Thinking Out of the Box
Thinking Out of the Box is a certified child care center in Philadelphia, PA, with capacity for 80 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 2 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 7 times and confirmed violations in 1 complaint investigation. The state cited 9 violations, 2 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for building & playground safety (4 of 9). 1 citation came in the last 12 months, including 1 on a core-safety topic. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #196 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia and has fewer citations per inspection than 82% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Staff person # 1 stated that they used their hands to spank a child attending the daycare on 2 separate occasions.
Staff member number one did not have Child Abuse or FBI clearances on file during the allocated unannounced inspection.
Staff member number one did not have emergency plan training on file during the allocated unannounced inspection.
Water temperature measured above 110 degrees Fahrenheit in infant house in bathrooms located on the first floor and second floor.
During the allocated unannounced inspection, it was observed on the second floor in building addressed 13 s 56th, had a window on far left and far right needed to be modified or adjusted to limit opening to 6 inches or fewer.
First Aid Lockbox located on the second floor of the Infant House was not properly secured on the high shelf and may be hazardous.
The refrigerator in the infant room had sticky residue in most areas.
Staff member number one did not have two written, nonfamily references on file during the time of the allocated unannounced inspection.
Observed broken tile in front of children cubby in upstairs child care space.
“Core safety” marks citations about supervision and staff ratios, discipline and caregiver conduct, background checks, child protection and safe sleep, the topics our score weights most. Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity. “Follow-up” marks a violation re-cited at a follow-up visit, counted once. How scores work.
Complaint investigations and reported incidents
Pennsylvania’s search lists complaint investigations in which the state found at least one violation (“verified complaints”). It does not say what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it. Incident investigations look into something that happened at the center; self-reported violations are ones the center reported to the state itself.
Daily rates
| Age group | Full time, per day | Part time, per day |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn (Under 6 Weeks) | $76.00 | $66.00 |
| Infant (6 Weeks-12 mos.) | $76.00 | $66.00 |
| Young Toddler (13-24 mos.) | $72.00 | $62.00 |
| Older Toddler (25-36 mos.) | $62.00 | $52.00 |
| Preschool (37 mos.- Entering K) | $62.00 | $52.00 |
| Young School-Age (K-3rd gr.) | $52.00 | $42.00 |
| Older School-Age (4th gr.-15 yrs.) | $52.00 | $42.00 |
The daily price the center lists in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search for families paying privately. The state notes that rates are subject to change and programs don’t have to share them, so confirm with the center. See what daycare costs in Pennsylvania.
About this center
Common questions
Has Thinking Out of the Box had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 2 violations since 2021 on the topics Daycare Record treats as core safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep). The most recent, on Jun 9, 2026 (caregiver conduct): “Staff person # 1 stated that they used their hands to spank a child attending the daycare on 2 separate occasions.” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Thinking Out of the Box?
Pennsylvania lists 1 complaint investigation since 2021 in which it found at least one violation; the violations are listed above. Its search shows these “verified complaints” but not what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it.
What is Thinking Out of the Box’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 2, effective Oct 13, 2025. Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania’s quality rating program for child care, from STAR 1 to STAR 4. It measures program quality, not inspection results, so read both.
How does Thinking Out of the Box compare with other daycares in Philadelphia?
It is tied for #196 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 82% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Thinking Out of the Box last inspected?
Apr 9, 2026 (renewal). No violations were cited during that visit.
How much does Thinking Out of the Box cost?
It reported full-time daily rates of $76.00 for newborn, $76.00 for infant, $72.00 for young toddler, $62.00 for older toddler in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search. Rates can change; confirm with the center.
Who runs Thinking Out of the Box?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Thinking Out Of The Box Learning CTR INC.
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Citations are quoted from Pennsylvania Department of Human Services inspection records (Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Certification Services), including each finding and the center’s plan of correction. Rule numbers refer mostly to 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3270, the rules for child care centers; a few cite Chapter 20, which covers every certified facility. Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; the “core safety” label and the score are Daycare Record’s.
To check the state’s own record, search the center’s name on COMPASS Child Care Provider Search and open its inspection history. Data refreshed Oct 16, 2026.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.
Concerned about this center? See how to report a daycare: which state line to call, what to write down and what happens next.