We were at CMLC for 3 years, and our experience was stellar! The teachers are so loving, thoughtful, 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! read more

I can't recommend CMLC enough. We have been with them for over 6 years and (2) kids. We feel honored 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!!!! read more

The teachers at this school are so loving, caring and amazing. They work really hard to nurture the children, setting up many different types of activities and encouraging the kids to learn through play and exploration. Though the outdoor play space is small the kids do lots of climbing and heavy body work and they also supplement with nature walks. The inside classroom is truly beautiful and an inspiring place. My kids and I have been very happy with this program and I definitely recommend it. read more

CMLC is a gem of a preschool. The teachers are empathetic and supportive; they nurture a love of learning and discovery in the children -- whether it be mixing paint together to create new colors, or identifying plants and animals during Friday's "natural classroom". The summer camp is also wonderful, with a different theme each week, and the opportunity to pick non-consecutive weeks. The school community is great, and we feel engaged and well-informed as parents. We receive an email summarizing each week, with photos. Parents have a conference with teachers twice per year, and the teachers write beautiful letters to each child about their personalities, strengths and growth. Additionally, there are class playdates and family activities throughout the school year. We love CMLC and can't imagine a better preschool for our children. read more

Loved this program. The school may not look like much from the outside but it is such a special community inside. The teachers take so much pride in setting up creative activities every day for the kids (they pick what they are interested in but get exposed to so much variety), they work on collaborative projects together as a class, and the outdoor classroom every Friday has been so so great for our son's development, exposure, and sense of adventure. He has walked into school every single day for the past year with confidence, cheer and receptivity. SO glad we found them and so appreciative of their support at such a special age. Only downside is the hours! Wish the days covered the workday. read more

Would avoid this school at all costs. Signed up and had a conflict arise 2 weeks later. Tried to cancel 2 months before school started and they refused any compromise on refund. If a school is so bad that they can't fill the spots I am just glad my son is not there. read more

Our three year old daughter is mid-way through her first pre-school year at CMLC. We think it is great! They have a wonderful and diverse array of activities and the teachers feel kind and caring. Our little girl had a hard time at first and the teachers were great at helping her through the transition (and helping us, too!). I highly recommend this school! read more

Curious Minds has been a wonderful school for our daughter to learn and grow. The teachers provide and safe and loving environment and the community among parents and teachers is very special. Our daughter has flourished and we will send our youngest daughter this fall as well. read more

I cannot say enough about this beautiful school. We knew right away this was the place for our daughter when she felt immediately comfortable upon entering. We didn't, however, expect to fall so in the love with the community it builds. The teachers and owner are warm, creative, caring, thoughtful, and so incredibly insightful and empathetic to each and every student. The families that attend are equally wonderful, and I am so sad this time will be coming to an end for our family. We will miss hearing all the wonderful things our daughter is doing every day, seeing all the pictures and weekly journals the teachers share, attending Natural Classroom on Fridays, and so much more. If you have an opportunity to send a child here, do it. read more

CMLC has been such a wonderful place for our two kids to begin their educational process and develop a wonderful sense of curiosity for the world around them. We had our oldest graduate and head off to Kindergarten last year, and we have our youngest with another few years remaining. The teachers are engaging and loving, The combination of structured activity with play-based learning has been such a blessing, and we could not recommend this school more to any young family considering options for their young humans. Wonderful sense of community, even throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, and their response and processes related to keeping the children and entire community safe and open have been spectacular. read more

Our family loves the Curious Minds Learning Center. The teachers and director are full of expertise, creativity and love for their students. They take great care in setting up new and inventive environments for the children to explore. They are gifted in and well trained in handling any social conflicts that might arise. During COVID, they were able to rather quickly stand up an enriching zoom classroom and community photo/video share to keep the students engaged and learning. I have been impressed by their ability to adapt as needed throughout the changing climate, and I can't wait for my son to be back in their classroom again. read more

Our daughter went through the Curious Minds program for three years (ages 2.5-5.5). It was the only school we applied to when moving from SF to Marin and we feel so lucky to have landed there. This little school is BIG on inspiring kids to follow their curiosity about the world around them and never fails to keep them motivated to imagine and learn. The loving, dynamic and patient staff puts forth a thoughtful and intentional curriculum that is kid-directed and very creative. They rely heavily on art to explore and learn which is a wonderfully accessible medium for kids of this age. The program also shines in it's ability to foster healthy social-emotional development which is paramount for preschoolers. And then there is the Natural Classroom - this element truly sets this school apart from any other program and is so adored by the kids, teachers and parents (who get to participate as volunteers). We have such an incredible natural world surrounding us in Marin and this feature of CMLC offers a unique and fun way for our kids to really embrace it. There is a lot of heart at this school. It was a wonderful community to be a part of and it had an immensely positive impact on our daughter's development. read more

I did a lot of research before deciding that Curious Minds Learning Center was the best place for our 2-year-old daughter, and yet I still cannot believe how she has thrived there. The director and teachers at CMLC clearly love what they do and put such great thought into every detail of the school environment -- then they let the children lead their own exploration, providing guidance and comfort when needed. They celebrate and encourage each child's individuality and unique strengths. Most importantly, my daughter (who was home with me for 2 years before starting at CMLC 5 days/week) is thrilled to go to school every morning! And I'm thrilled to see her developing the beginnings of empathy and resilience. I can tell that CMLC will prepare my daughter well for kindergarten without taking the joy out of childhood. I love the focus on the natural world and the other families who have become friends! read more

This is an amazing school. Both our kids went here. Our daughter has just graduated this year. They both had a wonderful experience here. Everything at this school is great from the teachers, communications, activities, etc. But the things that I amazed the most is their creativities. Everyday you will see different things that your kids made/ are working on and they will amaze you. read more

Our daughter has now been at this school almost a year and I could not be more grateful that this is her preschool. It is everything the previous reviews have said and more. Our daughter excels and shines at this school. The teachers are amazing, the director Pam is wonderful, hands on and a constant inspiration in how she engages with the kids. If you are looking for a loving, caring community where your child's curiosity will be encouraged, then this is the school! read more

I couldn't be happier with CMLC. The staff is thoughtful, responsive and has a very deep understanding of the nuances of early childhood education. There is always great energy in the classrooms. It's really a wonderfully engaging environment for early education. read more

We sent our restless, curious, active, big-hearted son here and he blossomed. The intimacy of the center paired with the endless possibilities for exploring, learning and tinkering was an ideal setting. The one day a week- outdoor, natural classroom- is magical and what I would wish for any child- to spend a day outdoors, learning, exploring, frolicking, poking and prodding with nature. They make it easy to know what's happening in the day to day and how kids are progressing as well as helpful in connecting parents and creating a community. great spot. read more

Our family has had a wonderful experience at Curious Minds Learning Center. We started our son at 18 months in their weekly toddler class. He loved exploring a new space and participating in the sensory activities that the teachers had prepared, and I loved watching him beginning to interact with other children. Our son has recently started preschool there, and we have been so impressed by the dedication and professionalism of the teachers/director. We love the Reggio approach to learning, the daily pictures that we receive of what the kids are doing, and the weekly journals that the teachers take time to write. And, most importantly, our son wakes up in the morning asking if he can go to preschool today! read more

We have had such a terrific experience at Curious Minds Learning Center. In a community where the early childhood education options are truly endless, I am so thrilled that this is where we have landed. Outstanding communication, low teacher-student ratio, a strong parent community, and an engaging environment where children are treated as highly capable individuals who learn in different ways...these are just a few of the characteristics that make this little school so special. read more

I cannot say enough good things about this school. My daughter is 2.5 and absolutely loved it! The teachers are amazing, and really care and make an effort to get to know the kids and make them feel welcome. They do weekly write ups that cover the activities, along with pictures of the kids in action. This makes us feel connected to everything that happens at the school. The facility is clean, and safe. The outdoor area has grass versus concrete, which lessons the likelihood for scrapes. Overall, I was very happy with our experience, and would absolutely recommend it to any parent! read more

My daughter started at this school when she was 2. It was actually inconvenient for us as we live in Mill Valley, but we could not find a school that we liked as much. There are lots of different forms of Reggio Emillia and its kid directed approach, but CMLC really puts all the pieces together. For instance, if the kids get interested in plays, the next thing you know the children have a fully kid developed play with script, props, puppets, and even tickets. It is also worth noting how involved the staff is, and how communicative they are. What really impressed me about all the teachers was how well they knew my daughter and what she needed to work on. During her years there we watched her grow into a well balanced and confident child ready to take on Kindergarten. And then there is the Natural Classroom which is an unparalleled experience and was a big component of her schooling and our love for this school. Our daughter had a number of teachers over the years there, but the consistent element was the Director Pam, who is the bedrock of the program, an excellent educator, and a great person. I highly recommend CMLC and urge parents to really consider this school. read more

Curious Minds Learning Center provided our daughter a fun and safe place to explore the world and build relationships. The school's director, Pam Harris, and her excellent team of teachers take special care to get to know the children and their families. I was always amazed at how well they were able to use this knowledge to address each child's unique needs in the classroom. For me, one of the most revealing experiences was the parent/teacher conference process. Not only was it evident how profoundly well they knew our daughter, but also how intentional they were in supporting our daughter's growth. Now in kindergarten, our daughter is thriving (thanks to the groundwork laid by CMLC). If you are interested in a school that nurtures children's imagination, curiosity and love of learning, is respectful and loving towards children, and prepares them well for kindergarten, this is your school! read more

Our daughter attended Curious Minds Learning Center from the age of 2.5 - 5 years old (2012-2015). When she first started, she just thrived. The program is top-notch and blows away any other program (and I did a lot of tours!). The amount of time and energy the teachers and director put into creating a curriculum that is intentional and focused on project based learning (following Emilia Reggio) is incredible as evidenced by their presentations and the many projects created by the children (the put on a play, wrote a book, and created the most amazing art collages, etc.). Each kid I saw at the pre-school was thriving and happy. Pam, the director, is amazing in her dedication to the school and the kids. She is a bundle of energy! She knows how to draw out the kids and is always down at their level showing them new things and ways to explore. We particularly loved the commitment to nature and to spending one day a week outdoors at the Tiburon Audubon. Also, they are all about communication, writing the most amazing weekly journals which are filled with pictures an hilarious anecdotes. I have printed and saved them all for my daughter to read when she gets older! They take parental feedback seriously and act upon it so you always feel heard. The after-school enrichment programs are fantastic as well. The kids love the themes of play (gardening, games, music, etc.). Greg is a step above any other teacher we've encountered. You will see all the kids circle around him whenever there is a community building event like a pot luck or park playdate! He is funny and totally engaged. The community is also very strong, and I felt like we met some of our best friends through this school that we will stay in touch with in spite of going to different pre-schools. Bottom line- if you want the best for your child, this is it! read more

We have loved our experience at Curious Minds. My 6 year old daughter went there for all 3 years of pre-school and now my 3 year old daughter is in her 2nd year there. Both have loved the teachers and have made great friendships. The parent community consists of down to earth, engaged parents and there is a great teacher-student ratio. The director and the teachers communicate regularly with parents and the teachers put a lot of effort into the weekly journals they send us about the kids and what they're learning during the week. For younger pre-schoolers, the kids do not need to be potty-trained when they start and the teachers are really supportive in helping the kids with the potty-training. The Natural Classroom is a hallmark of theirs and takes place at the Audubon Society in Tiburon every week (for the older kids). It's a really special treat for the kids (and parents who volunteer) who are outside exploring and having fun in nature during the entire class. We have had a terrific experience at Curious Minds and have recommended the program to many! read more