Providing Daycare for Ages 6 Months to Kindergarten
Albany Med Kids provides high quality child care for our employees, affiliates and members of our community.
Our year-round daily child care program serves children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Each of our large, bright classrooms is individually designed to accommodate the program expectations for each age group.
Our programs include daily breakfast, lunch and snacks, a computer lab and outdoor playground, and an air conditioned gymnasium.
All children are located in one secure building with a security officer on site. Ample parking allows for easy drop-off and pick-up. Our facilities are fully licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
Our History
Albany Med Kids opened as "Kidskeller" in 1984. It was the first daycare center to be opened by a hospital in the region, and one of the largest operated by a medical institution in New York State. Today, about 80 percent of the children attending Kidskeller have one or more parents working at the Medical Center. The remaining 20 percent have parents who do not work at Albany Medical Center but who are attracted by the excellent reputation or the proximity to their workplace.
Contact Us
To find out more about our facilities, please call us at 518-262-6950 or email us at [email protected].
We are located at 16 St. James Place in Albany.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
We aim to provide a stimulating environment for babies on the move with age-appropriate toys and activities like soft blocks, mirrors, sensory tables and pull-toys—all designed to encourage infant development through exploration and interaction.
Infants are fed bottles and baby foods according to their individualized schedules. Albany Med Kids provides formula (Enfamil with iron), infant cereal, vegetables and fruit, or parents may choose to bring in their own pumped breast milk, formula or food. Nursing mothers are encouraged to nurse their infants at any time in our private nursing area. All parents are welcome to visit their infants at any time throughout the day.
At the end of each day, you will receive a report from your baby’s teachers noting how much your child ate, length of naps, number of diaper changes, and any other pertinent information about the day.
Our toddler curriculum is designed to promote each child’s growing independence and development. Children are stimulated through learning centers that encourage gross and fine motor skills, language, and cognitive skills. Social skills are gained through family-style meals, the sharing of toys, and small group play. We foster each child's sense of independence by practicing skills such as getting dressed, eating with a spoon, and drinking from a cup. Private space is available for toddlers who are ready to begin potty training.
At this age, scheduled nap time is encouraged from 1 to 3 p.m. each day. Children who do not sleep during rest time are offered a quiet activity.
Our preschool classrooms focus on each child’s increasing curiosity and newly emerging skills through advanced learning centers for interests in arts, math, reading, and science. Children are encouraged to experiment and explore with a variety of textures like sand, water, and clay, and other scientific investigation equipment. Imaginations are developed through dramatic play props such as those for housekeeping and transportation. Art projects using paper, paint, markers and other materials foster creative expression. Children are taught to be responsible and to help others by taking turns with classroom chores.
By the end of preschool, our goal is for your child to recognize his or her name, be able to identify shapes and colors, and begin to recite numbers and letters.
In their final year before transitioning to kindergarten, our goal is for children in our pre-K program to have built a solid foundation of readiness skills, allowing them to successfully move into a more formal educational setting.
Through our curriculum, we strive to help your child accomplish the following objectives by the end of pre-K:
Social
- Share and take turns
- Respect the rights of others
- Transition from activities smoothly
- Care for classroom and personal materials
- Attention span of 10-15 minutes per activity
Emotional
- Accept responsibility
- Develop self control and problem solving strategies
- Develop self confidence
Physical
- Develop muscular coordination
- Trace
- Scissor control
- Correct pencil grip
- Lace objects
Academic
- Express ideas clearly and in proper sequence
- Recognize numbers and letters
- Develop knowledge about - and interest in - the world around them
Enrollment & Rates
Albany Med Kids weekly tuition rates:
Infant Care $313
Toddler Care $290
Preschool/Pre-K $268
Daily Rates:
Infant Care $84
Toddler Care $83
Preschool/Pre-K $78
There is a 20% discount for Albany Medical Center employees. The sibling discount, which is available for children in full-time programs only, is $15 per week for the oldest child.
Contact us for enrollment and availability: 518-262-6950 or [email protected].
