Your little one is known
Lower teacher-to-child ratios and small groups mean your child is known personally — and receives the nurturing, individualized attention they deserve.
Est. 2005 · Family operated
Every little one is known here — not managed.
High-quality childcare and early childhood education in a warm, loving, safe and homey environment — for infants through school-age.
NJ state licensed · Ratios below the state maximum · English & SpanishNJ licensed · Low ratios · English & SpanishOpen Mon–Fri, 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
21Years serving our communities
26+Years of experience
8Age-specific programs
12weeksto 10 years old
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Our Mission
Our mission and commitment is to give every little one nurturing attention, the tools, the exposure, the learning experiences, and the environment to grow to their greatest potential.
Why Happy Faces Forever
The one you'll
The one you'll
recommend.
A place where thoughtful learning, close relationships and real peace of mind all come standard — the kind of place families are glad they found, and happy to tell a friend about. Here are some of the things that set us apart:
Certified Teachers
Long-tenured, certified teachers give your little one familiar faces, stable relationships and consistent care. Every staff member must meet or exceed state-mandated educational requirements.
A homey place that shines
Clean, secure, welcoming classrooms with age-specific learning areas and current tools — a place your little one settles into quickly and is glad to come back to.
Made for working families
Full- and part-time enrollment, standard- and extended-day schedules, early drop-off and emergency care flex around your work week.
A small center on purpose.
New Jersey sets a maximum number of children per teacher. In every single classroom, we intentionally stay well below those limits—because personalized attention is the entire point of a small center. Here is how much more individual time and care your little one receives with us compared to the state standard.
Family owned and operated since 2005A small by design, family-run center — not a large chain.
Over 26+ years of experienceExperienced directors with 26+ years in early childhood and management experience.
NJ State LicensedLicensed by the NJ Department of Children and Families, meeting all state certification standards.
Background-checked staffEvery staff member undergoes an in-depth background check before employment.
First Aid & CPR certifiedPlus EpiPen & LifeVac, refreshed yearly — met by every staff member, not just a few.
Mostly bilingual teamFluent in English and Spanish.
Our Approach
Learning that feels like discovery.
Every week, our planned STEAM rhythm engages your little one in five hands-on disciplines to explore the world. These rich experiences spark learning and play while building essential skills like vocabulary, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and reflection.
SScience
Wondering, observing and testing ideas about the world through hands-on exploration.
TTechnology
Using simple, age-appropriate tools to explore, create and solve everyday problems.
EEngineering
Designing and building with blocks and loose parts, then testing and trying again.
AArts
Expressing ideas and feelings through music, movement, dramatic play and open-ended art.
MMathematics
Counting, sorting, and noticing patterns and shapes in everyday play and routines.
One weekly theme.
Five connected ways to explore it.
The ways your little one grows, every single day.
Our curriculum isn't just fun—it's the natural way we nurture the whole child by putting New Jersey's official early learning standards into action. By connecting Social and Emotional Development, Approaches to Learning, Language and Literacy, Cognitive Development (including early mathematics and science), Creative Arts, and Physical and Motor Development, we ensure your child thrives across every state-guided milestone. We are here for everything that matters most, from first friendships to first words to first big ideas.
Heart & friendships
Social & Emotional Development
Words & ideas
Language & Literacy Development
Curious minds
Cognitive Development (Math & Science)
Busy bodies
Physical and Motor Development
Big imaginations
Creative Expression & the Arts
A place for every stage
From twelve weeks old to the school bus.
From 12 weeks through elementary school, your little one can grow through each stage in one Guttenberg center, with a community that already knows them.
Core Values
Taught alongside the numbers and letters.
Character isn't a weekly lesson here — it's how the room is run, every hour of every day.
RespectValuing classmates, teachers, shared materials and living things — while building real self-worth.
Empathy & CompassionRecognizing how other people feel, and practicing kindness through group play and storytelling.
Honesty & IntegrityTelling the truth in a safe, supportive space where mistakes become learning moments.
ResponsibilityAccountability through simple, real tasks — tidying up toys, helping a peer, caring for the room.
Inclusion & DiversityAccepting different backgrounds, cultures and physical abilities as a normal part of daily life.
Children are not born knowing how to share, apologize or include someone left out. These values are taught — deliberately, and every single day.
Health & Safety
A clean, healthy space — around the clock.
Keeping your little one safe and healthy is part of the routine, not an afterthought. Our classrooms are cleaned and sanitized on a continuous schedule, so children learn and play in a space that's genuinely cared for.
Throughout the day
High-touch surfaces, tables, toys and restrooms are wiped down and sanitized continuously as children move through their routines.
Every evening
After pickup, every classroom is fully cleaned and disinfected — floors, surfaces, materials and shared equipment — so each day starts fresh.
In-depth on weekends
Each weekend we deep-clean the whole center from top to bottom, giving classrooms a thorough reset before the week begins.
Clean air, all day
Central-air filtration, purification and germicidal systems run throughout the building, alongside daily health checks and safe illness policies.
Secure & monitored
Locked entry at all times and 24/7 video surveillance monitoring keep your little one safe and give you real peace of mind.
Staying Connected
A window into your little one's day.
Our secure family communication app keeps check-in, classroom updates, photos, care logs, messages and tuition in one convenient place.
- Morning and afternoon activity updates
- Photos, videos and milestones
- Feedings and diaper changes logged precisely
- Secure messaging, invoices and autopay
Schedule Options
A schedule that fits your work week.
High-quality childcare and early learning programs that bend around your work week — not the other way around. Choose the option that fits, and adjust as your family's needs change.
Flexible
Part Time
About four hours a day on a set schedule, or two to three full days a week — flexibility for families who don't need full-time care.
Most popular
Standard Day
A full eight-hour day — our full-time option, and the one most working families choose for their week.
Long days
Extended Day
Up to a ten-hour day for families whose working schedule runs late.
Add-on
Early Drop-off
Early morning drop-off before the regular day begins, by prior arrangement.
Add-on
Extended Care
Later evening pickup by arrangement, so a late meeting is never a crisis.
When you need us
Emergency Care
Backup care for when your primary care provider suddenly isn't available. Ask us how it works.
Open Monday–Friday, 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Talk with us on your tour and we'll build a schedule around your family's needs.
Beyond the classroom
The extras that come standard.
Enrichment isn't an add-on here — it's simply part of every week, included in one tuition. Here are some of the enrichment offerings your little one enjoys as part of our programs:
American Sign Language
Two languages — English & Spanish
Zumbini, Music & Movement
A Multi-Purpose Playroom
Classroom Technology
Monthly Thematic Events
There's far more than a web page can hold. The best way to see how it all comes together is to spend a little time with us.
Schedule your tour
Careers
Come teach somewhere small.
We're a small, family-operated center — which means your classroom is yours, your director knows your name, and your schedule respects your life.
Early Childhood Lead Teacher
$16–$18per hour
What you'd do
- Implement developmentally appropriate lesson plans
- Conduct observations and assessments
- Communicate with families daily
- Lead small and large group instruction and story reading
- Keep the classroom ready and cared for
- Attend monthly staff meetings and professional development
What you'd bring
- At least 1 year of experience
- An Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education, CDA certification or equivalent
- Experience with play-based learning and classroom management
- Fluent English; Spanish preferred
- Age 21 or older, with work authorization
- Available Monday–Friday, plus occasional evening or Saturday training
What we offer
- Flexible schedules — no nights, weekends or holidays
- Paid personal, sick, holiday and vacation time
- Professional development assistance
- Employee referral bonuses
- Performance-based yearly bonuses
- A strong, cheerful, dependable team to join
Send your résumé to info@happyfacesforeverdc.com
Apply by email
What families say
Do not take our word for it.
Live, unedited reviews straight from our Google Business Profile.
★★★★★
Best decision we could have made for our little one. I was very anxious to send my 4-month-old to daycare, and Happy Faces exceeded all of my expectations. She is absolutely thriving.
★★★★★
Absolutely love this place! My daughter is always so excited to see her teachers and friends. It's clear the staff love working here — this community really is amazing.
★★★★★
Couldn't be happier! The staff are caring, attentive, and truly invested in each child's growth. My child comes home happy and excited to return. It feels like family.
★★★★★
Best decision we could have made for our little one. I was very anxious to send my 4-month-old to daycare, and Happy Faces exceeded all of my expectations. She is absolutely thriving.
★★★★★
Absolutely love this place! My daughter is always so excited to see her teachers and friends. It's clear the staff love working here — this community really is amazing.
★★★★★
Couldn't be happier! The staff are caring, attentive, and truly invested in each child's growth. My child comes home happy and excited to return. It feels like family.
Common questions
Questions Guttenberg families ask.
The answers parents look for most often, before they book a tour. If yours isn't here, call us at 201-662-2007 — a person picks up.
What ages does Happy Faces Forever accept?
We care for children from 12 weeks old through age 10, in eight age-specific programs: Infants, Waddlers, Toddlers, Preschool Beginners, Preschool Advanced, Pre-Kindergarten, School-Age and a Summer Program.
Where are you located, and which towns do you serve?
We are at 128 71st Street in Guttenberg, New Jersey 07093, in Hudson County. Families travel to us from Guttenberg, North Bergen, West New York, Union City, Weehawken and Secaucus, and from Fairview, Cliffside Park, Edgewater, Fort Lee and Ridgefield in Bergen County.
What are your hours?
We are open Monday to Friday, 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The regular program begins at 7:00 AM, and drop-off closes at 9:45 AM so learning time starts uninterrupted at 10:00. Early drop-off from 6:00 AM and late pickup to 7:00 PM are available by prior arrangement.
How much does childcare cost at Happy Faces Forever?
Tuition depends on the program and the schedule you choose, so we go through the options with you on your tour. Enrichment — American Sign Language, Spanish immersion, Zumbini, music and movement — is included in one tuition rather than billed as extras.
Do you accept state childcare assistance?
Yes. We participate in most New Jersey state subsidy programs, including the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and Work First New Jersey (WFNJ / TANF).
Is the center licensed by the state?
Yes. Happy Faces Forever is licensed by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing, and meets all state certification standards. Every staff member is background-checked and certified in First Aid, CPR, EpiPen and LifeVac.
What are your teacher-to-child ratios?
New Jersey sets a maximum number of children per teacher, and we stay below that maximum in every classroom — which is the whole point of a small center. Your tour includes a look at the ratio in the room your child would join.
Do you offer part-time or flexible schedules?
Yes. We offer six options: flexible part time, a standard eight-hour day, an extended day of up to ten hours, early drop-off, extended care for late pickups, and emergency backup care.
Do you offer after-school care and a summer program?
Yes. Our School-Age program runs September to June for ages 5 to 10 with homework guidance around the school day, and our Summer Program runs July and August for ages 4 to 10.
Is the program bilingual?
Lessons are taught in English Monday through Thursday and in Spanish on Fridays, and simple American Sign Language is used all day long. Most of our team is fluent in both languages, and all of it is included in tuition.
What does your curriculum cover?
Every week follows one theme explored through five hands-on STEAM disciplines — science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics — mapped to New Jersey's early learning standards across social-emotional, language and literacy, cognitive, creative and physical development.
How do I enroll, and can I visit first?
Start with a tour. After your visit, registration reserves your child's spot for the year; then we complete enrollment documents and immunization records and agree a start date and schedule.
Next Steps
We'd love to save your little one a spot.
Here's how it works, from your first visit to your little one's first day.
Tour our center
Come spend time with us to see our warm, welcoming space, learn about our programs, tuition and schedule options in more detail.
Register & reserve
Registration covers the year and secures your little one's spot.
Complete enrollment
Registration documents, immunization records and your little one's start date and schedule.
First day
A gradual, supported transition — and a warm welcome from the whole class.
Come see the difference in person.
A website can show you the basics — a tour lets you feel the warmth, meet part of our team and picture your little one here.
HoursMon–Fri · 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Core program 7:00 AM–6:30 PM; early & extended care by arrangement
Core program 7:00 AM–6:30 PM; early & extended care by arrangement
Call201-662-2007
Fax201-624-7089
Financial supportWe participate in most state subsidy programs, including CCAP and Work First New Jersey (WFNJ / TANF).