Our experience at Highland Park Recreation Center was mixed. There were staff members we genuinely appreciated, but overall, this was not the right fit for our son.
One of the biggest concerns was that the program seemed to expect children to simply comply rather than meet them where they were developmentally. Children who need extra guidance, emotional support, or individualized approaches may struggle here. Our son's classroom had approximately 15 children with a lead teacher and an assistant, which seemed like it should have allowed for more individualized attention, but that wasn't our experience.
The quality of care also depended heavily on which teacher was present. Our son did much better with the morning lead teacher, who built a positive relationship with both our family and our son. We noticed a significant difference in his confidence and behavior under her care. Unfortunately, our experience with the afternoon teacher was very different. Nearly every pickup involved a list of problems or corrections. Rather than collaborating with us on strategies that worked for our child, it often felt like we were being lectured. We rarely felt that anyone was interested in asking what was successful at home or how we could work together.
Communication from administration was also disappointing. There were times when it was difficult to reach the director, and concerns did not always feel acknowledged. At one point, I was spoken to disrespectfully in front of administration without meaningful intervention. That left me feeling anxious about bringing my son each day instead of confident that we were partnering with the school.
As parents, we spent a great deal of time building our son's confidence at home. Unfortunately, we often felt that the environment at the center undermined those efforts instead of reinforcing them. Rather than focusing on prevention and helping children succeed, it sometimes felt like the emphasis was on correcting behavior after problems occurred. For example, recurring conflicts between certain children continued despite opportunities to separate them proactively.
To be fair, there were positives. The morning teacher was caring, communicative, and made a noticeable difference in our son's experience. We also understand that recreation center programs are different from private preschools.
If you're looking for reliable childcare, this program may meet your needs. However, if you're looking for a preschool environment that emphasizes emotional support, individualized guidance, and strong collaboration with parents--particularly if your child has ADHD, AuDHD, sensory needs, or simply needs more patience--I would encourage you to ask detailed questions before enrolling.
This review reflects our family's personal experience, and ultimately we chose a different educational environment that we believe is a better fit for our son. read more