Family-Friendly Initiatives
Whether you’re a first-time parent in need of child care, a parent looking for summer camp for your child, or a parent in need of assistance with a mildly ill child, the University has programs designed to assist you with managing family issues.
Employee Child Care Assistance Program (ECCAP)
Princeton University’s Employee Child Care Assistance Program (ECCAP) is designed to help faculty and staff meet the cost of child care for children up to and including prekindergarten-aged children. The ECCAP award may be available to eligible faculty and staff members whose annual household income is less than $130,000. Refer to our ECCAP Web page for more information.
Child Care at Princeton
There are two University-affiliated childcare centers. Both are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) , which is generally acknowledged to be the most rigorous of the national accrediting agencies for childcare centers.
The University-NOW Day Nursery is a not-for-profit childcare facility located at 171 Broadmead on the Princeton campus. U-NOW provides a full-day program for children ages 12 weeks until kindergarten. The children of University faculty, staff, and students have priority for admission.
Child Care Resource/Referral
If you are a benefits-eligible member of the Princeton University faculty or staff or a graduate student, and are in need of a complete list of accredited/registered child care providers in your area, please refer to the Carebridge* website and enter the Princeton access code of TW8AE. Then go to Data Base Directory and select “Find Child Care” located toward the bottom right of your screen.
You can also call a Carebridge child care specialist at (800) 437-0911 who can develop a personalized referral and verify current rates, hours and other information you may need.
*Carebridge Disclaimer: “We have not screened or checked these providers in any way. While we are happy to support you with the information requested, you bear sole responsibility for determining the appropriateness and performance of the care which you select. Checking references is an essential step in this process.”
Backup Care Advantage Program
Princeton University has partnered with Bright Horizons to provide faculty and staff with backup care when they experience temporary disruptions in their child, adult or elder care-giving arrangements that would otherwise prevent them from fulfilling work or study obligations.
There are a number of local childcare centers that offer discounts for University faculty, staff and students. The list below is divided into those that are NAEYC-accredited and those that are not.
NAEYC-Accredited
The KinderCare Learning Centers operate full-day child care centers in Princeton, West Windsor, East Windsor, Robbinsville, Hillsborough, Flemington, East Brunswick and Somerset, NJ for children ages six weeks through kindergarten. Before and after care programs are available at most centers. In addition, KinderCare offers summer camp programs. All enrollments are on a space-available basis. Princeton faculty, staff and students will receive a discount on tuition. Please contact KinderCare directly for additional details on tuition and programs.
The Lakeview Child Center operates seven full-day child care centers for children from ages six weeks through six years of age. Half-day, partial week, drop-in program and summer camp are also available. The children of University faculty, staff and students are given priority access and a discount on the weekly tuition at all seven locations.
The Lawrence Day School operates a full-day program for children from ages six weeks through eleven years of age. Half-day, partial week, drop-in program and summer camp are also available. The children of University faculty, staff and students are given priority access and a discount on the monthly tuition.
The Princeton Nursery School is an educational preschool and child care facility in Princeton for children two and a half through five years of age, and provides discounts on the monthly tuition for Princeton faculty, staff and students. Summer camp programs are also offered. Enrollment is on a space-available basis.
Other Childcare Centers
The Harmony School operates full-day child care centers in Princeton Forrestal Village and in Robbinsville for children ages six weeks through kindergarten, and provides discounts on the monthly tuition for Princeton faculty, staff and students. Summer camp programs are also offered. Enrollment is on a space-available basis. The Harmony Schools are accredited by NECPA.
The Learning Experience operates full-day child care centers in Lawrenceville, West Windsor, Hopewell, Montgomery and Hamilton, NJ for children ages 6 weeks through kindergarten. Before and after care programs are available at most centers. In addition, The Learning Experience also offers summer camp programs for children up to eight years of age. All enrollments are on a space-available basis. Princeton faculty, staff and students will receive a discount on tuition. Please contact the Learning Experience for additional details.
The Princeton Montessori School is an independent, coeducational day school for children from infant through eighth grade, located in Princeton, NJ. It provides discounts to Princeton faculty, staff and graduate students on the academic year tuition for children enrolled in the Infant, Toddler and Primary Program (eight weeks through kindergarten) and the Summer Quest Program fee for students 18 months through those entering fourth grade. Upon acceptance by the School, University-affiliated families are given priority access to enroll. Princeton Montessori School is accredited by the American Montessori Society and Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
The Village Learning Center operates a full-day child care center in Pennington, NJ for children ages six weeks through kindergarten, and provides discounts on the monthly tuition for Princeton faculty, staff and students. Summer camp programs are also offered. Enrollment is on a space-available basis. The Village Learning Center is accredited by the National Accreditation Commission for Early Childhood Education Programs (NAC).
The YWCA Princeton operates a New Jersey State licensed nursery school in Princeton for children two and a half through six years of age and provides discounts on full-time monthly tuition for Princeton faculty, staff and students. Summer camp programs and bilingual classes are also offered. Enrollment is on a space-available basis.