Quick Summary
ABC Preschool combines dependable childcare with structured, play-based early education for young children in Queens. State Certified teachers, strong safety practices, a large private outdoor playground, an indoor gym, an on-site kitchen with freshly prepared meals, and programs ranging from toddler care through Pre-K create a well-rounded daily experience. With roots in Woodside dating to 1956, ABC Preschool also brings decades of experience and community trust to the families it serves.
When parents start comparing childcare, the search for the best daycare Queens NY can offer often turns into a long blur of similar-looking programs, because on paper many of them promise the same handful of things. The real differences only show up once you look closer at who is teaching, what children actually do all day, and how seriously a place takes safety.
ABC Preschool is a daycare in the sense that we care for your child while you work, but that description sells the day short. We are a licensed preschool with a full early-education program, purpose-built facilities, and a history in Woodside that goes back to 1956. Here is what sets us apart.
More Than Supervision: A Real Preschool Program
The clearest line between a basic daycare and what we do is the difference between watching children and teaching them. Plenty of programs keep kids safe and occupied, which matters, but a young child’s early years are far too valuable to spend simply passing time.
Our days are built around a play-based curriculum aligned with New York City Department of Education expectations, where hands-on activities quietly build early language, math, science, and social skills. Children move through real stages with us, from our toddler program in Woodside up through 3-K for All and Pre-K for All for four- and five-year-olds, so learning grows with them rather than restarting each year.
Facilities Most Daycares in Queens Simply Don’t Have
Space is scarce in New York City, which is exactly why our campus tends to surprise parents on their first tour. These are not standard daycare amenities.
A seven-thousand-square-foot private outdoor playground, fully fenced, where children get real room to run and climb every day.
An on-site kitchen run by a licensed chef, serving fresh breakfast, lunch, and snacks prepared to Department of Education nutrition standards, so no one packs a cooler.
An indoor gym stocked with soft mats, jumpers, and climbing equipment for active play regardless of the weather.
A dedicated performance stage where children put on shows and build confidence in front of their families.
Any one of these would stand out. Together, they add up to a day that looks nothing like sitting in a single room until pickup.
Teachers and Safety You Can Actually Verify
Facilities matter, but who is in the room matters more, and this is where a careful parent should ask hard questions of any program.
Our staff are State Certified teachers and assistants, all fingerprinted and screened per Department of Health regulations, and trained in CPR and first aid. On the safety side, the building runs on surveillance cameras throughout, an alarm system connected to city emergency services, a six-foot perimeter fence around the playground, and strict photo-ID pickup so no child ever leaves with someone who is not on the approved list. These are the details that let a parent relax during the workday.
Fresh, Healthy Meals Made In-house
Food is one of those quiet dividing lines between programs. Many daycares ask families to send meals, or reheat something generic, while a hot lunch prepared on-site is genuinely uncommon.
Because our kitchen is staffed by a licensed chef and follows Department of Education nutrition standards, children eat balanced, freshly made meals every day. For a lot of working parents, knowing lunch is handled well, without a packing ritual each morning, turns out to be one of the most practical reasons they choose us.
Nearly Seventy Years of Trust in Woodside
Longevity is hard to fake, and it is one of the surest signals a childcare program is doing right by families. A place that parents keep coming back to, year after year, has earned that loyalty the slow way.
We have been part of Woodside since 1956, long enough that some parents enrolling their toddlers today attended ABC themselves as children. That kind of multi-generational trust is not something a brand-new daycare can offer, and it reflects decades of getting the everyday things right.
See the Difference for Yourself
Descriptions only go so far, and the gap between a basic daycare and a full preschool is something you really have to walk through to appreciate. If you want childcare that also gives your child a strong early-education start, come take a look. Call ABC Preschool at (718) 672-2424 to schedule a tour of our classrooms, kitchen, gym, and playground.
FAQs
What is the difference between a daycare and a preschool?
The terms overlap, but the practical difference is focus. A daycare centers on keeping children safe and supervised while parents work, whereas a preschool builds a structured early-education program on top of that care. ABC Preschool does both: we look after your child throughout the day and follow a play-based curriculum aligned with Department of Education expectations, so your child is learning and developing, not simply being watched until pickup.
How do I choose the best daycare in Queens, NY?
Start with the essentials: proper licensing, qualified and screened staff, clean and secure facilities, and a clear approach to how children spend the day. Ask about teacher certification, safety systems like cameras and pickup procedures, meals, and the daily routine. Touring in person tells you the most, since you can see the space, meet the teachers, and get a feel for whether the environment is warm, safe, and genuinely built for young children.
Do you provide meals, and what are they like?
Yes. Our on-site kitchen is run by a licensed chef and prepares fresh breakfast, lunch, and snacks each day to Department of Education nutrition standards, so families do not need to pack food. Freshly made, balanced meals are a real point of difference from programs that reheat generic options or ask parents to send lunch. If your child has allergies or dietary needs, we will go over how our kitchen accommodates them.
