Huggs Day School

We sent all our kids the Huggs and have been very happy. The teachers are caring and engaged and have all been professional and insightful. The directors, Garry and Randy, have been running the program forever and clearly are very good at what they are doing. On of my kids had some separation issues and they walked us through the emotional turmoil without any problems. I wish the outside space was bigger and had some more grass, and sun but what can you expect in NYC, right?

I have sent my three children to Huggs each for 3 years (my youngest is finishing up his final year). I could not have imagined a more perfect preschool for them. Each of my children spent 1 year in the 2 – 3 program and then moved on to spend 2 more years in the school’s 3 – 4 programs.
My children loved going to school and we felt very supported throughout our 9 years at Huggs. All of our children’s teachers were loving and nurturing, creative and available for as much communication and feedback as we needed. The teachers are all very experienced and have been with the school for many years, an indication to me that Huggs is obviously a happy place for everyone, teachers, children and parents, to be.
The facilities are excellent. All the classrooms are bright and spacious. They have a terrific outdoor space and also a gym when the weather is awful.
The directors, Randie and Gary, are also the original owners. Each morning and afternoon 1 or the other are there at the door with smiling faces greeting each of us. They know all the children and parents by name and their office is always open to us whenever we needed to discuss something with them. We have been so happy at Huggs. Our youngest is graduating this year, ending our time there, which brings tears to my eyes, when I think about it. Huggs will always hold a special place in my heart as a wonderful, loving first school experience for my children.

Huggs is an old school pre-​k. I am quite sure Randy and Gary run the program the same way today as they did thirty years ago when my little brother first attended. I love the long phase in period. My son was new to school and we were both happy to have time to transition. I am a bit disappointed with the program in general. The outdoor and indoor space is lacking. Space is limited in the city but what you could do with it doesn’t need to be. The art projects are straight out of an Oriental Trading catalogue with no imagination or creativity involved. The teachers are very good with the children but seem to lack creativity and initiative. The children are kept indoors more than they should be. The management is very brusque and not very commutative. I feel that if I were to voice my concerns that they would fall on deaf ears. «if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it». My son enjoyed going there and I am sending him back along with his little brother but I have mixed feelings about it. Pros and cons to anyplace!