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Child care center 

Alternatives for Children

14 Research Way, East Setauket, NY 117334.1· 15 reviews
licensed capacity
400
open each week
5 days
a week, county median
$293
year first licensed
2004

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Licensed by the stateInspection record

About

About Alternatives for Children

Alternatives for Children is a licensed child care center in East Setauket, New York. The state has licensed it since January 5, 2004, for up to 400 children, serving preschoolers.

It is open Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services made 28 visits in the last 3 years and cited 15 rules across 10 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 5:30 PM
Licensed capacity
400 children

Hours

Hours

MondayToday7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Tuesday7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Wednesday7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Thursday7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Friday7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
SaturdayNot listed
SundayNot listed

Programs

Programs and care

AgesPreschoolersFrom the state license
Licensed capacity400 childrenFrom the state license
A daycare without an item may still offer it; ask.

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
400 children
Ages
Preschoolers
First licensed
2004
License number
#139887
See the state's record

Summary

28 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit Aug 27, 2026: no rules cited

Rules cited on 10 of 28 visits · 15 rules in all

  • Health, medication and illness 3
  • Discipline and child guidance 3
  • Supervision and ratios 3
  • Staff training and qualifications 2
  • Records and paperwork 2
  • Food and nutrition 1
  • Safety and hazards 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 28 visits
  1. Aug 27, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
  2. Jul 23, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
  3. Jul 22, 2026Complaint investigation4 rules cited
    • Health, medication and illness

      418-1.15(b)(4) The staff and volunteers must be in good health and be of good character and habits.

    • Discipline and child guidance

      418-1.9(h) Physical restraint is prohibited. Physical restraint is the act of using force to extremely limit a child's body movements for a lengthy period of time. It involves holding a child against his/her will and putting pressure on the child's chest and/or extremities in an effort to significantly restrict his/her movement, thereby making it extremely difficult for a child to move. It may also involve holding a child flat on the ground and restricting his/her body from movement.

    • 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.

    • Staff training and qualifications

      418-1.8(b) The child day care center must employ staff who will promote the physical, intellectual, social, cultural and emotional well-being of the children.

  4. Jul 9, 2026Inspection1 rule cited
    • Food and nutrition

      418-1.7(h)(2) Children must not watch television or other electronic visual media during meals.

  5. Jun 4, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
  6. May 28, 2026Complaint investigation1 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.

  7. Mar 11, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
  8. Feb 2, 2026VisitNo rules cited
  9. Nov 19, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
  10. Nov 17, 2025VisitNo rules cited
Show 18 earlier visits
  1. Oct 30, 2025VisitNo rules cited
  2. Sep 24, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
  3. Apr 2, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
  4. Jan 21, 2025Visit1 rule cited
    • Safety and hazards

      418-1.5(a) Suitable precautions must be taken to eliminate all conditions in areas accessible to children which pose a safety or health hazard.

  5. Dec 11, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
  6. Dec 6, 2024VisitNo rules cited
  7. Sep 30, 2024Complaint investigation1 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 9, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
  9. Jun 25, 2024Complaint investigation3 rules cited
    • 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.

    • Health, medication and illness

      418-1.15(b)(14)(v) 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: communicable disease,

    • Health, medication and illness

      418-1.11(c)(1) The licensee must prepare a health care plan on forms furnished by the Office. Such plan must protect and promote the health of children. The health care plan must be on site, followed by all staff and available upon demand by a parent or the Office. In those instances in which the program will administer medications, the health care plan must also be approved by the program's health care consultant unless the only medications to be administered are:

  10. Jun 25, 2024Complaint investigation3 rules cited
    • 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.

    • Health, medication and illness

      418-1.15(b)(14)(v) 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: communicable disease,

    • Health, medication and illness

      418-1.11(c)(1) The licensee must prepare a health care plan on forms furnished by the Office. Such plan must protect and promote the health of children. The health care plan must be on site, followed by all staff and available upon demand by a parent or the Office. In those instances in which the program will administer medications, the health care plan must also be approved by the program's health care consultant unless the only medications to be administered are:

  11. Jun 17, 2024Complaint investigation2 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,

    • 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.

  12. May 22, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
  13. Mar 20, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
  14. Mar 8, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
  15. Jan 26, 2024VisitNo rules cited
  16. Dec 1, 2023InspectionNo rules cited
  17. Nov 21, 2023Complaint investigation1 rule cited
    • Records and paperwork

      418-1.15(b)(14)(iii) 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 injury,

  18. Nov 20, 2023Inspection1 rule cited
    • 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.

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.

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Daycares near Alternatives for Children

Home daycare

Danielle Olivari

Stony Brook, NY 11790 · 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 January 5, 2004.

When was Alternatives for Children last inspected?

New York State Office of Children and Family Services lists the most recent visit on August 27, 2026, with no rules cited. It lists 28 visits in the last 3 years.

Has Alternatives for Children had rules cited by the state?

Yes. Inspectors cited 15 rules across 10 of 28 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?

400, 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 5:30 PM. Holiday hours can differ.

How much does Alternatives for Children cost?

It has not listed its tuition. Call (631) 331-6400 to ask.

What is Alternatives for Children's phone number?

(631) 331-6400.

Where is Alternatives for Children?

14 Research Way, East Setauket, NY 11733. The nearest other daycare we list is Kiddie Academy of East Setauket, 0.1 miles away.

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