactions at drop-off and pickup that she felt completely safe and cared for. The care Childspace provides is truly individualized to the child, our baby napped and ate on the schedules we discussed with the teachers, and they easily adjusted things when our routines changed. We also loved the outdoor play space and emphasis on time outside. We will really miss all the communication through the Brightwheel app, it makes it a lot easier to leave your little one when you get regular updates on how they are doing, pictures, and videos of them playing happily!

My littles are still new there and have only been there about a month now but our last experience at a daycare wasn't the best and I had some serious anxiety about sending them to another one and my son was even TERRIFIED to go. But he LOVES this daycare and really likes his teachers! My daughter often times doesn't wanna leave and doesn't cry when I go to leave any more. I feel safe and comfortable leaving my kids here. They listened to my concern when we first started there and they made me feel comfortable and was very reassuring and made me and my babies feel welcome 😊

We loved sending our little one to Childspace! Such caring teachers and directors. We sent our daughter for over a year and could not be happier with the experience. She really did thrive there and we could tell she loved going there. The directors have built a safe and loving space for children, and we are super grateful for our time with them. Thank you Kelly and Childspace for everything! As first time and working parents, this place has earned a space in our hearts. When moving out of state for work, I think the hardest part was leaving Childspace. We would have stayed with them longer if we didn’t move. 100% recommended!