DinoKing Home Daycare

Reviews (22)

• Re: Dinoking daycare - any firsthand recs?

  December 2024

  My daughter has been going to DinoKing daycare since June 2023. We absolutely love it. Arzu and her team are truly wonderful and it is so clear how much they love all of the kids in their care! My daughter has learned so much in her time there and we have never had any issues. Arzu is very communicative and very easy to get in touch with at any time of day. They also send pictures and videos of the kids multiple times a day so you get to see what the little ones are up to. Can’t recommend DinoKing enough!

• Upcoming openings at the best daycare (DinoKing) - South Slope

  September 2023

  I just want to second this recommendation for Dino King. We sent both our kids there and they (and we) loved it so so much. I felt like my kids had a second home. My 4 year old still asks to go back!

• Upcoming openings at the best daycare (DinoKing) - South Slope

  September 2023

  The most wonderful daycare ever, DinoKing on 16th and 8th Ave in South Slope, will have one opening in June and a few more later in the summer for babies/kids 1+. My son started right when he turned 1 last August, we thought only for one year until a 2's program, but it was an easy decision to scrap those plans and keep him there another year. Arzu, the owner, is truly incredible: she is always smiling, laughing, hugging the kids, greeting them with their own special greetings, and remembering small details about them. She clearly loves the children, and they her. When [my son] goes to the pediatrician, my husband and I group text updates to each other, my mother, and Arzu, who is always the first to respond. The space is a 1st floor apartment, extremely clean and cozy with a private backyard. They go outside every day, have regular music class, do lots of fun art projects, and go to Prospect Park weekly. They are open 8-6 and rarely close for holidays. I could go on and am happy to provide more details, but if you're looking for childcare, I wouldn't hesitate. We've had our 3 kids at nearly countless daycares and preschools (several pandemic moves...) and DinoKing is by far the best.

• Review from the Spring 2023 Early Education Survey

  August 2023

  Review: This in home daycare is filled with warm and joy. Arzu and her staff are so friendly and caring of the children. I genuinely feel like she loves my son and is always happy to chat with his older brother during drop off or pick up. The space is a lot bigger and newer than other daycares we viewed, and it has a big garden. She provides all the food and they have a music class once a week. The older kids also go to the park when the weather is nice. My son needed physical therapy and the team would do the exercises required with him. Although we have set hours, she has been flexible on occasions when we’ve asked for an early start or late pick up to accommodate our work/travel schedules. Amenities: Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Has early morning hours, Provides meals

• Daycare spot in south slope available

  October 2022

  Our long time daycare in south slope - DinoKing daycare (on 16th and 8th) just had a spot open up for a child ten months and up. My son is there currently and I cannot say enough good things about the place! It’s both owned and run daily by Arzu who is just phenomenal.

• Review from the Spring 2022 Early Childhood Education Survey

  July 2022

  Location: 397 16th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Type of facility: Daycare Review: We only started a few weeks ago but so far it’s been great despite the rough transition for 2-year-old who had never been in a daycare setting before. It is very low key, flexible, easy, and personal, all of which we very much appreciate. Our son especially loves the weekly music class and spending time outside in the backyard. Arzu sends us texts all day every day with photos and messages. What amenities does the facility have? Has outdoor space, Has early morning hours, Provides meals

• Review from the Spring 2022 Early Childhood Education Survey

  July 2022

  Location: South Slope Type of facility: Daycare Review: DinoKing daycare is a superb gem. I do not say this lightly. I looked into several daycare options when I was pregnant with my first, and the owner Arzu, is hands down one of the best people ever and the person I entrusted my six month with after my in person meeting with her. She genuinely cares for the kids, and you can tell from day one, how each and every child at that facility adores her. My daughter has been there through age 4 and now my son goes there - for the past five years, we have been so bowled over by how amazing this facility is! There are two other teachers, along Arzu, and they are equally good. Since Arzu actually owns the business and is involved actually taking care of the kids on a daily basis, it is always run at a consistently very high standard. Here are the details: DinoKing offers a variety of types of play and reading materials, flexible on hours, the class is diverse and inclusive (this was very important to me), has a fantastic music teacher come in weekly, helped transition my kids to a variety of healthy meals, was a huge help during potty training, helped with nap issues in my first, provides meals that are organic and healthy, has outdoor space, takes kids out to prospect park right next door, is super communicative daily about the child and provides daily notes on food, milk and diapers, and the list goes on. Five years later, and my daughter still wants to go back! Proof is in the pudding! Please go meet Arzu, and do a walkthrough. I understand why parents would come from far and wide to bring their kids here. It is worth it. What amenities does the facility have? Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Has early morning hours, Provides meals, Takes kids to prospect park nearby. What would you change about the program, if anything? I would not change a thing! They are simply marvelous! Is there anything you would like to add about how the school is handling the pandemic? Open through the pandemic, very good mask protocols on staff and kids, and great communication and overall health protocols.

• 24m+ daycare recommendation?

  March 2022

  We’ve loved Dinoking daycare on 16th between 7th and 8th aves. They generally start at age 1 (our child started then). I would say most children there are 2-4 right now. Lots of creative activities for the kids throughout the day, outdoor space, music class and all meals. It’s such a loving environment and our son learns so much.

• Any experience with DinoKing Daycare?

  December 2021

  Our son is almost 2 and at DinoKing now and we love it so much!

• Review from the 2020–2021 Daycare, Preschool, Pre-K, and K Survey

  July 2021

  Review: Our daughter loves Dinoking; they provide a kind, caring, and fun environment while fostering play, learning, etc. The women there, led by Arzu Ozge (whom my daughter ADORES,) are really good about providing a range of activities for the children - art, puzzles, reading books, writing exercises, play-doh play, "science" experiments, playing/gardening in the backyard, balloon Fridays, going to Prospect Park and the Harmony playground, etc. There is music once a week with Miss Dinah, who sings and plays the guitar, and the kids sing with her, dance to the music, play instruments with her, etc. We would definitely do Dinoking again, and only lament that we didn't take her there earlier, though I don't think that was really an option. Facility amenities: Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Has early morning hours, Provides meals What would you change about the program? It is more of a daycare than a pre-k program, so it hard to say that I wish Arzu implemented more Montessori or Reggio Emilia curriculum/philosophies, but that might be my only (and I think unfair) criticism. My wife and I visited about a dozen daycare providers before choosing DinoKing, and we very much do feel like we made the right choice. There is an uneven number of boys and girls, (it is currently about 60-66% boys (2-to-1 ratio,)) though this a minor concern. That being said, Arzu is actively trying to balance those numbers. Is there anything you would like to add about how the school handled the pandemic? very responsible; wore masks, had a sign-in sheet, if any kid showed anything like symptoms parents were asked to not bring the kids in and get a doctors note in order to return, etc. The parents were very good about communicating with each other and making sure that we were behaving responsibly, as we understood that we were essentially a bubble and didn't want to do anything to jeopardize the daycare. So we emailed each other, if anyone went out of town for the holidays, they were sure to quarantine before returning to DinoKing, etc

• What are essential workers doing for childcare?

  May 2020

  I’ll add DinoKing on 16th and 8th Ave. It’s a wonderful place that has remained open for some essential workers. My son was there for two years.

• 2019-2020 Year Review

  January 2020

  My son has been attending DinoKing since he was 16 months old. I toured several locations before visiting this daycare and was 100% sold as soon as I walked through the door. The space is very clean and super well equipped for small children. There is nothing in the space that could be hazardous, and the staff is very loving and approachable. My son will be four years old this January and we decided not to switch to a preschool because of the convenience of having him in a daycare that stays open at times when preschools closed following the DOE schedule. The owners, Arzu and Chemen, provide healthy meals (breakfast, lunch and snacks), and organize a variety of activities everyday to keep the children entertained and engaged. There is a music teacher that comes once a week; they do loads of art projects; and as a bonus they have a lovely backyard. I can't say enough good things about this daycare. I highly recommend DinoKind! … About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours, Provides meals …

• 2019-2020 Year Review

  January 2020

  Dinoking is an absolute gem. Chemen and Arzu are so warm and lovely, my 3 year old could not have had a smoother transition when she started at the facility 1.5 years ago. Every morning she sprints down the hall to be greeted by them. It really feels like you're dropping your children off at your loving relative's house. They have a spacious and shady yard that the children make frequent use of and serve and wholesome, homemade meals. They're also brilliant at coaxing long naps out of my nap-hating 3-year old. I wholeheartedly recommend DK to all childcare-seekers I come across. … About the facility: Has outdoor space, Provides meals …

• 2019-2020 Year Review

  January 2020

  We are having a wonderful experience at DinoKing. It is a lovely, nurturing environment in a brownstone with a backyard. When my son started, he had an extremely difficult time adjusting to full-time daycare and the staff went above and beyond to help him feel comfortable. Now he is happy to step inside and play with his friends, and when we pick him up, he's relaxed and content. The women who work at DinoKing are experienced and calm. One of them spends the majority of the day singing nursery rhymes to the young charges! They send photos and videos a few times a week, and are very easy to reach via text. Their nap game is on point; my son naps better at DinoKing than he ever has at home. I also love how everything — from the high chairs to the changing table — is low to the ground and therefore safe for small people. All in all, we highly recommend DinoKing. … About the facility: Has outdoor space, Provides meals, Extended hours until 6 … What would you change? My only suggestion is more transparency around the food being served for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. A menu would be helpful.

• 2019-2020 Year Review

  January 2020

  We love DinoKing! Arzu and Chemen are so warm and caring - we feel so extremely lucky to have found this place. Our son truly loves it and we feel confident that he is in excellent hands when he is there. We would definitely send our son there again if we had to do it over again and our second child just started there. … About the facility: Has outdoor space … What would you change? Nothing

• Review from the 2018/2019 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey

  November 2018

  The women who run Dinoking are so down-to-earth, smart, and full of love -- the first time we visited (on a Saturday when they had just opened), I forgot that I was inspecting a daycare because it felt so much like I was just hanging out with a couple of new friends. It was so relaxed. They have great senses of humor and often send hilarious pics of the kids doing weird kid stuff. And they truly love the kids, above and beyond their professional role. Often when I pick my daughter up, I'm the last one to arrive, and even though you would think they'd be eager to pack up and head home, they stand in the doorway, lingering, watching her leave, and laughing at the cute things she does or says. At the same time, they have a sensible approach to caregiving and I know that my daughter is also learning boundaries and values like sharing, etc. At a recent birthday party, some of the other parents and I noted how affectionate all the Dinoking kids were with one another; it's clear that kindness and affection are being nourished and modeled. On a physical level, the place is kept immaculate and was gut renovated prior to their opening in 2016. And the outdoor space out back has a full spread of toys and a garden that the kids all help maintain (whatttt?). A few months after my daughter started here, my job changed, putting Dinoking way out of my way -- it probably adds an extra 1.5 hours total onto my commute every day. I've looked at other daycares closer to us but never found one with as good a vibe or atmosphere, so we've stayed on. Oh, and a couple other things: homemade food -- real food, like couscous veggies -- are made every day, and one of the owners was a nurse in her native country. So, good health on top of everything else. About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours, Provides meals

• Review from the 2017/2018 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey

  April 2018

  I visited about 20 daycares when I was pregnant and even had a spot at one but after two friends recommended DinoKing I went to check it out and loved it right away. My son started there when he was 4 months old and we plan to keep him there until he starts preschool. He LOVES Chemen and Aruz so much and has so much fun there, so much so that when we need to get him out the door in the morning we say "do you want to go to daycare and see all your friends?" and he says "yes!" and runs to the door. He naps and eats better there than he does at home and seeing how much they genuinely love him has made leaving him there all day easier. About the facility: Has outdoor space, Provides meals.

• daycare review, Dinoking

  January 2018

  My son has been going to Dinoking daycare since he was five months old. He's almost two years now, and we feel so lucky to have him there! Chemen and Arzu feel like family-- every morning they greet my son with a huge smile and he runs down the hall into their arms. When I pick him up, he's happy to see me, but often runs right back to whatever he's doing-- running around with friends, playing in the backyard, reading books, or putting together puzzles with Chemen or Arzu. The staff have a good balance of teaching the children how to behave as part of a group with structure and limits as needed, and giving out the hugs and love that a toddler needs. Their care is individualized-- I've felt comfortable sending my son when he's had special dietary needs, and Chemen has a background as a nurse-- she contacts us when she has a medical concern, and her instincts have always been right. Our son has learned so much at daycare-- he comes home with art projects and new songs and movement activities to show us. He's always well-rested, too-- Chemen and Arzu take naptime seriously and create a quiet, home-like atmosphere so the kids are able to sleep well. We feel so lucky to have found Dinoking, and give them the highest recommendation.

• Review- DinoKing Daycare for Toddlers

  January 2018

  I want to give a huge shout out to Dino King Daycare in South Slope for being such loving, patient, attentive and rockstar caregivers for my daughter since she was a little baby. She is now almost 2 and so so happy and thriving in their supportive environment. She is lucky to be surrounded by all toddlers her age, and enriched by the work of Chemen and Arzu, who are unbelievable in their gentle caregiving, and encouragement of each child's natural abilities. Every day at drop off and pick up, I hear laughter, singing and music. They have a once a week music class and have recently begun a spanish class. Along with that, they have been so consistent in introducing age-appropriate play-based activities every day, along with so much free play time. It's been amazing how they have been adjusting their curriculum to the kids as they grow. It shows how much experience they have, and how attentive they are to each of the kids under their care. They have a wonderful backyard that is a boon for outdoor play time with toddlers and provide wholesome, balanced home-cooked food. My daughter learns so much from them about kindness, sharing, learning to play with her friends along with encouragement to be herself. I attribute so much of her growth to the loving and secure environment she is exposed to at Dinoking as well as the work they put in leading by example. More than anything, Chemen and Arzu are just the nicest, genuine people that are helped by a very caring support staff. I am so so grateful to have found them and have been part of the community.

• Review for DinoKings Daycare

  February 2017

  We can't possibly recommend DinoKing highly enough. We came to them months ago after leaving a previous daycare, and we immediately knew we'd gotten it right this time. Chemen and Arzu are wonderful people; it's easy to see that they do this because they truly love children. They're always happy to see [my child], and he's always happy to see them. At the end of the day he's fed, rested and still happy. They have a musician come in regularly and lots of other great activities, and they're nap magicians. We have full trust in them and consider them valuable allies in raising our child. We're very grateful that we found them.

• Daycare review - DinoKing Home Daycare

  December 2016

  Arzu and Chemen of DinoKing Daycare have been taking care of my son, Evan, since he was 3 months old, and he absolutely adores them! I can't recommend them highly enough. They truly love the children they take care of and provide enrichment activities that help babies learn so much. Not only that, but they have also achieved what seemed like the impossible -- they got Evan on a schedule. I'd honestly have to say that he's been a much happier baby since going to DinoKing! I honestly don't know what I'd do without them.

• Shout Out for new daycare in South Slope

  July 2016

  I wanted to let folks know about a new daycare in south slope. It's called DinoKing Home Daycare. Two of the daycare workers from my daughter's previous daycare have opened up their own place. It's just getting started so there are spots available. The two women who run it are AMAZING and I cannot say enough great things about them. Chemen and Arzu are so loving, kind, patient, and organized. My daughter was under their care for the previous two years. She is also going to DinoKing part time over the summer. Their new place is on 16th street between 7th & 8th ave. Its new and clean and, most importantly in my opinion, warm and ready for kids! They also have a backyard and have a weekly music class. I really want them to do great so if you have any questions please let me know. My daughter has thrived under their care. Their email is dinokingdaycare@gmail.com. I know finding childcare can be stressful and challenging so hopefully this will be helpful to people.