This review is three years in the making. As a first-time parent, I was nervous about finding a school that would foster my child's unique personality. From the very first "warm hello," the teachers at Gan Sameach made that decision easy. What sets this school apart is their "learn & play" philosophy. Instead of having children sit at tables with quiet workbooks, Gan Sameach lets kids be kids in the best way possible. A huge part of this is their commitment to movement. The class spends at least 50% of the day outside, whether they are playing on the playground to taking supervised walks around the neighborhood to explore. I've watched my kids progress naturally through major milestones here: - They've moved from parallel play (playing near other kids) to truly playing with other kids. Learning how to navigate friendships and "big feelings" with the teachers' guidance. - Through weekly cooking projects, reading, show and tell, and constant conversation, their vocabulary and storytelling have exploded. - Activities like drawing and coloring have naturally transitioned into building the hand-grip strength and precision needed for Kindergarten handwriting. We actually chose to stay here for an extra year instead of moving to TK, and seeing how prepared and confident my child is for Kindergarten now, it was the best decision we could have made! The staff are the heart of this school. They are kind, gentle, dedicated, and incredibly patient. Many of them have been there for many years, providing a level of stability that is hard to find; they aren't here one year and gone the next. They are so impactful that my kids often say they want to be just like their teachers when they grow up! I also appreciate their respect for a child's autonomy. If a student isn't ready to participate in an activity, like painting, singing, or playing in the sandbox, they never force it. They wait for the child to feel ready, which builds so much trust. They truly work with you as a parent. Whether it's navigating the hurdles of potty training or giving us the tools to help our kids work through "big feelings", social interactions, or learning how to share, they are always ready with expert advice and a helping hand. If you want a school that values academic prep just as much as it values play, fresh air, and kindness, I cannot recommend Gan Sameach enough! read more

Gan Sameach Nursery School - Preschools Near Me - Fremont, California

Best preschool ever! 2-3 teachers with 12 kids, mixed age 2-5. Perfect dynamic for children who first start their daycare. Siblings can go together. Ms Karen and Ms Annie are best teachers. They offer care, love, kindness, patience, inspiration...everything a little child needs. Rabbi Zoe's Friday music and singing session before shabbat was kids' favorite as well. My daughter went there after pandemics when she was 4. We went back for summer camp before she went to first grade. She was sad that she's too old to go there. Gan Sameach and teachers there are our favorite and full of beautiful memories! read more

Gan Sameach Nursery School - Preschools Near Me - Fremont, California

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Our two children have attended this school this year and we are so happy that we found this place! Children loved the school and they really loved their teachers. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the school. The staff is attentive and caring, the place itself is so nice with a gorgeous playground. Fills like at home, like with a family. They are very responsible so we feel safe knowing all the needed precautions d/t COVID situation will be accomplished. read more

Gan Sameach Nursery School - Graduation party - Preschools Near Me - Fremont, California

Our son has attended a total of four daycares/preschools, and I can say without hesitation that Gan Sameach is the most loving, nurturing, and wonderful care our son received outside of home. Miss Annie, Karen, and Shubha are not only experienced early childhood educators, they genuinely *enjoy* children, which is likely why our son enjoyed his time there so very much. We were lucky enough to have him back for summer camp this year (after being gone a year), and he was so excited. No anxiety or trepidation - just joy. To sum it up - every day our son attended Gan Sameach felt good. I would recommend Gan Sameach wholeheartedly to any parent looking for childcare. read more

My family loves the nurturing environment that Gan Sameach (GS) provides our 4 year old son. At first, my wife and I were apprehensive about sending our son to a religious based care facility. (My family is not Jewish). But GS welcomes families of other faiths and we wanted our son to know that everyone is the same regardless of their differences in faith, skin color, nationality, sexuality, or age. Since GS welcomes non-Jewish families with open arms, we jumped right in. After 2 years, here's my impression. GS teachers are gentle and very patient with younger children. I found that some care centers that employ younger workers are higher stress (i.e., they tend to yell a lot more to the kids). But GS's teachers and care givers have been patient and loving with all their children. I have never seen them upset or scold a child. The indoor facility itself is a bit dated, but their outdoor play area is a tremendous asset. The grounds have the bouncy surface to reduce accidents, and they have plenty of trees, flowers, toys, play structures and shade. And Fremont has nice weather so the child get plenty of fresh air and supervised outdoor play time. GS focuses on relationship development for your children. They are less focused on academic development. This is a welcome respite from the go-go-go attitude that permeates the Mission San Jose area of Fremont. GS provides supportive, gentle and a more informal atmosphere for your little ones to learn about friendship, respect, and developing their personalities. read more

It's a Jewish developmental preschool, which means plenty of art and playing. Kids learn how to take turns, behave nicely, work together, If that's what you want, this is a wonderful choice. There's story time, singing, outdoor and indoor play, dress up, and all the things most would expect in a preschool. There is some structure, but plenty of freedom. ABCs and 123s get some attention. If you're looking for a highly academic or highly structured school where children sit quietly work at activities that supposedly build their brains, this is not the place for you. Then again, if you're looking for such a school, you need to rethink what you're looking for. The facilities are well maintained. Kids get to make messes, but they have to help clean up. Appropriate and interesting toys keep children interested. The pleasant playground and garden beat going to the park. Several parents are highly involved, keeping things running and building community. It's basically all smiles. We've found several playmates for my daughter. The teachers, Beth, Karen, and Indrani, truly make it a great place for learning. They're all wonderful in their own way so it's impossible to choose a favorite. Each one treats the children with warmth, understanding, and respect, letting kids be themselves. The discipline is positive in nature, backed with solid limits. The impressive ratio of teachers and assistants to kids also means plenty of personal attention. Judaism enters the classroom in a few ways. When there's a Jewish holiday, the classroom theme centers on it. In winter, they color Hannukia pictures instead of Santa Claus. Shabbat is celebrated. Prayers are said before meals. As a non-religious Jew, it's good to let the kids escape the omnipresent Christianity in our culture while exposing them to Judaism, all without forcing it down their throats. Some students are not Jewish. All are treated equally. All in all, it's a great school. There are also many great preschools in Fremont. read more

Love Gan Sameach!!! My 2 year old has been going to Gan Sameach for almost 6 months and she absolutely loves it!! She'd even ask me to drive her to school on days that she's not registered to go in for. She even tells me she loves going to school and school is so much fun. I was a bit skeptical when I registered my daughter, as there isn't any structure in this school. I mean, I'd like my daughter to have the freedom to do whatever she wants, but not too much. I thought it was just too much free play. I guess she'll be fine for now, as she is still too young for any structure. I signed my daughter up because the teachers are just great. On the day of my tour, I saw several younger children running up to Beth to hug her and just wouldn't let go. I truly believe the children love Beth simply because she is very caring and attentive to them. And Karen, who also interact with my daughter on the day of the tour. Indrani seemed to be very nice and genuine too. My tours to other schools wasn't as impressive. And I was right. My daughter loves Karen so much. Karen is just great. She loves every children and is extremely nice to my daughter. I highly recommend Gan Sameach!! read more

The most child caring preschool I have ever met. The teachers are really passionate about their work and treat every child like their own. Children at Gan Sameach thrive in all aspects of human life both soft skills and hard skills. My children love going to Gan Sameach. All the Jewish holidays are taught in such a fascinating way that both children and parents learn about history and important values. Miss Annie and Miss Karen know child psychology so profoundly that they always find the right tools to help every child flourish in his/her way. read more

We love Gan Sameach! I was referred to the school by a family who's son goes to the same Karate school as my son. I had started my daughter a a Montessori school and she wasn't happy. So when we found Gan Sameach I was thrilled. It is a play based environment. The school is small and intimate and with some of the most caring and nurturing teachers ever! The took my daughter in and made her feel comfortable and loved. She loves all the arts and crafts activities, song and story times. They have a wonderful play yard. Each week they have a theme. She has come home knowing her shapes, colors, numbers and letters. The best part is when I ask her how her day was she says "great!". Almost everyday she asks if it is a school day and always disappointed when I have to tell her, "No, it's Saturday, no school today". Can say enough about how much she loves the school. We are a non-Jewish family and have been welcomed with open arms. I have recommended the school several times and will continue to recommend the school. Please check out the school and find out for yourself. read more

We are not Jewish but were attracted to the school because of it's super nice play area, teachers, loose structure, abundant play material, art supplies, books and such. We are leaving the city and are looking to continue only in another Jewish preschool. That's how much I like their program! The atmosphere is very relaxed, safe, supportive and stress-free. A great place for little ones that need lots of love and care as they learn to trust and be comfortable with others. The playground is big with shady trees, a vegetable garden in the summer and sometimes even butterfly growing activities. In good weather, the teaching comes outside and at times, even the lunches do too. It is very nature oriented - the Director, Beth, is big on hands-on science education and their collection includes a range of Science, Geography, History and Art books. And the teachers? Excellent! My kids love them and have learnt a lot - and I have too. Just watching them in action or getting their advice in tricky situations, have helped me navigate my way through parenthood. read more

Gan Sameach is a wonderful preschool and daycare. They have very kind, patient and loving teachers working there. The school offers flexible schedules which I like a lot. It is made up of 1 class with up to 4 teachers. It's interesting how the class consists of children of mixed ages but that didn't bother me or my kids. What's actually positive about that is that the younger children benefit from watching the older ones while the teachers make sure that everyone gets along. Throughout the day, the kids are educated in so many ways, at so many levels...with many of the important skills and knowledge necessary before a child enters kindergarten. The preschool has a nice outdoor fenced yard for the kids to play as well as a large garden where numerous fruits, vegetables and other plants grow. They seem to really enjoy educating the children about the garden and how to appreciate nature. Even the kids get involved in taking care of it, something my kids truly enjoyed. My children were very happy at Gan Sameach and had a great experience there. When it was time for them to graduate, it was a bittersweet moment. The tears they had in their eyes told me how they will truly miss their wonderful teachers and the friends they made. I certainly miss the school as it will always have a special place in my family's hearts. read more

Wow. I can't say enough great things about this preschool. My kids love coming here and it's a genuine, loving environment. The teachers are so dedicated and clearly love thier job. The director is very much involved, and the parents are involved as much as they want to be. Just a lovely community of joy and learning. read more

Both of my children attended Gan Sameach. The staff clearly love their jobs and love the children. My kids were happy to be at preschool and seldom wanted to leave until they absolutely had too. I wasn't sure about the mixed age philosophy when my first child started, but was completely won over. The younger kids learn from the older ones and the older ones gain invaluable feelings of pride teaching the younger ones. The director shared, when I asked, many useful tips as I confronted different parenting challenges. Both my kids continued to ask to visit long after they graduated. They were both well prepared for kindergarten in the highly demanding Mission attendance area. I would highly recommend this creative, warm, and loving environment. read more

We love love this school! The teachers are so loving and truly care about each child. My son started here 2 months ago and they really take extra care of the new children and work with the parents and the child to ensure a smooth transition process. They totally understand that it is a very tough period for both and seek to make it as comfortable for the child to acclimate. For this we are so thankful for all the teachers. In addition, I knew it was going to be an awesome school when the children themselves were comforting my son and greeted him with open arms when he was first starting. The play based environment is fun and my son has already started becoming more interactive with the other children. He does not want to leave school when I go to pick him up!! read more

Happiest place for my kid! She has moved to KG still wishes if her KG can be at Gan sameach! Absolutely love the warmth that the kids recieve from the teachers! Its a fun place for kids and they are treated with so much care and they learn all the basic good social skills( being polite and respecting others etc)! Definitely recommend to others, if you want a happy and enriching growth of ur preschooler rather than just an academically excellent kid! read more

As a returning happy parent, when our little one (now almost 4 years old) was ready for preschool we did not have any doubt that Gan Sameach is the place for her. She is there for more than a year now and just loves it. The teachers are great, the environment is nourishing and supportive, and the curriculum is suitable. The kids are divided into 3 small groups according to their age, and even tough Jewish it is multicultural, totally representative of the bay area. We love it, and will highly recommend to any parent. read more

My twin daughters have been going here for an year. All the teachers are very caring and loving. They have lots of gardening, cooking projects, butterfly growing activities, art and music. As other reviewers have said, it is not a highly structured or academic school, but if you want your kids to love going to preschool, then this is the place. read more