Creative Play Childcare Center Opens in Wantagh with Capacity for 38 Children

Melissa Borger and Dhanaive Nunez opened Creative Play Childcare Center in September at 3309 Merrick Road in Wantagh. The facility accepts children from infancy through age five and operates on a schedule designed to accommodate local employment patterns.

The center limits enrollment to 38 students to maintain a low student-to-staff ratio. This cap divides into three distinct age groups: eight infants, twelve toddlers, and eighteen prekindergarteners. Borger stated that families in the area expressed a preference for smaller, more individualized care settings over larger facilities.

Staffing levels are structured around these small group sizes. The infant room, which serves children from six weeks to 18 months, employs a lead teacher, an assistant, and a floater. The toddler room, covering ages 18 months to three, uses a certified teacher, an assistant, and a floater. The prekindergarten room, for ages three to five, is staffed by a lead and an 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 motivation for this approach. She observed that he did not show progression in socialization skills while attending a traditional childcare center. The new center aims to provide a different environment for similar needs.

The location was chosen based on aggregated data showing that nearly 17.5% of Wantagh workers operate from home, while more than 64% work outside the home. The center operates five days a week from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering extended hours for commuting parents. Borger, a resident of the area for 25 years, said the founders engaged with the community before opening to identify these specific gaps in local childcare options.

Nunez has a background in art and the medical industry. She opened a family daycare in Elmont in 2023 and a second location in Valley Stream before partnering with Borger. Borger brings nearly 35 years of experience in healthcare and business operations. The pair completed the approval process with the Town of Hempstead and the Office of Children and Family Services before the September launch.

Borger described the partnership as a way to build a center that was not just another daycare but a resource for young families in Wantagh. She noted the community is characterized by many two-parent working households. The center now offers qualified certified teachers to the local population.