We could not be more happy with our Marin Montessori Middle School experience. We transferred our…read moredaughter in mid year and have been thrilled to see her engagement and interest in learning return. The staff are incredibly lovely and caring professionals who have the deepest respect for each student. We were met with openness and warmth and the turnaround for her academics was pronounced. She looks forward to going to school and loves getting to have choice in her own learning. Marin Montessori has truly created a culture of kindness and it has made all the difference for our family!

My oldest child is completing his first year at MMS, and I couldn't have dreamt up a better…read moreexperience for the equivalent of his pre-K year. He has always had a tough time with transitions until he made the transition to MMS! The school thoughtfully welcomed him in such a way that he walked in on his first day with no hesitation, making me feel at ease sending him to school everyday. The mixed age Montessori classroom environment nurtures his curiosity, giving him the opportunity to learn from his peers and practice leadership skills. The school's administration and guides are incredibly supportive of my child, meeting him where he is while ushering him to the next level. When my son's guide checked in with me after his first two days of school, the words she used to describe him were spot on. Beyond the school's administration and guides, the parent community has been an excellent resource to me and my growing family. My family moved to the Bay from the East Coast a few years ago, and I greatly appreciate that many parents are from other states and various non-US countries with diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences that their children can share with my children. I am looking forward to my second child starting in the fall!

My daughter received a puncture wound and nasty permanent scar in the center of her forehead from…read morethe faulty playground equipment there. Director Jennifer Easterman showed zero empathy and when I went to visit the site found one of the teachers taking a nap outside!! We removed our daughter from this school and found a positive peaceful protected space at Acqua Montessori in Terra Linda.

Our son has been absolutely thriving in this school. The teachers are caring and thoughtful, the…read moreadministrators are responsive and on top of things. Overall I couldn't imagine a better place for our son to learn and grow.

I'm going to be honest and share that Educare wasn't our first choice. At the time, I thought I…read morewanted something more niche or up with the trends of other types of school styles and we chose Educare because we found them to be the most dual income family friendly with hours starting at 730am-5pm and year round so no need to plan for summer camps. Turns out, Educare was the best decision we could have made for our us and our kids, especially having compared notes with friends from other schools. We started there as early as 22 months- the youngest that they'll take them. Educare has provided so much growth for my kids- both socially and academically. They've grown to speak up for themselves, to work both independently and as a team, to behave appropriately at restaurants, make friends easily at playgrounds, focus on tasks, cope with quiet time, try new things/foods, and transition successfully through various situations and scenarios. The teachers and staff approach everything with such empathy and love- even potty training. My youngest had issues pooping in the potty and it was a long two month journey. Instead of making it my problem, the teachers approached it with patience and worked with my little one until she was fully able to let go of the fear and anxiety. One of my favorite things that Educare does, aside from providing breakfast/snacks/lunch, is celebrate all the various cultural holidays and occasions. They also provide two parent/teacher conferences twice a year- both of which the school stays open vs closed like others. The community of parents and friends we've met have been so special. Lastly, I couldn't have asked for my kiddo to be more prepared for kindergarten. We didn't have to spend time after dinner or before bedtime to help them catch up either emotionally or academically. As our kinder teacher shared during our first parent/teacher conference when discussing various school assessments, "the Educare kids usually all do really well."

Educare is such a wonderful school. We had our son at a more strict, more well-known Montessori and…read moreit didn't feel right (too sterile, no smiles!) -- then we found Educare and my son has absolutely thrived here. The teachers and staff blend a high degree of learning with fun, they host so many great events to learn about different cultures, and it's a total bonus that the kids learn in both Spanish and English. As we're heading to kindergarten this fall, it's clear that the Educare kids are extremely well prepared to enter kindergarten with confidence. And if you're planning to be in the LCM public schools, it's awesome for the kids to have so many familiar Educare kids at their elementary school. I'm truly grateful that we found Educare and want to spread the word -- they didn't show up as prominently in my original search as some of the preschools with a more 'elite' reputation. But now that I've seen many friends go through many different pre-schools, I can say with confidence that Educare stands out for nurturing and preparing kids for kindergarten -- socially, emotionally and academically. Moving my son to Educare is one of the best parenting decisions I've made.

We were at CMLC for 3 years, and our experience was stellar! The teachers are so loving,…read morethoughtful, and intentional. There is absolutely no "going through the motions." The Reggio Emilia approach to childhood education allowed our son to blossom into himself rather than be molded into someone he is not. The teachers know each student intimately. Natural Classroom days allowed our kid to explore beautiful surroundings with friends at his own pace. We will miss the bonds created at Curious Minds! Highly recommend!

I can't recommend CMLC enough. We have been with them for over 6 years and (2) kids. We feel…read morehonored to be part of the little community that is built around this school and will miss it dearly. The teachers go above and beyond in so many ways to engage our kids in new activities and help them grow. They also provide weekly photos, weekly summaries of activities, topics, challenges faced by our children as well as the class room as a whole. Not to mention the quarterly review letters, that call out our children's strengths, challenges and learning path ahead. Jackie is a 5 star administrator. She has been there every step of the way to build the CMLC community as well as keep us updated on current events effecting the school. She has provided in depth advice for both of our children to set them on the best path forward. THANK YOU!!!!

My daughter is in her second year at the Mountain School and we couldn't be happier. I toured 15…read morepreschools throughout Marin when looking for a preschool and was utterly blown away by the calm and creativity I saw when I toured TMS, and which is why we are in our second year at the School. My daughter is absolutely thriving, she is independent and creative, showing her imagination and play at home as well. The teachers and staff all care so much, and it really feels like a close-knit group. I am so thankful for TMS and can't wait for our younger daughter to start!

Our daughter has been at The Mountain School for more than four months now and I could not be more…read morepleased. The school is a warm place in every sense - the teachers are lovely and the space is inviting and peaceful. Every day, my daughter asks if she gets to go to school. It is such a happy place for her. She loves her teacher, Ms. Claudia, and loves her friends. We also love Ms. Claudia - she's fabulous! At The Mountain School, the children learn how to be independent (to do their "work") in many ways. They also learn to be kind to one another, use their imagination and appreciate nature, among many other things. Everything is well thought out from the daily schedule to how the teachers speak to the children. We feel so lucky to have found The Mountain School for our daughter. Highly recommend!

My kids have basically grown up at Guidepost Montessori San Rafael. Our daughter started in the…read moreNido program when she was 7 months old. Our son started in Toddler and has now moved up to Children's House. We've been here for almost two years, and I'm still a little shocked by the things my kids come home knowing. When I was pregnant, I realized how important early childhood development is, and it was really important to me that anyone caring for my children be truly knowledgeable in that area. Many nannies and au pairs are wonderful, but they don't always facilitate learning with intention. The staff here have studied early childhood development or are currently studying it, and you can see it in the way they care for the kids. The belief that children are capable runs through everything the guides and staff do, and it's the heart of the Montessori pedagogy. Instead of putting on a child's shoes for them, they teach the child to do it herself, with more patience than I've ever had as a parent. It's hard to do that as a mom, and I'm so thankful to have them as partners in teaching my kids these things, because they do it in such loving ways. And we see the results at home. My 3.5-year-old insists on getting his own glass of water and gets frustrated if I try to help, because he knows he can do it. He recognizes letters and numbers, has mastered his colors, understands small to large, and has started to grasp categories and geography. His language is so robust that he sometimes talks more like a 5-year-old. My 15-month-old comes home with songs and hand gestures for nursery rhymes. She loves using her fork and spoon, and she knows that shoes go in the basket, trash goes in the trash, and laundry goes in the laundry. She feels so proud of herself when she helps pick up, and she claps when we're done. One moment I will never forget happened when my baby's Nido classmate moved up to the toddler classroom. She spotted him through the window, and they were both so excited. Ms. Ana, the head of school, opened the door so she could say hello. My daughter walked straight over and hugged him, and he hugged her back. They touched each other's faces in the sweetest way, like they had really missed each other. It was such a beautiful moment to watch two little humans do that, and it comes from the relationship-building they learned together in the Nido classroom. The administrative team has been just as kind to our family. During a difficult season, they created a special schedule and rate to accommodate us, and later they were incredibly gracious with financial aid, which has allowed us to stay. Ms. Ana also writes a thoughtful intro to the weekly newsletter that brings us back to Montessori principles and gives us ideas for continuing them at home. If anything happens at school, like a minor accident, they call us right away. I always feel informed and included. We plan to stay through kindergarten, even though we could choose free TK, because we've seen what this early investment does for our kids. They're confident, independent, curious, and respectful of others, and it shows in how they focus, manage their emotions, and treat their friends and teachers. If you're nervous about leaving your child in care, especially as a first-time parent, I understand, because it's so stressful. This staff truly loves children, and they do it in partnership with you. I don't think there is anything more you could ask for.

We absolutely love Guidepost Montessori in San Rafael and are so happy we selected this…read moreestablishment for our son when he was 9 months old. He went through their Nido (infant), Toddler, and now Children's house programs so we have experienced the full suite of care here and it has been a warm, encouraging place for his emotional growth and fostering his independence. Their program at its core, using Montessori principles, empowers kids with structure that allows them to follow their interests. He comes home and surprises us regularly with things he's learned at guidepost, from manners (pushing in chairs, putting things away, wanting to help out around the house), to songs, art, or stories of what he did during the day. The guides who run the classrooms are FANTASTIC, skilled, thoughtful, engaging staff who obviously truly care about the well being of the children. There are flex hours available that suit our family's needs and their program has a lot of components beyond the typical Montessori classroom - music, warm days there are water activities outside, soccer, dance... they also do creative activities for the holidays including art with the kids and some things that involve the parents and develop a sense of community. Can't say enough great things about the staff here - the leadership team is the best. I highly recommend! We will be bringing our newborn here once I go back to work.

When our son was 18 mos we were not sure where to put him. We heard about teacher Teresa from a…read moregood friend. So we decided to check her out. She has helped our little boy blossom. He now sits at a table takes off his shoes and even puts his sippy in the sink. Teresa follows the Montessori method and implies it to everyday skills. She embraces the children that are bi or tri lingual. She allows the kids to think for themselves and encourages them to be independent. We are amazed that our 18 mos year now is a strong self confident little boy.

Golden Poppy has been amazing for our family! Dropping off a toddler and an infant at the same time…read moreis no joke, but the team here made the transition so smooth for both girls. Our toddler is in the tiger room with Ms. G, Ms. Khadeijah, Ms. Mary, and Ms. Veronica, and she loves it. She was nervous to start at a new school but the teachers were accommodating and made her feel so welcome. They are awesome at planning fun activities for the kids and helping with milestones like potty training. Additionally, the teachers have been so supportive of our infant's transition too as she started in the kitten room. Getting photo updates during the day is the best. Highly recommend them!

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Golden Poppy Daycare! Transitioning an infant and a…read moretoddler into daycare at the same time felt so daunting, but the amazing GP team made the entire process incredibly smooth. All of the teachers and staff are so supportive. Our youngest started in the Kitten/infant room at 7mo old, and her teachers, Ms. Anita, Ms. Rory, and Ms. Leah, are absolutely amazing. They genuinely care for every baby in the class and provide a deeply nurturing environment. They have been instrumental in partnering with us through major developmental and feeding milestones, guiding us with patience and expertise. The transition was made so much easier for our family because GP also provided thoughtful support for our toddler as she adjusted to her new routine in the Tiger room. We absolutely love the consistent photos and updates sent throughout the day. Seeing those happy moments gives us total peace of mind while we are at work. We feel so incredibly lucky to have GP as part of our care team!

Bright Start Little School is the best daycare we could have imagined. Full stop…read more Our daughter and son attended over the course of three years, and it was a joy to watch them grow and learn in such a loving, nurturing environment. Vania has a deep understanding of child development and continues to expand her expertise and it truly shows. The activities she creates for children of different ages are thoughtful, engaging, and developmentally rich. From watching caterpillars transform into butterflies to making personalized Mother's Day crafts (I still have the German handprint card on our fridge!), every experience is designed with care and intention. Her two longtime caregivers, Esly and Yomara, have been with her for many years, which speaks volumes, especially in an industry where turnover can be high. Their consistency and warmth gave our children such a strong sense of comfort and trust. Daily updates and photos were always a highlight, and communication, whether about an illness or the rare small boo-boo, was impeccable. Our kids thrived at Bright Start. They entered school confident, curious, and well-prepared, not just academically, but socially and emotionally. Many of our daughter's closest friends today are the ones she made at Vania's. And funnily enough, most of our closest friends in Marin are families we met through Bright Start, too. It's hard to overstate what a real, welcoming community Vania has built. Especially if you're new to the area, this place is something truly special: loving, grounded, and just the right amount of not-too-fussy.

I can't say enough great things about this daycare and how incredible they have been with my son…read moresince he began attending two years ago. When we drop him off he is greeted with genuine warmth and love from his teachers and he is always excited to see them and his friends. They have many different activities scheduled for each day including gymnastics, yoga, and music classes AND they serve healthy, homemade, child friendly lunches and snacks. Additionally, the backyard area is large and filled with lot's of activities with plenty of space to run around and get his energy out. It's covered so they can be outside year round. They also go out in a buggy to the nearby park on nice days which is not something that we have seen with other school options in the neighborhood. Finally, the owner has an AS degree in early childhood education which adds to the value of this school as this is not common with home daycares. Every day we drop him off we can feel good knowing that our son is in great hands and developing his social, emotional, and cognitive skills all while having a great time!