Wiggles, Giggles, & Smiles

Our Teachers

Ulani Priestley - Director & Primary Childcare Provider

Hello! My name is Ulani and I am the owner of Wiggles, Giggles, & Smiles. In trying to find full time childcare that best fit my children, I realized there was a need in my community for a program that could accommodate a working mom like myself.

With 10 years of childcare experience and 2 years of experience in a pediatric clinic, I knew I had the skills and passion to start my own child care program. Wiggles, Giggles & Smiles was created to provide high quality care for children and to support working women in my community.

I am really honored and excited to provide care to children in my own community!

Testimonials

“We are so happy with Ulani! She is amazing and we are very lucky to have our daughter in such a warm, caring and enriching environment with loving and capable caretakers.“

“Ulani has always been timely and professional when working with my two daughters. She is very patient and makes sure that all the children are always taken care of and safe, which, as a parent, made me feel very comfortable. I love that she was able to provide my girls with meaningful learning experiences. My daughters’ time with her was nothing less than incredible!”

“Ulani cared for my children on numerous occasions and the experience was nothing less then amazing. I am ecstatic that she will be extending her child care services to the public and highly recommend her.”

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Philosophy

Here at Wiggles, Giggles, & Smiles, each child is celebrated and encouraged to learn through hands on exploration. Our play-based curriculum is designed to help children of all ages develop their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills that are needed to adapt to everyday life. We truly believe that by providing a safe and loving environment we can help each child grow and realize their true potential.

Location

At Wiggles, Giggles, & Smiles, I want to provide a loving home away from home. Our program is located in a bright, welcoming apartment in the Harlem neighborhood.

We’ve designed our care environment with play and learning areas that allow children to explore various developmentally-appropriate activities based on their interests. Some of our favorite areas include block area (for gross motor skills and problem solving), dramatic play area (for self-expression and empathy), and reading / cozy area (for literacy, relaxation, and respite).

Children will have some outdoor time everyday at a local park or playground. Children need space to run, jump, and move!

About our program

At Wiggles, Giggles, & Smiles in New York, our cozy atmosphere and devoted team foster children’s self-reliance. Engaging in arts, music, and sports sets our program apart. Your child’s growth and happiness are at the core of our specialized care.

Admissions

Join the Wiggles, Giggles, & Smiles community in four easy steps:

1. Explore our website

We’ve provided information about our philosophies and offerings to help you decide if our program may be right for your family.

2. Tour our program

Come see what makes Wiggles, Giggles, & Smiles unique. If we are currently hosting tours, you can request or schedule a tour at the top of this page. If we are not currently hosting tours, you’ll see a “Request Info” button at the top of this page; if you submit your information using this button, we will notify you when we start host tours again in the future.

3. Submit an Enrollment Application

If you would like to enroll, please submit an application. Note that we require tours for all prospective families. Please do not submit an application if you have not visited the program.

4. Enroll

After reviewing your application, we’ll send an enrollment invitation. Upon accepting your invitation you’ll pay your enrollment fee, fill out enrollment documents and review our Parent Handbook.