Baby MacBean was AMAZING! You won't find a better daycare. They implemented a curriculum--even at the infant level--that included sensory activities, art, reading, and science. My son was actively engaged every day with painting, dancing, growing plants, cooking lessons, and story time. By 18 months, my son knew four colors, spoke in 3-4 word meaningful sentences, asked questions, had a vocabulary of well over 100 words, could name a dozen animals and their sounds, played pretend, and could identify a word on each page of his favorite books. He cleaned up his toys when asked, apologized when he hurt someone, said please and thank you, and even cleared his own dishes and wiped his spot at the table after dinner. That kind of independence and empathy at such a young age was extraordinary--and entirely due to the care and structure Miss Cassie provided. By age 4, my son was reading, writing his name, cutting complex shapes, counting to 100, and could name all the planets in the solar system along with their characteristics, among many other advanced skills. If you want your child to gain lifelong social-emotional skills and enter kindergarten well above grade level, this is the place. The waitlist can be long, but Miss Claudia does her best to accommodate working parents. read more

Stay away! At first, we had very high hopes after meeting Ms Claudia and doing the complete tour of all locations. There were few red flags at the beginning, but being new parents, we kind of brushed them off. Big mistake: 1) Ms Claudia tried to change the diaper of our 1yr old daughter. She tired to have her lay down on a changing pad, which our little one would have none of it. Our girl was hysterically crying and trying to break free from this woman who has "extensive experience". We couldn't believe what we were seeing: Ms Claudia totally ignored our girls hysterical crying, and continued her "left-right" story as if this is normal. It is not normal. My wife made sure to let her know that our little one has never cried like this, not even during her vaccine shots! 2) During one of our visits, we heard barking from one of the rooms, and were told that one of the dogs recently gave birth that there were 6 puppies. I love dogs, but 6 puppies + 2 adult dogs in a fairly tight indoor space is not ideal when toddlers are trying to nap. We made sure to read the Parent Handbook and fill out the forms and pre-pay for the first month tuition, even though we were just starting the 4-week Trial Period. Our child only attended 2 days (in the Trial Period). I informed Ms Claudia that we will not continue further, and only ask that we are refunded for the pre-paid monthly tuition ($1,995). In her Parent Handbook (pg 14) it clearly states the following: "At any time during the four (4) week trial period, if the provider or family feels that this is not a suitable arrangement for the child, the contract can be terminated by either party without penalty, notice, or specific reason. The security deposit will be refunded in full and the family will only be responsible to pay for the days attended." Totally reasonable. We had no problem paying for the 2 (gentle days) she attended along with the non-refundable registration fee. But there is a catch! When I brought up the tuition refund, I was informed that the "tuition" is non-refundable. A tuition paid for a month in advance, where my child never attended a single day. You've gotta be kidding me! I will seek legal advice since this is clearly breach of the contract we signed with conflicting details. read more

This review is for Miss Cassie's location. My son has been attending here for the past two years, and our experience has been wonderful! The level of care, love, and knowledge Miss Cassie and her staff have shared with our little guy is more than I could have asked for. Cassie has a special way of making each child feel valued and understood. She is patient, nurturing, and has a unique ability to connect with the kids. She treats all the children equally and with so much care, making it feel like a second home for them. My son has learned so much here. My family is always impressed with how much our little guy knows--he can name the planets and even distinguish the differences between them! He's learned how to write and spell his name, identify continents and landmarks around the world, and, most importantly, Miss Cassie has helped him manage big feelings, which has been a challenge for us. Although my son is starting pre-k, we've decided to keep him here one day a week because of how much he enjoys it. If I had another baby, I'd definitely bring them here. Thanks to everything he's learned, he's more than prepared for the next step. I can't thank Miss Cassie and her staff enough for being such a positive and supportive light in my son's life! read more

We never had a chance to try out or even visit MacBean. They told us they had availability a few months before we needed a day care. The moment we told them we were two mommies looking for a place for our son, they would continue to string us along and finally stopped corresponding with us. We were pretty patience and consistently followed up, but realized they probably weren't LGBTQ friendly. This is unfortunately since Benicia is such a welcoming community. read more

Extremeley rude and unprofessional. I have never had such an awkward, rushed and pushy experience just trying to schedule a walk through to a new day care. From the very first interaction I was rushed and then insulted. I would never send my sweet baby to any setting with this type of energy. I realize this is a successful business with many daycare homes but maybe its gone to the owners head. No way! Just terrible. Look elsewhere unless you want to be treated like a piece of garbage. Unbelievable. read more

Wow! Such a renewed feeling of confidence in childcare and growth. We feel relieved and blessed to have our 2.5 yr old boy enrolled and thriving at Ms. Claudia's Baby MacBean Montessori school. They are 100% focused on all the children's well-being, health, nourishment, Independent and social development in a warm loving environment. 45+ years experience shows in all they do. The teachers show great teamwork with their consistent actions and follow through. We notice weekly and sometime daily the positive effects this environment has on our son. I highly recommend to enroll your child, get involved, follow through and watch them sore! read more

This review is for Hoku's infant location because my son has not been to the larger locations yet. Hoku is the BEST! I almost don't want to write this so I can keep her a secret. I am a first-time mom who works full time and I was very nervous about dropping my 6-month old son off with someone who wasn't my direct family. She is so great with him, very patient and fun but still direct. Her place is always clean and she really tries to find toys that the babies love. She reads to them a lot and tries to take them outside when the weather is nice enough. She even takes them to the park when she can. I also loved her family. I was so excited to meet her 3 kids. Growing up in a big family I know how helpful kids can be and sometimes kids just need other kids to play with and be silly. My son loves her kids and has learned all their names. My son is lactose intolerant. She is very accommodating with my son's diet and never complains. My son has also learned some sign language as well as some Hawaiian words. She is very responsive with her communication and is great with the app which relieves so much anxiety of wondering what he is doing. Now when we go, my son knows when he is going to Hoku's and he says "Hoku's" and points with a smile. read more

We have our 18 month old daughter enrolled in Baby Macbean and it has been a flourishing experience to say the least. Pros: -Phone app where we can see what she is doing throughout the day. -One on one Montessori time -Healthy meals -Great social immersion with other children -My daughter has been difficult when it comes to feeding. After having our daughter in a more structured environment and eating with other kids, we've seen a big improvement in her eating. -Structured and consistent environment -Promotion of independence -Child assessment at age milestones to track mental development -No TV, electronics in the home, other than the teachers documenting the child's day -Teacher/child ratio -Gentle entry for parents and child to ensure a smooth transition for the child -SOP (Standard operation procedures) to ensure parents know what they are getting into. -Great resources for parents to help their child develop Cons (depends on the individual): -Miss Claudia may be seen as overwhelming, but she is passionate about her work, daycare, and children. She offers great structure which is needed in a child's development. Baby Macbean is highly recommended to parents who want their child to be in a safe, structured, and flourishing environment. read more

I was eight months pregnant looking for daycare when I found Baby McBean. I had already looked at about 20 different locations. Me and my husband were in a unique situation. We are a two physician household but were employed at two hospitals very far away from each other. I was planning to commute with my children to be closer to them while I was at work. We lived 30 miles away. I wanted my kids to grow up in a safe, caring environment that was also educationally enriching. I had seen many larger daycares and to me they felt more cold and impersonal. I wanted to feel like I was dropping them off at their Grandparents house. Personally, that was the experience I was looking for and Baby McBean meet all of my expectations and more. Both of my children started when they were about 4-5 months old. It has been great for us. My oldest daughter is 4.5 years old and my son is 2.5 years old. I feel like they have learned so much during this time. I am so impressed with all the great activities they get to do all day long, the time and effort they put into teaching my children and the warm environment. They are always happy to do arts and crafts, learn about the world and play with the other kids. They are so happy every morning to be with the kind staff and sometimes it is hard to get them to go home. I love seeing pictures of them everyday using the Daily connect ap. They even made potty training easy for me. Sadly, we will be leaving BabyMcBean only because I have decided to take a job in San Francisco. Our entire family is very sad to leave we love it so much. Overall, I made a great decision sending them there and I will miss Baby McBean greatly. read more

I have two children, 4-yrs and 2-yrs, that attend Baby MacBean full time. Pros: The teachers use the Daily Connect app. I know what my kids are doing throughout the day in real time and can see pictures of them playing, creating art projects, participating in activities, and doing Montessori lessons. I also know that my baby is getting regularly checked for diaper changes, what he is eating and when, and how long his naps are. Weekly themed activities are amazing! During the letter P-week they made their own mini *Pizzas at the pizzeria, had a visit a from a Benicia *Police canine officer, *Planted a flower, cooked a *Pecan pie, popped *Popcorn, went on a *Picnic at the *Park and ate *Pigs in a blanket that they made themselves. Instead of just drop off baby-sitting there is a regular routine that includes morning circle time, one-on-one Montessori lessons, daily crafts/art-projects, story time, and music time. Time spent in making the transition back to work and into care. No other provider has, as part of their transition program, offered to come into my home to visit with my children in order to get to know them before going into care. Their "gentle entry" transition program included home visits and a week of time on site where I was invited to attend and participate so that my kids would feel comfortable and secure in their environment once I went back to work. This also gave me a chance to see the inner workings of the facility and that they really do everything that they say they do. Being onsite gave me a huge sense of relief that I also knew what to expect when I wouldn't be there. There is NO television or other electronics. Outside free play has a sandbox, water-table, crawl-through tunnel, tricycles and other riding vehicles, rock wall (over a landing pad), play house, structure with a slide & swing, painting wall, balls, well-kept grass, flowers, and a bird feeder. Inside free play has dollhouses, wooden blocks, a train-table, a play kitchen (food, pots, & dishes), dress-up clothes, musical instruments, a reading nook stocked with rotating supply of new books, teeter totter, puzzles, dolls and furniture. Montessori lessons are always one-on-one. My son, at 4 years old is already writing his name and can recognize letters and read numbers. My 2-year old knows his colors and can show me "how many" on his hands. Holistic: meals are balanced, homemade or organic prepared. Facility is kept organized and clean and is a home environment rather than institutional, which I like. Teacher/child ratio higher than most providers. Most importantly my children are healthy, happy, learning and excited to share their accomplishments. Cons: Price. One of the most expensive providers in Benicia. read more

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When it was time to put our daughter in daycare at 9 months, I was having a nervous breakdown just thinking about it as a first time mom. We were new to Benicia at the time and didn't know people who we could even trust to make recommendations for childcare. We found baby MacBean through online searches and from the moment we met Miss Claudia and tour all of the facilities - we knew it was the one. Miss Hoku has cared for my daughter like she is one of her own. The communication, transparency, dedicated care, loving and nurturing nature in their approach to children has won me over day after day. The only reason we are leaving is because we are moving to another state. We are going to Miss Hoku so much and I am forever thankful she was part of our daughter's early childhood. read more

My 3 year old has been a student here for about a year. He was telling his doctor about what he does at school, and the doctor told me it sounds like he goes to a really cool school. I completely agree! They capture his day on an app where I can peak in and see pictures of him at learning and play throughout the day, when he went to the bathroom, preparation, and if he's low on supplies (back then diapers/wipes). It's been the same staff since he started so he's developed a close and trusting relationship with his teachers and his friends. They learn gardening, take care of animals, (small dogs, rabbits, chickens, and some visiting goslings!) have a really cool backyard overlooking the water with climb on toys, bikes, sand box, climb trees, play cooking, dress up, art, Montessori, interactive story tome, learning units and themes, career exploration, singing, food prep, baking, hiking, picnics, walks to the park (precovid) birthday parties, decorating, healthy meals, a relaxing nap room, they make friends, learn self care skills like dressing themselves, brushing their teeth, toilet training, bussing their space at the table and picking up their play areas, helping each other, eating the food they help grow and respecting one another and following the guidance by their teachers. Each week I'm amazed at the new things he knows and understands. Everywhere we go people are impressed with how much he talks and understands and can explain himself. They work hard and play hard and he loves to learn and go to school. read more

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The moment I found Baby MacBean daycare my heart felt at peace and my nerves calm. The special care and attention to detail and care for their children is beyond words. I had both my daughters in there daycare for a total of 7 years combined and never had one complaint of the employees and owner of the daycare. All the staff are so warm and make my children feel comfortable and safe. They keep a high standards to safety and cleanliness. I love the combo of a daycare and Montessori so I know my child is learning everyday. I also appreciate that the daycare does not have a television that the children have access to during the day and I know they are being creative and artistic in that environment. Can't recommend Baby MacBean enough. read more

My daughter was at the Baby MacBean Cooper location for 3.5 years and not a day passed where I did not feel that she was loved or cared for. The owner, Kristi, provides age-appropriate daily lessons and integrates the lessons into play. These lessons, along with the daily socialization really allowed my daughter to grow and be set up for success. All of the daily activities, lessons and photos are documented on a child care app so you can be updated on your child's daily happenings. We formed such wonderful friendships over our years there, Baby MacBean became like a second home. It is evident that all the teachers love being around children. The head teacher, Justice, is truly special. I would recommend Baby MacBean to anyone. read more

We found an opening at Baby MacBean and jumped on it. In the almost year our son has been here he has grown so much. There are things he does we had no idea he could do yet at his age of 18 months. He is thriving more then we could have hoped for. Claudia is great. She is very open to talking about anything. You really feel the genuine love and dedication she has for teaching the children that go to Baby MacBean. Her staff are great wonderful people also. Couldn't ask for a better place to have our son. read more

Baby MacBean is awesome! My 3 year has been there for a year and a half now and also we have our 9month old enrolled since he was 4 months old. Ms.Claudia and her staff do a great job of taking care of the kids and teaching them new things. She has always been very accommodating to our schedule, she even opened up weekend slots for our children because my scheduled changed to include weekends.Overall my kids love going to Baby MacBean and I couldn't have asked for a better childcare provider. read more

Baby MacBean - Arts and crafts - Preschools Near Me - Benicia, California

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It's been another two years and our family still loves Baby MacBean just as much as before! Cassie is so kind, loving, inspiring, and engaged with all of the children in her care. Now that my eldest child is 4, I'm continually impressed by the range of educational topics covered and how rapidly her writing and math are improving. We are so grateful to still be attending Cassie's during the week and to have such a positive experience. read more

We were looking for a daycare for our 18 month old little girl. After interviewing several different places in the area baby macbean was the clear choice above the rest. Claudia and Hoku are very responsive and our baby is learning and playing with other children. With the small class ratio which is about 4-5 kids per location attention is givin and more one on one time to learn. Don't hesitate to apply and take your child here its pretty awesome. They update and take pictures through out the day with an interactive phone app. So you can see when they eat, sleep, play, change diapers, pictures of them playing, plus you can contact them through this. Its pretty amazing. read more

We have 2 kids (18 months and 3 years) at the Sanborn Court location and they love it! We appreciated the "gentle entry" which really helped my nervous toddler transition in slowly. The kids are learning so much and have developed great relationships with their teachers and the other children. I also love the Montessori learning approach which focuses on hands-on learning and collaborative creative play. read more

This is a follow-up review after we have had our daughter at the Baby MacBean locations (1st at the under 24 month home), and she is now at the main location at 441 York with the over 24 months children. If I could give Miss Claudia and her team 10 stars I would. This is by far the most superior location for childcare my husband and I toured in our area. Not only to the children get Montessori education, stimulation with projects, crafts, etc., interaction with other children, but Miss Claudia makes most of the meals from scratch and the majority of foods served for breakfast, lunch and dinner are organic or grown right there on her property. We feel our daughter's learning and speaking ability, vocabulary, and her budding little personality has flourished since spending time with Miss Claudia. Rosie, Jeanelle, Ally and the whole team are just so superior and diligent in their care of the children than anything I have ever experienced. I feel safe and confident being able to drop my baby girl off and focus on my workday knowing she is getting the very best nurturing and learning opportunity with the Baby MacBean caregivers. Miss Claudia always goes above and beyond to help parents with learning and ideas to translate the care into their own homes, lend a hand or support with tips, tricks or a quarterly date night, or just lend an ear to an emotional "mommy" moment! She's an experienced mom, grandma, nurturer and educator and we feel so Privileged to know her and bring our daughter to Baby MacBean everyday. Don't hesitate to make Baby MacBean your choice for childcare in Benicia! read more

I called Mrs. Claudia to see if she had any availability for my 20 month old son. I asked her if she would work with my son because he's having difficulty eating solids and still eat puree food and needs to be spoon fed. And he's currently seeing a nutritionist to work on his eating. Then she went on how she has a little girl in her daycare that's 2 or 3 months younger than my son and how she's potty trained, can eat on her own on a table, and doesn't need to be spoon fed. She made me feel that my son was a bit slow. And if she's been running a daycare for that long she should know that kids go at their own pace and not all babies are the same. She made me feel so uncomfortable. All she had to say was " unfortunately we don't spoon feed children, so we wouldn't be able to take your son in". Simple as that but instead made me feel that my son wasn't capable of doing things that other kids at her daycare can do. I'm glad that I didn't put my son in this daycare because if she was already acting like my son was slow over the phone, then God knows how she would of treated my son when im not around. read more

Mrs.Claudia is very disrespectful to the children, parents, and workers I sent my two year old to this daycare and on the third day when I went to pick my son up and he wasn't properly changed and was throwing up all night read more

We have had our two year old son at Baby MacBean less than a month, they are flexible with schedules and have activities throughout the morning. There is a lot of free play time outside as well as circle time and art activities. read more

My toddler has been at Baby MacBean on Sanborn Court for almost 2 years now, and he has loved it. He has made so many friends, and all of the kids get along really well. We were nervous at first because our son was with a nanny for his first 2 years, and we were not sure how he would do at a daycare. Baby MacBean was the right environment for us because it provided an intimate environment, but there were plenty of children to help my son socialize. Also, Cassie and her staff do a wonderful job engaging the kids and helping them become independent, curious learners. Every week my son comes home with a new piece of art, food he helped make, name of a place in the world, words he learned, math lesson, etc. I love how caring Cassie and her staff are and that my son has had such an enriching experience. We will be transitioning our son to a traditional preschool setting soon, and Baby MacBean has helped him prepare for this next big step. read more

Baby macbean watched our boys for 6 months. In that time the owner claudia sent rude and condescending emails to my husband and I. I have twin boys and she would require that each one wear red and blue with the same one wearing red or blue each day. In the 6 months my boys were at her care she couldn't determine who was who unless they wore the right color shirt. One day my husband dropped them off in normal clothes and claudia texted me berating my husband saying he put them in the wrong clothes and didn't know what he was doing. On top of this my boys learned very little, 6 months later they still can't tell their colors and they are 2 and 4 months old. In the tour portion of baby macbean it can appear that claudia is a nice church going educated woman who really cares about the kids. After 6 months I can tell you this is wrong, Claudia cares about herself and the money her daycares make her. She has very poor people skills. Additionally she consistently allowed my boys go pee through their clothes bc she didn't change them frequently enough and would send us home with plastic bags tied up of soiled clothes. Thankfully now we have a new daycare. After 1 week they know which of my boys are which, my kids are happier, no rude text messages and no more bags of soiled clothes. Please learn from my experience and look elsewhere for home care. read more

Miss Mae and Claudia's infant daycare is hands down the best infant daycare out there, and for a fair price to boot. They take excellent care of the babies, with a low infant:provider ratio. Miss Mae is the best. She cared for our baby girl like family and they developed a special bond together, starting at 5 months old. We recently moved to across the Bay, and while we know we love Miss Mae, Claudia, and the Baby MacBean Team, we didn't know that they truly are one in a million. The personal and loving care, the excellent communication, the learning play time and outdoor walks, the DailyConnect app to see pictures of your baby and know what they're doing throughout the day, it all makes a world of a difference. You just can't find all of that at one location and for a fair price, elsewhere. We would take Miss Mae with me if we could :). Thank you for setting the bar high for infant daycare! read more