I cannot give PNS enough praise. I simply love this place, what it stands for, and the people that…read moreare a part of it. I'll start by saying that I didn't consider myself a co-op person before I started PNS. I was skeptical about the jobs and participation, but very quickly I realized that, like most things in life, the time and effort I put in I got back tenfold. I sent both of my daughters here, so I have experience with both teachers in both classes, and can honestly say that PNS gave them the permission to be curious, it taught them to be creative, and that it's okay to get messy. PNS helped my girls become emotionally equipped to handle the next phases of life, and most importantly, it taught them to be kind and to treat people (and their ideas!) with respect. Logistics: Every day there are 2 story times. At each storytime the teachers sing songs, ask questions, and read 1-2 books. Once a week instead of a story time there is a music class that the kids all thoroughly enjoy. Snack is made by one of the parent volunteers, is (usually) organic, healthy, and always has a fruit or vegetable component. There is 1 work day a week, although there is a new program being piloted that is geared more toward working parents who still want the co-op/PNS style of nursery school - look on their website! **The hybrid program has less parent involvement to help reach a wider community of kids and parents - so if you love the idea of this place but didn't feel like it was in the cards for you because of your work situation - think again! ** Philosophy: PNS is completely play based and gives kids a magical place where they can simply be children. They can play in the dirt and mud and sand. They can get messy. My kid once (ha - everyday) ran around in her underwear during a rainstorm with just boots on (the working parents happily changed her into her dry clothes when it was time), and she LOVED it. I once got a photo of her where she had painted her arms bright pink with the biggest smile on her face. I got another photo playing dress up with a play ice cream cone stacked 8 high (with another giant smile). Videos of them singing their hearts out on the tire swing with their friends, creating entire worlds and games, etc. The only real rules are "keep it safe and keep it friendly" and it allowed my babies to try so many fun things and to be so creative. At home this translates to playing together and being super imaginative and creative as well, which is fun to see. They are never bored for long, and their little brains are always creating and imagining the next thing. In Teacher Theresa's mixed age class my little one learned how to use scissors, practiced writing her name/using a pencil every day, and there were always stations that worked on drawing/cutting/stacking and counting/etc. In teacher Amy's class, we learned fun songs (favorites include Mr. Alligator, Twinkle Twinkle Little Spaghetti, and 3 Little Hotdogs Frying in a Pan), did fun art projects daily/weekly. The mixed age class is taught by both Theresa and Amy, so they got to experience both teachers as well as our amazing assistant teachers, all of whom my children are obsessed with. I could talk about this place for eight pages. It's so incredible. But mostly, I feel like my children were loved here. Not only did I gain an incredible community of moms in the same stage of life as me, but my kids got an awesome nursery school time and got to experience what it is like to be loved on by every single adult in the space. My kids have special bonds with not only their teachers, but with other parents who know and love them. It is the most incredible, joyful experience to see others love your children, and I cannot recommend PNS enough. You will never regret sending your kids here, and you will gain friendships that will last a lifetime - I know mine will!

We just finished my son's first year at Parents Nursery School, and we truly couldn't be happier…read morewith our experience. From the very beginning, we felt welcomed, supported, and genuinely cared for. The teachers are experienced, thoughtful, and deeply invested in the children. My son loves all of them, especially Teacher Chris! I especially appreciated their healthy and respectful approach to conflict resolution. The play-based philosophy was absolutely the right fit for our son and gave him space to grow, explore, and feel confident. As a family new to the area without relatives nearby, this community meant so much to us. One of the most special parts of PNS is how deeply people know and care about your child. It never felt like a school where people barely know each other's names. It truly is a connected, supportive village. And the play yard is incredible. It's such a magical space for kids to explore, imagine, and just be children. We are so grateful for our first year at PNS and highly recommend it to any family looking for a warm, connected, play-based preschool community.

We couldn't be happier with the Building Kidz preschool in Menlo Park. We tried another preschool…read morein the area but our daughter didn't like it. Now, she wakes up every morning excited to go to school. The team are so caring, well organized the amenities are fantastic and the activities very engaging. And the kids there are just lovely. Shoutout to Sylvia and team for doing such a great job! We love BKMP and highly recommend it.

Love this school and teacher Has been the best decision for…read moremy little one They are thriving

Redwood Parents Nursery School has been an absolute treasure for our family! The moment you walk…read moreonto the property, you're greeted by the most adorable, thoughtfully designed grounds--it feels like a warm, inviting environment where kids can truly play, explore, and let their imaginations run free. What truly sets the school apart, though, is the incredible staff. The teachers are nothing short of exceptional. They bring so much heart, patience, and creativity to the classroom every single day, making sure each child feels seen, valued, and encouraged. I have learned countless things from them and I am a better parent because of knowing them. Beyond the fantastic dynamic in the classroom, the sense of community here is unmatched. It's rare to find a place where parents, teachers, and staff come together so seamlessly to support one another and build lasting connections. We couldn't ask for a more nurturing, wonderful place for our children grow.

Such a warm nurturing place to be a part of and see your little one flourish. Definitely couldn't…read morebe happier to be part of the RPNS community.

My daughter had such a wonderful experience at Downtown Palo Alto KinderCare. She was in the infant…read moreroom during her time there. All the teachers and staff genuinely cared about her and went above and beyond each day to help her grow and learn. They took the time to get to know her and our family. The teachers discussed how her days went and worked with us to adjust things as needed. I particularly enjoyed following her day through photos and videos they sent through their app. The only downside, if there is any, is that the infant wait list can be very long. I wouldn't hesitate to sign up as soon as you know you'll need care!

A long overdue review! When our son started in the baby classroom at Downtown Kindercare in August,…read more2018, we were nervous about the less than stellar online reviews. Fortunately, we've had nothing but positive experiences, especially when director Nancy took over a short time after we started. We sent our daughter there in Fall 2020, and for over six years, Kindercare was like our family away from home. We made lasting friendships and are incredibly grateful to the teachers and staff for the safe and fun learning environment that they provided to our two kids. We will always hold Kindercare fondly in our memories. It was an emotional day when the kids graduated!

I truly loved my experience at the JCC Preschool. I'm the mom that tours every single school prior…read moreto making a choice. I'm extremely picky when it comes to the care of my children. I'm taking the time to write this review because we've recently moved around in the area and have experienced other schools. Solidifying even more what a magical experience being at the JCC was for us. We were at the JCC for a total of 4 years with both my son and my daughter from the time they were 12 months old (in the mommy and me program they call the Yad-B-Yad with teacher Shuly). In our experience, the teachers are loving, caring and they were truly invested in the development of our kids. The Director Lauren Berman is amazing. The amount of care she leads the school with is incredible. I was part of the school parent committee where we worked first hand with Lauren to help make key decisions about the school, so I saw first hand the amount of strategy, planning, and thoughtfulness that went into running the school. We were also at the JCC during Covid. And I truly believe our kids excelled during this time because of the strategy and execution of how they handled the school. Lauren would call her strategy (the Swiss cheese effect). Creating multiple layers of protection for the kids safety while ensuring and maintaining a loving environment. I know first hand, other schools did not handle this time nearly as well. Our son was at Phillips Brooks (when he aged out of JCC) while our daughter was still at the JCC. And our experience was sub-par there compared to the JCC. I would do it all over again. Sending my kids here. I miss the warm staff, the community of parents, and being in the classroom for Shabbat singing songs with my kids and their classmates. I miss seeing my kids garden, picking tomatoes and kale with teacher Debbie. I miss seeing my kids run around on the giant grassy field playing games in the sun. I miss seeing them dance and sing during their music class. I miss the care that went into planning activities for the day. I am truly grateful to all their teachers who planned a day packed full of activities to instill ability of freedom of choice and asked thought provoking questions to instill a curious and creative mindset in my children. I love our memories from the JCC, they have a very special place in my heart. I often look back fondly at our school year book filled with images of celebration, warmth and smiles. The thing I know from being at other schools is this, in my experience the JCC is a special place, special place, being led by amazing leadership that truly love and care for their families and students. This combination is hard to come by.

Hi, fellow parents! You're trying to pick the best preschool for your kid in an area with so many…read moreexcellent options. Other parents you know have impossibly high standards and even if, when you started your search, you weren't feeling so opinionated on the color of the sheets used during nap time, here you are - at 11:55 PM on Yelp - trying to find some breadcrumb clues to help you make THE BIGGEST DECISION OF YOUR LIVES!!! AHHH! Well. First of all, there are some funky reviews on here. *Note the date.* If they are from pre-2019, there is a new director who is going to set the bar so high that you're going to hate the head of the Ivy League university your child will surely one day attend because Lauren Berman is the most personable, accountable, reliable, responsible, and forward thinking preschool director in town. Whomever was here before, fuggedaboutit. This legend of a director just pulled the school through COVID and fires and mass exodus of educators from the Bay Area and the preschool, which my oldest son just graduated from, is sparkling in the Palo Alto sun. Secondly, parents are busy. SO MANY PARENTS LOVE THIS SCHOOL and will never have the time to write a Yelp review because they should be making lunches instead. So, know that a glowing review like mine is backed up by about 100 more that will simply never get written. Why is this school so great? Your kids will be enveloped in love, in the cutest little classrooms - YES THE TOYS ARE WOODEN AND YES THEY USE LOOSE PARTS, I promise - with an edible schoolyard garden - YES YOUR KIDS WILL EAT KALE AND HOLD WORMS AND YOU WILL SEE PICTURES OF THIS THROUGHOUT THE DAY - and a dynamic duo of music teachers to bless their days. Bless. Loaded word? They learn songs and blessings and it's not going to turn your kid into a bible thumper but instead is just going to give them a routine, which kids and religions both love, so chill. ;) [respectfully, chill] - In a non-COVID year, your kids get to take swim lessons while at school because you are on the JCC campus and there is a full service pool steps away from the preschool gates! And because according to Jewish texts, it is more important for a child to learn to swim than to study the Torah. So you get to have your kid learn to swim while they're at school anyway. Amazing. - Your kids will run on a track field or play with hula hoops in the basketball gym for their PE class, passing by senior citizens who live in the apartments overlooking the plaza and are part of our community! Yes, children still see old people and haven't yet learned to ignore them! This is educational, my people. - Your kids will celebrate double the holidays they would if they weren't at a Jewish school because there is a Jewish holiday for everything, and every month practically. AND let's not underestimate the weekly holiday of Shabbat which means baking and breaking fresh bread together, offering our little humans the opportunity to sing together, to have their weekly turn in the spotlight as the Shabbat Helper and to be part of a Friday ritual that reminds us how important it is to rest and be in a community. This year, the school started doing zoom shabbats on Friday evenings and your relatives from far away can sign in and forget to mute themselves and gush over your cute child on the screen. - Your kids will be exposed to different cultures, most notably Israeli culture and, with that, Hebrew because that is interwoven in the curriculum, but also be in an environment that embraces different languages and cultures: students and staff alike come from many different backgrounds, and are not exclusively Jewish. Like Hebrew a lot? The Ulpanon immersion program is like a year abroad program but without the travel. Highly recommended (and Lital the director there is also phenomenal). - Now that I've done some name dropping, there are some legendary teachers who have been teaching for more than 9 years (some more than 20 years) so put a pause on those rumors about teacher turnover: this staff is educated, dedicated, and for the most part sticks around. New educators in the area also get a chance to work here, paired with veteran team teachers and my impression is that the administration is very supportive of staff. How do I have the credentials to even write this review? Between my two sons who are both under 5, we have been to 6 different preschools. Lemme tell you: The JCC preschool is outstanding. OUTSTANDING.

PreSchool Family is truly the BEST preschool in Palo Alto…read more When my son was 2 years old, I toured all of the parent participation preschools in the area. My husband and I chose PreSchool Family for several reasons - how engaged and warm the teachers seemed to be with the kids, the large and welcoming outdoor space, and the play-based curriculum that allows children to learn by exploring. We spent 6 wonderful years at PreSchool Family, with both my son and later my daughter going through the 2s, 3s, and 4s classes. In that time, I saw firsthand that my initial impressions were correct, and so much more... - The Teachers: In addition to being warm and engaged with the kids, the teachers are all highly skilled. They have higher education degrees in early childhood education, literacy, and more. Many of the teachers have been there for 10+ years. There is very little turnover - the teachers are there because they LOVE what they do. In addition to planning engaging and age-appropriate activities for the kids, they facilitate play, resolve conflicts, and are completely hands on during the morning classes. The teachers also teach the parents at night meetings (without children present) where instruction is discussion-based and focuses on child development, conflict resolution, healthy habits, etc. - The Space: The outdoor space is large, with plenty of room for the kids to run, ride tricycles, push doll strollers, launch stomp rockets, etc. Since the curriculum is play-based, the kids spend a significant portion of their time outside. There are two play structures in the 2s and 3s yard and one larger play structure in the 4s yard. There's nice shade from trees / shade structures and the teachers are great about helping the kids with weather-appropriate gear as needed. - Play-Based Curriculum: Numerous studies have shown that children do better in elementary school and beyond when they follow a play-based curriculum in preschool. Although there are no worksheets at PreSchool Family, the children are definitely learning! Many classes have a "manipulatives" table where the kids work on fine motor skills, an "art" table where art projects are done, and a "sensory" table where the kids explore their tactile senses with playdough, slime, etc. There are baking projects, music time, theatrical performances, treasure hunts, interactive space stations made of cardboard boxes, and so so much more. My children came home each day so excited by the activities they had done in school. - Parent Community: Because this is a parent-participation preschool, the parents really get to know each other. They work in the classroom one day each week and see each other at the night meetings approximately twice a month. The parent education meetings help to shape a common parenting philosophy among the adults, which builds trust and respect among all who are interacting with your children. Plus, the bonds you build are long-lasting. My children are now much older, but some of my best friends are other parents our time at PreSchool Family. I could go on and on, but I will leave it at that for now. If you're considering a parent-participation preschool, I HIGHLY recommend PreSchool Family. Your child will have the best possible experience while learning and growing, you will learn and grow so much in your parenting journey, and you will form friendships that will last so much longer than just the preschool years. Don't hesitate!

This school has truly been a life-changing experience for me. I can't even quantify how much this…read moreschool improved my parenting skills, relationship with my son, and confidence in parenting. The parent education classes are a wonderful way to meet other parents, talk about burning issues, realize that we are not alone in our parenting journeys (and struggles), connect with other parents and develop wonderful long-lasting friendships, and join this amazing community of like-minded adults that nurtures the whole family. At first, I was intimidated by the thought of the parent participation commitment of volunteering in the class each week because both my husband and I work full time. However, after discussing my desire to be very involved in my son's development, my management supported this, and we worked out a way to make it happen with my work schedule. I am so glad that I did. I never imagined how much I would absolutely love being in the classroom each week! It was such a joy to get to know all of my son's friends, and ultimately their families. But most importantly, it was the key to practicing and sharpening my skills to be a better parent that I learned in the parent education classes. PSF has large outdoor areas for the kids to play and run. The curriculum is structured for play-based learning, and the teachers are very knowledgeable about childhood development. The parent education classes teach parents/guardians about developmental milestones, behaviors typical to each age group, and strategies for developing a very strong bond with your child. With parent participation at PSF, I found there were two very important parts that makes it so successful. First was attending the parent education classes to learn about child development, the skills to be a better parent, and to connect with other parents. Second was to volunteer weekly to put those skills into practice in the classroom and shadow the teachers that have developed these skills over decades. I learned so much at PSF, and I can truly say that it has changed my life. I feel much more confident as a parent, and I feel that I now have a toolbox of skills to help me be a much better parent. I highly recommend PSF if you are looking to be involved in your child's development, want to be a better parent, or are looking for a wonderful community of support to help you on your parenting journey. Every single PSF teacher and staff member is an amazing part of this wonderful community, but a special thank you to Teacher Jenn, Teacher Marjan, and Teacher French.

Pretty good place, location kinda sucks if you do not live in Palo Alto. I live in redwood city,…read moreonly reason I stopped coming was because it takes 30 minutes to and from, that's 2 hours a day. Enrollment and all was easy, via brightwheel. There's an outdoor play area for the children, few classrooms. Teachers are more or less all nice, I can see the Mandarin develop quickly and it would've been so much easier if it was closer. Unfortunately, that's the only reason we left. They have great hours, especially if you need early/late care and a single parent. It didn't break the bank.

The teachers and the owners truly care about the children here. The bilingual education is great…read more My child is learning Mandarin and English so well. She loves her teachers and can't wait to go back whenever on vacation. Many fun extra activities in summer too. It gives the children extra fun! Highly recommend

We love Open Gate! When we began touring preschools with our first child, I was very hesitant and…read moredidn't feel comfortable with the thought of leaving him somewhere with strangers. From the moment we toured Open Gate though, it felt like home. Teacher Kristi knows just how to meet the needs of each child (and parent) that walk through the door. The other parents quickly become friends and valued sources of support. We're now back at Open Gate with our second child and we are so happy to be back in the Open Gate community again. My oldest son wishes he could go back too and often talks about "the good old days when I got to play at Open Gate". We are so thankful that we found such a fun and supportive preschool for our kids!

Absolutely LOVE Open Gate! We have been attending since last school year and my son and I just love…read morethe time we spend here. We both have so many new friends and have truly created a community for ourselves. The Teachers are creative, kind and intentional with the way they are educating my son. I also really enjoy volunteering in his class, feeling included in his day and getting to know the other parents. If you have the chance to come and take a tour contact the School ASAP!