We have been with Ella and her day care for over a year now. They love and care for the children like they are family. I can't speak more highly of this place! They have child enrichment activities - art, music, dance parties, singing. Very supportive of every child's developmental needs. read more

We have been incredibly impressed with Ella and her team's ability to nurture our originally separation-anxiety-prone one-year-old in adjusting to outside-the-home care. After a couple of weeks of partial days and extra love and attention, he's excited to be dropped off and is all smiles at day's end. We know he feels comfortable, cared for and safe with Ella's team - and have appreciated every moment of their support. He now eats well and cleans up after his playtime due to the variety of foods they prepare, focus on independence-building skills (i.e. utensil use) and post-play routines to move from outside time to going home. We've met up with other parents for playdates on the weekends as many live in the neighborhood and all share a love for the experiences our children have had at Ella's Second Home. read more

I would do 6 stars if possible! Ella & Rimma took such great care of our daughter Nora. She joined with 1 1/2 and is now leaving with 3 because she is starting pre-school. We are all very sad because she had such a great time and I cannot think of a single day when she didn't run in and gave big hugs to care takers. Nora developed very well during her time at Ella's. She became super social, sings a lot, speaks very well, and shows great empathy for her classmates. Can only recommend Ella's to other families!! read more

We had the most wonderful experience at Ella's Second Home. Both our daughters transitioned seamlessly to going to daycare there. They learned how to nap and play with others, and always were happy at the end of the day. Our kids were even eating soup with a spoon at just over a year old -- all because Ella's home empowers the kids to do things like that. Rimma and Ella are so loving to the kids, and really prepare them for preschool. Those transitions have been smooth after leaving Ella's - in fact, each kid's new school mentioned how well-prepared they were in terms of cleaning up after themselves, playing with others, etc. My partner and I highly recommend Ella's for families close to the Sunset. You won't regret it! read more

We enrolled our daughter here to start March 2020. After her first 2 weeks then a few months at home, we were able to return to Ella's under their new COVID guidelines and couldn't be happier. Our daughter made some wonderful friends, learned so many new children's songs, and even picked up some Russian. Their emphasis on having the children build relationships and leading with kindness really stuck out compared to previous daycares we interviewed. Almost everyday she wouldn't want to leave at pickup time because she was having so much fun. The team was fantastic at assisting with potty training. We went from pull ups to rarely accidents each week with their support. If we hadn't moved out of the city, we would still be with Ella's today. read more

We've been really happy with Ella's Second Home for our child, who started at Ella's nearly a year ago. Each morning he is excited to go, and they offer such loving, nurturing care, along with cute art projects and Music Together classes. My son has learned how to eat properly with utensils thanks to Ella's famous soup, and has formed a special bond with all the caretakers. I appreciate Ella's getting him on a consistent nap schedule, and ensuring the kids get adequate outdoor time--their backyard is perfect for young kids. Drop off, pick up and tuition payments are very easy and Ella and her staff are very communicative. read more

Our daughter spent a year and a half at Ella's second home before moving on to preschool. It was a wonderful experience for both her and for us. She grew up so much since she started there and she was under such great care of Rimma, Ella, and Alla. All the sub teachers Ella brought in were wonderful too. She made great friends, learned a lot, had had a lot of fun- always smiling in the photos we got every day. We are all very grateful to find such a gem of a daycare. read more

Ella's Second Home - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - San Francisco, California

My two year old daughter loves going to Ella's Second Home. They have structured activities for toddlers every day - circle time where they learn letters and numbers, dance and sing; arts & crafts projects, and plenty of time outside at their private playground area. All the meals are provided - nutritious soups for lunch and snacks throughout the day. They are also very accommodating to various dietary requirements. The teachers are very welcoming and nurturing, they truly care about the kids and have a lot of experience working with toddles. They are also bilingual - English and Russian which is an extra bonus! We are very happy that we got enrolled at Ella's, and our little one has made her first friends at this lovely daycare. read more

Ella's Second Home - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ella's Second Home has truly been like a home for our son. The staff Ella, Rima and Emily really care for and love every toddler like it's their own. There hasn't been a day in the almost 1.5 years our son has been there that he's been sad or upset to go there in the morning. It anything, he doesn't want to leave when we come pick him up! They have a great backyard for outdoor play with a bunch of great toys, slides, castles and cars. They make good food every day that the kids love and they make a huge occasion for every birthday. Two times a week there a soccer coach that comes and teaches the kid soccer, and they have a great music teacher that gets everyone roaring. Plus, they make special events throughout the year! All in all, we have really loved having our son here and our daughter will start in a few months! read more

Just wanted to update my review since my daughter has been here for almost 2 years. It is truly a wonderful daycare. My daughter raves about the teachers Rimma, Marina and Natasha. They really love her and are very nurturing. The other parents are like small community. My daughter is way ahead of all of her developmental milestones. And I love that she has been exposed to another language. My daughter has made her first best friends at the school. We do play dates with them outside of daycare. I'm so happy that we found this gem in our Neighborhood. My daughter receives a lot of one on one attention from the teachers. They even came to her birthday party. I highly recommend this daycare. I never worry about my daughter when I'm at work. She loves it there. A previous reviewer mentioned that their child was put in timeout in a shed, that there are no windows and that the space is 400 sf. Actually, there are windows, the space is much bigger than 400 sf, and I've never seen or heard of any child there being out in a timeout in a shed. It's a lovely place and all the children love each other and the teachers. read more

My two girls have gone to Ella's part time since early 2009. It's a homey, comfortable family daycare where the kids are relaxed and have lots of fun. My girls love Ella, Rimma and the rest of the ladies. I agree with the other reviewer that Ella did a great job with my 2 year old's transition. The girl bonded with her very quickly and it gave her a very safe feeling. I recommend Ella's highly! read more

I wrote my first review for Ella's about two years ago, and I feel the same way about this daycare that I did then. My older child was very happy here, and he made wonderful friends. He aged out of Ella's, and my younger child is there now. We still think we are lucky to have found this place! Drop off is easy because she likes the teachers so much. Ella and the other teachers are caring and concerned about making sure this is a good experience for children and parents. The physical space is warm and cozy inside, and the outdoor space is large and inviting. I have recommended Ella's to many friends with children and I will continue to do so! read more

My daughter has been attending Ella's for the past 6 months. She likes it there very much, and I am so grateful to have a place where I can drop my child and know that she is in good hands every day. The teachers there really care about her. This is amazing because when she first started there, she was so nervous to leave home for the first time and she cried. But Ella and the girls communicated with me to let me know how my daughter was acclimating. They made her feel safe and cared for. They sent me pictures of her napping and eating soup and playing outside so that I would feel less nervous. Not only do I like and trust Ella's, but I use some of her teachers as babysitters outside of school because my daughter likes them. read more

My daughter has gone to Ella's Second Home since she was 14 months (she is now over 2 years old). I was 7 months pregnant when I found Ella's, and keeping up with my toddler was becoming difficult. I really wanted to find the right place for my daughter and thought I would look at a bunch of daycare facilities. But as soon as she started Ella's it was clear we found a wonderful place. From the beginning, Ella, Rimma, and the other carers have been loving and warm with her. I feel that they really love my daughter and get her little personality, quirks and all. Ella understands early child development and has structured activities that are ideal for toddlers. It is a small daycare and the kids get lots of attention. The outdoor space behind the daycare itself is a great bonus. We really enjoy the other families that attend as well. My daughter talks about her friends and carers at Ella's all the time. Highly recommended. read more

This was a really great place for our daughter. Ella's is a little community - they operate like family, and our daughter had so much fun and learned so much there. Some things we especially loved: - nicest and most trustworthy staff (ella, rimma, emily) - lots of great activities (soccer, music and signing, painting) - lots of great photos and videos they send to the parents - practical policies when it comes to kids being sick, to discipline, etc - rimma and emily were able to help us with extended hours when we occasionally needed them, and ella connected us with care in a few situations where we needed last minute help with our younger son who's not old enough to go to ella's normally yet - they did a great job helping us through potty training with support and flexibility while our daughter was with them We're sad our daughter has to move on now (and so is she!), but highly recommend sending your children here if you can manage to get a spot. read more

Our son has been at Ella's for a year and a half starting when he was 17 months old, and we couldn't be happier with our experience there. Ella provides a warm, loving, engaging and safe environment. The ladies that work there are attentive and genuinely care for the kids. I am continually amazed at all the developmental leaps our son has made since he started. He's learned to use a regular cup and utensils all on his own (without us working on this at home). Ella and the ladies there provide lots of activities and stimulation. They have arts and crafts and circle time where they learn numbers, colors, the alphabet and sing and dance. It seems like everyday he comes home singing a new song. He's even learned a few words in Russian! Ella's also provides all home cooked meals, which is a huge bonus. When I get my son at the end of the day I know he has eaten well, napped well, played, learned and had fun. I take it as a good sign that he's always eager to go in the morning and reluctant to leave when I pick him up! read more

My son started at Ella's at 14 months; my daughter started (part-time) at only 10 weeks. In each case, Ella helped ease their transition to a new environment, made sure they bonded successfully with her or one of her assistants, provided us with detailed verbal progress reports and was always available with a word of advice or encouragement (which I particularly appreciated as a new mother). Her facility is not fancy or extensive, but it is impeccably clean, well organized and fun. She provides healthy lunches and snacks, and will work with you to accomodate any special needs (I provided pumped breast milk for my daughter every day, for example). She is also very flexible, which was a big help to our family. She was able to give us an early drop-off time when both my husband and I were working early hours, and was often able to take our son for a day or even a week when his post-Ella preschool was closed for a holiday. I can't say enough about our experience with Ella and her team. Ella is warm, loving, professional and flexible. She has been running Second Home for over 15 years and her experience shows. If you are considering Ella's Second Home, be sure to ask her for her references. I am always happy to provide more detail to interested parents. Good luck with your search! read more

My daughter started going to Ella's Second home when she turned 1.5 y.o. I expected a difficult transition, but it was not too bad, in fact in three days she didn't want to go home and ran away from me every time I came to pick her up! And I understand why! She is simply happy there! All the people who work in the daycare became our extended family: they are warm, welcoming, fun, energetic and responsive to all the suggestions and requests. I always bring my daughter there with a "light" heart, knowing that she will be comfortable, safe and well taken care of! I know that, when she needs a hug - she will get one; when she doesn't want to do smth - she won't be pushed; when she needs some extra care (like medication) - it will be given in timely and responsive manner. I don't know how caretakers do it, but it feels like all the kids there are long time friends, they have some sort of community )) They are always busy participating in group activities like music class or morning exercise, crafting little art projects and safely experimenting with different art modules. My daughter happened to love painting, with her hands, with brushes and sponges - and it is just a little discovery, on of many that are happening every day. They have plenty of toys there, and it is not surprising to see Ella (the owner) walking down the street with some new, exciting toy - all to make "her" kids happy! We are so happy to find this place, I think, it is a best first socialization experience all the children and parents could wish for. May be it is not the fanciest place, but it has a family spirit with a smell of home made food and a loving atmosphere - it is all the child needs to support his/her development into healthy and confident individual. read more

Ella's Second Home - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We were so scared about our son's transition to daycare. Ella and her staff made it so easy and our son is so happy to be there. We are lucky to have this daycare as our son's second home! He loves the toys and the outdoor play area. They have circle time every day and he is always coming home with new words. They also do crafts and activities. As much as I still hate dropping him off, I rest easy knowing that my most precious child will be well loved, well fed, and have a great time while he's there! read more

A wonderful daycare. The staff is very friendly, the place is very clean, everything is nicely organized, and - most importantly - the kids are loved and well cared for. There is a big deck in back with several play structures. Inside, there are two different rooms for naps. The owner has two grown kids of her own. She is a very caring, warm woman, who is very affectionate. My son was very happy there! read more

My son has been going to Ella's for about 14 months. I was super worried about leaving my son with someone I didn't know, so deciding to do daycare was a HUGE stress for me. After the first week at Ella's, I knew this was going to be a really great place for him. As time went on, and he made friends, started coming home telling about their soccer games on Fridays, and bringing home his artwork (some of which was actually kind of amazing!), I knew this place was really helping him develop in many ways. What makes it great? -- I like that they actually have rules, a timeout policy, and I feel they are consistent with the kids. -- They sing and read a lot. My son came home knowing tons of songs. -- They often played soccer in the backyard on Fridays. -- I see them getting new playground toys regularly. And I have never seen any broken or run-down toys there. -- They do arts and crafts weekly. My son now really enjoys painting. -- No TV or movies (aside from security monitor.) -- They often sent us pictures and videos of our son playing, or singing along during a birthday. -- They really know how to throw birthday parties! And they are accommodating for when your kid(s) has a birthday--we dropped off a box of donuts and some fireman themed plates, favors and such, and they took care of the rest and sent us pictures. He had a great time! -- Ella is upfront with you, and likes to nip things in the bud. If things are not going well or there are problems, you hear about it the moment you pick up your child. No waiting for it to happen a few times. It was hard at first to hear this, but I grew to really appreciate it and be able to work on any issues with my son before they got out of hand. -- (When time permits during drop-off and pickup) they like to fill you in on who is friends, and who likes to eat breakfast together, and things the kids like to do. They told us one of the kids would wait to eat breakfast until my son arrived so they could eat together--and he got so excited when we showed up. How awesome is that! I HIGHLY recommend checking out Ella's for your under 3 year old. They actually engage with the kids, not just pen them up and hope for the best. My son learned a lot in the past year, and made some friends too. read more

I can't recommend Ella's Second Home enough as a truly wonderful place for a child to be. Ella and the teachers truly care about the children under their care, and our daughter was so excited to be there to greet the children and teachers every day. Compared to other care options we looked into, Ella's Second Home stood out as they focus first on the children and ensuring they are safe, well-taken care of, and happy. The team was excellent to communicate with and kept us informed in how our daughter was progressing. The weekly schedule offered fun activities and songs, dancing, playing outside, arts & crafts, and more, but most importantly, they allow toddlers to be toddlers! They were great with potty training, teaching manners, and establishing a safe and trusting relationship with our child, especially in such an unpredictable time. Sadly, our time with Ella and team ended as we moved away, but we'll be back to visit and know that the welcoming and fun atmosphere will continue for the next families to join. One thing I've learned in looking at countless care options is to focus on the people - we knew immediately we would be able to trust Ella based on her honesty, caring nature, and experience. Our daughter flourished here, and we know that many other children will in the future! read more

Ella's Second Home was a great day care for our two children. Both of them enjoyed the care, as well as the deck in the back. Ella and her team proved to be quite flexible in terms of time and care, which as a working parent was greatly appreciated. The older one was given the job of "helper", which made her feel less like one of the babies, and Ella was agreeable in having one of her staff members take her to preschool part-time. The younger one started at three months, and Ella was consistent in ensuring that he got quality time. Some of the staff also offered babysitting services, which was nice, as the kids already knew and were comfortable with them. Ella's is great choice and I would recommend her. read more

I am writing a review for their responsiveness, which was nonexistent. I contacted them via phone and email, but unfortunately didn't get a response back. I not sure if this is common, but I received the same nonresponsiveness from another day care center, also with excellent reviews. It would have been nice to get a call back, even if it is to say that there is no space available. Am I missing something here? read more

Ella, the owner, runs an amazing daycare. Our daughter absolutely thrived there and learned a lot. The facilities are clean and well-organized, and there is a huge patio out back with tons of toys. Most importantly, the staff is wonderful. Everyone who works there loves children - and it shows. Our daughter became very attached to her caregivers, and we only left because we moved out of state. read more

My 20 month old daughter loves Ella's and has since her first day there. Ella, Marina, Rimma and Bella are loving, fun and engaging. They set appropriate limits and are communicative and flexible. Our kid is way more verbal since attending Ella's and talks about her friends and teachers constantly. She's happy, clean and very loved. I would highly recommend Ella's. read more

In my 2 1/2 -year old nephew's first six weeks with Ella, I have watched him go from never having attended daycare, and crying at the prospect, to enthusiastically asking to "go to school" every morning. His goodbyes to the staff upon leaving are longer than his goodbyes to me when I drop him off. Ella and her staff did all they could to make him feel this is a place in which he can be certain of love and kindness, as well as a routine. This is a place that is not shiny and new, but rather a place of comfort and warmth. I found Ella's personal advice regarding my nephew to be sensitive and insightful. She genuinely cares for him, and makes sure she and the family approach child development issues in a consistent way with each other. read more

I don't know exactly where to start. Ella, Rimma, Irma, Emily, Bella and Marina were all awesome. My kids were safe, happy, and not once were brought home with diaper rash like the last daycare they attended. I really feel like they were at a safe place where they learned, played and were loved. By the end it really was almost like family. I cannot thank you enough Ella. We were so lucky to be able to accepted. read more

Can't say enough about Ella's. Both my kids went there as infants up to toddler. My wife and I are very happy with the overall experience. This definitely is not a daycare that just processes kids in, watches them, and then processes them out at the end of the day. It always felt that the caretakers got involved with the kids and that there was a definite structure to the day. The backyard is amazing. Personally I think Ella's is one of the more underrated childcare options in the city. The only reason we left was that my oldest got accepted into a unique language immersion preschool (my wife's native language) that we couldn't pass up. I feel comfortable referring Ella's to friends who are looking for daycare options. Great location if both parents work downtown and/or on the Peninsula. Great experience for our entire family. read more

We sent our daughter to Ella and her crew for more than a year, and it was the first place we'd ever left her for extended periods. We certainly lucked out with our choice. The place doesn't look like much from the outside, but our girl just loved the care she received on the inside. Folks have already mentioned the deck in the back (vital outdoor space!), and the healthy and delicious soups the kids eat, but what I found to be especially important was the fact that the caregivers acknowledged the big differences between the kids, and tried to treat them on a very individual basis. My daughter really loved to play "helper" at the time, and rather than insisting that she play with the other kids her age, Ella encouraged her to amuse herself observing the infants. It all felt very organic, and I believe that was special in this early developmental stage. read more

My son has been going to Ella's Second Home for a year now and he is super happy there. Every night when I bring him home he seems to have learned something new; a new song or a new activity. The girls who work there are extremely warm and attentive to the children's needs. Ella's Second Home has a wonderful yard that offers many different toys for kids of all ages. They have very healthy lunches: homemade chicken soup on some days and meatball soup on other days. They also get healthy snacks such as berries, apples, and other kinds of fruit. Ella, the owner, is very kind and generous and her day care is a reflection of the kind of person she is. She and the two girls, Bella and Rimma, obviously love kids and care about what they do. When I pick him up Bella gives me a rundown of the day's events and it seems to come completely natural for her. I can't imagine any other day care being a more perfect fit for my son. read more