Brichta is definitely more of a pre-school then daycare. It's at an actual former elementary school, so you don't get the yucky daycare smell as you walk in. However, outside the superficial, Britcha is anything but. The teachers in each classroom are very well supported. Each usually has one or two class aids. Additionally, students from the UA come to get some of their teaching hours there. They have a very welcoming environment and refer to children in gender neutral terms as "friends." They also have referrals for AZEip if your child needs it. This is NOT a money run business like you find at places like Adventure time with inconsistent staff. They even have rates for government employees. It took us 3 years to find the best place for our kiddo. Don't pass up Brichta without checking it out first. It is truly a west side gem. In addition to their regular curriculum they also offer enrichment class! During the day!!! While your little is already at school! Music! Sign Language! Spanish! Soccer! These are taught by actual instructors and coaches. read more

We are so glad a friend of ours recommended Brichta Infant & Early Learning Center for childcare after the birth of our son! For the last 2.5 years, our son has attended Brichta and has been shown the utmost love and attention by all teachers and staff. Brichta is an exceptionally well run learning center focused on nurturing the growth and development of students while also promoting the health, wellbeing and safety of both students and staff. We love our Brichta family and encourage all parents to consider them when looking for childcare! read more

I had my son in May and am fortunate enough not to have to work in the summers. I was going back to work in August and spent all summer visiting daycare centers. Let me tell you, I visited some frightening places! It was an utter relief when I visited Brichta and knew right away that it was the place for us. The facility is very safe and secure. It is always clean and the rooms don't have that horrible bleach and/or dirty diaper smells so many other reputable centers had. Since it's in a former elementary school, classrooms and play areas have ample room for play and learning. The employees are all very dedicated and knowledgeable. They are open early and close at 6pm. This has enabled me to attend the sometime early work meetings I have and the few random after-work meetings without having to make annoying plans to have someone else take him or pick him up. Plus, they get breakfast and lunch - we just provide an afternoon snack. We moved into a different area of town in the fall and I now travel 30 minutes in the opposite direction from my work every day in order to continue taking my son. No other place compares and the extra commute is worth it. I plan on keeping him there through preschool and have recommended Brichta to family members as well. read more

We have had an incredibly pleasant experience at Brichta. Our daughter started when she was an infant, and has been in three classrooms thus far - the infant, the one-year-old, and now she's finishing up in her two-year-old room. When we toured the facility for the first time we were struck by the cleanliness and variety of the rooms, as well as how Bonnie Demorotski, the principal, knew every child's name we passed. Even more comforting, the children (even the small ones) knew her by name and were very happy to see her. We plan on keeping our daughter there through all her preschool years. The infant room teachers were very attentive, kind, and full of helpful information for us as first-time parents. We were never concerned about her care there or the teachers' levels of engagement. No issues with diapers or feedings, development, etc.; it was very clear they all care very much for the babies, and they frequently volunteered some adorable or funny story of what our daughter had done that day. We also provided breast milk for a little over the first year and then almond milk after that (the school provides cow's milk free of charge), and they were (and still are) extremely accommodating of our preferences. They still greet her and us whenever we see each other. Her one-year room teachers were, if possible, even more attentive and helpful. Like many other parents, we still use them as babysitters on the nights we want to go out. There was always a lot of attention to social-emotional development, physical development, lots of arts and crafts, and a lot of individual feedback as to her ongoing development, temperament, interests, etc. She developed close bonds with all her teachers - had favorites and stories about both them and her classmates. She developed some friends in that room that she followed/followed her into the two-year-old room, some of whom are now her play-date friends. There were a couple of two-year-old rooms from which to choose, and we decided on the more structured room where the teachers have set up stations among which the children move: creating art, reading, dancing, playing with toys/dolls/costumes. They go outside to the playground (twice a day?) whenever the weather permits. The teachers and the school are very consistently concerned with sun safety, as well, covering the children in sunscreen and keeping them indoors during summer peak sun hours. The outdoor area is well-equipped with a little house, tricycles, kid-sized cars, and other amusements, and everything is in good condition. When the weather does not permit, the classes play indoors in the cafeteria - lots of running and jumping, kicking balls, dancing, chasing hula-hoops, etc. Our daughter developed allergy- and virus-induced asthma and so occasionally requires an inhaler every couple of hours. Her teachers have always been very attentive to her health, texting us whenever she seems under the weather or particularly wheezy or coughing a lot. There are posted notices about whatever illness has been diagnosed recently in the room so you know what to watch out for, and no more illnesses than should be expected have resulted from her attendance (according to our pediatrician). We do feel the cost of the care is very reasonable for the care she's getting. The school provides breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack, as well as extra clothes when needed (even a pair of shoes, one memorable day!). They also offer discounts to households that are employed by TUSD or their partner institutions, among which are Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. Most importantly, all the staff, whether she's been in their rooms or not, know her and treat her with kindness and respect. She amazes us almost every day with things she knows that we didn't teach her, including fun facts, songs, and people's names. We are very, very happy to be raising our daughter with their help; it is an incredible relief to never worry about her safety or happiness while we have to work. read more

I am so annoyed that everything I wrote in my original review of Brichta isn't being shown... Not sure what I need to do to make it unhidden. Anyway, I'm still very glad I found Brichta when I was pregnant and I'm happy to this day to have my son there. read more

We have had our 2 boys at Brichta from the time they were 6 months old; one is now in kindergarten and the other is 3. The staff at brichta is fantastic from the in class teachers to the support staff that works in the cafeteria and maintenance to Ms. Bonnie and Ms. Zelya who keep the place running smoothly, we have had nothing but great experiences at Brichta. They go beyond just babysitters or care givers. Each class follows a curriculum that starts the kids educational journey. They are also great at loving the kids, providing emotional support, helping them to grow and feel loved while away from their families. Additionally, enrichment classes like Spanish, sign language, music, and soccer are offered as well as a number of school wide functions that make Brichta feel like one big family. I can't speak more highly of Brichta and the staff we have trusted with our children for the last 5 years. read more

I am so glad that our family found Brichta, I have 2 children 3 and 1 and they absolutely love their teachers. They are so attentive and have lots of 1-1 with my children. They have both picked up so many new words and my 3 year old is finally speaking in sentences and making friends. They both ask me to go to school/daycare daily because they are so excited. On another note the office ladies are so sweet always welcoming and awaiting with a smile. Also they are taking extra procedures In the morning with temperatures and masks due to COVID. I'm so happy we found Brichta we couldn't feel happier or safer. read more

When Ms Bonnie was the director/administrator it was great, but since she left not so much. Not only is it between $550-$650/month (depending on a short or long month) but they no longer include meals. You can have them "catered" for a non-nominal price. My daughter's Pre-K "teacher" used to be the lady in the front and was totally unprofessional with the curriculum (if they have one). My daughter (4-year-old) brought home tons of papers where she traced over the following "I like to dramatic." When I saw the first paper, I thought to myself, "well, maybe it was an error, one error." Than as I went through the over 10 papers that followed I figured out, no it was not an accident. That was an actual "assignment." So, tell me, what curriculum in the whole wide world has "Dramatic" as an appropriate for a pre-k class!? Well, the new director/administrator and the "teacher" (Ms Maricela) couldn't tell me either. That wasn't the biggest issue, the biggest issues for me was that it wasn't even a correct sentence. It was missing a verb and Ms Maricela didn't even realize it. Then when I brought it to her attention her only response was, "oh, the other teachers are supposed to correct me." My response, "you are the LEAD teacher why should the other teachers correct you!?" Anyway, this was not the only incident. Early on in this classroom, my older daughter and I walked in to drop this kiddo off and we noticed on the wall the different emotions and then we saw "fustrated." Are you kidding me!? I had my older daughter remove the word and hand it to Ms Maricela, who once again looked perplexed...she has no idea it was misspelled until one of the other teachers from another classroom pointed out that she was missing an "r." Ms Maricela than pronounced it as it was written and still struggled to understand the issue. I am a believer in second chances and so I hoped for the best and left my little kiddo in there. She was in this class (Rm 27) for nearly 2.5 months and during this time regressed drastically. For instance, prior to her last day, we were in the care and she says, "mom, the letter C is a half of a circle and the sound is kuh." It took me a moment, as I was driving, and I asked her "who told you that?" her, "Ms Maricela." I corrected my daughter with the correct sounds and she became upset because her "teacher" told her differently. The rest of the drive she tried to convince her little brain that C made the "kuh" sound. When my concerns were brought to the attention of the new administrator/director I was told, "you are attacking her language and a teacher of over 12 years experience." Ms Marciela is bilingual (Spanish/English) and so am I. Apparently, TUSD has been allowing this individual to confuse and misteach kids for 12 years, how sad. Take your kids somewhere else for Pre-K. The teachers before Pre-K are amazing and I never had any issues like this with any. read more

Love the teachers here!! Ms. Donna, Ms. Christina, Ms. Kim are all very kind and treat my child great. They've helped him learn and grow imensely. The only thing I don't see very good is the receptionists attitude. Times where I'll greet her and she just looks at me with a straight face or if I stop to ask her something she'll continue doing what she's doing until she decides to stop and just say "yes." No greetings, unless she's in the mood I guess. Attitudes like that could keep people away if they didn't know the tremendous teachers that are there. Awesome job with this program!! read more

Best decision we ever made for our 2 little boys. Our oldest was so well prepared to be a learner in Kindergarten that he was ready to go! Our youngest continues to grow, he's an avid learner, he loves his teachers and friends...it's amazing the amount of development over his 3 years at Brichta. The teachers and all the staff are professional, well-prepared,engaged with the kids and families and it's a very tight knit community. We used another popular center for child care, but nothing compares to the IELC's. It's truly all about learning from the moment you walk in. As a parent you won't ever regret it! read more

This place is fantastic! Our littlest (2.5) has been attending for 6 months now. The facilities are great, the classrooms clean and organized and the staff incredibly involved and caring about our precious one. They provide breakfast which is fantastic on those days he doesn't want to munch at home, indoor time, outdoor time, snacks, music, holiday parties, information sheets...you name it. He calls it his "school" and when Monday rolls around he asks me if I am ready to take him to school and gives the folks (the same the entire time) working there a good morning hug. Highly recommend. read more

We love Brichta. We looked into it while pregnant on the recommendation of a coworker, and signed up immediately. The center is clean, organized, and full of resources. Baby started at 12 weeks, and I quickly fell in love with his teachers- we'd often pick him up to Ms. Maria playing on the floor or snuggling with him in a rocking chair. I love that so many adults love on him (but still consistency- same four teachers throughout the day in and day out). Now that he moved to an older room, he gets two meals and a snack daily, included in tuition. Every day he gets a report of food, naps, and Diapers, which I love. They're also good with breastfed baby- I was nervous after hearing stories, but it's gone seamlessly. We moved further away, but continue to drive nearly an hour each morning/evening to go to Brichta. The one time I had an issue, I emailed the director and the problem was quickly resolved. read more

I have had two children attend Brichta. My daughter, who is now in first grade, attended Brichta from the ages of 3-5. During her two years there, her confidence grew, and she was more then prepared to start kindergarten. In fact, she is now in the GEM program at her school doing 2nd grade reading and 3rd grade math! I attribute this to the fun learning environment that Brichta provided her, which encouraged her to think independently, and be passionate about learning. My son, who is 4 years old, is currently enrolled at Brichta and has attended since the day after his 1st birthday. While he is much different than my daughter, who excels academically, he excels in different areas such as sports and physical activities. Brichta offers these too! Every 6-8 weeks the school offers Soccer, Music & Dance, Spanish, Sign Language, etc. and my son absolutely LOVES these classes! I have absolutely no doubt, that when the time comes, he too will be ready for kindergarten. I can not say enough about this school. The teachers and staff are caring, compassionate, and happy to be apart of your child's life. The center is clean, well maintained, and offers an unbelievable menu of food and extra-curricular activities. If you are looking for an early learning center, not a daycare, then Brichta is the place!! read more

Brichta's been great. Their structured approach to learning and daycare has been a godsend. They also make sure our child is eating right and nutritiously. They do not allow chocolate milk or juices. They ask all we bring is water and healthy snacks. No gummies or candy as snacks. The kids are playing outside a couple of times a day and they also give the kids naps. Absolutely loving this place with one small exception (hence the 4 stars.) At the previous in-home daycare facility i took my child to, we had the option of paying for a partial week. Also, if the child was not in the daycare for a week(Christmas/vacation/etc.) we would not pay for that week. At Brichta, you have to pay for the whole week regardless. They are closed the week of Christmas break, and we still have to pay. Just this month they just increased the cost of attendance by almost 20% It's really putting a hurting on our wallet, but i understand their need too. If it weren't for the money issue, they would be 5 stars all the way. read more

Our daughter has been enrolled at Brichta since she has been 9 months old (2016 to Present). The staff has been incredibly friendly, and are always challenging our learner to perform her best. As a middle school teacher myself I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to meet the student at their level in an effort to support their progress. And Brichta does so fantastically! The educational programming at Brichta is aligned with State Curriculum, and is instructed in a manner that speaks to the student's talents/interest. This can be seen in the Learning Center offering different rooms with a different focus in each class. For example, our young one is interested in Life Sciences (bugs, animals, flowers, etc.). She is placed in the Science Room, which has an emphasis on inquiry, and hands on experiments. Also, it should be noted that the Learning Center not only offers strong instructional experiences, but also encourages emotional growth. Our daughter has developed admirably in learning to manage her emotions. We have found that she has become increasingly capable of navigating difficult situations by engaging breathing practices, explaining how she is feeling, and also resolving any issues with her friends & classmates by working through the problem with them. I feel that this Socioemotional aspect of schooling can be easily misplaced in focusing on curriculum. Brichta has no problem with either outcome whatsoever. My only grievance is that our daughter will be aging out, and will sorely miss her teachers & her classmates. The experience has been amazing! read more

Love this school! They offer so many enrichment programs and the teachers are great! I thoroughly trust this staff. Bonnie, the administrator, is caring and friendly. My child has been attending this school for a few years now and she is learning Spanish, Soccer, and enjoys the music classes offered. She has made friends and learned valuable social skills. I wish I'd have enrolled her as an infant. Thank you Brichta for prepping my daughter for Kindergarten! read more

Where do I start? Such an amazing place for my daughter who is now 4. She's been at Brichta Infant & Early Learning Child Care Center for a year now. She's getting all the attention and time she needs to excel in learning, while getting the occasional sweet nudge to get her to take risks as well (all a fine balance!). The teachers are so great at reminding her (and us) that growth happens all the time. Although they follow the academic curriculum, my daughter ALSO has time to get her hands dirty, run around and PLAY and use her imagination! It seems like a perfect balance. Brichta Infant & Early Learning Child Care Center also offers additional classes (for a small fee) which we love! She's excelling in her Spanish class. Staff is amazing and helpful. read more

Brichta has been a great experience for my two year old son. He's always happy to go to school every day, and no matter what time I drop in, the kids are always happily engaged in an activity. The teachers are Kind & attentive, and the facility is really the best one I saw when touring day cares (bright & spacious with nice playgrounds, it's a former elementary school). Even with a recent necessary rate increase the rates are extremely competitive and the long hours really take the stress out of managing schedules. Highly recommend! read more

All 3 of my children have attended Brichta IELC over the past 3 years.  One has even graduated their pre-k program.  I cannot say enough good things about the staff and facility.  The high quality care is provided at a much lower price than programs equal in quality around Tucson.  Brichta involves families and offers many "extras" to enhance the environment.  They have annual events like Spring Fling, Rodeo Day, and Parents Night Out.  They have built a garden that families help plant and the preschool classes learn about healthy foods while taking caring of it.  They have an in-house library that families can check out books from.  Holidays and spirit weeks are celebrated and looked forward to.  Brichta staff also provide Enrichment classes like soccer, Spanish, and sign language for a very reasonable additional fee.  I am a teacher and have extensive experience in early childhood programs.  I know that the turnover rate of childcare workers across the state is very high.  My infant son has the very same teachers that my almost 3 year old had when he was an infant.  I think that speaks VOLUMES about the program and how the staff are treated.  All the rooms, especially the infant rooms, are super cozy and feel like home and the teachers love my babies so much.  I have now had a child go through every age group at Brichta and I am confident when I drop them off each day that I am leaving them in great hands.  The staff are always quick to call me if they have even the slightest thing to talk to me about and keep me updated on my children daily.  I feel very welcome at any time.  The few times I have had concerns - Bonnie, the director, has addressed those concerns right away.  I hope everyone at Brichta knows that we appreciate them and what they do.  It is not easy leaving our children at such a young age and they make that one less thing that parents have to worry about. read more

Safe, clean, loving environment with amazing caregivers and staff. All three of my children went (or still go) here. From 3 months until pre-K, Brichta offers wonderful care for your children. While no daycare, in-home, or nanny is perfect, Brichta definitely comes close! They listen to your feedback and work with you on any concerns you may have. They offer extra-curricular activities such as sign-language, spanish, soccer, and music for the kids. So grateful to have found a provider that I trust and where my children thrive. read more

If you want to give your child a jump into education (prior to grade school) this is the place. The team really cares about your child's success. read more

We started our son at Brichta at 18 months, about 6 months after we moved to the area. Sadly, we went to a different school first, where we never felt comfortable (that's another story). After touring Brichta on the recommendation of our friend, we immediately signed up. Bonnie is amazing, and Henry, the current director, seems to be following in her footsteps. The school is clean and bright. Everyone is friendly, and the teacher turnover is low. My daughter (1) will have the same teachers that my son (now 3.5) had. And they all still remember him, and me, and my spouse. My son, at 3.5, is starting to read and is excited every day to see his teachers and friends. My daughter, at 1, is well loved there; she's never once cried at drop-off and coos when she sees her teachers. We walk down the halls and it seems like all the teachers say hello to my kids by name, even the ones that I've never met, and they're very loving. There have been some issues with TUSD raising tuition, providing meals/not providing meals. Hopefully these have settled down with a change in the TUSD school board last election; the current board seems to be friendlier to the IELCs (TBD). Overall, Brichta provides high quality child care for a reasonable price. Even at the higher price point, I believe that there are few options as good in the area. We've found a community at Brichta, and will be there until our kids start kindergarten, richer for it. read more

I had our first child in September 2013 and looking for daycare for our first born was frightening and stressful. We looked at private daycare options which were all expensive or the provider had dates she wanted off that were not government holidays and we had to work still yet find other daycare options on those dates. We looked at several non-private daycare options and Brichta was the third we "interviewed." I am so thankful we chose Brichta. It is NOTHING like a daycare- it really is like a little school for babies and toddlers where the kiddos have a schedule that involves LEARNING AND PLAY!!! Breakfast, a snack, and lunch is provided, which other places did not include. Our son is in a classroom with kids his age with TEACHERS who help him learn abc's, numbers, shapes, colors, how to write, draw, etc...Teachers are friendly and welcoming as well as interested in how each kid is special in their own way. For example, our son is super shy and takes a while to get warmed up to people. Every teacher he has had has helped us and him get comfortable and feel wanted. Brichta also has a costume parade every year and all the kiddos get to dress up in their Halloween costume (if they want) and the parents get to sit in the cafeteria and cheer them all on which our son has loved. The coordinator of Brichta, which I consider like a principal, is very transparent and is always emailing or calling parents with information we need to know or about events Brichta is putting together. I can't say enough good things about Brichta. I don't feel guilty when I drop off in the morning because I know our son is not sitting in a big room full of tons of kids of different ages, not learning anything, and just hoping for attention. Brichta is amazing and truly is a LEARNING CENTER and not a daycare. We now have two kids enrolled at Brichta. read more