The Gathering Place: A Full-Service Christian Daycare in Oregon, Ohio

As a professional woman responsible for maintaining the quality of living for her family, going back to work simply was not an option for me after having children. Now with two children under the age of two, finding quality daytime care for them is imperative. Not only did the care provider need to be convenient, it also had to provide structure for my little ones in a loving, safe environment. In Oregon, Ohio, The Gathering Place met my requirements.

The Gathering Place promotes itself as a full-service, family friendly daycare that meets the needs of not only the children in attendance there, but also of the families as a whole. Moms and dads can purchase a hot breakfast with their children in the breakfast room, pick up essentials in the gift shop like diapers and small gifts, and then kiss their children goodbye as they head off to the playroom or outside to the fenced play areas. Infants and toddlers share their own wing separate from the hustle and bustle of the older children. Each room is fully staffed and has a refrigerator and sink, and in the toddler rooms tiny toilets are ready when your busy babies are finally ready for toilet training. At the end of the day, prepared meals are available for those days when making a meal at home is an impossibility.

The staff at The Gathering Place is not only professional, but also caring, personable, and knowledgeable. I have found myself thinking on several occasions that the staff is better at teaching my little ones their manners than I am! Children are read stories, sing songs, and learn Bible-based messages in a non-denominational Christian environment. Even in a room full of infants, the staff manages to keep order and maintain structured schedules. Every day, each child goes home with a detailed sheet informing parents of what the child did that day and how the child responded to care.

When the weather permits, the children are bundled up and taken outside to their self-contained play areas. Water play during hot-weather months provides great exercise and learning opportunities. Even infants enjoy supervised playtime outside. As children get older, they are encouraged to try new activities, including painting, coloring, and crafts. These activities are paid for in a nominal activity fee at the beginning of each enrollment year.

Of course, with any service provider there will be issues. For instance, my toddler has come home with incident reports resulting from altercations with other children in her class who are biters. When these incidents repeated, we spoke with administrators and worked with her teachers to find ways to prevent future problems. In addition, my children have brought home numerous colds, viruses, and ear infections from being in close quarters with other little ones. While these incidents have been concerning, I have been pleased with the way the staff has handled our complaints.

For my children, The Gathering Place has been a welcome addition to our family. We have enjoyed our experiences there and will continue to attend its programs. The Gathering Place has lived up to its advertised promise and its mission for my children: learning through play.