We have loved their Little Explorers program and the entire community is so welcoming. Thank you…read morefor being part of my girl's development and mine, too!

We absolutely love Oneonta Co-op Nursery School! Our daughter is in her second year here and still…read morewakes up excited to go every single morning. The teachers are patient, creative, and genuinely care about every child--they strike that perfect balance of nurturing and encouraging independence. What really makes Oneonta special, though, is the community. The co-op model brings parents together in such a meaningful way; you don't just drop your kid off--you become part of a caring, supportive village. We've made real friendships here, and watching our daughter grow socially and emotionally has been incredible. If you're looking for a preschool that's joyful, intentional, and community-driven, this is it. Couldn't recommend it more highly!

I wanted to share our positive experience at Cavalry Preschool. While every family's needs differ,…read moreI think some of the prior reviews overlook what truly matters in early childhood education. We were initially drawn to the campus, with extensive outside playgrounds and large classrooms. But what has kept us here is the teachers and staff demonstrate compassion, patience, and understanding with each child. Our 2-year-old has thrived under their care, and we can see the warmth and support they provide daily. Our daughter lights up when she talks about her teachers - Ms. Alyssa, Ms. Francine, Ms. Cindy, Ms. Rachelle, and Ms. Eloise... They work hard to keep the kids engaged and provide fun learning opportunities and experiences, such as water slides in the summer, creative craft and arts and crafts projects daily, things we could never do at home. Most importantly, our child is safe and happy there. The staff took time time to understand and appreciate our toddler's personality and needs, and created an environment of nurturing guidance. The core competencies that matter most - building confidence, fostering social skills, providing emotional support - are all present at Cavalry Preschool. For families looking for a place where young children will be truly cared for, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

What a blessing it was stumbling upon this beautiful preschool! Today is my 4 year olds last day…read moresadly because we are moving but i feel so lucky to have been able to send my daughter here for a year. The teachers are amazing, especially Ms. Elise and Ms. Jean. Calvary is such a loving school focusing on nurturing children and helping them grow socially and developmentally at this crucial age. Since beginning at Calvary, the change in my daughter's personality is incredible -- she's become so outgoing, creative, plays independently, and gets along wonderfully with other kids. I was at first hesitant sending my daughter to a "religious" school, but the emphasis on religion is very small, they sing, pray before they eat (which is the absolute cutest thing ever) and it ended up being a perfect match for us as i believe it has assisted in her development of being a well rounded child. Thank you Calvary for a beautiful year! We are so sad to leave!

We love Little Acorn! My son started at 18 months and it was his first daycare experience. He…read moreacclimated pretty quickly and was fully adjusted in less than two weeks! The teachers in the toddler classroom as so sweet and caring, and we love seeing his smiling face at drop off and pick up. We pay extra for the lunch program but it is so worth it. Everything is cooked fresh in house and it really makes our lives easier. We would highly recommend Little Acorn and love their approach to teaching the little ones. They really try to incorporate a lot of practical life learning. Our son absolutely loves it. They are also very good about posting updates in the Procare app. We get to see when his diapers are checked and/or changed, when and how much he's eaten his snacks and lunch. We also receive at least one photo of him during the day.

Our daughter spent a year and a half at Little Acorn, starting from when she was 18 months old…read more It's a great daycare program filled with thoughtful and caring teachers, enriching activities, and overall, is a structured environment that supports the children well. In particular, I cannot say enough good things about Ms. Amanda's Toddler classroom. Our daughter came home weekly with beautifully crafted art projects and we received regular photo updates from the Procare app, which gave us peace of mind when she was so little. She also began potty training around 25 months old when Ms. Amanda noticed that she showed interest, and I attribute her potty training success to the consistent effort and support reinforced by her and the rest of the teachers. Another positive is that our very picky eater has been a big fan of the hot lunch program, which is cooked on-site (thanks Ms. Gene!) I would remove a star as there was quite a bit of staff turnover right as our daughter switched into the Pre-Primary classroom. This was unfortunate as the ever-changing staff made the transition more challenging for our child, and she had a bit of a regression. However, once Ms. Nona was instated as the main teacher, she was patient and worked with our daughter, meeting her at her level until she got over the hump. Though we're sad to leave Little Acorn, we're grateful that this program set our daughter up with such a great foundation. We will miss all the teachers at Little Acorn!

My son has been at Celebration Kids for 3 years. Because they are open year-round, that's a total…read moreof about 1,000 days of amazing care, teaching, and community. Of those thousand days, I would estimate that I've seen him walk onto campus about six times. Every other day, he has SPRINTED through the gates to start another amazing day there. Couldn't recommend highly enough :)

Our daughter is in her third year at Celebration Kids, and we're incredibly grateful to all of the…read moreteachers and staff at CK for providing a warm, safe, playful, and enriching environment for her to grow. She has learned so much under the care of each of her teachers, made many close friends, and generally had a blast. Sara, the owner, is so generous with her time and has offered us invaluable support around the stressful process of planning for kindergarten, and many of our daughter's teachers have become beloved babysitters that we hope will continue to be in our lives for years to come. Everyone at CK is truly invested in the growth and wellbeing of the kids, seeing them for who they are and helping them really shine. And in addition to all of that, it's one of the most affordable preschools in the area, which is really the cherry on top. We love CK!

I was very nervous about sending my son to daycare because my older children were looked after by…read moremy family. I have a hard time trusting others with my children, but sending my son to Room to Bloom was the best decision we made for him. He started when he was 19 months old in 2021 and he stayed until he was old enough to go to Kindergarten. Ms. Celine, a former public school teacher, told me that she would treat my son as if he was her own and she kept her promise. My son loved going to school and was always happy when we picked him up. She chooses her staff carefully and we love the teachers at Room to Bloom. They are kind, energetic, nurturing, and patient. The curriculum is so well thought out and my child learned different themes every couple of weeks. I love that my son wasn't just going somewhere for the day where the teachers just simply watched him. He was taught so much during his time at this school. In the 4 years that he was at Room to Bloom, my son learned how to read, do math, write, cut, glue, put on his shoes and clothes, wipe after using the restroom, and so much more. Because my son was very interested in math and reading, the teachers individualized instruction to meet his needs, even so far as doing multiplication/division/reading comprehension with him. I was hoping Ms Celine and the teachers at Room to Bloom would prepare him for Kindergarten, but he learned so much that he can honestly just sleep through K and be just fine. This school is the perfect balance of play and learning. I really can't believe how much little kids can learn when given the opportunity. They also teach kids about good character as well as social emotional learning. Ms Celine sends photos to parents at the end of the day as well as a summary of the activities for the day. If you choose to purchase lunch, your child will eat nutritious and delicious home cooked meals. There are fun events that parents can attend like a winter holiday performance as well as a Mother's Day and Father's Day celebration. The teachers go to great lengths to make children feel very special on their birthdays as well. I am very happy with Room to Bloom and can't imagine going anywhere else. My older kids went to local South Pasadena preschools, but if Room to Bloom was around when they were young, I would have absolutely sent them there instead.

We transitioned our kids from nanny care to Room to Bloom for 2 years (pre-preschool and…read morepre-school) and it was great for our kids and family. Unlike some other preschools, they focus on education not just childcare, and my kids were well prepared for kindergarten at Valentine Elementary because of what they learned at Room to Bloom. The interior facilities are well maintained, and lots of toys to choose from both inside and outside. All of the kids are generally well behaved, and the teachers employ a gentle but appropriately firm approach to discipline. Their teachers are kind and patient with the kids, and the food they provide for lunch is totally worth the small added cost. My kids still say that Ms. Celine's meals are better than mommy and daddy's - d'oh! Although they are now in 1st grade, we still send our kids to Room to Bloom for their monthly "Date Night Out" so mommy and daddy can have some me time!

My two children have been a part of the St. James community since 2018 and our experience with the…read morenursery and PreK programs has been incredible. The teachers are so supportive and genuinely take the time to get to know each child. Each school year is filled with educational events that my sons were so excited over: fun with bubbles, learning about sea life and wildlife through experiential presentations with real animals, history through music presentations- it's an endless list of memorable activities for the kids. The parent community is equally special and incredibly supportive. While so many parents dedicate their time and talent to our community, I have always felt like whatever time and effort I have to offer to our community is absolutely enough and always appreciated. Every family I've interacted with has been so kind, and I've felt personally lucky to have this community.

All four of our children have attended this world class school. It's a gem! Children are challenged…read moreto play, explore, and be creative everyday in dynamic classrooms, outside in nature under the beautiful mulberry tree and amongst the herbs, veggies and flowers of their community garden. The diversity of physical activities, dance, art, language and STEM after-school programming enriches their growing minds and bodies! The families here thrive in-part beacof the fun parent community and lifelong friendships made.

I came across The Play Atelier when I was thinking about starting my daughter in school. Because of…read morethe pandemic, I was nervous about sending her too early, but I knew how important socialization would be. From the moment we toured the school and met Aremi, the director, I felt an instant sense of comfort. She has a true gift, and her love for what she does is genuinely felt. I knew right then that my daughter would thrive here. For a little over two years, my daughter attended this amazing school, and I was constantly surprised by how much she was learning. She would come home and show me new things that amazed me. Her absolute favorite part was the garden--she loved looking for bugs, but even more, she loved trying all the vegetables and fruits she watched grow each day. The teachers are all incredible--loving, patient, and trustworthy. And Aremi goes above and beyond, not only to nurture the children but also to have open and honest conversations with parents to ensure we have the information we need to make the best decisions for our kids. Choosing The Play Atelier was one of the best decisions I made for my daughter's early years. I wholeheartedly recommend this school to any parent looking for a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment for their child.

Writing Yelp reviews is not something I do easily. My time is valuable and frankly, I don't enjoy…read moredoing it. But the last almost two and a half years at Play Atelier has been so wonderful I felt compelled. My daughter started around age 2 in the "Sparrows" Room and moved through the "Magpies" and eventually graduated a "Robin". Throughout her school journey I found support throughout every new challenge, from sleeping in a new space to potty training. The space: I love their collection of learning toys, costumes, library and "feeling" corners. I'm sure I haven't seen it all, but the aesthetic of the space is beautiful and there seems to be something for every play and learning style. The playground: GORGEOUS! The play structures are well thought out and their garden is well-kept and thriving. They spent many days playing and picnicking, learning about caterpillars and harvesting kale. The food: We opted for full days with naps and meals. The calendar of food is varied while still taking limitations and allergies into consideration. All the food is prepared daily in the on-site kitchen and is planned and sent out in a weekly calendar. The staff: AMAZING. They seem to share the same "whole brain child" philosophy. We will miss all the teachers, but Miss Jackie and Miss Deybi hold a special place in our hearts. They were there from the beginning and grew with our daughter. Also communication is excellent as they use an app for meal, diaper/potty, nap and check-in/check outs among others things. They were always very responsive. I also often received adorable pictures of the day. Additionally, I always felt my daughter was safe and well-protected. Her wellness was paramount, along with the other kids, for the staff. We feel *SO* lucky to have found Play Atelier for our daughter. Even my older son says "I wish I had gone to that preschool". If it were open then, he surely would have! The owner, Aremi, clearly has put all her heart and soul into the space and it shows. If I could give more stars I would, but 5 will have to do!

We sent both our now-7-year-old and currently-6-month-old to Almansor Center. It's been phenomenal!…read moreTo clarify, IRL is a large nonprofit that serves adults and children with special needs with a range of services; IRL runs a private elementary school (grades 3-8?) for children with physical and cognitive special needs on site, a site which was formerly a public elementary school; and alongside the Almansor Academy (the private school for special needs) is the Almansor Center / Early Education department. It's for neurotypical and special needs kids. The special needs kids are a small percentage, but I loved that my sons got to spend time with special needs kids who would be placed in a different class in public school. (Nonverbal, vision issues, etc.) This childcare for age 0-4 has almost zero online presence, which is why so few people know about it. But the other review explains how great they are. People from different neighborhoods send their kids. Check them out!

Our son attended Almansor's early education program from when he was one years old until he turned…read morethree, and he loved it there. We left to attend a school closer to us, and on our final day, we were all in tears to say goodbye because that is how much the programs staff and teachers mean to our family. From before our son could walk, and through every big milestone, the caring teachers at Almansor have supported him developmentally, emotionally, and academically. We love the teachers, especially Teacher Alexis and Teacher Mary who our son still talks about. They provide so much love and support, and we always felt comfortable and at ease with leaving our kid in their care.

I wanted to take a moment to say what an incredible experience we've had with the staff and faulty…read moreat Oneonta Montessori. We put our kiddos there in April 2021 during the pandemic which was a tough decision given the times. However, the staff and Ms. Fiona made us feel at ease and assured us of their safety. They attended Oneonta for three years ending their time their more than ready for first grade. As a result, our kids are more than prepared for first grade. Anytime we had a concern all of the faculty addressed them with care, empathy and concern. I truly felt we had a partnership with everyone there at our school. While every child is different, I know that our kiddos thrived there and are looking forward to coming back for summer camp in 2025! Thank you to everyone for giving our children a strong foundation to start on their academic journey!

We moved from the valley to Alhambra, and this school was the first school I inquired about when…read moreenrolling my kids starting preschool and kindergarten. My kids came from a Montessori school and I wanted to continue the same curriculum. My kids had such an incredible experience at Oneonta and are still there! As a mother of 3 kiddos, I loved that all the teachers knew the kiddos names right away and would communicate frequently via the dojo app, whether they were photos of their activities, classes, and even events when my husband and I couldn't make it to an event at school. From Ms. Theresa to Ms. Vangie, Ms. Carol, and Ms. Maryann, plus Ms. Fiona and Ms. Christina, it's been easy to communicate with them throughout my kids' education. They offer the STEM program and knowing that my kids are being taught these subjects will help them prepare for middle school and up. Coming from a catholic school and public school background, I was impressed by what the school had to offer with the activities/field trips/science fairs/math and spelling bees, plus a fun summer program! It's sad to know that my daughter will be leaving as soon as she finishes 5th grade, but I'm glad my kids have that foundation from Oneonta. :)

To add clarity the events in this review were experienced by EVERYONE in our group for over a year…read more Many of our fellow parents unenrolled as a result of these events. As class parents we heard the concerns of the remaining parents in our class and voiced our collective concerns, only to be met with retribution from the owner. That being said, If you would like your children to go to a facility where the owner is okay with your child sleeping on a carpet that smells like a casino floor this place is for you. I was debating not writing anything but after spending time at other day cares in the area that take cleanliness and consistency seriously I had to share my experience. We spent over a year at this location with our toddler and during the one year there we experienced a HFM out break that impacted the entire class, yes the entire class was out for weeks. When one child would return even with no others present they somehow would contract the virus, we cited cleanliness concerns that were not addressed. We loved our first teacher unforunately she left after two months, from then on our experience with the leads was a merry go round of turn over during the time there. Every day we wouldn't be sure if our lead would be present, on leave or fired. Turnover is a huge issue here. Once, all of the parents spent a half hour at the gate locked out of the school when we were trying to pick up our children at the end of the day. They could not find their spare key so the children were trapped inside. And lastly after our families were all devastated by the fires, this location opened with a ventilation system that had not been professionally cleaned and carpets that smelled like smoke for weeks. They did not take their role in the recovery process seriously. If leadership, consistency, cleanliness and communication are important to you I would say DDP ranks low on the list of options in pasadena. There are better options down the street.

Our son went to discovery days preschool from July of 2021- May of 2025. We had a wonderful…read moreexperience here especially in the TK (sequoia) classroom. There are a lot of great enrichment activities available for a fee (karate, yoga, dance, soccer, theatre to name a few) on campus. They have state of the art facilities and great teacher to student ratios. They also have a woman who comes in periodically to teach social emotional learning classes (SEL) and supports students one on one if needed for an extra fee. We were extremely satisfied with our experience here, the only negative for us in the earlier years was the high teacher turnover- which seems to be a problem in a lot of preschool environments. All in all though, Discovery Days fostered a very welcoming and positive environment. Our son is absolutely ready for kindergarten socially and academically.