Creative Nursery and Preschool (CNAP) was established in 2009 to provide safe, high-quality, educational and licensed child care in the South St. Louis area. CNAP began as an in-home program and in 2012, moved into our current location at 6500 Arsenal as a licensed child care center with a maximum enrollment of 34 children.

Our goal at Creative Nursery and Preschool is to provide a nurturing environment and learning-through-play approach that supports social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development. In addition, literacy and mathematics objectives are incorporated into the program through a combination of hands-on activities and exploration of materials as well as direct instruction. All toys, materials and activities are developmentally appropriate according to the age and abilities of each child.

We utilize the Creative Curriculum in our program, which is a research-based, child-centered curriculum that encourages learning through play and spans the areas of literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts and technology. We also utilize Teaching Strategies Gold, which is the online assessment tool that complements the Creative Curriculum. Assessments are completed three times a year and reports are distributed to parents following the assessment cycle, with opportunities for conferences with your child's teacher(s).

The high-quality nutrition at CNAP sets us apart from other programs in the area. Meals include lean proteins and vegetarian options, whole grains, whole fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and hormone-free milk. Meals are prepared on-site each day. We are able to accommodate and provide substitutes for children who have food allergies, sensitivities, or other dietary restrictions.

Another core value of our program is a strong focus on social-emotional development. Each year, CNAP staff members participate in United 4 Children's Social-Emotional Early Childhood Project (SEEC). At CNAP, we do not rely on time-outs or punitive forms of punishment, but instead, maintain a commitment to teaching appropriate behaviors, reinforcing positive behaviors and teaching children strategies, alternatives and problem-solving skills that will help them be more successful in their interactions with each other.

Please email the Owner and Director to inquire about openings for your child(ren) and/or to schedule a tour.