Best Day Care Center: Tree House
Ask just about any mom or dad, and they'll tell you parenting is a full-time job.
But there are those times when parents need a break, and on those occasions they can fall back on The Tree House Kids Club.
Located at 1730 S. 4th Ave. in Yuma, The Tree House provides hourly child care to allow parents time to run errands, go to the doctor, keep an appointment or meet any of a number of other commitments they happen to be juggling with their family obligations.
Or maybe mom or dad just want a little time to themselves after a hectic week.
“If you want to go out on a date, we're open late,” says Sabra Lemmon, who co-owns the 2-year-old child-care business with Edna Thompson.
Some 1,500 children are registered for hourly care at The Tree House, and if that isn't an indication of its success, perhaps the results of Yuma's Best are.
The Tree House ranked No. 1 for 2010 in the category of Best Day Care in the Yuma Sun's annual poll of readers' favorite businesses, services and recreation and entertainment.
The Tree House provides up to four hours of care per child for youngsters ranging in age from 2 to 11.
The Tree House employs a total of 11 people whose responsibilities involve equal parts supervision, interaction and entertainment as they engage children in a variety of activities.
“We do crafts and song time. We have movie nights on the weekends,” Lemmon said. “We do story time or just play time. During the summer, we offer summer camps, and we have a preschool. It's a fun place for kids to hang out, and it's a safe place as well.”
Lemmon said The Tree House staff changes the games, crafts and other activities each week to give children variety.
“We always tell our employees that Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth,” said Lemmon, “and that we want to be the happiest place in Yuma.”
The Tree House's hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays; and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.
For parents who want to enroll their children in The Tree House, the first step is to register online at its website, www.treehouseyuma.com, said Lemmon.
The Tree House takes on up to 25 children at a time, so Lemmon urges parents to call ahead to reserve a time to leave their children. “We do take drop-ins, but I do recommend a reservation.”
To make a reservation, call 783-TREE.
In Yuma's Best for 2010, The Tree House moved up one position from the year before, when it ranked No. 2.
“We have the best, most supportive families, and our employees are phenomenal. That's what keeps (parents) coming back.”
