Meet the Owner & Director
Diana Callinan has been a professional educator for the past 37 years. Her passion for taking care of children began while babysitting at the age of 11 years old. After graduating from college, Diana taught in the NY public school system. Diana and her husband then moved to Edison, NJ to start a family. After the birth of her first child, Diana decided to watch children at home in order to be able to care for her own child while still fulfilling her desire to teach children. Thus, Friends of the Family was created. After 8 years and now a mom of four, Friends of the Family went from a licensed home day care to a licensed commercial center with more than 80 children enrolled. Friends of the Family expands Diana’s own family views and applies her teaching philosophies to the child care center. She believes first and foremost that all children should be respected, listened to, and enjoyed. With her husband Steve, she has raised 4 children, and now has two grandchildren. Diana believes her first job is to first keep your child safe and happy, and her second job is to make each parents job a little easier.
About Us
It is our honor to care for your children.
WEEKLY HOURS
Monday through Friday 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM*
* Hours subject to be adjusted due to COVID - 19
Our center is open year round except for major holidays and severe weather closures.
CLASS SIZE
The child-to-teacher ratio varies according to age group. FOTF aims to provide more individualized attention and a more controlled, comfortable, family-friendly environment than what is typically found at larger daycare or learning centers.
RATIOS:
0-11 months 4:1
12-24 months 6:1
2-4 years 10:1
4-5 years 12:1
5 and up 15:1
MEALS
Tuition includes breakfast, AM snack, lunch, PM snack.
All of our meals and snacks are planned to meet the child's nutritional needs and the lunch menu will be posted on a monthly basis. Parents can supply food substitutions if their child cannot eat the foods that are served on a given day. A monthly menu is sent out in advance.
DAILY UPDATES
In our effort to be environmentally conscious, all parent updates are now paperless! Our school utilizes an interactive app called Procare Parent Engagement. which includes diaper changes, bottle feedings, meal times, art activities and more! Procare is a daily supervision app that is updated throughout the day by your child's teacher.
