You want your child to have the best possible start in life, and it’s widely agreed that social interaction with early learning opportunities is the best possible route to take. Here’s our guide to the top nurseries and playgroups in town

Bright Beginnings
Where: Two locations; in Al Mehairba and Al Mushrif
Age range: 4 weeks to 4 years
What: Children here can enjoy a very well equipped and imaginatively set up play areas, with a wide selection of activities and choices to keep young minds stimulated and happy, including English, Arabic and French classes. “We aim to help all children realise their full potential and extend their talents regardless of gender, race, religion, or talent.” Three custom-built activity areas feature well stocked classrooms with interactive toys and learning tools, musical instruments, art and craft materials and everything from a library to a play-pretend area, water play area and more. If you’re a member of Abu Dhabi Mums you get a 5 percent discount on the fees.
Web: www.brightbeginnings.ae
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Tel: 02 445 5339

Busy Bees Nursery (formerly Sesame Street)
Where: Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi
Age range: 18 months to 3.5 years
What: Preparation for school life through the vehicle of fun and play seems to be Busy Bees speciality. Physical activities are complemented by sand and water play stations, a climbing wall, a gym and an outdoor play area. “Children respond very positively to the décor,” says Principal Helen Abdullah, “it is delightfully done up in bright primary colours.” Activities also involve puppet play, themed months, coloured clothing days and field trips.
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Tel: 02 621 9492

Edu-Care (formerly Gimboree)
Where: Zayed the First St, near Sheraton Residence
Age range: 4 months to 4 years
What: Edu-Care covers all the educational requirements. With a multinational clientele, special events and celebrations are done in an inclusive manner. Edu-Care seems to have all of the standard equipment such as indoor and outdoor play areas, water station etc
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Tel: 02 665 8882

First Steps Nursery
Where: Between 24th and 26th, near 13th St
Age range: 14 months to 4 years
What: Located in the Karama area, First Steps follows the British curriculum to deliver broad and well balanced development programmes. All children are exposed to a wide variety of experiences to aid in their intellectual, emotional, moral and physical potential. First Steps Nursery has spacious classrooms and a staff-to-student ratio of no more than 1:7. Also available is a bus service and flexible timings to suit the parents and child.
Web: www.firststeps.ae
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Tel: 02 446 0960

Humpty Dumpty Nursery
Where: Abu Dhabi and Khalifa City A
Age range: 1 to 4 years
What: This is one of the leading nurseries in Abu Dhabi with a host of mums crediting it with excellent service and care and helpful and friendly staff. The British-based curriculum offers each child differently designed age-appropriate activities from Jolly Phonics and Kindermusik to Math and Language and Literacy; there’s ample play and work space both indoors and outdoors. The team has undergone up-to-date Medic and First Aid training plus they have a full-time, on-site nurse, and with the Principal’s 16 years experience you know your kids are in good hands here.
Web: www.humptynursery.com
Email/Tel: Abu Dhabi – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | 02 666 3277 or Khalifa A This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 02 556 1068

International Montessori Nursery
Where: Al Muroor
Age range: 2 to 5 years
What: All nationalities are more than welcome at this nursery which offers a tried and tested curriculum designed by the famous educator and philosopher Maria Montessori. What’s good is that they only enrol 70 students a year in order to provide individual care and attention to each child – the child-to-teacher ratio is 9:1.
Web: www.imn.ae
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Tel: 971 2 449 4680

Jigsaw Nursery and Crèche
Where: Al Karama and Mohammed Bin Zayed City
Age range: Programmes for children starting at age 14 months (younger depending on demand) up to 3 to 4 years old
What: The lovely staff at Jigsaw believe that “physical, intellectual, creative and social development are all equally important” and that children learn best through play and hands-on experience. Their curriculum is based on the British model and they offer weekly music lessons, and Arabic for kids 3-4 years old. They’ve also got extensive outdoor grounds and facilities, a play-pretend room, library and gym. Jigsaw gives a 5 percent discount to members of Abu

Dhabi Mums and The Club.
Web: www.jigsaw-nursery.com
Tel: Al Karama – 02 445 5222 or MBZ –  056 140 9741

Lady Bird Nursery & Pre-School
Where: Near corner 11th and 26th street, Abu Dhabi
Age range: 6 weeks to 4 years
What: The fact that Lady Bird Nursery’s entire clientele comes entirely by word of mouth speaks volumes about what it is doing. A very homely atmosphere with a real personal touch is what they consciously strive for. Lady Bird is not affiliated with any schools yet no one has had a problem carrying onward to their school of choice. The preferred teaching tool here is art and music in addition to the full complement of sandpits, bikes, cars and playdough.
Tel: 02 667 3881

Noah’s Ark Nursery
Where: Najda St, behind the Hypermarket
Age range: 20 months to 4 years
What: The goal of Noah’s Ark Nursery is “to strike a stimulating balance between loving care, play and academic encouragement.” In addition to the regular complement of facilities and programmes one thing that seems to stand out is how Noah’s regularly changes their selection of toys. Keeping it “fresh” for the children is a great way to promote interest , enhanced learning and development.
Web: www.noahsarknurseryad.com
Tel: 02 635 1035

Stepping Stones
Where: Branches in Al Bateen, Al Rowdha, Between Two Bridges and Khalifa City A
Age range: 18 months to 4 years
What: Stepping Stones is a pre-school offering Modern Montessori education. Attention is paid to the growth of children by fostering wholesome intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development.
Web: www.steppingstones.ae
Tel: 02 681 5583

Teddy Bear American Nursery
Where: Khalifa City A
Age range: Toddlers to pre-kindergarten
What: The team at Teddy Bear believes that preschoolers are special, so that’s how they treat them. A typical day at this nursery will see your child through a number of activities for intellectual, physical, social, moral, and emotional development. Kids can enjoy and learn from art workshops, a mini-farm, their award-winning education technology centre, various imagination stations and their unique jungle-themed play facility. The nursery is perfect not only for simulated play and learning but for picnics and birthday parties too – they even have a parents’ library full of great kids’ books that you can borrow for bedtimes.
Web: www.teddybearnursery.net
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Tel: 050 241 0559

Little Smarties Pre-school Nursery
Where? 21^st street, Khalifa City A
Age range: 1-4 years old
What do they offer? We haven’t yet met a team more painstakingly dedicated to providing for the Emirate’s children through expert care and learning. Little Smarties Pre-school Nursery is a bright and secure property catering to arts and crafts, song and dance alongside a full and exciting curriculum teaching everything from maths to Arabic. The nursery actively supports the community and regularly hosts fundraising events and activities that teach the children how they can help others in need.
Web: www.littlesmartiesnursery.com
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Tel: 02 556 5500

Playgroups
St Andrews playgroup operates every Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30am to 11.30am in St Andrews Church, Mushrif. You pay per visit – currently it’s AED 15 for up to two kids per morning (includes bananas and cookies for the kids, coffee and tea for mums). Kids can play with a range of cool toys guaranteed to wear them out by the end of the day. One mum told us: “St Andrews is really good for first-timers and has a welcoming friendly atmosphere ... I found it really laid-back and a great way to meet some people and let the kids have a good time.” (Tel 02 673 3130)

In addition to excellent information and good contacts, Abu Dhabi Mums organises several different playgroups – around two dozen of them, both age- and activity-based. The website at www.abudhabimums.ae has a complete listing. Membership costs AED 70 per year

Words: Kara Martin and Tim Shulz