There are fewer things in life more stressful and guilt-inducing than enrolling your very young…read morechild in daycare for the very first time. You never really know how it's going to go - if it's the right thing to do, if it's the right time to do it, if your child is going to like the place, and if those Yelp reviews are truly legit. Our daughter started at Kids Academy when she was just shy of 18 months old. Although this happened sooner than I would have liked, it was ultimately one of the best decisions I've ever made. Things I love: 1) The staff! Carrie is awesome. Her team is awesome. They are consummate professionals who place a high emphasis on structure and education. There are interesting projects and activities every day, and the children are never bored. We feel very happy with the quality of care that they provide to our little one. 2) The community! KA is an in-home daycare with a small network of children and parents - about 14-15 kids in all. In the last few months, I've attended a family event and several birthday parties and am always struck by how nice everyone is and how happy the children are. It is a really great group of people. 3) The menu! The kids receive 2 healthy meals and snacks every day. They eat better than me. It's true. 4) The app! KA uses DailyConnect to communicate with the parents, sending photos and real-time nap/diaper/meal updates. This is truly the best thing in the world. It brightens my work day and makes me feel more connected to my daughter while she is away from home. 5) Most significantly - I love how much my daughter loves the school. Of course, there was a slightly bumpy start as she transitioned to KA from being at home with a full-time nanny. But after just a few short weeks, she really grew to relish being there. And in the past 5 months, there has been an explosion in her cognitive and social development. Now she doesn't even want to say goodbye to my husband at drop-off - she just squirms out of his arms and runs off to kick it with her friends. It is so great. I cannot say enough good things about Kids Academy and feel so fortunate to be a part of this community!

We weren't planning on signing up for daycare, but I was so stressed without it. I was trying to be…read moreboth a stay at home mom and a working woman, and I ended up doing both poorly. It was a hard decision, but we decided to try daycare and found Kids Academy on care.com. It was the BEST decision. Not only did I regain sanity, but knowing that she was at Kids Academy didn't leave me feeling guilty at all. They were teaching her letters, how to share, even fun new songs and games I have never even heard of. All I have to say now is "marching marching" and she looks up at me, smiles and starts stomping her feet. I can tell she has good memories of being there. All of the staff is amazing. They are really organized and have a great schedule and system which helped me feel confident. The best part about being there is Daily Connect, which they use to update you throughout the day on what your child is up to. They would always post a few photos up there too, which just made my day. We no longer take her there, only because we moved out of the area. I literally cried the day we told Carrie and Shawn that we were moving, because I know how much Dani loved it there, and how much they loved Dani! They love all their kids and it shows. Okay, I'll stop, but seriously I couldn't recommend this place more. A true gem and a lifesaver! Go meet them and you'll see what I mean.

My son joined Brenda's Montessori Preschool just before his 4th birthday, and stayed until joining…read morekindergarten when he turned 5. I wish we had found her sooner! She takes kids as young as 2.5, and is absolutely amazing. Brenda provides a warm, gentle and loving environment, and it was common to hear my son say how much he loved her. I always felt confident and safe leaving him in her care, knowing he'd be well taken care of no matter what extra support he may need on that particular day. In addition to the wonderful environment, the generous amount of outdoor playtime was appreciated, and the fact snacks and lunch are provided. The educational component was phenomenal - he learned so much and was guided to build on his natural strengths. I can't say enough wonderful things about this preschool. The only thing that was a challenge for us was the late naps, as the children nap from 3:00-5:00, making the standard preschool bedtime of 7:30/8:00 impossible (for us). Brenda graciously helped accommodate by waking my son up early at 4:00 to help make bedtime a bit easier, which was appreciated. I look forward to sending my 2nd son to her when he's old enough!

My 3.5 year old daughter goes to Brenda's and she is incredibly happy there. She spent a year at…read morean amazing preschool in North Park, but we moved to the UTC area so we transferred her to this school and were worried about the transition, but she has basically been delighted since day one. On vacations, she regularly talks about how she misses Mrs. Brenda and can't wait to see her again. A few months after starting at this school, my daughter suddenly became potty trained and started to read and write on her own. It is possible that is just a coincidence and was going to happen anyway, but I'm pretty sure that Mrs. Brenda had a lot to do with it. I'm amazed at how much reading and writing my 3.5 year old can do now. She independently sat down at our dining room table one day last December and wrote Santa a letter. I was blown away when she showed me all that she had written. She also learns to clean up there as it is a Montessori and all the children are taught to only play with one toy at a time and then put it away when they are done with it. The school is in Mrs. Brenda's home and is very small: there are usually about eight kids there each day. Many of the kids are international and many don't speak fluent English. In my opinion that is a positive, as my daughter regularly comes home and teaches me words in other languages. All meals and snacks are included, which is really nice for all of us since I don't have to pack lunches, she gets a variety of new and hot foods, and all of the children eat the same meals. This school is also not picky about drop off and pick up times (as many schools are) and as long as it is open you can pick up and drop off at anytime. Sometimes I drop my daughter off at 7:30am and sometimes I drop her off at 11am and no one minds a bit. It is so nice to have lazy, relaxed mornings when we feel like it, but also be able to drop her off early if I have morning meetings. The one thing I don't like is that the TV is on sometimes, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. In summary, this school is great. It feels a little alternative as it is small and in-home, but I recommend you schedule a tour and check it out.

Our daughter loves it here! This was her first exposure to a school setting. We moved from a…read moredifferent city and the staff was great with communication and accommodating to our needs (touring, scheduling, etc). After starting school, she has thrived in creativity and self-initiative - she has a lot of fun with all of the art projects in Mrs. Allen & Mrs. Tanya's class and has taken those skills to do even more independent crafting/activities at home. She tells us about how she enjoys her time with classmates and we're thankful that they're all kind & respectful to each other. She's enjoyed it so much that we are keeping her for a summer session + an additional year instead of starting TK. The freedom to create & play, attentive care and communication of the teachers and staff, and flexibility of the schedule have made all the difference!

Northminster Preschool has been fantastic! We've been here for 2 years since our daughter turned 2…read more We will be continuing her enrollment for another year when she turns 4 to be in the pre-K class. She loves the arts and crafts and the really nice outdoor playground. The kids eat outside (snack and lunch) and the location is great if you live in N. Clairemont. Highly recommend this preschool, we have seen our daughter progress so much since she started!

This is a wonderful childcare facility with excellent directors (Ms Dani and Ms Jennifer) and…read moreteachers (ms Jessica). We sent both our kids for back up care here at this center. The teachers took very good care of them and they always came home happy. We are really sad that BH is closing this facility. As working parents, it was a relief knowing that kids will be safe and in trustworthy hands. We miss this center already. It's been really difficult getting back up care reservation at BH family center in Del Mar.

Great quality backup care. Staff is friendly and the online booking process is straightforward …read more There were a few forms I had to fill out upfront. The staff is very friendly and I feel at ease knowing my daughters are being well taken care of. I like the security and how clean the facility ease. The staff is very interactive with the kids and I like the beautiful artwork my kids come home with. I also like the app and that gives live notifications on food, naps, diaper changes, and activities. Overall, great value for backup care.

My daughter started at SH when she was 2.5 yo and graduated when she was ready to go to UTK. During…read moreher time, she has grown and learned so much as well as making a lot of friends. SH is outstanding and very different from other home daycares in the SD area while still being affordable. Laura and Adam are excellent teachers. Laura always prepares weekly lessons for class, with some weeks learning about the rainforest, castles & knights, the 5 senses and feelings etc. The kids would also have craft projects for each week based on the topic of the week. Each month, my daughter also learned a new letter and how to write it. There are so many more... One of the highlights for my daughter is friendships. She made her first best friend there and all the other kids and their parents are super nice and open as well. We could easily talk to other parents during the pickup and chat about their experiences. The kids went to each other's birthday parties and shared many experiences. I am very happy with my daughter's time here and would strongly recommend SH to other parents.

I can't say enough good things about the Sprout House! My son is "graduating" after 2 years there,…read moreand my daughter is just starting out. Laura and Adam (and Ms. Martha!) are so welcoming and kind, and it's amazing seeing all that my son has learned since starting there as a shy 2 year old. They are so thoughtful and always keep us well informed of everything going on. Every day he comes home so happy and proud of himself; I can't say thank you enough for taking such good care of my children!

We are very happy with the experience we've had during our daughter Elena's first year at the…read moreschool. Her growth has been remarkable in every way -- academically, emotionally, and socially. From the very beginning, we felt welcomed and part of a true community, which made all the difference for us as a family. Principal Dena Stoneman is always attentive, approachable, and thoughtful in every detail. Secretary Sara Sinclair is a kind and loving person, always willing to help with warmth and efficiency. We are also deeply grateful to Elena's teachers -- Ms. Chu, Ms. Delgado, and Ms. Andy -- for the care, dedication, and love they've shown throughout her learning journey this year. We fully trust the school and are excited to continue this journey with you all in the upcoming school year!

It has taken me months of reflection to write this review because our experience with MMS was…read moredeeply confusing and upsetting. Our 3-year-old daughter started at MMS in January 2024. We really loved her primary teachers, and initially, she seemed to be doing well. There were a few incidents of misbehavior (hitting, biting, not listening--maybe three times?) but overall, it was a positive experience. She made friends, spoke happily about school and her teachers, and seemed engaged. From the beginning, I found Dena to be condescending and sanctimonious, but I tried to overlook it. After summer camp, she returned to the same class with many of the same students. But from the start of the new school year, we began receiving frequent calls and incident reports about her behavior--hitting, biting, disrupting nap time, etc. Over the next few months, things unraveled. Our daughter no longer wanted to go to school. She became hysterical every morning at drop-off. We received daily incident reports and multiple phone calls from the school. At home and in other settings, playdates, gymnastics, family events, her behavior was very different. She wasn't perfect, but she was typical for a 3-4-year-old. It began to feel like the school had completely lost control of the situation. She was regularly sent to the office for "breaks" or timeouts, but she would just sit and color, so it didn't feel like a consequence to her. The school called us to pick her up early several times, saying they couldn't manage her and that she was essentially a danger to others. She also began saying things like "I'm bad" and "I'm mean," which was a major red flag. We took her to the pediatrician, an occupational therapist, and had her evaluated for ADHD and other potential concerns. Everything came back within the range of typical development. We had multiple meetings with the school. Dena assured us they were trying everything, but their actions didn't reflect that. Eventually, they asked if we could switch her to half days. Although it was a major challenge for our full-time working household, we agreed, hoping it would help. It didn't. The daily calls continued, and we were still asked to pick her up early. They assigned an aide to shadow her, but the behavior didn't improve. Our daughter started coming home saying no one wanted to play with her, that she had no friends, and that she was bad. Our OT was confused--if she had a one-on-one aide, how was she still getting into so many incidents? We tried sticker charts, calming strategies, every tool recommended by professionals. And yes, our daughter is emotional and sometimes struggles to keep her hands to herself, but again, not in a way that felt outside the norm for her age. We received two to three detailed incident reports each day. It often seemed like the school was spending more energy documenting her behavior than actually helping her. Over time, it became clear we weren't welcome. Dena and some of the teachers began giving us cold looks. Dena even told us that other parents didn't want their kids playing with ours. The whole environment felt hostile and out of control. After another unproductive meeting with Dena, we were told our options were to find a new school or pay for a full-time aide, on top of tuition. We enrolled her in a new school the following week, and the difference has been incredible. One of the strangest parts came when we decided to withdraw our daughter. Dena asked if we would bring her by for "closure." I declined, as I didn't feel that would be appropriate. I went to pick up her belongings, and while the students and teachers had made her a goodbye card, which seemed sweet at first, the messages inside were deeply unsettling. Things like "We know there's good in you" made it sound like she was evil or broken. Again, she was THREE. And she really is a sweet, loving kid (who gives the best hugs). At her new school, she has many friends, and in 7 months, she's had one behavioral incident. We still recognize that she is an emotional and spirited child, but she is thriving in a supportive environment. I only wish we had made the switch sooner. Looking back, it's shocking to realize that for the entire second half of the school year at MMS, we didn't hear a single positive thing about our daughter. I feel heartbroken thinking about the constant negative feedback loop she was caught in. no wonder she thought she was "bad." I'm not saying MMS is a terrible school for everyone. Clearly, some families have had positive experiences. But it seems that if your child doesn't fit a certain mold, they are unwilling or unequipped to support them. I still struggle to understand how things got so bad, especially considering the immediate change we saw when we moved her. Even at home, she was noticeably happier. she now runs into school every morning and i have so much peace of mind.

TLC, also known as Little Plumerias, is a home daycare owned and operated by the wonderful Ms…read more Caroline. My daughter attended TLC for three years, and during that time, she was cared for in a warm, nurturing, and educational environment. Ms. Caroline is truly kind, compassionate, and dedicated, and her team shares the same commitment to helping children thrive. Thanks to their efforts, my daughter was well-prepared when she started transitional kindergarten (TK). She was already familiar with her ABCs, colors, shapes, and many other foundational skills, which made the transition smooth and stress-free. I'm also incredibly grateful for the friendships we made during our time at TLC. I met amazing fellow parents--some of whom my daughter and I still see and spend time with regularly. Thank you, Ms. Caroline and team--you are truly awesome! I highly recommend TLC to any family looking for a safe, loving, and enriching daycare experience.

Little Plumerias, formerly known as TLC, is nothing short of magical! From the moment you walk…read morethrough the doors, you're embraced by warmth, intention, and a genuine sense of ohana. It's rare to find a place where you can leave your child and know--not just hope--that they are seen, nurtured, and celebrated for exactly who they are. Carol, Lauryn, Trey, and Kayla are the heartbeats of this extraordinary space. Their care goes far beyond the basics. Carol brings a steady, loving presence that instantly puts you at ease. Lauryn radiates joy and has a gift for turning every moment into an opportunity for learning and connection. Trey brings an energy that is both grounding and playful--kids absolutely light up around him. And Kayla is a calming, intuitive soul who makes every child feel safe, special, and deeply understood. This isn't just childcare--it's a community. A safe haven. A place where children grow emotionally, socially, and intellectually in the most organic, beautiful way. If you're lucky enough to get a spot at Little Plumerias, take it. Carol, Lauryn, Trey, and Kayla are the kind of caregivers every parent dreams of--and every child deserves.

This part time preschool service is not only affordable but also an incredible program offered…read morethrough escondido rec department. It is seriously Escondido's best kept secret for parents/caretakers of toddlers. Children must be potty trained to attend and min age 3. The dedicated staff encourage parents to shadow and volunteer 1x/month which really gets all the families involved. There have been 4 class sessions per school year (m/w or t/th for 3-4 year olds) or (m/w/f or t/th for 4-5 year olds) and each session is about 2-3 hours long which is all my son can really sit through. HIGHLY recommend you being prepared to sign up your child day of registration opens and the school year follows a regular academic calendar. They don't publicize this program enough, so keep an eye on the escondido rec page for registration or call the city rec department. My son has participated in this program + summer program last 2 years and I am so grateful for the affordable and fantastic preschool community. He has developed leaps and bounds socially and academically. Miss Kathy has been teaching here for 24 years and miss Nicole , her classroom assistant is also so patient and awesome with the kids. My son didn't qualify for the income based free city preschool nor did he meet age requirements for preK through EUSD. This was a great resource for parents who fall "in between."

I've had my boys here for going on 3 years and the staff is amazing. Ms. Juju and Ms. Angie are…read morepros and know what they are doing and really care about the kids. Price has inched up to $495 for a 5-week session, but it may be reduced for some situations. They made baking soda and vinegar volcanoes last week!

I love this preschool! I've picked up my nanny kiddos from…read morehere frequently in the past and as a child development educator myself I can say it is rare to find a preschool that shows real care for their student's development like this one. Very often I find Reggio inspired schools are founded on aesthetics vs. education in San Diego, that is not the case here. The staff and director truly care about Reggio principles and bringing its curriculum to our community. The staff are always friendly and focused with the parents and kiddos which I really appreciate, they have really good energy when working with the kids, you can tell they have a real passion! They're also very involved which I like, they want the parents to be active participants in their kids education. One huge reason I love this place is because they teach developmentally appropriate curriculum that emphasizes social skills and emotional literacy, which is what our kiddos really need to be learning at this age. Overall you can tell that the curriculum is geared on child development research, something I think really sets them apart from other facilities I've been to. I also have to give a shout out to the teachers for teaching Spanish in class! I've been able to talk to my nanny kids in Spanish a lot lately because they have been doing Spanish lessons in class. The classrooms are always really clean, and the director has been working on making the space super child-led and really beautiful, the playground outside is really fun for the kids after pickup! I'm just so happy that a locally owned Reggio led school is in San Diego, I really hope more parents are able to pay a visit and see what a true Reggio inspired curriculum could look like for their kids.

My daughter has been attending Ekobé for about 6 months now and we feel like it is home. She LOVES…read moreschool! I am amazed by Simone, Destiny, and Leslie and their dedication to coming up with new interesting and educational activities everyday. I often wish I could stay and participate because the activities look so fun! They send out weekly newsletters describing the activities the kids did that week and the methodology behind it. We also get regular photos of all of the cool things the kids are doing. The facility is beautiful and spotless and they have really wonderful hygiene policies that have resulted in a lot fewer sicknesses than our last preschool. We absolutely love Ekobé and the community of the school. Highly recommend!

We were referred to Carmen by a friend and we are very grateful for that reference. Both of our…read morekids were in Carmen's care starting at 6 months old. Carmen is very good with infants and we felt very comfortable in her home. She does a great job of helping the kids achieve their milestones, teaching manners, and independence. Our daughter excelled in her learning with Carmen, counting, writing, and problem solving. She did a great job with potty training as well. Carmen makes nutrition a priority and prepares healthy food for the kids. We always felt like family.

Your search for exceptional and extraordinary childcare can stop here. I concur with all other…read morereviews related to care, literacy, behavior, cleanliness, nutrition, and becoming part of the family. What I would like to add about Carmen is that she is without a doubt the MOST attentive, professional and prepared teacher and caregiver you can find. She's an amazing human and I feel so blessed that we found her. She accepted my son with an open heart and helped me become who I am as a mom. We were fortunate enough to have a spot open when our daughter was ready and she helped raised two of my children.