HoneyDew Drop Safari

Reviews (7)

• Review from the Spring 2022 Early Childhood Education Survey

  July 2022

  Location: 277 14th Street, Brooklyn NY 11215 Type of facility: Daycare Review: We've been with Honeydew generally since my son was 4 months old (w/a 6 month hiatus during COVID). He transitioned from Nook to Safari in September 2021 (at 2yrs 4 mos) and really enjoys it. Honeydew has a lot of structure and my son enjoys knowing exactly what is going to happen next in his day. Each week they have 3 enrichment classes: movement, music & Spanish, and his favorite is music class. Safari also helped our son begin the potty training process which has been huge for us - and we've followed their lead! Throughout the pandemic they've always held meetings to update us on everything re: protocols and done their best to explain. I only wish they were a bit better at communicating more clear, and that we were told when new teachers were being introduced into the classroom (and when current ones are leaving - as we often find out last minute). I'd absolutely choose to bring my son to HD again - in fact, he'll be attending their 3K program this Fall! What amenities does the facility have? Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Has early morning hours, Provides meals What would you change about the program, if anything? They charge extra to stay beyond 4pm (up until 6pm) which is totally normal, but it's a flat fee - they don't allow you to pay for the child to stay til 5pm only. You'd have to pay for the child to stay til 6pm and just pick them up early. Is there anything you would like to add about how the school is handling the pandemic? Honeydew has been amazing on their handling of the pandemic. Every step of the way they took the most conservative protocols, held meetings to explain to parents and pivoted to change protocols whenever guidance changed, etc. I always felt like they were taking things very seriously and they even implemented weekly testing for the children if parents wanted to opt in. I'm very satisfied w/their COVID safety protocols.

• Review from the Fall 2021 Early Childhood Education Survey

  December 2021

  Type of facility: Daycare Review: Our 2 year old child has been with Honeydew for a few months now. We are very happy with the teachers and facility, it's very clean and organized, and the teachers are very engaged with the children. The classes are great! Our child is really thriving there. We also like that it's full day (8-6pm). The day seems full of creative activities and we really love that they take the children in the backyard as much as they do. Our biggest issue with the facility is the administration. They are disorganized, change policies with little notice, and there is inconsistent follow through on their end. To be clear this is with admin NOT the teachers. The teachers are very responsive and reliable. The way the administration has been with their communication makes us wish we went elsewhere for childcare. What amenities does the facility provide? Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Provides meals, provides enrichment classes 3x a week Is there anything you would like to add about how the school handled the pandemic? Their protocols vary - some make sense and some do not. They do take covid seriously in terms of closures and testing, however they are very inconsistent with their mask policies (for children) and some of the testing requirements do not follow city or health guidelines which has been frustrating. Staff are all vaccinated and are very good about mask wearing for themselves.

• Preschools

  November 2021

  I would just vouch for adding Honeydew Drop to your list. We were very happy with the experience there for both our boys, which even included pre-K for our youngest. Family owned and the teachers they hire are all terrific.

• Review from the 2019–2020 Daycare, Preschool, Pre-K, and K Survey

  June 2021

  Review: Our son started as an infant at Honeydew Nook in 2019 and moved to Honeydew Safari at age 2 in September 2020 when we became comfortable sending him back to daycare in light of COVID. He has been going there for almost three months now. He loves Safari. He loves his teachers and talks about them nonstop. We've been thrilled that he is in a safe, loving environment that also nourishes is emotional, social and educational development. We love hearing him sing songs, count, "read," and talk about sharing. He's even started clearing his plates like he does at Safari! We feel very comfortable and happy with Honeydew, both Nook and Safari. We're nervous like everyone about COVID, but know they are taking all the necessary precautions. Amenities offered: Has outdoor space, Provides meals, Hours are 8-6. What would you change about the program, if anything, and why? Nothing

• Daycare recommendations with spots for summer

  June 2021

  Our daughter is at Honeydew Safari on 14th below 6 Ave. They may have space. It's technically home based and the teachers across all sites will be vaxxed by June. We really love it, as does the little. Safari is for 2 & 3 year olds. It's not camp, but they have flexible schedules and will take the kids out often throughout the summer. We were at nook on 15th previously and loved our experience there, as well!

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

  November 2018

  Honeydew Safari was our family's first experience with day care. We had a 2-year-old who had never been taken care of by people outside the family and he was very frightened at first. But the teachers at Safari were a dream: they didn't bat an eye at his screaming, and were able to distract him with toys and play and books. When he cried at nap time, they sat beside him and stroked his back. When he was shy with the other kids, they let him help them make meals and load the dishwasher. They problem-solved with us and soon he was happy to walk right in in the morning. The teachers are warm, patient and very communicative. If we had a question or concern it was immediately addressed. Our son thinks of the teachers as his friends. They are firm when they need to be but always loving and positive. I really can't imagine better providers for young children. The space at Safari isn't fancy, but the staff makes it feel like a home-away-from-home. The school has a curriculum that includes learning about all kinds of cultural holidays, Spanish lessons, music, nature and art. They take the kids to their backyard to play but also to a nearby playground when the weather is good. All in all, I heartily recommend Safari. The kids are constantly engaged and the teachers are truly special. About the facility: Has outdoor space, Provides meals

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

  November 2018

  I can't say enough good things about Honeydew Safari. My son started in September when he was 3 and will be turning 4 in May. I appreciate their flexible hours (you can opt for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days/week with pick up options at 3, 4 or 6 - plus you can add a day as needed if there's availability, etc.). The fact that they serve breakfast, lunch and snacks is a huge bonus as I don't have to worry about packing something on already rushed mornings, plus sometimes they cook together which is awesome. The teachers - Sam, Naima, and Sana - are just incredible. So warm and nurturing but also firm. It's very play-based while also firm in a routine, which seems like the ideal combo. They have a nice backyard that the kids love and also take walks around the neighborhood and go to the playground, etc. They do tons of fun projects, bring in music, dance, and Spanish teachers for weekly enrichment, and my son is thriving. Even on days when he has a rough drop-off, by the time I pick him up my son is beaming. They have been amazing at working through a bit of a wild/behavioral rough patch he was having, and he's so much better off because of their guidance. I appreciate the diversity of teachers and students. I also love that the school places an emphasis on building community through potlucks and holiday events, as well as offering workshops for parents on weekends. Finally, they are awesome at communicating with parents by sending home weekly newsletters and posting photos daily on a private Facebook page. I'm so grateful that we found Honeydew and would recommend it to anyone. About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Provides meals