About Busy Bees Carefree Child Care · Phoenix
Busy Bees Carefree Child Care Center is a licensed daycare, preschool, and pre-K located at 2717 W Carefree Highway in the Amber Hills neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona (ZIP 85085). The center, which previously operated as Valley Child Care / Valley Learning Center, is part of the Busy Bees USA network of 17 child care centers across the Phoenix metro area. It serves children from six weeks through Kindergarten, offering a STEAM-integrated, play-based curriculum aligned with Arizona's Early Learning Standards, daily homemade meals, and enrichment in music and dance.
Busy Bees Carefree Child Care Center operates out of the Sonoran Desert Village shopping center on West Carefree Highway in north Phoenix and is licensed to serve up to 251 children. The center offers age-specific classrooms for infants (6 weeks–18 months), toddlers (18 months–3 years), preschoolers (3–4 years), pre-K students (4–5 years), and kindergartners, all built around the Busy Bees BeeCurious Curriculum Framework that emphasizes hands-on STEAM learning, creative expression, social-emotional growth, and basic American Sign Language (ASL) introduction. The Carefree center joined the Busy Bees Arizona family after a transition from its previous identity as Valley Learning Center / Valley Child Care, and families have noted a full remodel, new furniture and toys, and continued staffing during the changeover. The site provides freshly prepared in-house meals and snacks approved by a Registered Dietician, open-door visitation for parents, a 10% military discount, and access to Busy Bees Connect™, a mobile app that sends families real-time updates, photos, and developmental milestones. Center Director Amy Amundson has more than three decades of experience in early childhood education and is supported by a team of qualified early-childhood educators.
- Serves
- Phoenix, Arizona — Amber Hills / north Phoenix corridor along W Carefree Hwy (ZIP 85085); broader Phoenix metro through the 17-center Busy Bees Arizona network.
- Rating
- 4.7 stars (59 Google reviews, per industry audit snapshot)
About Busy Bees Carefree Child Care Center
Busy Bees Carefree Child Care Center is one of 17 Busy Bees child care and learning centers serving families across the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. The Carefree center sits inside the Sonoran Desert Village shopping center at 2717 W Carefree Hwy, in Phoenix's Amber Hills neighborhood (ZIP 85085), and is licensed to care for up to 251 children. The site previously operated as Valley Child Care / Valley Learning Center before joining Busy Bees, and families have noted a complete remodel with new furniture, toys, and family events introduced during the transition.
- 2717 West Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85085
- Open Monday–Friday, 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Licensed for 251 children
- Previously Valley Learning Center / Valley Child Care
Center Director — Amy Amundson
Amy Amundson has spent more than three decades in the early learning industry and leads the Carefree center. Originally from Minnesota, she has made Arizona her home for the duration of her career at Busy Bees. Parents and staff describe her center as one where many of the children she has served have grown up and even returned to work in the same classrooms.
- 30+ years in early childhood education
- Director of Busy Bees Carefree
Age-Specific Programs
The Carefree center is organized around five age-banded classrooms, each with its own developmental focus, daily rhythm, and curriculum goals. Programs are play-based and aligned with Arizona's Early Learning Standards, with STEAM activities woven into the day.
Infant Program (6 Weeks – 18 Months)
Caregivers build close, trusting bonds with each baby and follow individualized routines for feeding, sleeping, and play. Early development is supported through sensory exploration, attachment-based play, and language-rich interaction, with an introduction to basic American Sign Language (ASL).
- Secure attachments with primary caregivers
- Free exploration and movement
- Sensory and cognitive play
- Individualized sleep, feeding, and play routines
Toddler Program (18 Months – 3 Years)
Toddlers are encouraged to explore safely while building independence, language, and social-emotional skills through hands-on activities, structured routines, and cooperative play. ASL and verbal expression are used to expand communication.
- Self-feeding, dressing, and potty-training support
- ASL and verbal language expansion
- Cooperative social-emotional play
- Sensory experiences, music, and movement
Preschool (3 – 4 Years)
Preschoolers build on their natural curiosity with early literacy, math, science, and creative expression woven into daily routines. Play-based learning helps develop problem-solving, creativity, and social connections.
- Early literacy and math introduction
- Science exploration
- Creative expression through art and dramatic play
- Group problem-solving and peer collaboration
Pre-K (4 – 5 Years)
Pre-K prepares children for kindergarten through hands-on, inquiry-based learning that strengthens literacy and numeracy, introduces STEM, and develops self-regulation, confidence, and collaboration.
- Pre-reading, writing, and numeracy skills
- Hands-on STEM exploration
- Independence, confidence, and self-regulation
- Social responsibility and problem-solving
Kindergarten
The kindergarten-age program focuses on play-based learning, literacy enhancement, and an adaptive curriculum that promotes independence and academic readiness.
- Early literacy and numeracy skills
- Creative expression through art, music, and dramatic play
- Independence and confidence in learning
- Group-based social and problem-solving skills
Curriculum & Approach
Busy Bees uses its BeeCurious Curriculum Framework, which celebrates learning as a joyful experience and aligns with children's natural curiosities. It provides autonomy through choices, guided explorations, and multiple forms of expression, and integrates STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) into the day. The curriculum is aligned with Arizona's Early Learning Standards.
- BeeCurious Curriculum Framework
- STEAM-integrated lessons
- Aligned with Arizona Early Learning Standards
- Hands-on, inquiry-driven, play-based
Enrichment Programs
Beyond core curriculum, the Carefree center offers enrichment in music and dance designed to nurture social skills, musicality, rhythm, technique, and creative expression.
- Music program — systematic approach to singing in tune and rhythmic coordination
- Dance program — technique blended with creative, expressive choreography
Meals, Safety & Health
The center provides nutritious homemade meals and snacks prepared in-house from scratch daily, with menus certified by a Registered Dietician. Classrooms and play areas are designed to meet high safety standards, and the facility features ample parking for stress-free drop-off and pick-up.
- Hot lunch and snacks prepared in-house daily
- Dietician-certified menus
- Designed classrooms and play areas meeting high safety standards
- Ample on-site parking
Family Communication — Busy Bees Connect™
Busy Bees Connect™ is a complimentary mobile app that keeps families connected to their child's day with real-time updates, photos, and developmental milestones, so parents can follow along with learning moments throughout the day.
- Real-time updates and photos
- Developmental milestone tracking
- Complimentary for enrolled families
Affordability, Discounts & Support
Busy Bees offers a 10% U.S. military discount at this center, along with flexible part-time scheduling, sibling discounts, and occasional referral rewards. Busy Bees employees are eligible for child care discounts and tuition credits. Several fee-assistance options are accepted, including child care subsidy and military support (center-specific).
- 10% military discount
- Part-time scheduling available
- Sibling discounts and referral rewards
- Child care subsidy and financial-assistance options
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions answered on the Busy Bees Phoenix FAQ include how many centers operate in Arizona (17), what ages are served (infants through school-age), whether meals are included, and whether financial aid is available.
- 17 Busy Bees daycares across Arizona
- Full-time and part-time options for infants, toddlers, twos, preschoolers, and school-age children
- Hot lunch and snacks prepared in-house and certified by a Registered Dietician
- Financial aid, child care subsidy, and military support accepted at select centers
Tuition & Enrollment
The current 2025–2026 tuition schedule for the Busy Bees Arizona Carefree center is published as a PDF on busybeesusa.com (effective 8/1/2025). Families are encouraged to call the enrollment line for current rates and availability.
- 2025–2026 tuition PDF available at busybeesusa.com
- Tuition line: 623-780-1786
- Enrollment line: 480-405-9585
Network & Quality Standards
Busy Bees Arizona is part of a larger U.S. network pursuing NAEYC accreditation to demonstrate consistent quality across centers. Alignment with NAEYC standards helps ensure that every Busy Bees school upholds the same high standards of care, curriculum, and educator support.
- Pursuing NAEYC accreditation network-wide
- Standardized quality expectations across all centers
- Consistency in curriculum, safety, and educator support