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Candlewood KinderCare

Colleen Freeman, Center Director

1735 N 121st St Omaha NE 68154
(402) 493-5399 Contact this center

Ages: 6 weeks to 12 years
Open:

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Elementary Schools Bussed To:
Ezra

Our center is accredited by NAEYC.

NAEYC Accreditation

Welcome to Candlewood KinderCare

Welcome to Candlewood KinderCare off Blondo Street in Omaha, Nebraska! We would love to have you visit and join our family. At our center, we pride ourselves on creating a fun-filled, educational environment where your child can learn and grow, whether they're six weeks of age or 12 years old. It's our mission from the moment you walk into our center that you feel welcomed and a part of our KinderCare family!

Our classrooms are places to thrive! 
In our safe and healthy classrooms, your child will be engaged in learning experiences that meet them where they are, both socially and academically. With fun daily activities, passionate teachers, and great friends, a lifetime of confidence starts here. Contact the center director to learn more about our child care options and schedule a tour! 

Colleen Freeman, Our Center Director

Meet Colleen Freeman, Our Center Director

At KinderCare Since: 2023

Education: Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling

Favorite Children's Book: Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Meet Colleen Freeman! She is the Center Director at Candlewood KinderCare in Omaha, NE. Colleen attended Joliet Junior College where she earned an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education, Lewis University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, and Grace University where she earned a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling. She is currently earning a PhD in Organizational Psychology as well. She joined the KinderCare team this year, and before that she was a teacher. Outside of work, Colleen enjoys going to arcades and waterparks, and spending time with her family and dogs. Her favorite quote is, "Do not wish to be anything but what you are and try to be that perfectly."

at KinderCare, our accreditation equals excellence. Contact one of our daycares today!

AMERICA’S MOST ACCREDITED

We’re so proud!

Nationally only 10% of daycares are accredited - nearly 100% of our learning centers are. That’s a big difference, and that means KinderCare kids are getting the very best. Here’s why.

Group of children and teacher at a KinderCare daycare center

SCHOOL-READY

What Learning Looks Like

Our talented early-childhood teachers set kids down the path toward becoming lifelong learners in a positive, safe, and nurturing environment.

Candlewood KinderCare Programs

Infant Programs (6 weeks–1 year)

Leaving your baby in someone else’s care is a big step. Everyone at our centers—most importantly, our naturally gifted infant teachers—will work with you to make sure the transition goes smoothly. When you step into our infant classroom, you’ll see how much we want your infant to feel safe, loved, and ready to explore their world.

Toddler Programs (1–2 Years)

Everything in our toddler classroom is designed for little explorers. That’s because a lot is going on at this age. When your child is wandering all over the place, that means they’re learning and discovering new things every day. We’ll help them explore their interests (and find new ones!) as they play and learn.

Discovery Preschool Programs (2–3 Years)

This age is filled with so much wonder and curiosity. That’s why we offer a ton of books and toys and bring artwork down to kids eye level. Children in discovery preschool also begin to learn how we all work together in a classroom. Simple math and science, pretend play, and group play help them get used to a more structured school setting.

Preschool Programs (3–4 Years)

This age is all about expression, when kids really start to form their own ideas about what they want to play and how they want to create. Every day in our preschool classroom, your child will explore science experiments, create artwork, and play pretend—all the skills needed for their big next step: kindergarten!

Prekindergarten Programs (4–5 Years)

When you walk into one of our pre-K classrooms, you’ll see artwork and writing displayed around the room. Labels are everywhere to help kids connect letters with words. You’ll also see pictures on the walls that reflect the families in our community. Your child will also deepen their knowledge in language, math, science, Spanish, and social skills.

Before- and After-School Programs (5–12 Years)

You can count on us to provide reliable care for your school-ager while you’re at work, with safe transportation from our center to your child’s school and back! Whether your child wants to start a drama club, build a volcano, or create a comic book, they will have a place to follow their dreams. Your child will start and end the day with a whole lot of fun!

School Break Programs (preschool, prekindergarten, and school-age)

Winter break, spring break, summer break—when school’s out (but you still need to work), you can count on KinderCare to provide a safe and supportive learning environment that’s focused on fun. We welcome children ages 5–12 during school break times and make sure they have a sensational, screen-free experience they won’t forget.

Learning Adventures - Enrichment Program

Cooking Academy™ (3 – 12 Years)

In Cooking Academy, kids learn new recipes from cultures around the world and develop a healthy relationship with food. They’ll whip up everything from Southwest rainbow lettuce wraps to pumpkin muffins, building their skills in STEM, communication, and more along the way. And yes—little chefs get to eat their culinary creations!

Music Explorers™ (2 – 4 Years)

KinderCare families are already giving a standing ovation to our newest Learning Adventures program: Music Explorers! Kids will learn to sing, move, listen, play instruments, and even create their own tunes. Our original curriculum blends math, science, social studies, literacy, and mindfulness (think yoga!) for a uniquely KinderCare way of learning the foundations of music.

Phonics Adventures® (2 – 4 Years)

Learning how to read is a whole lot of fun at KinderCare! We help kids grow to love books and words (and get ready for kindergarten) in our Phonics Adventures program. From discovering the basics of vowels to practicing poetry, kids learn all about letters and sounds in small-group lessons made just for their age group. (Bonus: Kids who attend our phonics program are more prepared than their peers for school—and we have the data to prove it.)

STEM Innovators (3-8 Years)

You’ve probably heard a lot about how important STEM education is for your child, but what does that really mean? Our STEM Innovators program takes kids’ natural ability to make sense of the world and applies it to robotics, chemistry, coding, geology, and more. While your child experiments, they’ll discover how to use technology to do amazing things!

Our Teachers

We're the only company in early childhood education to select teachers based on natural talent. Being a great educator isn't enough though. KinderCare teachers are also amazing listeners, nurturers, boo-boo fixers, and smile-makers. Put more simply, we love our teachers and your child will, too.

Meet just a few of our amazing KinderCare teachers!

Daycare teacher at KinderCare helping young children

A KINDERCARE TEACHER WITH

An Artist's Heart

"My classroom is full of art!” says Mary Annthipie-Bane, an award-winning early childhood educator at KinderCare. Art and creative expression, she says, help children discover who they really are.

teacher with artist educator dedicated teaching with her whole heart
gallup great workplace logo

We put our best-in-class teachers in a best-in-class workplace. We're so proud to have been named one of Gallup's 37 winners of the Great Workplace Award. When you put great teachers in an engaging center, your children will experience an amazing place to learn and grow.

Family Stories

Don't take our word for it. Hear what our families have to say about our amazing center!

  • Like many parents who struggle with daycare options, I was overwhelmed. My wife and I narrowed our list down to three after a long search. While she was focused on our daughter's ability to express herself and grow artistically, I was more concerned about the quality of education. With that in mind, I was also a bit scared by the weekly cost of attendance. With that said, I would pay the weekly amount again and again if asked! Not only was I impressed immediately with the quality of education, we took it a step further and enrolled our daughter in phonics and later in math. She knows a few words in Spanish, can count to 100 on a regular basis, has embraced the rule structure that will be needed in kindergarten, and made lots of friends. Ms. Holly and Ms. Ally are not only great teachers, but great people. My daughter will truly miss them next year. I cannot forget to mention the Director Lee-Ann and and Assistant Director Geoff. I have never seen people in such positions know the name of every child and take a interest in their well-being. Oh, and they are completely approachable and will always work with you about anything. In summary, despite my initial concern about cost, I would repeat this experience for my daughter in a heartbeat and know she will miss her teacher and friends. Do not forget: If education is what you are most concerned about, you cannot do better than Kindercare at Candlewood!  

    Josh and Kelly - KinderCare Parent
  • Ms. Kristi is wonderful and truly deserves to be honored. She takes time out every day to chat with me since we are part time and do not always have a clear picture of what happens at school. She is always willing to share the day's news, and makes sure to have a report written for us in addition to her verbal report. I've seen our son grow so much since he started a mere four months ago. He absolutely adores Ms. Kristi. She has such enthusiasm and patience. I don't know how she does it with all those boys! I am very grateful to have her as my son's teacher.

    Carrie L. - KinderCare Parent
  • Monday through Friday, we get up out of bed to get ready for school. I ask my daughter: “Wanna go see Ms. Sue?” She replies “Yes, Mamma!” with great enthusiasm. It’s such a comfort knowing your child is so well taken care of. Ms. Sue welcomes my daughter every day with a hug and a big smile! Ms. Sue is so patient and calm with all the children, and her room runs like clockwork. She takes the time to write my daughter's favorite part of the day on her sheet. Most of the time as I read what she wrote, it puts a big smile on my face and I can see my daughter doing it right then. As working mothers, we miss out on so much, so it really makes it easier knowing they are having so much fun at school. We listen to our music CDs every day to school and back home. My daughter is now singing songs to her baby sister and looks forward to music each and every Friday with Lacy!

    Tracy R. - KinderCare Parent
  • My son is thriving at Candlewood KinderCare! Last summer we had him enrolled in a Montessori program. He cried every day. It broke our hearts. This summer is a completely different story! He loves KinderCare, his teachers, and his friends. He looks forward to going every day. He loves the field trips and other fun activities. It is extremely comforting to know he is happy and well cared for when he is not with us. Thank you, Candlewood KinderCare, from the bottom of our hearts! We'll see you next summer!

    Elaine H. - KinderCare Parent
  • My kiddos have been attending Candlewood KinderCare since July 2010. We are so grateful to have found such a wonderful place for our children! We know our children will be well cared for and provided with an early education atmosphere, which will more than prepare them for kindergarten. The staff at Candlewood are all amazing people who really take the time to get to know the children and the parents. They do an awesome job working with the children, from learning to walk to learning the ABC’s. I know we never would have survived our potty training days without them! The staff is very understanding and willing to work with parents on everything. They truly do have the best interests of our children in mind. It is such a relief knowing we do not need to worry about our children when we are at work.

    Sheila P. - KinderCare Parent
  • My experience with Candlewood KinderCare has been wonderful. My three oldest children attended one summer while I was expecting my fourth child. I immediately noticed the cleanliness of the facility, which is huge for me and the whole “daycare” experience. The other wonderful thing was the education the faculty has to have to work with the children that attend. I feel anyone who works with children needs to be trained to do so. These factors contributed to my decision to place my new baby in the care of the Candlewood KinderCare. The acting Director at the time was fantastic. She was understanding and knowledgeable about everything concerning daycare. She actually cared about the family as a whole. She made the facility very “homey.” I was afraid things would change dramatically with the new Director as far as how clean and accommodating the faculty was. I’m thrilled to my ears that things haven’t changed; they have, in fact, exceeded all my expectation. Deborah Clute is doing a fantastic job!

    Renee A. - KinderCare Parent
  • After an exhaustive search for the best learning center for our kids three years ago, we discovered Candlewood KinderCare. Three years later, we couldn't imagine a better place for our kids. The staff is very professional and maintains a core group of teachers who have remained there since we started. Our children look forward to each and every day at "school." The best compliment we can pay Candlewood KinderCare is that we don't worry about our kids when they are there. We know they are in a safe, kid-friendly learning environment that fosters imagination and self-confidence.

    Brian O. - KinderCare Parent
  • Making a choice around your child’s care is a very stressful and difficult decision to make! However, my husband and I feel so fortunate to have found a daycare like Candlewood KinderCare to bring us peace of mind. While I cannot wait to pick up my sweet girl at the end of each day, it helps knowing she enjoys her time here and the affection she has for the staff. It warms my heart seeing the staff’s interactions with her and I cannot rave enough about how genuine they are! The staff is extremely friendly and updates me on what progress our daughter is making or silly things she did throughout the day. It definitely feels like a team effort (strong parent/teacher communication). I cannot stress enough how much it means to find a center that is clean and organized. We actually had our daughter enrolled in a different center prior to Candlewood KinderCare. After about a month, my gut was telling me something wasn’t right. Cleanliness and organization were the primary reasons we left the other center and Candlewood KinderCare is leaps and bounds ahead in these areas. I would absolutely recommend Candlewood KinderCare to any family seeking care for their children. The staff and facility continue to find ways to improve and impress me.

    Nikki R. - KinderCare Parent
  • I have been a part of the KinderCare family for 7 years! My oldest is 9 and has been attending since he was 2. My youngest 2 children are 2.5 and have been at Candlewood since 12 weeks old.  I'm a health care professional and had so much anxiety about being on the front lines and having my child care disappear but the Candlewood family has been with us every step and made sure that I was able to focus on the impossible task facing hospitals while my children were being expertly cared for!

    This last week brought me to new appreciation for the depth of expertise and quality of characters of the employees you partner with. 

    The Assistant Director of our center has been off-site assisting another center for 6 weeks. Although we love Ally and miss her dearly, we have felt no change in the quality of care. Then, this last week, our Director had to quarantine leaving the center in the care of non director level staff. I am an in-tune parent who knows almost every staff member by name and my children can sense changes in care... however, the Program Director, Traci, met me with a smile at the door, she was friendly and never let on that the center might be stressed. I had called during the week to discuss changes in my school agers school schedule and had billing questions regarding the changes. All my questions were answered on the spot without hesitation. I had my school ager signed up for unplanned days an had a plan for billing all without ever needing to speak to a director as the program specialist was able to answer everything! 

    I just want to give a huge shout out to Traci and the entire staff for making what I would assume would be a stressful transition/week not impact childcare, quality or delay in answers! 

    We Love KinderCare!

    Rebecca K. - KinderCare Parent

Share Your Story
If you have a story about your experience at KinderCare, please share your story with us .

Who Are KinderCare Families?

They hail from hundreds of cities across the country from countless backgrounds, and proudly represent every walk in life. What our families have in common, though, is the want to give their children the best start in life. We are so proud to be their partner in parenting.

Hear from just a few of our amazing KinderCare families.

Young family ready to go to their local KinderCare daycare center

A Globe-Trotting Family Finds A

Home in Houston

Four young children, four different passports, two languages, two full-time jobs…oh, and a few triathlons thrown in for good measure. Meet the globe-trotting Colettas—a family on the go.

home in houston inspiration family puts love first family busy with capital

Frequently Asked Questions

What accreditations does KinderCare have?

We are your trusted caregiver. Our centers are state-licensed and regularly inspected to make sure everything meets or exceeds standards, including child-to-teacher ratios and safe facilities. Our centers aren’t just licensed—most are accredited, too! Find out more.

Do you offer part-time schedules at Candlewood KinderCare?

Everybody’s schedule is different. We’re happy to offer quality, affordable part-time and full-time childcare. Drop-in care may also be available. Reach out to your Center Director to learn more.

How does naptime work at Candlewood KinderCare?

Our teachers meet every child’s needs during naptime. Our teachers know how to get babies to nap. In fact, they are pros at getting children of any age to nap. Visit our article on "10 Ways We Help Kids Get a Great Daycare Nap" to learn more.

Do you support alternative diets?

We strive to be as inclusive as possible. To that point, we provide a vegetarian option at mealtime, take care to not serve common allergens and can adapt menus based on your child’s food sensitivities. If your child has additional needs, we’ll work with you to figure out a plan.

Are meals included in tuition? Can I choose to send my child with lunch?

We provide nutritious meals and snacks developed by a registered dietician to meet the needs of rapidly growing bodies and minds. If your child has special dietary requirements and you would prefer to bring in their lunch, please make arrangements with the center director.

Does my child need to be potty-trained?

Every child begins toilet learning at a different age. Until your child shows an interest in toilet learning, we’ll provide diaper changes on an as-needed basis. When your child shows an interest, we'll discuss how to work together to encourage toilet learning.