Ali Colorate Montessori isn't just a daycare--it's truly an extension of our family!…read more Our two daughters have been attending for a year now, and the experience has been nothing short of amazing. Before finding Ali Colorate, we were enrolled at a large, franchise-style daycare in the San Diego area for two years. Despite the high cost, we noticed our toddlers weren't getting the developmental and educational attention they needed, so we started looking for a better option. After touring several places that didn't meet our standards, we discovered Ali Colorate Montessori. Initially, I was hesitant about using an in-home daycare, but after meeting Ms. Janell, all my concerns disappeared. Her warmth, passion, and professionalism were immediately clear, and I knew we had finally found the right place for our children. Ms. Janell runs an organized, loving, and education-focused environment that goes far beyond basic childcare. She has a thoughtful curriculum with daily plans filled with enriching activities like yoga, cooking classes, art shows, and even holiday plays. Children wear uniforms, which helps ease their transition into a more formal school setting. Since enrolling, we've seen incredible growth in our daughters' learning, speech, and social development--far beyond what they experienced in their previous daycare, where playtime was the only focus. At Ali Colorate, the emphasis is on education, social skills, and community--and it shows. Our girls absolutely love Ms. Janell and her team. Morning drop-offs are filled with hugs and excitement--they run into her arms with joy! We feel confident every day knowing our children are safe, loved, and learning in an environment that feels like family. A huge bonus: Ali Colorate Montessori is part of the MCCYN military fee assistance program, making it even more accessible for military families. If you're searching for a nurturing, structured, and enriching environment for your children, stop looking. This is the place.

Our girls thrive with Ms Janell and team. They are loved, nurtured, and safe, and they love being…read moreat daycare so much they sometimes cry when they DON'T get to go to daycare with their friends (in a way that warms our hearts that they love where they spend time while we work). Ms Janell and team treat the children as if they can learn and so they do. We often get comments about how smart our girls are, and we always say it is their daycare that creates an amazing environment to learn. Our 3 year old knows ~1/3 of her letters and is so excited and proud of herself as she recognizes them and adores writing them for us. They constantly surprise us with what they know and understand, and love that we are gifting them with Spanish, which is something we never had. We adore the constant stream of photos we get to see how they are enjoying their days. It helps feel a connected to our sweet littles even when aren't with them, and it is fun that we know about what they did as we talk about their days in the evening. Also, the photos leave us so impressed by the level of concepts being introduced and soaked up by all the kids. They are great partners as we support our girls through these early years, and work with us when our kids have needed extra love and attention - our 3 year old has BIG feelings and our 1 year old refused to eat for a time. Potty training was (relatively) easy because they had been covering the concepts and even have potty buddies (in a beautiful and appropriate way). My contact list of daycares is 95+ and this is the third we were at. We wish we had found Ali Colórate from day 1 and simply cannot recommend it highly enough.

The school is great for our child and so engaging across the board from curriculum to parental…read morecommunication. Our son just completed a lesson on bugs and learned about the lifecycle of butterflies. Accompanying the lesson was real life observation of caterpillars transforming into butterflies. The school also has a garden from which the kids often harvest vegetables that go into healthy snacks. The teachers are great and the school goes above and beyond with programs like the spring recital (where the kids performed songs in English, Spanish, and German) as well as Muffins for Mom and Donuts for Dad. We've had a great experience and are sad it'll end when our son heads to TK next year. KMP has been a really positive experience for the entire family!

Our son has been here for a couple of years and absolutely loves it. They run an amazing program…read morefor the kids here and even when he's graduated into the next class and gotten new teachers he's still so thrilled to go to school.

I cannot tell you how much I recommend the Whole Child learning company. Our kiddos have done the…read moreafter school camps as well as summer camps and they loved every single one. Without a doubt the summer camp at kona kai was so incredible- I don't know how they did it but they even got some navy dolphins to come a do a private show for them.. truly incredible. Kristina and Richard (the owners) are truly amazing people and care deeply for each child and staff. 10/10!

We worked with Whole Child to put together the coolest pirate themed birthday party for my 4 year…read moreold. The process was so seamless and owner was very responsive. The teacher that came out to entertain (Midori) was just fantastic with the kids. She came early for setup and brought all the supplies necessary to build floating pirate ships and a treasure hunt. She was so great with the kids, for the most part keeping eight , 4 year olds focused and entertained for an hour. A miracle! Such a fun experience. Would recommend Whole Child to anyone planning a birthday party and looking for great activities to keep the kids busy, entertained and learning!

I'm so grateful for The Urban Toddler Art Program -- my kids absolutely love being there! The space…read moreis not only beautiful and functional, but also incredibly inspirational. The strong emphasis on art and free play creates the perfect environment for my 2-year-old daughter to thrive. She feels so comfortable and happy that she barely says goodbye to me at drop-off! I highly recommend The Urban Toddler Art Program to any parent looking for a nurturing, creative space where young children can grow, explore, and feel truly at home.

My daughter absolutely loved going here! Ms Julie is passionate about early education and child…read moredevelopment. The indoor/outdoor space with quail, bunnies and therapy dog Osito is absolutely magical. The art projects are thoughtful, beautiful and age appropriate. Lily was so proud of every masterpiece she brought home.

I saw another review that mentioned that the hardest part of moving from San Diego was leaving…read moreAspen Leaf - and I 100% agree. Our son is in the University Heights location and has been there for about six months. He literally dances with excitement when he sees the mural outside of school and smiles and giggles when he sees any of his teachers. He is always doing fun activities, and the staff are incredibly warm, kind, and thoughtful. I would highly recommend Aspen Leaf to any family who is lucky enough to grab a spot!

We absolutely loved our time at Aspen Leaf. My only wish is that my daughter could have continued…read moreher education there for longer. She was nurtured and loved by the staff and learned social skills and emotional health tools that will last a lifetime! I was in awe as my daughter would, at three and four years old, tell me how our behaviors impact other people's feelings, how she could make the world a better place, and how she could self-regulate by using deep breathing when she was frustrated. The staff and teachers were extremely professional and yet truly loved each of the children, as was evident from how tightly knit my daughter's little cohort became. I really can't say enough positive things about Aspen Leaf!

I was thrilled to find a forest school like the ones I'd read about in Japan and around Europe…read moreright in South Park. When I scheduled a tour and saw the wild play space with a mud kitchen and rope swing, it felt like walking through a childhood dream. That was over 3 years ago, and since then both of my kids have attended Lilac Sea. Now they point out nasturtium, stinging nettle, and wild cucumber on neighborhood walks and teach us little blessings with hand motions at mealtime. They love taking friends and visitors on "insider" tours of the canyon where they play. I'm grateful to give my kids a childhood anchored in nature at a time when kids are spending more time than ever isolated indoors. It makes my day when I see pictures of their little group splashing in rainsuits on wet days or celebrating a birthday with a felt crown (hand-sewn by Mallory as a gift) and special candle.  Our oldest has transitioned to kindergarten, and I credit Lilac Sea for helping her develop the focus, creativity, and confidence that has her thriving in the classroom and beyond.

Lilac Sea is home to a beautiful, outdoor preschool with bonus canyon space. There are gardens,…read moreplants, trees, swings, mud kitchen, art, climbing structure and a sandbox to name a few favorites! Ms. Mallory has been a wonderful guide for our daughter & classmates - she gives them independence and freedom to let their creativity run wild. She takes them on adventures and hikes around the area. She has taught them the importance and beauty of nature that is all around us. Lilli comes home tired and happy =) We would highly recommend Lilac Sea to any one needing an amazing, nurturing, outdoor preschool!

This is a lovely preschool. Audrey is a wonderful preschool teacher. She has years of experience…read moreworking with children and has set up a great preschool program. Children are kindergarten ready by the end of the program. I highly recommend her.

We went on a tour - it was great... until the we were getting ready to leave and my child wasn't…read moreready. When she didn't stop playing when I asked her to, Audrey's response shocked us! She aggressively grabbed my daughter by the arm. My daughter looked at her- shocked, tried to pull her arm away, then fell like a rag-doll onto ground. Audrey then pulled her up by her ONE arm, wrestling her onto her hip! She held her tight while reprimanding her in a VERY firm voice. My daughter reached out for us, shocked and terrified, just like her parents. Audrey didn't let her come me to me until she felt she was disciplined enough. (I WISH I would have taken my daughter and ran at that point! My weakness prevented me.) She then put her down on the ground and made her put away the toys. We left and my child, who is very outgoing and verbal, wouldn't talk or look at me for a good half hour. To some this might be nothing. We come from an attachment parenting style of care- a gentle style (we don't believe in spanking (it kills the grey matter in their brains) or yelling). My daughter had never been touched that aggressively before by anyone in her short little life and hasn't been touched like that since. Audrey was not only a stranger but held the role of teacher, a new concept for my daughter. As a result, my daughter has been scared of who/what teachers are and has a lot of anxiety about school in general. It was a traumatic event for all of us. It has been probably a year now since we went on that tour and my daughter (almost 4yo now) STILL occasionally asks me, "that lady who picked me up like that (then demonstrates a wrestling action) isn't gonna be there, right mom?" when talking about schools. Audrey maybe a sweet woman with an old-school approach to interacting with kids. It's an approach that doesn't work for my family, but may be ok with you. I'm just glad I got to see it! If that's what she does in front of parents... how does she discipline when she's alone with your kids. It scares me. I realize this review may have a very negative impact on her livelihood, and for that I'm sorry...I hesitated to write this for a long time because of that. But ultimately I feel it's my responsibility to warn other parents and look out for little ones who deserve to be treated with much more respect!

We had a great experience with Smartie Pants Daycare. We were referred by another parent and my…read moredaughter went there for about a year and a half when we moved out of the neighborhood. Ms Kinney was always attentive, loving and sweet with my daughter and so were the rest of her staff. We still go back on occasion and she's always welcomed with open arms and my daughter always looks forward to it and comes home happy. I'd definitely recommend this daycare!!!

Miss K and her team are the best. They potty trained my son and taught him a lot about socializing…read more We still drop off the kid from time to time even though he is now going into Kindergarten. Smartie Pants is a great value and great resource for all parents.

We couldn't be more grateful for this incredible school. Since joining, our child has grown in ways…read morewe didn't necessarily expect at preschool. Academically, socially, and emotionally. The environment truly nurtures independence, curiosity, and confidence, and it's been amazing to watch that unfold day by day. What really sets this school apart, though, is the teachers. They are patient, attentive, and genuinely teach with so much love and intention. You can feel how deeply they care about each child as an individual, and that kind of dedication makes all the difference. There's also something really special about the community, it's small, connected, and welcoming. It doesn't feel like just a school, it feels like a family. We've built meaningful relationships not only with the staff but with other families as well, which has made this experience even more special. If you're looking for a place where your child will be seen, supported, and inspired every single day, this is it. We feel so lucky to be part of this community.

This place is special. There isn't better childcare out there. We've had 2 of our kiddos grow up…read morethrough AIM and a third on the way! The teachers here are incredibly diligent and intentional about the Spanish language. Almost everyday our kids would come home singing new Spanish songs. It's run by the sweetest family that will treat your kids as such. Perfect place for kids to learn the Spanish language and get set up for success in future immersion schooling.

I can't say enough about the school. Both my kids have attended. The owners and teachers are…read morecaring, knowledgeable and empathetic. Any negative comments/reviews regarding the wait list come from those that are out of touch with the high demand and limit space available. Absolutely recommend 100%!

In response to Howard, when we added our newborn to the list, we had no intention of enrolling him…read moreever at Hillcrest, as we are aware it starts at age 2 (our application indicated a requested start age of 1-1.5 years). Second, we have a few friends who attend NP and told us there was new enrollment in the class, even after Bridget told us our son was next after currently enrolled toddlers trying to add days. Third, I emailed Susana on 9/28 to check his status and she replied a month later (after this yelp review). I think Howard's intentions on his responses on Yelp are quite evident. His choice to write down my family's name, history and assumed "experience" instead of address the waitlist structure really makes me question his ability to lead an organization which cares for children. I never mentioned ALP summer camp because it had nothing to do with this location, and left my child's poor experience with summer camp off the other location's yelp as well. I wrote strictly about my experience with North Park, and I stand by it.