My child attended BB in 2024-25 main and summer terms. Overall, it's good as a playschool, with; * Small class strengths (less than 15 generally), featuring a good student:teacher ratio * Well organized, short classes from 1 to 2.5 hour duration * Teachers generally familiar with handling 2-3 y/o * Parents' presence takes away the anxiety of separation * Fees are quite low, about 200-300 per quarter My child attended classes by Teachers Reemu, Lakshmi, Caroline, and Verna. The first 3 teachers were especially nice to talk to, and they came across as welcoming. However, I had a bad experience with Ms. Verna Rego, the music+dance class teacher. She came across as pushy, and handled her disappointment at my child transferring out of BB quite badly - for reasons beyond my immediate understanding. I barely stopped myself from being confrontational in the play school classroom. (I think the motivation was to increase class strengths and thereby raise money for the class, but the other teachers did so much more professionally and engagingly. But this is speculation on my part just for my own understanding.) Save for this one teacher, I am happy with the school. I heartily recommend the other teachers. FWIW - my child transferred to a full time (non-participatory) pre-school, and is doing well, contrary to Ms.Verna Rego's expectations. Imperious behavior and shaming parents for deciding what's best for their child never work, Teacher Verna. Not that I really care about advising you, it's only about my child. And for the future parents who take your classes. read more

This was my second to least favorite of the 6 parent participation preschools I visited, yet I signed up anyway. Why? My favorite (Mtn View Parent Observation) only met one day a week and I wanted another school my twins could attend one day a week, and this was the only other one. Also, a big plus was that I could stay with my kids at the school while they played. At other schools like Sunnyvale Parent Participation the moms were assigned a station, and they looked ready to kill themselves as they stood alone in a room to monitor the dress-up area or the puzzle table. Mom Interaction The class make-up was about 75% Indian, 20% East Asian (mostly Taiwanese), and 5% Caucasian. Socializing with other moms was hard. Everyone was nice but almost all had only come to this country very recently, and didn't know the language well. I actually met an American-born Indian mom who pulled her daughter from this school after a year because it was TOO Indian. The plus: good Indian food at the potluck. Mommy Meetings The meetings felt like "parenting for dummies," like I was attending a remedial parenting class. I was talked at instead of having a real discussion. The discussion one day was about how playing is good for kids. If you don't know this by now, I seriously question your parenting skills... (This is in contrast to Mtn View Parent Observation's mom meetings that were informative and a fun gab session.) Curriculum/Classroom The play area is largely concrete, which was one of the big turn-offs to me when I initially visited. The sitting area is WAY too small for parents and kids. The school lacks funds and it shows since there wasn't much variety in the toys on the table. Even after only a few weeks there were lots of repeats. Also, the puzzles (3-5 piece puzzles with non-interlocking pieces) were too easy for my kids who admittedly were the oldest in the class. I'm not bragging, just wishing they could have had some variety and something age appropriate. And please, school, provide nametags that work. These never worked well at all, and usually hung backwards. Also, if I have to march with flags one. more. time... And then there was the incident. My kids had been dealing with separation super well with no problems for a month after the mommy meetings started. But then one morning, my daughter got upset when she couldn't see me in the classroom when I was with her twin brother. (He was still eating and she was behind a wall with dress-up clothes. Not an ideal set-up to have a barrier here, by the way.) She was very clingy just before separation time, but I settled her and left, thinking that if there was a problem someone would get me. Twenty minutes passed, the meeting ended, and I thought everything must have been fine, and I walked back to the classroom. She was crying. One of the moms was holding her, and she told me that she and some of the other moms had been comforting her the last twenty minutes. TWENTY minutes. They were supposed to come get me after FIVE. After school I spoke to the teacher and aide about it. The teacher had been at the meeting with me, but the aide stayed behind with the kids. The aide told me she had no idea that my daughter was crying. Both seemed skeptical that about her crying since it had gone unnoticed by the aide, and raised questions about how long or hard she'd been crying. (I would have preferred more of a sincere apology and empathy.) They asked if there was a mom my kids knew who looked out for my kids, as though 1) it was my fault, and 2) after a few weeks my kids were super close to the other moms like we've been hanging out and babysitting each others' kids for years. I believe the aide and of course don't think she was doing anything malicious. HOWEVER, I think things could definitely have been handled differently. The moms told me that several kids that day were crying in the outside yard (where they can see the moms leave), per usual. I think that once the aide calmed down the criers, she thought her work was done. I suspect she went inside once and didn't notice anything amiss with my daughter because she's a sobber, not a screamer, and with the moms holding her, the aide didn't see her. But clearly she should have ASKED if everyone was okay. After this incident, I had a totally different child. At home with their beloved grandparents visiting, at parks, and at playdates my previously independent daughter didn't like leaving my side for a minute. At their other preschool I couldn't go the mommy meeting for *months*, and she was glued to my side the ENTIRE class. I couldn't get her to play; she just wanted to stand next to me, and cried if I even started to walk somewhere else. I even had to sit next to her during snack time when all the kids sit together to eat their snacks. It might not sound like much, but this was a very VERY difficult time for her and me. (more to come eventually in "update" below...) read more

Where do I begin? Well I enrolled my daughter in the two year old program about 2 years ago. However, it wasn't the right time for us for whatever reason. Fast forward a year and half. I enrolled my daughter in the Level 8 class with Teacher Janet. Not only have I witnessed my daughter thrive in her social development but her over all confidence has blossomed! I love the play based environment, art projects, and oh the amazing field trips to NASA fire station, McCellen ranch, and the list goes on. This is a parent participation program which means you are there one morning a week with an assigned job which alternates weekly. In comparison to other co-ops this is very little work and time. I also have 1 year old who I had to being at times because of no child care, Teacher Janet completely empathized and the other parents would step in at times and assist me with him. Other preschools would not of allowed this at all. My positive experiences go on and on. I highly recommend Bright Begininngs. Gym kids is awesome! We love Teacher Julie. read more

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This review is for the experience my daughter and I had with Teacher Caroline Soffa-Richardson and Teacher Sue (Level 6). We we're previously enrolled with Teacher Tanya for the Summer of 2012 and enjoyed the class so I enrolled again for the fall. First of all this is a Parent Participation Preschool. That being said you as a parent or parents have to participate at all times. This is not a place where you just leave your child and expect the school to watch them. Teacher Sue and Teacher Caroline helped me with separation anxiety that my daughter and I have. They covered a lot of topics that really do needs attention. From Potty training,Nutrition and so on. I have seen growth in many of the children in our class from crying when mommy leaves for the discussions to not wanting to go home because they are having such a great time. Teacher Sue always manage to make outdoor play and art time fun for the kids. The kids love her water/bird seed tables where they can be calm and just enjoy the outdoors. My daughter loves her class and also the kids in her class. Such an amazing experience that we have made great friends with such amazing parents from the class. We all have kept in touch and made playdates at the park or museum trips. We can't wait for the new school year! ******Pointers. Always have spare clothes for those water days :) read more

Bright Beginnings Preschool - Typical day at Bright Beginnings Preschool with Teacher Caroline - Preschools Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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I have been a part of Bright Beginnings Preschool for the last 17 years. I started when my older two children were 1 1/2 and 3. They are in college now. I had a 5 year break between my third and fourth child. When I came back with my youngest (who will graduate this year), I was happy to see that the program was still the same when I was there before. Consistency in a program is very important to me. Many of the teachers we had with my older children were still there. My youngest was able to have the same experiences as her older siblings. Some teachers have taught all four of my kids! All of the teachers are very knowledgeable about child development and parenting. The biggest thing they have to offer is themselves and their experiences. They are all experienced parents many of whom went through the program. A parent discussion is more valuable when you have a concern about your child and your teacher says, "My child did that too! This is what I tried. This worked and this didn't." They offer more than one solution to dilemma. They are there to support you. They follow up at other times to see how things are going. If they can, they help you along while at school too. Many times I found that I was the one looking forward to going to preschool. I got to be with other mothers and felt I wasn't alone. Whenever I see a teacher we've had in the past I get a big smile & hello. They remember the children and ask how they are doing. Never do I feel that I am being rushed out of the office when I go in with a question or two. Susan remembers who I am and what level my child is in and which specific teacher we have. I have recommended Bright Beginnings to many of my friends and they have all been happy with the program. I'll be sad at the end of this year when my youngest moves on. Bright Beginnings will always be a big part of lives. I know I am a better parent because of what I learned at Bright Beginnings. read more

We LOVE Bright Beginnings Preschool! We have been long-time students here, and I (somewhat jokingly) say that we keep having more kids so we can keep going to Bright Beginnings. My oldest son started with their Gym Kids program when he was 15 months old (in 2008). We chose to stay with gym kids until he was old enough for the 3's class (level 8), but I know many parents who really enjoy the 2's classes as well. I'm reading through some of the other reviews here, and I'm sincerely confused. Are they really talking about Bright Beginnings?! The staff here is amazing. The teachers (and we've had quite a few of them!) are not only caring, but also very knowledgable AND parents themselves. Many of them had their children in the program and were parents who turned into teachers and aides. They are very helpful and willing to work with students and families, especially when it comes to separation anxiety...which is probably the biggest problem that occurs. Both of my kids have had some degree of it at some point, and it's nice to feel comfortable and confident when dropping them off. What we love about the program: - the kids get to be kids and PLAY - we get to be a part of our their education - they get to get dirty, and do messy projects that I don't do at home because I don't want to clean up the mess - the kids can get their hands on a huge variety of projects (but aren't forced to do them) - they learn by doing, getting their hands on the projects, and NOT by filling in worksheets or mindless memorizing - they have many field trips each quarter to get the kids (and parents) out and experiencing our wonderful community - did I mention they get to PLAY?! This is their chance before starting elementary school. They should be running around, being silly, swinging, climbing, biking, digging in the sand, etc. and at the same time, they learn how to interact with their peers. I could go on and on... but, bottom line: We've been in the program for 5 1/2 years and could not imagine going anywhere else. We simply love it. read more

I would not recommend this school. Parent-teacher differences are handled unprofessionally. The classroom aide that we wad was negative, petty, and short with parents. The office staff seems to be overwhelmed and cannot provide proper program support. The school is affordable, but I would never leave my child there with the low caliber of staff: You get what you (don't) pay for. read more

Affordable but poor program, especially the parents participation, they take care of their own kids and friend's -indian- kids. The teacher doesn't handle this situation properly, she doesn't spend time with children. read more

I haven't been to very many classes, but I must say I really like it. The program is great for children of all ages. It is free play based, so the little ones have plenty of options such as doing art, playing outdoors in the play area, or indoors with blocks, etc. It's such a cute little school, the teachers and staff are all very nice. Not to mention, the tuition is very reasonable. read more

I attended both level 6 and level 7.I would rank level 6, 3 out of 5 but level 7 is worthless pile of crap.Level 7 teacher is pretty tired but very active in the first and last day of the class, she talks very sweet and involve kids in new activities at the end of quarter so that you will enroll for next quarter.In the orientation class she mentioned that she is glad to take kids to restroom in case their parent is absent,but in 4 months I attended,I never saw that happening. When a kid ask her help, she will scream for help, and some parent will help that kid; even thought she is free and chatting with some one ,she never take responsibility.Activities are not that good. Similar activities every day.My daughter is so bored to go to that class after a while. They need energetic teacher and new activities. It's a 3 Hr program,after half an hour free play there is a 5 minute circle time and an activity later snack time(no one cares how dirty school plates are) one more activity, discussion time and final circle time. You can see teacher in discussion time, circle time and parent snack time, rest of the time she is in other room chatting with her peer's.Bunch of mom's and assistant run's the class.Mom's help kid's with art work, organizing, easel,everything, assistant in cleaning dishes, sweeping outside blah blah. Level 7 need's to be organized and teacher Janet Harford need to be pay more attention to class and activities. read more

My child has attended level 6 and level 7 classes at this school, as well as several 'specialty' classes (art, music, etc). My son loves to go to school here, and I've watched him blossom from a very shy toddler into an assertive and social preschooler. The classes get more structured as the children get older, which has worked really well for my son. Janet Harford (level 7) is simply one of the best early childhood educators I have ever encountered. The children just love her, and I have learned a lot from her this year, too! She is a proponent of positive discipline methods, and shares her firm but kind methods with children and parents alike. This is not the school for you if: a. you want your 3 year old to be drilled in academics all day (it is a play based program - the children learn early literacy, math, etc through play, art, and other activities). b. you want a daycare. This is a parent participation program - the parents are actually the students here, and work as a team to guide the children. In the upper classes, parents have one workday per week during which they are expected to assist with running classroom activities, looking after the children, toileting, etc. This is a great program to transition your child from toddlerhood to kindergarten, especially if you are concerned about how your child will react to being 'left' at school. You can attend school with your child until both you and your child are ready to separate. The teachers and assistants I have encountered have been wonderful at helping parents and children make that transition (frankly, my kid loves it so much at school, he could care less when I leave). Did I mention the price? Tuition is very, very reasonable. They have a great Gym Kids program as well - also at a fraction of the cost of Gymboree, etc. read more

My daughter and I came here for the mommy and me class which was ok. I didn't consider it as a school rather than a play date. For just once a week, and always me being with her it was great. So why three stars? - the teacher wasn't involved with the kids at all. She did her job for circle time and story time and that was it. - I couldn't think of keeping my daughter in the program for the following year as their facility for the older kids is unsafe and can get too crowded at some point. The bathrooms are at the other end of the playground. My daughter was just potty trained. I couldn't trust that a parent will take her when she needed to go. And the teacher is not responsible for that. Luckily we joined MVPNS for the following year. Great program, loving teachers and adorable facility! read more

Frankly, I would have been much better staying at home and finding an organized playgroup than subjecting my daughter and I to this disorganized and underfunded mess. CAVEAT: I am specifically reviewing the PRESCHOOL. I have heard fairly glowing reviews of the GymKids programs, which are associated, (using the same admin staff?) but I have never attended. While I am an ardent supporter of preschool being better funded and open to all; the program is obviously run on a shoestring with minimal financial or parental support. The constant over or under explanation of what the participation in-class was, only to receive overly blunt and critical comments when it was too late to fix made every week a grin-and-bear it experience for us. Previous reviewers are not wrong in their takeaway of the parent education meetings being overly simplistic to the point of boredom/irrelevance. There were also supervision concerns for my part; at least thrice parents did no-show/no-calls on vital classroom jobs (gate supervision and snack, primarily). That left me, as one of the few parents with my own vehicle, on the hook to come supervise at the drop of a hat or leave an understaffed classroom to get snack. Any, or really, all of the previous concerns would have been annoying, but bearable if they were the only issue. The main offending point for me was a classroom aide, in the midst of a meltdown on the part of my daughter asked me about a completely irrelevant personal parenting choice (that only happened outside of class time); and ordered me to stop- as it was going to lead to 'attachment issues' and 'make me unable to drop off on non-workdays'. My complaint to the administrative office was more of the same, and required me stating that any more commentary would be met with legal consultation on my part. An attempt at coming to a mutual solution was offered.. in the ten minutes between morning and afternoon classes. I shudder to think of what would happen for a family that needed more time to discuss concerns or seek support for early intervention. While the overall experience left much to be desired; we did make several local friends, and have playdates aplenty for the coming years, and the potential of knowing future schoolmates. read more

This is a parent participation preschool, and parents are also educated in the program (teacher leads discussions with varying topics each week). It is a really nice play based preschool, where children are provided with different activities outdoors (outside easel, tricycles & scooters for three and up, playstructure / swings, sandbox, water play when warm...) and activities indoors (arts and crafts, many of the usual preschool toys, special projects). And the kids can choose their activities according to their interests. After circle times they are guided to new activities, and usually go about doing them. Parents take responsibility in the arts and crafts, snack and outdoor supervision duties. You work one class a week and it is very well organized. Since in addition to two teachers there are up to eight parents working, they are able to have the children do more activities in less of a time. The children probably get more individual attention too. Teachers of course have big impact on the preschool experience. I have been in Teacher Janet's (Werner) and Teacher Natalie's classes, and strongly recommend both of them. They love their work, and have good interaction with the children. This is a good option if you do not need a full time preschool and are able to participate once a week. read more

I've had three boys at this school since September 2004, when my oldest was about 15 months old (he's almost 8 now). My younger two are currently in the Level 10 PreK class and will be doing Kindergarten in the Fall, so we're in our last few weeks of being in the program. We've had most every teacher and have done both the preschool and Gymkids. The parent participation format worked really well for us. I got to know a lot about child development and developed a huge number of parenting skills which have served me very well. If my kids had been in a drop-off program, I would have missed out on all of that. The cost is also significantly more reasonable than a drop-off program. I like that parents are in the classroom as helpers, but they're not doing things like facilities or grounds maintenance like is the case at some other cooperative schools. I like that it's a play-based/developmental program and that there's not a huge emphasis on academics. When my kids were potty training, it was a huge relief that they didn't need to be potty trained in order to be in the 3's class. The staff have lots of experience and some have been working at the school for quite a long time. There's a lot of variety between the teaching styles for the different teachers, but they all *love* the kids. The Level 10 PreK teacher we have now is great. She's a bit more low key than some of the other teachers, but I think it works well for my boys and they are thriving in her class I have found all the teachers and aides and the front office staff to be very supportive of me, both as a parent and as a person. I'm really thrilled that we've had a chance to attend this school. read more

I have been involved with bright beginnings since 2004. I absolutely love this school! I have gone with two of my boys and am about to attend with my third:) I love the teachers, and I've had a few, the office staff is also wonderful! Susan in the office is genuine and kind with nothing but love for all the kids that come through. My favorite thing is that this is a parent education course. We all love our children, which is why we go to parent participation, but getting valuable tools to help us with our spirited children's growing process is a definite plus! The draw back to any parent participation class, of course, can be the other parents. You are dependent upon each other for the day to run smoothly. Each parent is expected to be responsible for their work card, their attitudes, and their respect towards the other parents. I have been very lucky to have not only had a great group of parents go through these programs with me, but been able to stay in touch with many of them and their children over the last nine years! I would highly recommend this preschool to anybody willing to put in a little bit of work for a lot of reward. read more

Both my son and daughter attended Bright Beginnings, and both have had great experiences. The teachers and class aides are wonderful and very caring. Since it is parent participation, parent are assigned support jobs for their "work days" in the class. Parents soon start to form a team with the parents they meet on their workdays. Each year the mix of parents might be different, but I have loved getting to know other parents. Very highly recommended! read more

Worst parent participation preschool ever! Too bad that I can't give negative 5 stars. When I first arrived at Bright Beginnings (referred to as BB thereafter), I was already very taken back by the facility - cement grounds for play structure, dark classrooms, greasy tables, un-organic food, limited worn and dirty toys), but I was willing to give it a try since you cannot judge a book from its cover. It sure looks like a poorly funded program and worse still, a program with chaotic management and indifferent parents who churn in and out of the program throughout the year. When you join a parent participation program, you want a community (which is something I found with Mountain View's Parent Observation MVPO). You want more control over your child(ren)'s emotional and intellectual development. BB is a program without any feeling of community because parents are busy churning out, and you don't really get that much involvement because the art projects are cheaply put together, while the free play time is confined to a very very tired playground that lacks maintenance. After talking to another parent who churned out of the program, I decided to follow her to MVPO, but I didn't drop out fast enough. At my VERY FIRST parent meeting where the teachers' assistant and other parents were supposed to look after my daughter during her first separation experience in life, she fell from the slide and broke her arm. The fact that she broke her arm didn't upset me, because accidents happen, but what really got my stomach turning was that NOBODY at the facility, no parents nor aides nor teacher, told me of the incident. The playground in theory was supposed to be supervised throughout the free play time. But no one told me a word, and I came back to a screaming two-year old who couldn't articulate her pain and I thought she was just extremely upset that I went away. She kept crying for the whole day and eventually cried herself to sleep. I didn't discover anything was wrong until her broken arm was completely swollen late at night, and I had to rush her to ER at 10PM. That was almost 12 hours after her incident!! Not only that, I found out later that on the very same day, another child broke out of the locked playground to look for his mother and he could have gone lost had he not be smart enough to find the mom in the conference room. Then a week later, another parent I know also dropped out because her daughter got lice from her classmatest. My daughter's accident was not an isolated incident, this is a place where disasters are bound to happen. When I was doing BB and MVPO concurrently, for a brief time, my daughter always resisted going to BB, and I should have listened to her instinct. Before arriving at MVPO, I didn't know that classroom could be so brightly lit by natural light, toys so new and varied, art projects so interesting, the yard so lovely, and teacher so caring. Upon knowing my daughter's incident, Teacher Diane at MVPO was very understanding and let me off the hook for parent meetings for several months to get my daughter comfortable to her peers and the environment. When we eventually did my parent meeting away from her, I came back to a child so bursting with laughter and self-confidence. If you are looking at BB, think twice. Better still, go tour the Mountain View Parent Observation 18-month, 2's and 3's program (yes, there may be a waiting list), Los Altos Parent Nursery's young 3 program, and Cupertino's Toddler and Me program for 2s and 3s. You will know the difference right away, because I enroll in several parent participation programs at the same time and I know which one is the worst, by far. For those who raved about the school, all I can say is, they have never tried other parent participation programs and have no idea what they are missing. In this year alone, I do altogether 4 (not counting BB), yes you read it right, FOUR parent participation programs and I know what I am talking about. read more

My sons attended the Bright Beginnings program from 2011-2015 (starting at 9 months old). We enrolled in multiple classes including gym kids (Teacher Kim), Family Preschool (Teacher Gloria and Teacher Melanie), summer classes (Teacher Tania) preschool classes (Teacher Verna, Teacher Sue, Teacher Janet, and Teacher Caroline), and specialty classes (Teacher Verna). ALL of the teachers are amazing and both of my children LOVED going to school there. The environment is bright, colorful, clean, and well-stocked with toys, games, puzzles, art supplies, and books. Even more importantly, all of the staff (including Susan and Sean in the front office) are friendly, caring, energetic, and professional. As an elementary teacher in both public and private schools, I've seen my share of well-equipped classrooms and dedicated teachers. Throughout my time at Bright Beginnings, I was very impressed with the program, classrooms, and those teaching in it. My older son spent most of his time in Teacher Verna's preschool class. I couldn't have asked for a better preschool experience for my child. Teacher Verna went above and beyond for the students- She planted a garden with the children, brought in home grown pumpkins for them to glitter-paint, hand-personalized stockings for "Santa" to give them, prepared stations for them to make their own juice, and assembled airplane packs for those moving/travelling long distance. These are just a few of many more examples of Teacher Verna's passion for teaching and thoughtfulness towards her students. I highly recommend Bright Beginnings to parents who are looking for a play-based, multi-sensory program that will foster creativity and a love of learning in their children. I also recommend this program to parents who appreciate and value cultural diversity among the students and parent community. read more

My oldest daughter has been at Bright Beginnings since she was 12 months. It has been an amazing experience for her. This past year she was in level 10 with teacher Raji and it was a breakout year for her personality. My younger daughter is enrolled to start in the fall and we are looking forward to getting back. The teachers and staff are wonderful and it is more like a family environment than a school environment. I like the parent participation aspect of the program. read more

My children both have fond memories of this school. Teacher Caroline is a ray of sunshine and Teacher Gloria works really well with the little ones. My son loved seeing his friends at his baby class and he loved the simple play based art activities designed just for him and his friends. The teachers and the aides were always attentive, loving and kind. This is a no-frills nursery school where children play with home made play-doh and ride around on tricycles and play in the sand. It's a nice place where parents can support each other. If you are looking for a low key place to send your kids for some learning and fun, then give Bright Beginnings a look. read more

Just noticed yelp is not allowing some reviews to count towards this place:( I think yelp needs to stop censoring based on how many posts people do.:( I am a responsible person that takes my use of yelp very seriously and refuses to bash or recommend a place unless I have been to it a few times, and even then I start at the source, not the gossip mill. read more

This is a parent child participation preschool.My daughter just loves it ,but i think the place can be more neat and organised.The rooms are very dark though with no frsh light and air :( read more

I can't say enough good things about this school and its staff. My daughter started in the Wiggles and Rhymes class when she was 5 months old. She also did Gym Kids classes and started Preschool here when she was 13 months. She is now 2 years old and ready to continue preschool this coming fall. Here's what we love - ** The STAFF - Teacher Verna is exceptional with the 2-3 year old children. Her class is still talked about in our parent groups years later. Also, Teacher Gloria is AMAZING if you get her. She has watched my daughter grow from 5 months-2 years. Her style of teaching is hard to find these days. She is gentle with the kids but also firm and teaches them how to clean up, drink water from a cup, sing songs, count, etc. She genuinely cares about the kids she works with. Teacher Melanie has also been great as well as Susan, in the office. I love the staff because they are willing to work with you -whether you need to make up a class, get something prorated, or have an infant you need to bring with you to your toddler's class. They really work with you and they do it with a smile. ** The program - The concept of Parent Participation is phenomenal. Our children learn and so do we. I love the parent discussion sessions the classes provided - as a first time mom, I got to learn from other moms as well as the teachers and we shared so many topics - from sleep training, to setting limits, to encouraging good self-esteem in children, etc. Even though my daughter is a free spirit and plays on her own or with other kids, I felt my time with her at this school allowed the two of us to share a very special bond. We have made such great friends with the other families and children. ** My kid is happy - My daughter has also attended a daycare since she was 5 months old and has participated in other classes and activities but compared to everything else, she ABSOLUTELY loves it at Bright Beginnings. She feels safe, confident, and is always excited to go to school. She loves all the songs and dances and playgrounds (She was singing and doing all the dance moves to the Slippery Fish song at 14 months old!) She listens really well to the teachers here because she trusts them. I also love that the school isn't a stickler about "exact age." She was on the younger side when she started the summer preschool, but she did great in the class so I'm glad they based her enrollment on child-readiness versus precise age. Apart from the classes, they also have fun school events, raffles, potlucks, events throughout the year. We're having a second baby soon and I plan to take him to Bright Beginnings too :-) read more

This a great play based parent participation preschool. Both my children have attended and continue to attend different classes in this program. We've been through summer classes, gym kids and the preschool from 18 months until 3 years old. All the teachers and teacher aids are wonderful and such a great source of advice for all topics on child development. I love the fact that parents are activily involved in the program, I've enjoyed seeing my son and daughter thrive during their preschool years and I knew exactly what were their strengths and weaknesses because I was witnessing it all. It was really helpful having the teachers and other parents as a guidance for any problem/issue with my children. I've made long time friends through this program and I've definitively recommend it. read more

My younger daughter has been there for 2 years now. She loves it and always looking forward to going to school everyday. The teachers and aids are very nice and helpful. The other parents are also learning and helping each other out. I have had nothing but positive experience and fun time at the school. I really love to participate in the class activities with my kid and other kids. Get to know the kids and their family also helps me socially and culture-wide. read more

The child I babysit attended this school for a quarter and a few more months. I'm writing a review specifically about the staff there, particularly Teacher Verna. My interactions with her have not been the most pleasant. She comes off quite rude to the parents who help out around the classroom. I find it concerning that her curriculum includes emphasizing the importance of good manners (eg. saying 'thank you', 'please', being nice to neighbors), yet she doesn't lead by example often using a very commanding tone to give orders to me and other parents instead of asking politely. As an example, she wanted the parents to leave the room after an activity was over and I was just turning to the boy I babysit to let him know that I will be leaving the room when she yelled at me 'Get out right now!'. Not only it made me feel embarrassed but it also worried me that she doesn't serve as a good role model for her classroom. read more

I highly recommand this preschool. It is a not just a preschool but it teaches parent education also. I have two daughters. My older daughter attended this school starting at age one and stay at this school until she was ready for Kindergarden. The step by step method that the preschool use, adding one more day that the child is dropped off each year, made it a easy transition into regular school. The preschool also help prepare her well for Kindergarden with basic skills (such as social, basic reading, writing, cutting, presentation, etc), that her Kindergarden teachers were surprise at how prepare she was for Kindergarden. This preschool also did not pressure me into potty training my kids before they can attend the school. I learned a lot of parenting skills from the experienced teachers that help me with things from discipling my kids to choosing the best Elementary school for my child. I am so happy with the school that I am currently attending the school with my second child. If you are looking for a school that helps you to improve as a parent and prepare your child for Kindergarden, this is a school for you. read more