Skip to content
Child care center 

Alternatives for Children

600 South Service Road, Dix Hills, NY 117465.0· 4 reviews
licensed capacity
457
open each week
5 days
a week, county median
$293
year first licensed
2014

We are a directory, not the daycare. We cannot hold a spot, enroll a child or answer questions about care.

Own this daycare? Claim it
Licensed by the stateInspection record

About

About Alternatives for Children

Alternatives for Children is a licensed child care center in Dix Hills, New York. The state has licensed it since September 2, 2014, for up to 457 children, serving preschoolers.

It is open Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services made 18 visits in the last 3 years and cited 12 rules across 7 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.

Ages served: preschoolers

From the state license
Ask when you call: rates, current openings, staff-to-child ratio, teacher qualifications and whether it accepts child care subsidies.
Type
Child care center
Ages
Preschoolers
Hours today
7:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Licensed capacity
457 children

Hours

Hours

MondayToday7:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Tuesday7:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Wednesday7:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Thursday7:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Friday7:00 AM to 4:30 PM
SaturdayNot listed
SundayNot listed

Programs

Programs and care

AgesPreschoolersFrom the state license
Licensed capacity457 childrenFrom the state license

Cost

Tuition and costs

Alternatives for Children has not listed its tuition. For comparison, full-time preschool care at a child care center in Suffolk County has a median price of $293 a week (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022).

Ask the daycare for its ratesIt has not listed its tuition. The county medians below are a starting point.
Suffolk County medians, full time, per week

Infant

Center$325
Home daycare$300

Toddler

Center$300
Home daycare$290

Preschool

Center$293
Home daycare$275

School age

Center$250
Home daycare$250

County median full-time prices at centers and home daycares, U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 (the latest year). Not this daycare's rates; prices have risen since.

State record

Inspection reports for Alternatives for Children

License

Status
Licensed and operating
License type
Licensed Day Care Center
Capacity
457 children
Ages
Preschoolers
First licensed
2014
License number
#707153
See the state's record

Summary

18 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit Sep 21, 2026: 4 rules cited

Rules cited on 7 of 18 visits · 12 rules in all

  • Staff training and qualifications 4
  • Supervision and ratios 2
  • Safety and hazards 2
  • Building, equipment and play areas 1
  • Discipline and child guidance 1
  • Health, medication and illness 1
  • Food and nutrition 1

For comparison: 79% of New York daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 4.

A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.

Own this daycare? Add your response to the state record

See all 19 visits
  1. Sep 21, 2026Inspection4 rules cited
    • Staff training and qualifications

      418-1.14(d) Training must address all topics or subject matters required by state and federal law. The required state topics are: (not corrected)

    • Staff training and qualifications

      418-1.14(c)(1) Each staff person and volunteer must complete a minimum of thirty (30) hours of training every two years. The required thirty (30) hours of training every two years is subject to the following conditions: Fifteen (15) of the required thirty (30) hours of training must be obtained during the person's first six months at the program. (not corrected)

    • Staff training and qualifications

      418-1.14(c) Each staff person and volunteer must complete a minimum of thirty (30) hours of training every two years. The required thirty (30) hours of training every two years is subject to the following conditions: (not corrected)

    • Staff training and qualifications

      418-1.14(b) Each applicant for, or individual in the position of director, teacher, or volunteer must complete Office-approved training that complies with federal minimum health and safety pre-service or three-month orientation period requirements. This training must be obtained pre-service or within three months of starting such position. (not corrected)

  2. Jul 22, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
  3. Jul 16, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
  4. Apr 29, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
  5. Jan 23, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
  6. Dec 3, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
  7. Oct 31, 2025Visit1 rule cited
    • Supervision and ratios

      418-1.8(a) Children cannot be left without competent supervision at any time. Competent supervision includes awareness of and responsibility for the ongoing activity of each child. It requires that all children be within a teacher's range of vision and that the teacher be near enough to respond when redirection or intervention strategies are needed. Competent supervision must take into account the child's age emotional, physical, and cognitive development.

  8. Sep 15, 2025Inspection1 rule cited
    • Safety and hazards

      418-1.5(r) An operable flashlight or battery powered lantern must be kept in each classroom. Such equipment must be properly maintained for use in the event of a power failure.

  9. Aug 7, 2025VisitNo rules cited
  10. Apr 9, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
Show 9 earlier visits
  1. Jan 3, 2025Visit1 rule cited
    • Safety and hazards

      418-1.5(n)(1) Materials and play equipment used by the children must be sturdy and free from rough edges and sharp corners.

      Corrected during the visit

  2. Dec 4, 2024Inspection1 rule cited
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      418-1.3(h) Peeling or damaged paint or plaster must be repaired.

  3. Oct 24, 2024VisitNo rules cited
  4. Aug 8, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
  5. Jun 24, 2024Complaint investigation2 rules cited
    • Supervision and ratios

      418-1.8(k)(6)(i) for 5-year-old children: there must be one teacher for every nine children;

      Corrected during the visit

    • Discipline and child guidance

      418-1.7(h) If television or other electronic visual media is used, it must be part of a planned developmentally appropriate program with an educational, social, physical or other learning objective that includes identified goals and objectives. Television and other electronic visual media must not be used solely to occupy time.

      Corrected during the visit

  6. Mar 14, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
  7. Mar 7, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
  8. Feb 26, 2024Inspection2 rules cited
    • Health, medication and illness

      418-1.15(c)(6) The program must maintain on file at the child day care center, available for inspection by the Office or its designees at any time, the following records in a current and accurate manner: children's individual health care plans; parental consents for emergency medical treatment; child's medical statement, immunizations, and any available results of lead screening for children not yet enrolled in kindergarten or a higher grade only; the name and dosage of any medications used by a child, the frequency of administration of such medications, and a record of their administration by child care center staff; daily health check documentation; a record of illnesses and injuries occurring while in care; and any indicators of child abuse or maltreatment;

    • Food and nutrition

      418-1.12(z) All containers or bottles of, breast milk, formula or other individualized food items must be clearly marked with the child's complete name.

  9. Oct 13, 2023Complaint investigation3 rules cited
    • Records and paperwork

      418-1.15(b)(14)(ii) The program must immediately notify the parent and Office upon learning of the following events involving a child which occurred while the child was in care at the program or was being transported by the program: serious incident,

    • Discipline and child guidance

      418-1.10(c)(1) Child care center staff must personally make, or cause to be made, an immediate report to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment by telephone, followed by a written report within 48 hours, in the form and manner prescribed by the Office, to the child protective service of the social services district in the county in which the child resides.

    • Discipline and child guidance

      418-1.9(a) The program must establish and follow a written plan for behavior management that is acceptable to the office. This plan must include how the staff will approach challenging behaviors, help children solve problems and encourage acceptable behaviors.

Copied from New York State Office of Children and Family Services on October 2, 2026; the state's records start around Oct 2023. Rule wording, severity and dates are the state's.

Reviews

Parent reviews

No parent reviews yet

If your child goes or went here, your review helps other parents. We check every review against our review guidelines.

Your rating

Daycares near Alternatives for Children

Home daycareAccepts child care subsidy

Royal Kidz

Wyandanch, NY 11798 · takes infants · Home daycare: the provider shares the address with families

4.2· 33 reviews
Home daycare

Kids Of Fatima Daycare

Huntington Station, NY 11746 · Home daycare: the provider shares the address with families

FAQ

Questions about Alternatives for Children

Is Alternatives for Children licensed?

Yes. New York State Office of Children and Family Services lists it as licensed and operating, first licensed September 2, 2014.

When was Alternatives for Children last inspected?

New York State Office of Children and Family Services lists the most recent visit on September 21, 2026, with 4 rules cited. It lists 18 visits in the last 3 years.

Has Alternatives for Children had rules cited by the state?

Yes. Inspectors cited 12 rules across 7 of 18 visits in the last 3 years. For comparison: 79% of New York daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 4. A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.

How many children can Alternatives for Children care for?

457, the licensed capacity on the state record. It is licensed to serve preschoolers.

What are Alternatives for Children's hours?

Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Holiday hours can differ.

How much does Alternatives for Children cost?

It has not listed its tuition. Call (631) 271-0777 to ask.

What is Alternatives for Children's phone number?

(631) 271-0777.

Where is Alternatives for Children?

600 South Service Road, Dix Hills, NY 11746. The nearest other daycare we list is David Joshua Berg Nursery School at Temple Beth Torah, 0.2 miles away.

Sources: New York State Office of Children and Family Services (license and visits) · U.S. Department of Labor, 2022 (county prices).