There’s a new place for little ones to play and learn in Morningside Heights. Imagine Early Learning Centers has opened Imagine Morningside Heights, and it’s now enrolling children ages 2 to 5 for full-time and part-time care.
Families from Morningside Heights, the Upper West Side, Harlem and surrounding neighborhoods, including the Columbia community, are all welcome. Imagine Morningside Heights is located at 560 Riverside Drive, near 125th Street, and it’s open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., year-round. Financial aid is available for qualifying families.
Past the secure entrance and bright classrooms, much of the action happens in the large indoor gym. That’s where kids pedal tricycles, race each other in relay races and scramble up a child-friendly climbing gym. When it’s time to get creative, they head to art class to make something of their own. When it’s time to slow down, there are quiet spaces to recharge and a library where children can explore books and get lost in a good story. There’s also an outdoor play space for fresh air and more fun.
Play is at the root of learning at Imagine. Throughout the day, educators build on children’s interests through hands-on experiences that encourage creativity, curiosity, independence and confidence, while supporting each child’s individual development and pace. The curriculum is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and guided by Imagine’s own BLOOMING Curriculum Framework. Because at Imagine, play is serious business.
Leading the team is Director Keeron Thomas, who brings 15 years of early childhood education experience. “I want families to feel welcomed, comfortable, and confident from the moment they arrive,” Thomas said. “Families should know their children are safe, valued, and seen, and that play is a joyful and purposeful part of learning.”
The people who make these experiences possible are also part of what makes Imagine unique. While more child care companies are turning to outside investors, Imagine chose a different path and sold the company to its own employees. After a five-year process, Imagine became 100% employee-owned in January 2026, as it marked its 25th year in operation. That made it the nation’s first and only child care organization owned by its employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
In other words, the teachers, directors and staff who work with children and families every day are also owners of the company. They have a real stake in Imagine’s future and the communities it serves. It’s a model built around investing in both the families who rely on quality child care and the educators who make that care possible.
The best way to get a feel for Imagine Morningside Heights is to see it in person. Families are invited to meet the educators and explore the classrooms, gym and play spaces. Schedule a tour here, learn more on the Imagine Morningside Heights website, or call (917) 262-0319.
