We have had a wonderful experience with this daycare. Finding the right place for my son was very challenging at first , he cried a lot at other schools, even after several weeks. This school was different. He only struggled a little in the beginning, and now he is genuinely excited to go every day. Seeing him wake up happy and say, "I'm going to school, Mommy!" means everything to me. A very special thank you to Ms. Lani and Ms. Crystal! these are the teachers my son always talks about, and it's clear how much they care. I would also like to thank the amazing director, Kate, and the entire staff for creating such a warm, supportive, and welcoming environment. The teamwork here truly shows. We are so grateful for this school and highly recommend it to any parent looking for a place where their child will feel happy and loved. read more

My son has been going here for a few years, and he loves being there. He adores his teacher, and is learning so much.

I really didn't want to write a review but the notifications to do one won't stop so here we go. my child is a little rough around the edges at times but all of a sudden he's having behaviors that he has never shown before it seems as though they are wanting to kick him out after not being there very long which is fine if it doesn't work out it doesn't but my concern is why are these behaviors only happening here? read more

My child went to the Santee location. The staff doesn't have the support to give quality child care. The higher ups only care about enrolling kids and collecting the parents money. My child's diaper wouldn't be changed all day. So clearly he wasn't given liquids because it wasn't full either. I went in for an interview and after seeing how they treat their staff I pulled my child out. This place is awful. read more

I enrolled my daughter at the Lakeside location when she was 3 months old. The staff has been wonderful with her, and she is not the easiest baby to deal with. I also love that they use an app. It's so easy to message staff and for them to message me, plus the updates and pictures are nice to see. We have enjoyed our time at this facility. read more

I enrolled my 2 years old in the 2nd street children's choice in el cajon. First day of my son there, the teachers were expecting him to know everything and i don't know how badly they treated him. The director said my son is aggressive and they will expell him from childcare. My toddler was scared and had a nail scratch on his cheek. The director said oh he took watermelon of other kids and they had a fight. I said okay maybe because it was my son's first day, he will be fine by 2nd day and he will get used to the daily routine, but no, on the 2nd day, i picked him up and i noticed he was playing with the sand and the teacher and director was standing far away not aware of the kids. The director saw me took a shovel and a bucket tried to give it to my son. I picked my son and noticed there was another scratch, and when i asked question of how this happened the director was rude and she was like why are you questioning me, then she apologized on their app. Anyways, 3rd day the director called me that they can't put my toddler to bed and i could hear him crying his lungs out as if he was beaten up and i have never seen him cry like that. I left work early and picked him up, he took a nap and for 2 hours in his sleep, he was sobbing. When he woke up, he wasn't leaving me and he was scared of me leaving him. In a few days when he was there, i noticed my son was scared of the director. I enrolled my kid in another childcare, he is happy and doesn't have any problems. 2nd street in el cajon children's choice are not professionals and their license is questionable. This is an honest review for the mothers they are considering children's choice in 2nd st el cajon. read more

My boy started almost 7 years ago, now he is in the School age location. My youngest has been there for almost 3 years. I totally recommend their services. My kids love the staff and the activities they have for them. read more

PARENTS BEWARE! If you have a special needs kid- this is not the place. They ought to be ashamed of listing themselves as a childcare center that offers care to children with autism, because no one in their staff knows how to deal with them (nor did the director who claimed her daughter had autism). My child is very very high in the spectrum, an aspie really with a genius iQ of 137. The whole time he was there he learned nothing. I didn't realize when I went at first that the carpets were super dirty and fraying (it was nap time so the room was dark). They had 28 kids in the preschool class (limit is 24), I didn't find that out until towards the end of our short tenure there. I signed up my kid for the "advanced preschool class" but they never opened it while I was there for one excuse or the other. They kept moving the kids from one room to the other, no one ever knew where my kid was half the time and I had to go room to room looking for him. Sometimes he would be with school age kids that were there for the after school care. I set up my automatic payments, but they would never post on my bank account, so the office would put letters in my son's cubby saying I was late for paying and I had to go to the office to make sure the director would pull my payment (if she was anywhere to be found), because their system didn't work properly. Then they dropped my son out without notice because they "couldnt" handle him even though he had an aid. They allowed for other kids to bully him and pick on him and when he would react and lash out against the bullying, my son would be the one getting in trouble and the teachers did NOTHING! His aids would notice how when someone would bother my son, he would go to the teachers and let them know and they'd do nothing about it, but if someone told on my son, he was immediately in trouble. It's not a place that fosters children's growth and healthy development at all. I took my kid to a private school after that and never again did he get in trouble or did we have any of the above mentioned issues--- goes to show the quality in the staff, training and business ethics. I cringe when I see the vans at my kid's school when I pick him up, with the same slouchy looking staff they have and their bottom's crack showing from their pants in disbelief that I had my kid at a place like that. Which with the season I hope they finally fixed the heather to one of their vans (I remember one staff coming out of the van one morning when dropping off my son, saying how she was freezing and that the heather was broke and they wouldn't fix it because it cost too much, really? The tuition for 3 kids in one month pay for that! The same kids you're transporting in that van and you can't fix it) oh well. Not my problem anymore! If you truly love your child, take them elsewhere. read more

My son is high risk of being autistic so his behavior & learning is different from other children, I told the director & 2 other ladies at this location about that & it was a big concern of mine, they told me they've dealt with autistic children before & everything would be fine. My sons first day of school they called me complaining about him & told me I can't bring him back due to his autism until he is "better" this place is shitty as hell & I don't recommend anyone bring their autistic children here. So disrespectful & horrible they can neglect autistic children & lie to parents just for money to enroll them. read more

My youngest attends Children's Choice current and loves it. The teachers are amazing and care for the children.

When my four month old son was getting ready to start daycare so that I could return to work, I was terrified...as I think most new parents are. How could anyone possibly care for my sweet baby other than me?! Almost immediately after he started at Children's Choice (the Madison location), my fears and anxieties were gone. Even though he couldn't vocalize to me whether he liked it there or not, I knew how much he enjoyed it because every day I dropped him off he was genuinely excited to see his caregivers and friends. He would smile and laugh at them all the time and even started giving them kisses (a HUGE honor). Shortly before his first birthday our family relocated, so we had to pull him out of the program. :( We are fortunate enough now that Grandma will be around to watch him, but while we were away Children's Choice was absolutely the next best thing! I honestly could not thank or recommend them enough!!! read more

Wow. I am shocked by how some people have reviewed this absolutely exceptional day care!! I enrolled my son when he was six, shortly after moving cross country to where I knew no one or anything and i have not been disappointed!!! Jenny (the director) and Miss Vai have bent over backwards for my family and I on many occasions. They are extremely responsive and ready to help whenever they can!! I am happy to be part of the Childrens Choice family and call them friends. I am so grateful for the amazing staff!!! I chose to send my infant to the Childrens Choice Academy in Lakeside (the 2nd street location doesnt start until age 2) and have been equally as pleased and grateful for the staff at that location!!! This is the place to send your kid if you are looking for an honest and trustworthy daycare!!! Keep up the amazing work!!! read more

Worst daycare I've seen. Feeding children pop tarts for breakfast. Workers just showing children videos on their cellphone. No attention for crying children. Pulled my child out shortly after we enrolled him. read more

I normally send my kids to the lakeside location which is amazing but since covid 19 happens I sent my oldest to the second street location today and they helped him get caught up on his homework. read more

While I'm sure this is a satisfactory place to take your child, I have a huge complaint about the service I received. Long story short, needed to find a daycare that can pick up from my son's school as the after school program was full. I called both Children's Choice locations in El Cajon to see if they pick up from his school and the girl (who sounded very bothered by having to answer the phone and answer the ONE question I asked) told me that No they do not pick up from his school (Nowhere does)!! So I stressed about it off an on for 8 months while looking for a place all the while having to leave work to drive all the way across San Diego to pick up my son and drop him off with various family and friends everyday. Finally, I found a daycare (yay I can breathe a little easier). About a week later I see a Children's Choice van picking up at my son's school!!!!!!! I called and talked to the program director who says "well we didn't pick up from there before but we just had a student enroll from that school so we do now" my response, naturally "so why couldn't I enroll my son?" Her response was "I don't know I don't even remember talking to you" Well thanks for nothing! read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! My daughter was in the state funded preschool, which was awful for various reasons. I pulled her out in October and started my daughter in the preschool (4yr old class) shortly after and I could not have been happier with the choice to do so. The teachers are attentive, caring, affectionate, and truly focused on preparing the children for kindergarten while making sure they have a lot of positive reinforcement and positive self-talk. I see how they are with the babies as well and if I have any more children, I will be taking them here when I am ready to return to work! love love love it. read more

This place was beyond disgusting . I did a tour for 2 of the programs they offer .The room for the 18 month olds was disgusting!!!!!!! They have a changing table in the middle of the class room . The children being changed have zero pricey . .The class room smells like urine . The kids looked dirty . They had 2 staff and around 16-20 kids under the age of 2.The women who did the tour was nice . I would not send my child there ! The place looked disgusting and smells like shit. read more

Very first daycare we ever enrolled our girls in! The teachers were sweet. We had all our questions answered. I never once felt off about leaving our girls here. Our girls have learned so much in the last 2 years. They look forward to going every morning. We even followed the school to a closer location and love it just the same! read more

DO NOT TAKE YOUR CHILD HERE! A few months ago when I was looking for a daycare for my children, I went here to look around. The "kitchen" door was open and there was crap everywhere, totally unsanitary. We went into their preschool classroom and it was filthy. There were children hitting each other in the corner of the classroom and the teacher was oblivious. She didn't greet me either. I could hear a teacher yelling at children in another room. I'm sure their jobs are hard, but I dont want anyone yelling at my kids! It was cheaper than most schools, but I would never trust them with my children. Didn't plan on writing a bad review (I'm new to this), but when I saw it had five stars I had to speak up. read more

I have only been taking my 14month old for a couple months one day a week (to the Madison location) and I love it. All the teachers are so great. The facility is clean and very inviting. My son is just getting used to mommy leaving him and the staff does a great job at taking care of him. Its very comforting leaving him in their hands. I cannot thank/appreciate them enough! :) read more

I know they recently got a new director for the north second street facility (Jenny) I'm not impressed!! Called 3 times to see if they could take my daughter in for spring break and she never called me back. After my last attempt she finally answered the phone and tells me she has to wait til Friday before she gives me an answer! My daughter used to go there from 18 months to 4 years and this is the treatment I get back?! Wish Ms Debbie was still the director! Very disappointed!! read more

If you love your kid DONT send them to this daycare on 2nd Street. If you notice all the good teachers have left. The food they feed them is donated and usually ready to expire. The kids are yelled at and not treated like you think. Lice is always a problem or hand,foot,and mouth disease. They have been infested with roaches alot and some of their food has spoiled with bugs in them. The director, all the kids are scared of and so are most of the employees. I would not recommend to my worse enemy. read more

Very disappointed . My son is on the autism spectrum although he fictions just as well as a normal child he was treated differently. His previous daycare closed so they shipped the children here. I asked my son if he liked it here he told me he didn't I told him just hold on till the summer was over the next school year he would be going to kinder full time. Luckily previous daycare providers who knew my son would take him to their class room. The teacher never had anything nice to say always bad remarks on how he was that day "he didn't want to play with the kids" "He drank my soda" "he only wanted to ride the scooter" maybe if she got off her fat ass and did something productive with the children she wouldn't have a problem and why are u drinking soda randomly around the kids I feel is unprofessional Please keep in mind my son does have a disability he's now in a home care on school breaks and I've only had a couple days where he has had a bad day. Best decision was to take him out . I'm very glad he started school full time and no longer had to here read more

My husband, son and I all Love the staff at Children's Choice. My son started in Ms.Yicela's class, she is so great with children it was not long before all my sadness and stress of returning back to work was eased. Now our son is in Ms. Kathy & Ms. Christina's class, last class before Kindergarten! They are both wonderful! Ms. Kathy seems very knowledgeable in what she does. My son has learned so much and is so happy, there's no better proof than that. This school is definitely doing something right! read more

I love this school! My kid loves it. The staff is very nice. Everything is always clean and organized when i come in. I would recommend this school to anyone! read more