We've been a part of The Children's Place community for almost 6 years now. My son started in the…read moretoddler program and is now at the elementary school. My daughter completed her first year this year and they both deeply love their school. We chose The Children's Place Montessori because of the wonderful environment, the small class size, the affordability, and most of all the total commitment to true Montessori learning, not just having a lot of pretty wooden furniture and saying you're a Montessori school. Children are allowed to explore and go at their own pace. Sometimes that means they go quickly through a subject (though still with a thorough understanding) and sometimes more slowly as time and interest provide. That opportunity makes a huge difference and takes a lot of care and attention in a classroom full of kids. We really did not want computers in the classroom when our son was in kindergarten and are even more glad they're not a part of his early elementary education. Homeschooling was not in the cards for our family, but I really feel like the approach to learning here is the next best thing for our family. This is not a business that also happens to be a school. It's first and foremost a dedicated place of guidance that serves the whole child. I'm so grateful we lucked into an open spot exactly when we needed it so many years ago and look forward to many more years as a part of this wonderful community.

True authentic montessori school! My two sons love this…read moreschool! We really appreciate for all teachers!!

My son has been attending Torrance Montessori School since he was 2.5 years old, and it has been an…read moreexcellent experience for our family. The school has given him a strong educational foundation, and we've seen so much growth in his learning and independence. One thing I really appreciated was the support we received during potty training. I was very concerned at first, but Ms. Mei gave us helpful pointers and encouragement, and we were able to potty train him within one week. I also appreciate how communicative and supportive the teachers are. Especially Ms. Olga. My son loves to go to school because Ms. Olga is very supportive. My son was struggling with his workbook activities, Ms. Mei let me know right away and shared ways we could help him improve at home. Because of that teamwork, he was able to continue making progress when he returned to school.

Both my son and daughter attended Torrance Montessori School…read more My son started first, from age 3-5. Then my daughter was there from 2-3. When we moved out of the area so that my son started kindergarten, that is when we unenrolled. I really like the balance between indoor/outdoor time and also between structured/open play. There is a lot of free open play built into the day's schedule which I like because the kids get to interact with each and build friendships. At the same time, there is also structure and routine. A typical day is as follows (this is when my children were enrolled so maybe this has changed a bit, you'll have to check with the school): before 9 am is open play. Lots of Montessori style toys and activities for kids to choose from. 9-11 am is academics with children being grouped by age. Their curriculum is age appropriate for that group. 11-1 pm is lunch and open play outside. The outside has plenty of space plus a playground plus flowers/plants and other items to play with. 1-2:30 pm is nap time for those who still nap. Nap is a separate building in the back away from the kids that no longer sleep so the kids can rest undisturbed. If they no longer nap, then there is an art/craft activity, spanish class, music class and/or another learning activity for those kids. 2:30-3:30 pm is open play and a snack break. I think they also offer extended care 3:30 pm - ? but I didn't have the kids in extended care, so I am not sure about the experience. I would imagine there is more open indoor/outdoor play. The teachers there have been there for many years. They are very sweet and caring but also have rules and safety expectations. They are attentive and they tune into what they see throughout the day. They will share important information or behaviors that they pick up on from your child and they will communicate. I also would go to them for advice if I was struggling with language or behaviors at home and they often would have very helpful tips to help me work on that and it often worked. This place is a very clean!! The kids are constantly washing their hands from the first moment they walk in the door and throughout the day. This place will be an amazing environment for your children. They will make strong friendships and also will be ready for elementary school. It is run by very great teachers, and it is affordable compared to all the other Montessori type schools in the area. I know because i looked into all of them and researched and compared. I was surprised that there are not a larger or students enrolled, but i think the reason is that Torrance Montessori is not an app-based school and/or a social media school. This school functions with good old fashion phone calls/and or speaking in person. My children both had a great experience here and they still have playdates with friends that they met here. I am glad I found this school when I did.

There's nothing more comforting than your child WANTING to be somewhere you are not…read more From day 1 my daughter really enjoyed coming to PEM. The teachers, Ms.Maduka, Ms. Sharon, and Ms.Andrea in particular were a very important part in her development. The curriculum here is spot on and really enhances what your kid enjoys doing while also teaching them many other important subjects and ways to learn. If you are looking for a school that takes absolute care and dedication of your kid then look no further. I highly recommend this school to all. You will not be disappointed.

My daughter spent nearly two years at Pacific Explorer Montessori, and I'm so grateful for the…read moreexperience. From the very beginning, Mrs. Maduka created a warm and supportive environment where my daughter has truly thrived. She absolutely loves all her teachers, including Ms. Andrea, who introduced her to Spanish in such a fun and engaging way, and Ms. Sheron, who has also played a big role in her learning journey. My daughter has become more independent, confident, and curious, and has developed strong language, reading, and math skills. We've always felt at ease and fully recommend this school to any family looking for a supportive and enriching early education environment.

My baby daughter was in PICU & I was coming from the hospital to drop off my older daughter for a…read morefield trip at the school. I was 10 minutes late so the school gave away my daughter's spot away & also refused to return my trip money. I tried to explain that I was coming from the hospital but they still refused. They didn't want to 'disappoint the child' who they gave my daughter's spot to. They didn't care about disappointing my daughter, who had been looking forward to the trip all week. They then accused me of 'arguing with the teacher' & gave me a warning. The people who run this place are horrible & heartless. They will steal any money you pay them (this is only one of several instances). If you have any concerns about anything going on with your child, you are not 'allowed' to voice them or they will kick you out of the school. Bend over & take it. You have no voice as a parent. If you leave, they will keep any tuition money you've paid. Only if they kick you out will you get it back. I highly advise you send your kids elsewhere. They are a nightmare. Seriously, I'm warning you, DON'T go to this school. We then went over to Pine's Christian- night & day difference. They are wonderful. Highly, highly recommend you go there.

Today marks the last day our kids will attend Hickory Tree and words can't express the amount of…read moregratitude we have for this school and this staff in helping us develop our children. We had the greatest experience here for both our children as the staff has done a great job in fostering an environment for kids to grow, while also allowing them to be kids. I grew up in suburban America with great schools and a big community emphasis. Seeing my kids go through the program here reminded me a lot of my childhood. I read another review from a parent complaining about hickory having structure for the kids. The truth is, kids need structure. They need to learn manners and how to play with others. Michelle Obama said it best when she said her parents raised her to eventually be an an adult one day. I personally don't think I'm doing any favors to my kids if I'm not preparing them to be an adult in this world. In todays fast past environment, so often are values lost and forgotten that it was really nice for our family to be able to allow our kids to also have that for their early schooling. They allow kids to be kids while still learning boundaries along with curriculum to keep them ahead academically. Both our kids have really come into their own during their time there and we have hickory to thank for that. So Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Our two-year-old daughter has absolutely thrived at Mariposa Preschool, and we could not be happier…read morewith the experience. From the very first day, the warmth and kindness of the staff have made her feel safe, supported, and truly cared for. The teachers show such genuine patience and love for the children, creating an environment where little ones can feel confident and excited to learn and socialize. What sets Mariposa apart is their progressive curriculum. Even at such a young age, our daughter is exposed to thoughtful, play-based learning that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and independence. The activities are engaging, hands-on, and perfectly tailored to meet children where they are developmentally while gently encouraging them to grow. We have been amazed at the new skills she has picked up socially, emotionally, and cognitively just in her time here. Mariposa values the whole child and believes in fostering not just academic readiness but compassion, communication, self advocacy and a love of discovery. We feel incredibly lucky to be part of this community and highly recommend it to any family looking for a preschool that combines heart, professionalism, and forward-thinking education

We were able to join Mariposa school for one of the community days and LOVED IT! It is welcoming,…read morepeaceful, serene, and most of all inclusive! Kahiry has put so much thought in every corner! From the paint station, to the library collection, the toys she chose to include, sensory stations, the garden, the layout! All of it! We loved that it is an inviting place where the kiddos can explore and be themselves both indoors and out, my daughter is an outdoor baby and she loved exploring around Mariposa. I'm an educator myself and can see the care, and attention to detail they have put into every aspect of Mariposa. Kahiry continues to expand her education as well to pass it on to the little ones! We can't wait until my daughter is old enough to join the group of kiddos at Mariposa!

So far this daycare has been great for my son. The teachers seem to be patient. When my son started…read morehe had Ms Alyssa and she was so caring. He is loving his teacher Ms Stacey. They are the best.

Absolutely love this school. My oldest transferred here when his school closed and I wish we…read morestarted here originally. The staff are amazing and loving teachers. They truly love what they do and it shows. Been here now 2 years with my middle child now enrolled. My youngest will also be attending eventually. Couldn't recommend them enough.

Wonder School! My 4…read moreyear old son has been attending South Bay Montessori for a year and absolutely loves this school. In the beginning he cried for about a month and the teachers were so patient and kind to him. He loves his teachers. They hold his hand and walk with him to make him feel comfortable and safe. Now he loves it and has no problems going to school. He comes home excited telling me about his day, singing new songs, cleans up after himself, and so much more that he has learned from attending this school. The environment is very clean and inviting along with the staff. I absolutely love Mrs. Evian, the director, and Ms. Mary, the owner. They both are very friendly and greets you everyday with a "good morning" and "have a great day ". They also allow you to watch your child through the windows of the classrooms if you wanted to see your child in class or outside in the playground. I also love that the teachers take pictures of the kids throughout the day so we can view what they do daily. This is a must see school and highly recommended.

My 2 year old has been enrolled for a few months and we have had a great experience. Her vocabulary…read moreand verbal skills have exploded and she is just about potty trained. I would not have been able to make so much progress with toilet training just at home. Miss Kelly's classroom is lovely and they are always doing fun crafts. My daughter loves going to school for circle time and to see her favorite teachers and friends. I appreciate that they are always in good communication with us regarding behavior and development

Mariel has helped care for our daughter from 3 months to nearly 3 years old, and she's been an…read moreincredible--and truly irreplaceable--part of our lives. She's thoughtful, endlessly patient, and reliable--always creating a calm, engaging environment with meaningful activities and consistent care. We trust her completely and continue to feel so supported as first-time parents. As a mom herself, with prior teaching experience and specialized training, she understands kids deeply and strikes a great balance of structure, creativity, and kindness. Now that our daughter is starting school, there's no question--we'll go to Mariel first when we need care again, and we know we will. If you're looking for somewhere your child will be truly cared for, supported, and encouraged as they grow, look no further--you've found it.

Mariel at Bay Buddies has been so kind and great. From the moment I stepped into the daycare for a…read moretour, I noticed just how clean and baby friendly the space was from the main play area to the outdoor backyard that has a great children's play set. Mariel was very thorough in explaining to us the daily routine for the babies and all the things she does to keep them safe. The tuition price is very fair especially for the flexibility of the time and dates that our daughter attends and that was something that was very hard to find at other preschools/daycares. We feel very good about sending our daughter here, knowing that she is being cared for with love and thoughtfulness. Mariel's prior background in teaching is also a huge plus!

My daughter went to this school for almost a year when she was a little over 2…read more unfortunately I had to switch due to a scheduling conflict but this was by far the best pre-school I had experienced. what I like about this place is that they make happy kids. if you want your child to be academically successful from an early age, this may not be the place. I mean they do have that in the curriculum but I felt that they focus more on hands on learning thru dirt playing, caring live animals and planting and so forth. Teachers are very involved in kids' playing and felt that they genuinely like kids. Also they have higher ratio of teachers (or teachers assistant) to students so they are less likely to be worn out from kids. I had experienced 3 schools so far and this is my favorite. As for their hours, it is basically 9-12. You can pay extra to drop off early and/or pick up late but those fees add up and can get a bit expensive and still the latest to pick up is like 3 - 4pm or something like that. Which is why I, the working mom ended up changing the school but I think if you don't have that issue, I'd say very good overall.

I recently attended a tour at this school so I can only speak for the general atmosphere and first…read moreimpressions. Pros: the school seems to have nice teachers with appropriate ratios for each of their classrooms. They have a very large outdoor play area and lots of different activities in each classroom that are fun and age-appropriate. The staff were all friendly and seemed to have great communication with each other and students. I also appreciate the gates around the school for safety. The tuition seems on par with other places as well - I'll still never understand "diaper changing fees" but okay. Cons: I had explained what I was looking for via email to the front desk before scheduling the tour and when I got there, it seemed she had forgotten about what I requested. And then I found out they wouldn't have availability for one of my children which was frustrating. It indicated they are a tad disorganized. The building itself is a little older which also means the outdoor toys and equipment also seemed a little rough for wear. But not broken or overly damaged. The biggest problem I had is the building/classrooms don't have air conditioners - they do have portable ones but as everyone knows the heat has been pretty bad so those weren't working in the classrooms very well. It was very warm and humid even with them on. The office was however extremely cool to the point the front desk woman mentioned needing a jacket some days. It felt very inappropriate to have the office staff being cooler than where the children and staff were at.