Derby Daycare Puts the Focus on Play

The focus is on play at Derby Daycare Center.

Derby Daycare Center was founded in 1972 in order to give working parents an affordable option for high-quality childcare and early education. More than four decades later, it continues to offer young children in the Valley opportunities to grow and learn in a nurturing environment that puts a focus on play.

"Children at this age learn through play," says Director Gladys Lazurek. "The day is planned, it's just that the children don't' know it."

Lazurek, who has been the director for 23 years, has overseen the daycare's expansion and move from its original location in the Derby Methodist Church basement. Derby Daycare was one of the first state-funded programs that allowed families to pay on a sliding fee scale depending on family size and income.

The center's move in 2015 to its current location at 219 Division Street, Ansonia, allowed it to offer infant and toddler care, an area of growing need among parents with young children. The expanded new location also allows the center to provide afterschool programs for elementary school-aged children.

"We provide affordable daycare on a sliding scale to people who could not go to work if they didn't have our services," says Lazurek.

To learn more or offer support, please visit the Derby Daycare Center giveGreater.org profile.

Did you know?

In DataHaven's 2019 Community Wellbeing Survey, half the respondents in Greater New Haven with children reported a hard time finding high-quality affordable childcare.

This story is part of the Inspiration Monday story series produced by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.