Smart Start Puzzles Center

The Smart Start PUZZLES Center is a centralized service relating all parts of the child care delivery system --  familes, employers, employees, and early childhood professionals.  Feel free to call the Smart Start PUZZLES Center with any questions about young children. 

For Families

Child Care Referrals

PUZZLES provides information about choosing quality child care, local child care businesses, and licensing requirements.  Counselors provide these services by phone and email and in person to meet individual family needs and preferences such as location, care for infants and toddlers, hours of operation and care for children with special needs.  For more information about obtaining child care referrals call our office at 815-3731.

Community Referrals

PUZZLES staff assists parents of children in navigating and accessing a variety of community services.  General information is also available about topics such as child health and development, early intervention for special needs, child care subsidy, access to health insurance and much more.  Call our PUZZLES specialist today at 815-3731.

Family Resource Room

PUZZLES offers a large selection of books, videos, magazines and other resources for families and professionals. 
For a $5 annual fee, the Family Resource Room membership includes access to:
         Theme-based kits with educational toys and materials  
         Baby slings and wraps
         Infant massage kit
         Food mill with healthy recipes
         A two week trial membership to the Wilmington Children's Museum
         A wide variety of other books and materials available for check out

Click Here to See Our Theme Kits for the Family Resource Room

*Please note: Smart Start of New Hanover County only accepts checks or money orders.  NO CASH.

To Sign Up Online:

1) Read the Resource Room Guidelines

3) Pay Here  

For Early Childhood Professionals

Technical Assistance and Training

The Smart Start PUZZLES Center offers free technical assistance to child care centers and family child care homes in an effort to improve and maintain the quality of care and education for young children.  Click on the link below and return the 'application of interest' which lets us know what type of support you need and allows us to prioritize our services.

Technical Assistance Application for Centers

Our experienced, knowledgeable staff offer child care providers convenient, practical and affordable trainings and resources that meet their diverse needs, including workshops such as:
        First Aid and CPR Training
        Playground Safety
        Quality Interactions
        Curriculum Planning
        Provider Wellness Program (group and individual counseling available)

For a complete list of our current trainings click HERE.

Professional development opportunities such as individualized consultations, site-based technical assistance, and practice assessments using the Environment Rating Scales help to keep professionals in touch with the latest information.

Child Care Provider Resource Room

PUZZLES provides resources to child care providers to enhance classroom instruction. 
For a $5 annual fee, the Child Care Provider Resource Room membership includes access to:
         Curriculum guides
         Videos and DVDs
         Laminating supplies and equipment
         Die cut machine
         Computer work station
         Classroom theme boxes with educational toys and materials and small outdoor equipment

Group Memberships are also available for Child Care Centers
10 individuals or less-- $15
11-19 individuals-- $20
20 or more individuals--$25

Click Here to See Our Theme Kits for the Provider Resource Room

*Please note, Smart Start of New Hanover County only accepts checks or money orders.  NO CASH.

To Sign Up Online:

For a Single Membership

2) Print Membership Application and Fax 910-815-3733, Mail 3534 S. College Rd. Ste. F. Wilmington, NC 28412 or Hand Deliver

3) Pay Here

If you want a Group Membership 

1) Read the Resource Room Guidelines

2) Print the Group Membership Application and the Staff Snapshot and Fax 910-815-3733, Mail 3534 S. College Rd. Ste. F. Wilmington, NC 28412

                                                                                                            or Hand Deliver to Smart Start

3) For Groups with 10 individuals for less, Pay Here:

 

 

 

 

For Groups with 11-19 individuals, Pay Here:

 

 

 

 

For Groups with 20 or more individuals, Pay Here:

 

Child Care Updates

A strong, quality child care infrastructure is important to a thriving economy.  Through data collection and analysis, PUZZLES assists the child care business by sharing up-to-date information such as openings and other services with parents seeking child care.  Information is shared with local, state and national policy makers about child care trends in our country.

Please fill out the form below in its entirety to update your Child Care Center or Family Child Care Home's openings.