I can't say enough great things about this school. All of my kids attended here for preschool and…read moreTK. The teachers are wonderful and we really wanted a play-based program. You can't beat the outdoor space along with chickens. This is a co-op so you will volunteer more than a traditional drop off preschool, but you will build a community of like-minded families. I have made life-long friends here and after having kids, making friends can be tough. I loved getting to know the kids in the class and my own kids loved having me there with them.

I tried visiting their afternoon playtime to meet the teachers a couple of times before signing up…read more One time I signed up, showed up, and was turned away at the door because they didn't have enough sign ups to host the play time that night. A phone call or email letting me know that ahead of time would've been nice, because I had loaded my two kids in the car and my husband left work early to be there since they requested to meet both parents during the playgroup. The next time, same thing. I later found out that I can't bring my younger baby during my volunteer hours, which are required every other week. If my son were to attend. So in the long run, it really doesn't work if you have more than one child anyway. That information would've been helpful before I rearranged our lives to accommodate the school twice.

We are so happy with our experience at Learn & Play Pleasant Hill, and especially grateful for Miss…read moreMaria and Miss Geeta. They have been wonderful in helping our daughter transition into a new class. Transitions can be difficult for little ones, but Miss Maria and Miss Geeta have been incredibly warm, patient, and reassuring throughout the process. They have made her feel comfortable, safe, and welcomed, and it has been so reassuring for us as parents to know she is in such caring hands. What really stands out is how they manage the classroom while still making sure each child feels seen and cared for. They bring such a positive energy to the classroom, keep the kids engaged and happy, and are attentive to each child's individual needs. You can tell that they genuinely enjoy working with the children and care about their emotional well-being. We especially appreciate how they handle those little moments that can be challenging for young children--with patience, kindness, and encouragement rather than rushing them. Seeing our daughter become more comfortable and excited about her new class has meant so much to us. Miss Maria and Miss Geeta are truly wonderful daycare teachers, and we feel very lucky that our daughter has them. Thank you both for creating such a warm, loving, and happy classroom environment!

We feel so lucky to have our daughter at Learn and Play Pleasant Hill. The teachers have made such…read morea positive impact on her, and we are especially grateful for Miss Maria and Miss Gita. They take incredible care of her and make her feel safe, loved, and understood. Drop off can be the toughest part of preschool, and Miss Maria has been amazing in those moments. She gives our daughter the love, patience, and affection she needs to settle in, which means so much as a parent. When our daughter was younger, Miss Marisol and Miss Daniella were also wonderful with her. Across every classroom we have been part of, the teachers have been kind, attentive, and truly caring. The school itself may not be the newest or fanciest, but the heart of a preschool is the teachers. At Learn and Play, the teachers lead with love and take great care of their classes. We are very thankful for this school and the people who make it special.

My family and I LOVE Center of Gravity!!! It was a wonderful time of learning and growth for my…read moreson, as parents, and as a community. The teachers are so supportive and nurturing teaching the kids life long skills and beliefs in unique, innovative, and fun ways that have stayed put throughout the years. So much of who my kid is now is shaped by his early experiences with the COG teachers and staff (& families) and those abilities and skills are still very much a part of who he is! His commitment to caring for others, not because he should, but because that's his civic duty. His awareness for justice and injustice are due to the child-appropriate conversations that take place in class and followed up at home (with tons of resources from the school.) His ability to communicate, create, design, be an empath etc. are all things he learned at COG. We picked COG because of its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and its STEAM-focused and child-centered instruction. We stayed for it amazing community of parents and teachers. COG isn't like everywhere else, and its not for everyone. Families who choose COG and stay at COG are intentional about a space that matches their own beliefs and values. Ask about how they approach holidays, birthdays, current events, etc - it's truly unlike most places, and if it resonates with how you value those things, then COG is a place to consider. I feel like we've met lifelong friends because of the shared belief systems and values, which is an added benefit to being a COG alum. Do yourself a favor and attend a tour when researching preschools, and you will immediately "feel" the difference. Look at the walls and see the uniqueness of the activities, projects, and themes selected by the students through meticulous planning and coordination . Listen (truly) to what's being said by the kids as they engage with one another and in community. Spend a moment and put yourself in the mindset of a kid experiencing choice, exploration, and curiosity in TRUE fashion. Ask about the "dailies" which are an epic insight into what your kid does all day, similar to a "Day in the Life of a kid."

Both of our kids have gone through Center of Gravity, and we couldn't be happier with the…read moreexperience. From the very beginning, we felt totally at home. The teachers are warm, caring, and incredibly thoughtful. They truly know and value each child. The school is mission-driven in everything they do. Our kids came home every day excited to share what they were learning and doing, and as parents we receive a daily slide-deck of photos and notes on what the kids did that day. It's quite impressive! We've also really appreciated the parent education support, especially around the Kindergarten transition. It helped us feel informed and supported during a big change. Communication is another big strength. The monthly emails are clear and detailed, with updates on classroom activities, school-wide events, and helpful resources. Extras like art, music, Spanish, Capoeira, and nutritious meals (included) make the experience feel well-rounded and intentional. Center of Gravity is more than a preschool. It's a caring, connected community that has given our kids a wonderful start. We're so grateful to be part of it!

This message is you Sharon the owner. I've reached out to you several times to find a resolution…read moreover our daughter's situation regarding Ms. Julie whom no longer is with you. She was fired! Not for just our experience but for several other families with children with IEP and special needs. Now I don't know how the school treats students currently with specific needs, but I do know that me being public about our situation opened the doors of many families to come forward with their negative experience. I went as far the legal route and you and your team didn't even acknowledge the letter received that was required to be signed via delivery. Your generic message to everyone's negative review goes so far and shows sooooooo clearly of whom you are as an individual and what you care about regarding the appearance of your school. I haven't dropped my anger with what our daughter went through and hearing what other families endured makes me so upset. I'm a huge IEP advocate and what that specific teacher did and how the school treated the situation was completely unprofessional and heartless.

Thank you Empire for taking care of my little one! Shoutout to Ms. Lin, Ms. Rosalie, and Ms. Seema…read more Teachers here are kind and vigilant, facilities are clean, and there is a good mix of playing and learning in the curriculum. My child has grown to be independent, eager to learn, and considerate of others. By the end of our stay at Empire, he was well prepared for school. If my testament isn't enough, here is a message from his kindergarten teacher after the first week of school: "[Child's name] has been doing great in class the last three days- outstanding behavior on the carpet (listening, engaged, respectful), doing great work independently, and being kind to others. Keep it up!"

We've been part of the Kidz Planet family for six years with our two children, and we can't say…read moreenough great things about this school. The teachers and staff are caring, patient, and truly invested in every child. The school is well-run, communicates regularly through the app with updates and photos, and hosts fun family events throughout the year. We also have to mention the food--our son graduated two years ago and still says Kidz Planet had his favorite meals! We're so grateful for the love and care our family has received over the years and highly recommend Kidz Planet to anyone looking for an amazing preschool.

My daughter attended Kidz Planet in Concord for about a year and a half, and my wife and I couldn't…read morehave been happier with the experience. She would come home every day singing new songs and excitedly sharing the games she had learned at school. As first-time parents navigating the daycare world, we couldn't have asked for a better place than Kidz Planet. Celia and the team were nothing short of amazing. One thing that really stood out was their communication system. Whether it was for security updates or general news, their consistent updates and the photos they shared were incredible. It made us feel so connected to her day--we'd review the photos together and talk about everything she did. The level of detail and care in their communication was truly unmatched. Thank you again to the entire Kidz Planet team. Our daughter misses you all so much!

Our daughter attended stepping stones from ages 2-5 and loved every minute of it! Each of their…read moreclassrooms is well thought out with age appropriate toys, multiple activities throughout the day, peaceful naps and loving teachers. We received support for lots of milestones including potty training, peer interaction and engagement, fine motor skills. Their T-K program also laid a strong foundation for letter, number, shape and color recognition through activities that felt like play, cute songs and arts and crafts. We could not be happier that we chose the Stepping Stones family.

If you are looking for a daycare or PreK class, look no further. My son is in his final months of…read morePreK before embarking to Kindergarten in the Fall. He has loved his time at Stepping Stones since he was 2 years old. He has made great friends, learned so much & has a blast. All the teachers are amazing and so helpful. Ms. Francie and Ms. Lydia have been wonderful and are great communicators with updates and reminders. I also have a now 1st grader who attended for 2 years, and she loves picking up her little brother so she can go hug all the teachers & see what crafts are set up in the classrooms. PreK has special visits with the Carlton Senior Living next door, which my daughter loved participating in. The visits have continued with my sons class this year. We have never regretted our choice in sending our kids to Stepping Stones.

Honestly this is the best daycare/montessori in the TriVally area. We toured dozens of daycares and…read moreFountainhead was the cleanest and most organized. When we did the tour at Fountainhead, the kids were so calm and the environment was peaceful. My wife and I are so happy that our son loves this school. We are pretty protective parents...He was the youngest of his class (2.5yrs) and the older kids help him a lot. He started early this year and his language skills has improved so much. We enrolled him for 2027 and hope to enroll his little brother at 1.5 years. Highly recommend!

I scheduled a school tour from 10:00 to 10:30 AM, and my confirmation email clearly stated that the…read moretour would last 30 minutes. Unfortunately, I arrived about 15 minutes late. I fully understand that being late was my responsibility and that the school may have had another appointment afterward. What disappointed me was how the situation was handled. The Site Director did not come out to greet me or speak with me in person. Instead, she only stuck her head out from inside and told me that I was late, the next family was arriving, and that I needed to come back another day. What confused me even more was that she said the tour was only 15 minutes, even though my confirmation email clearly stated that the scheduled tour would last 30 minutes (10:00-10:30 AM). I explained that I only have one day off from work and asked if I could at least spend a few minutes seeing the school since there was still time remaining in my scheduled appointment. Unfortunately, there was no apology, no empathy, and no willingness to accommodate even a brief visit. I respect the school's schedule, and I understand that arriving late has consequences. However, first impressions matter. As a parent looking for a preschool, I expected to be treated with courtesy and respect, even if I made a mistake. A little kindness and professionalism would have made a big difference. Because of this experience, I decided not to consider this school for my child.

Pleasant hill rec preschool program has surpassed my expectations. My son (now four) first started…read morethis preschool shortly after his third birthday. We went to the Winslow Center (Wee-Tot) where they have two options (Co-op and no co-op). Both class teachers were very nice and informative about their program and how it differs from the other one. I ended up going with the Co-op, for a few reasons. First, Co-op class had 22 kids instead of 10. I felt my son would do better in the bigger (more lively) class. Second reason was the 90 break in price a month. In exchange for the break I had to Co-op one to two times a month. At first this seemed like a drag, but the benefits were wonderful. I got to see how my son did in class, I got to see how the teachers ran the classroom, I got to get familiar with the kids (in which many of them he moved to the next preschool with), and I got to make friends with some parents, and lastly I clicked best with Kathy. I was very pleased with the amount of real neat projects the kids did. His next year (this year), we are at the Gregory Gardens location and he is in the New Horizons class. I enjoy the class and the teachers are great with the class. My son is pretty excited about school. I plan on continuing next year to the Pre K class if we cannot get into T-K.

Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District Preschool has been absolutely excellent for our daughter…read more She always tells us "I like preschool!" There are many things that she tells us she does not like, so we know she is telling the truth :) Sarah Smith, the director, is fantastic, the facilities are in good shape and cared for, and we really like all of the many teachers our daughter has had over the past couple of years. We highly recommend the preschool to other Pleasant Hill parents :)

My child attended CiL for a little over a year before going to kindergarten and during a trying…read moretime for the site as there was not only Covid in full force, with a population not eligible for vaccines, but the nonprofit which runs the school was about to embark on a large renovation/building project at the site. We had a great experience with the teachers and really appreciated the safety focus they had for the kids. Though we didnt get to benefit from it, I really like the association with the Choice in Aging senior services next door and could see that being a real plus for everyone in the future when things calm down. They have moved the preschool to a different area of the site temporarily to prepare for a multiphase construction and it looks really nice. The site will benefit from wholesale renovation as it is aged. I went 4 stars because of things independent of the care of the kids, basically the administrative aspects (pricing, planning, communication, etc) were frustrating. I would not hesitate to send my child there again but be prepared to have some frustrating moments.

We really love this school. It's a real gem…read more We had our daughter in a different school and after a year, we decided to just look around to see what else was out there. We knew this was our school just when we visited. Our daughter loved it so much she cried when we left. The teachers, Ms. Jan, Ms. Christine, Ms. Sharyn, and Ms. Manya are all amazing and have been there forever. Many of the teachers have sent their own kids there. The classes are so calm and organized and our daughter is just thriving. She has learned so much - she's coming home singing songs in Spanish and talking about map activities they are doing. She loves to play circle time with her teddies. Ms. Gina, the director, is so on it and clearly loves the kids. She's very responsive and organized. They just moved into a brand new addition to the building which is beautiful. It is well-thought out and impressively organized. They are also really COVID conscious which I've super appreciated. We feel so grateful we found this place. It's made all of our lives so much better. Couldn't recommend more.

We could not be more happy with our little one growing up at Tara's daycare since she was 5 months…read moreold. Finding Pure & Simple was a Godsend. From day one, Tara worked closely with us in developing our daughter's physical, emotional and communicative skillsets. We were often amazed at new skills our little girl would exhibit, without us having taught her. You can tell Tara really loves and cares about each of her kiddos. We felt so safe with her at Tara's home, with plenty of of indoor/outdoor space for a little one to explore and feel comfortable in. Her homecare is so much better than a corporate daycare- same primary caregiver (vs shifts) and small teacher to student ratio (vs many to one). I also believe it was better than us getting a nanny. It gave ourselves space while we knew she was safe, sound and growing happily at Tara's. She also worked tirelessly with us when our baby was going through eczema and allergy issues. Our daughter often times says Ms Tara when we put her in the stroller (that is how we walk her to daycare). Tara has helped us raise her to be a polite, sweet little girl- teaching her all the crucial skills needed to lay a strong foundation. Because of Tara, she was ready for preschool right at 2 years old.

My oldest daughter attended Pure & SIMPLE Child Care for two years (ages 11 months to 3 years) and…read moremy youngest attended for 3 months (4 months to 7 months), before we had to move out of the area for work. We have loved our experience working with Tara to help raise our girls. Tara maintains an organized, well-run daycare that focuses on giving kids plenty of time to play outside while maintaining a predictable flow to the day. She communicates well, and has a solid contract prior to starting daycare that allows you to focus on what works best for addressing your child's day to day needs. Pure & Simple has a great ratio of kids to care provider (Tara), and kids usually consistently attend for long periods of time, although she can also take kids for short periods of time if needed. (My daughter has had the same daycare best friend for the entire time she has been there.) Tara also works to ensure that kids are not coming to daycare sick, which means that I can count the number of times that I have had to miss work due to a daycare-derived illness on one hand. (We have been especially grateful of this in the midst of COVID, given that both my husband and I are "essential" workers...Tara has adjusted quickly to any changes in licensing requirements due to the pandemic and kept everyone healthy and happy.) Overall, we've loved working with Tara and her family for the past two years, and will miss her terribly. Our oldest is a well-mannered, expressive kid with great physical stamina from long daycare walks, who Tara played an important role in developing. We are so thankful for her, and happy to act as a reference if you are looking for childcare!