We are incredibly grateful for Julie and everything she has done for our family over the past four…read moreyears. She cared for both of our children from such a young age, and it is hard to put into words how much she has meant to us. She has always been patient, caring, and thoughtful with our kids. She helped both of them through big milestones (such as potty training!) and was especially thoughtful with our son who has severe food allergies. She took the time to find foods he could eat and made sure he was well cared for and included. Knowing our kiddos were safe, happy, loved, and genuinely cared for gave us so much peace of mind while we were at work. I looked forward to all of the photo updates she sent throughout the day - they were like little gold nuggets dropped in our inboxes while we were at work :) Over the years, the boys have come home with so many little treasures and I have a lot of the artwork saved in a box to remind them of this part of their childhood. Saying goodbye is incredibly bittersweet for us, but unfortunately, it's time for both of our kids to start school. If I could keep them at Julie's forever, I so would!! And I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to her children, who spent so much time reading to and playing with our kiddos. We feel incredibly lucky to have had Julie in our kids' lives and cannot recommend her enough to any family looking for someone who will genuinely love and care for their children. We'll miss you so much, Julie!!

Julie has been an absolute blessing as our daughter's babysitter. From the very beginning, she…read moreproved to be attentive, caring, and truly dedicated. Our daughter adored her, and it was clear that Julie genuinely loved and cared for her as well. One thing we appreciated most was how communicative she was--she always kept us updated, which gave us so much peace of mind. As first-time parents trusting someone else with our child, that meant everything to us. Even now that we've moved on, our daughter still asks for Julie, which speaks volumes about the bond they built. We are incredibly grateful for the two years she spent caring for our daughter. It was our first experience having someone look after our child, and it couldn't have been better. Julie is simply the best, and we wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for a trustworthy, loving, and attentive caregiver.

Time for an update! My second son has been attending Miles of Smiles since he was just 4 months…read moreold, and over a year later, the transition from infancy to toddlerhood under Biana's watchful eye has been nothing short of seamless. It is rare to find a childcare provider that feels like a true extension of your own family, but after years of being part of the Miles of Smiles community, I can say with absolute certainty that Biana and her team are in a league of their own. My younger son is thriving just as much as his older brother did. The team treats him with such genuine love and affection that any "drop-off guilt" I would have had is replaced by complete peace of mind. Environment: The facility remains meticulously clean. Despite the daily whirlwind of activities, the toys are sanitized, the floors are spotless, and the "daycare smell" simply doesn't exist here. Safety & Communication: Biana remains incredibly proactive. Whether it's an update on a minor "ouchie" or a clear plan for air quality and safety, her communication is thorough and immediate. Nutrition/Development: We continue to be amazed by the meal program. Just like his brother, my 18-month-old eats nutritious, homemade meals at Miles of Smiles that he would likely turn his nose up at at home. We are also impressed that he constantly demonstrates the fine motor skills and vocabulary Biana works so hard to cultivate. If you are a parent who is hesitant about daycare or worried about finding a place that meets your "particular" needs, Biana will put you at ease. Having sent two children here through different stages of their early development, I can testify that the level of care, hygiene, and genuine love at Miles of Smiles is unmatched. They aren't just childcare providers, they're our partners in raising happy, healthy, and confident children :)

We've had the best experience with Biana and Miles of Smiles Daycare & Preschool. Our twin boys…read morestarted at 1.5 years old (will be 4 this June), and from day one we've trusted her and her team completely. They truly have become like family to us. It gives us a peace of mind knowing our boys are safe, happy, and genuinely cared for every single day. We've watched our boys grow into independent, loving, and smart kids, and we credit so much of that to the play-based learning and daily care they receive. The curriculum is thoughtfully adjusted by age, which we really appreciate, and the small child to teacher ratio makes such a difference. Plus, the kids eat so well! Everything is included and made fresh daily, which is a huge win and time saver for parents. Biana goes above and beyond in the best way. The daily projects (especially the holiday ones!) are adorable. She also puts on the cutest summer and winter concerts for all the kids and families, where the kids get to sing and perform. They're such a highlight and honestly just so fun to watch. The staff truly cares about the kids and it shows. They're loving, attentive, and so invested in each child. We also love the weekly music and gymnastic classes, and Biana always captures the best photos around the holidays and birthdays. She is always available if you have a question or need to communicate schedules. We feel incredibly lucky to have found Miles of Smiles and couldn't recommend it more!!

Galina's Daycare is an oasis of routine, care, comfort, and community in a time of upheaval after…read morehaving a child. Our baby was about 5 months old when we started his care there, and I believe that Galina's concern and care were integral in his development (and ours as parents) over his first 2 years. She helped us establish a naptime routine such that when he was home, he went down without a fuss. Which also transferred to bedtimes being painless. She would let us know if something seemed wrong (a cough, runny nose, irregular BMs, etc.) and give us tips for what to do at home. As new parents, we were grateful for her advice and consideration, but she was never judgemental. While Galina's pricing seems high, she delivers with enrichment: everything from birthday parties, art projects, celebrating holidays (the Mother's Day projects were SO CUTE this year), and dance parties. She and her mom bake all kinds of treats for us to take home throughout the year, and always makes sure all the kids are at the house for big holidays. My kid has had a great first two years of making friends and exploring his world. It also is a small group of kids so they all get really close. I have connected with some of the parents and hope we can keep their friendships alive over the coming years. As an only child, our kid really benefitted from being around kids of varying ages for him to play with. The big kids taught by example and I think having the little infants around have helped him be gentle. Galina also does potty training. Once my kid was interested--mainly from other kids at the daycare being potty trained--, we bought a potty at home and he already was going #1 consistently at 21 months. 10/10 I highly recommend Galina's Daycare!

Galina is AMAZING!!! We recently moved away from the area and one of the only reasons why we had…read moredoubts is because we don't think we'll ever find a daycare as great, caring, and attentive as Galina's. She develops a connection with each child and makes their wellbeing and happiness a priority. My daughter was always so excited to go there, making the transition really easy when we had to start daycare. My daughter was also introduced to so many healthy foods that we would have never thought of in our household. I was always so surprised when my daughter would come home with a new skill, such as knowing how to blow her nose (so helpful!). Highly recommend Galina, we miss her so much!

Be sure to read the contract carefully, because you'll end up paying and paying with little in…read morereturn. The service at Golden Step is overpriced, and on top of that, the primary caregiver (nana) goes on long vacations, but you're still required to pay during her absence and have the kid with you.. Every time I pick up my child, they are covered in a mess from eating, and cleaning them is a struggle. You're also not allowed to see your child whenever you want, and there's no clear communication about who is taking care of your child when nana is away. Overall, it's been a frustrating experience, and I wouldn't recommend this daycare to other parents. Only if you don't have any other option.

We've been with golden step for close to a year now and we have had a wonderful experience. Nana…read moreand her helper are very experienced, and they treat our kids with so much love and care. There are a lot of activities planned at the daycare throughout the year that our kids really enjoy. Valentine's Day, birthday, thanksgiving, Christmas (a lot of decorations), etc. nothing compares to the happy faces of our kids we see in the pictures nana sent us. The timing of golden step is great for morning commute. Nana makes delicious food for kids too and she didn't charge extra for that. We are really grateful to have her in our kids' lives!

I CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT CRAWLERS 2 SCHOLARS…read more story time. when yelp first came about, i was redefining myself from a san francisco raised troubler maker to an "adult" with adult money and a desire to do some good while having some fun. back in 2005-2015ish, this new online community we built in sf, we had a whole bunch of fun and really did a lot for our local community and local small businesses. we raised a ton of money for the SF Food Bank and put hundreds, if not thousands of small businesses on the literally digital online map. fast forward another decade or so, most of these founder members are now old(er) farts with kids and use yelp in a very different way..... including finding day care hidden gems! we moved to walnut creek during the pandemic when we wanted to have a bit more room with our second child coming. Sky was borna week after we moved into a new place in WC. having experienced the difficulties finding the right daycare/preschool the first time around with our oldest, i hopped immediately into finding the right place for Sky. C2S was on top of a short list of centers in the area i picked out. after visiting, the list got shorter and after speaking with staff, the list only had C2S on it. C2S has an amazing lifer heading the program/center. Katy has literally spent her adult life at this center. Its her passion and it shows. Each and every staff member i have encountered has been amazing. our 3 year old loves his time at C2S. This center is modern, accepting and celebrates each and every child without making it a huge deal (like most of us). I've been to a few of the celebrations and you can not help but smile ear to ear. The center is clean, roomy, secured, and they have a great playground (super important). The team regularly sends photos and you can see how engaged the staff is with the kids and vice versa. Katy and the admin team are SUPER on point and timely with the back office side of things. I have more difficulties getting responses from my own team and employees than resolving items and gettings responses from the C2S team, something you do not see too often from daycare/preschools. i can not say enough good things! happy to share with the yelp community this amazing hidden gem. i did the footwork, found the best day care in the area.

Crawlers to Scholars Daycare is fantastic! The staff is caring and playful, creating a warm and…read morewelcoming environment for the kids. They communicate well with parents and always keep us informed. Each week, they send out meal plans and lesson plans, so we know exactly what our children will be eating and learning. I trust them completely and was so impressed with their care for my first child that I enrolled my 6 month old child there as well when I returned to work. Highly recommend!

I'm honestly saddened to write this review because it means we've officially moved on from Mayrik…read moreChildcare. When we moved to the area about a year ago, finding the right daycare for our daughter was incredibly important to us. We wanted somewhere close to home that had a true family feel, was educational, instilled strong values, and most importantly, was a place where she could feel safe, loved, and truly thrive. From the very first day I met Teacher Anna, I had a feeling we had found exactly that. She immediately made us feel comfortable, and over the past year, we've been so impressed by everything our daughter has learned and experienced there. She would come home telling us about the things she learned, singing songs she picked up at school, and even surprising us with little bits of Russian along the way! What meant the most to us was knowing that she wasn't just being cared for -- she was being nurtured, encouraged, taught, and loved. Mayrik Childcare became such a special part of her early development, and we will forever be grateful for the impact it has had on the little girl she is becoming. We will forever miss Myrik Childcare and Teacher Anna, but we are even more grateful that we found them when we did. Thank you for giving our daughter such a wonderful place to learn, grow, and feel at home.

We've had the absolute pleasure of having our son cared for at Anna's daycare for the past year and…read morea half, and we couldn't be more grateful to her and her team. He started when he was just one year old, and now at 2.5, we're amazed at how much he's grown and learned during his time there. Anna and her team have been incredibly kind, supportive, understanding, and genuinely caring. From day one, it was clear how much they truly love the children in their care. Our son has thrived thanks to the wonderful programming they offer--arts and crafts, music, behavioral support, and so much more. They've helped him develop all the foundational skills he'll need as he continues to grow, and we've watched his confidence blossom under their care. While our son is transitioning to a new location due to our family's circumstances, we will deeply miss Anna and her team in our everyday life. They've been more than caregivers--they've been like family to us. Any parent would be incredibly fortunate to have their child in such loving and capable hands. Thank you, Anna, for everything you've done for our son and our family!

My daughter attended Sunshine House for only a couple of months before we sadly had to move out of…read morestate. We were so sad to pull her out because we could already see how happy she was there and how much she was thriving. Sunshine House was actually her very first experience being in a school setting, and I'm so thankful that it was such a positive one. All of the teachers were absolutely amazing and showed her so much love and care. She was always so happy and excited to go to school, and as a parent, that meant everything to me. I truly believe that because they made her first experience with school so positive, it helped create the love for school that she still has today. A few months later, we were lucky enough to move back, and she has now started kindergarten. Since starting, I've received nothing but compliments from her teacher about how ready and prepared she is! What makes me even happier is seeing how many of the skills Sunshine House helped nurture in her are still with her today. From the way she participates during circle time, the way she interacts with other children, and even the way she advocates for herself, these are all things Sunshine House helped teach and encourage in her. Her kindergarten teacher has been so impressed, and it makes me so happy knowing that so much of what she learned during those few months has stayed with her. I'm just so thankful my daughter had the opportunity to experience Sunshine House. Even though she was only there for a short time, they made such a lasting impact on her. They gave her such a wonderful first experience with school, helped build her confidence, and gave her skills that she still carries with her today. We will always be so grateful for Sunshine House and all of the amazing teachers who loved and cared for her while she was there!

We've had such an amazing experience at Sunshine House in Concord. When we first toured, we were…read moreimmediately blown away by how attentive the teachers were, their strong communication, and how engaged all of the kids seemed. Three years later, I can confidently say we made the right choice. My daughter has been attending since she was two and will be graduating this fall to go to Kindergarten. The growth we've seen in her has been incredible. I truly feel like Sunshine House has set her up for success. The teachers are so warm, supportive, and genuinely care about the kids. They were especially helpful during big milestones like potty training, which made a huge difference for us. Both of my kids absolutely adore their teachers, which says everything. I also love that they offer onsite electives you can sign up for--it's such a convenient and fun addition to their already strong program. Another thing that stands out is how they rotate rooms and toys to keep things fresh and engaging for the kids. Overall, this school has exceeded our expectations in every way. My kids LOVE it here, and we feel so lucky to be part of this community.

This review is strictly about the inquiry process as I was unable to get straight answers to my…read morequestions without scheduling a virtual tour. As a full-time working mom of a toddler and pregnant with her second, I have to be very efficient with my time. Before answering basic questions regarding availability and cost, Elianna wanted to schedule a virtual tour. I had already done the vetting I was comfortable with to scheduling a tour, but was unable to find information regarding cost. So naturally, I first wanted to know if she was going to be the right fit both financially and with the timing of when we needed care to start. The message I received back was a big red flag and frankly, offensive. Here is our full conversation if anyone is interested in what you'll get when reaching out Elianna with questions. Elianna C. - "I need more info ? start date? Age ? How many days ? Pick Up dropping off" Me - "Hi there, I am currently pregnant (due in October). My husband and I are looking for child care starting in January 2025 when the baby is roughly 3 months old. I anticipate needing Full Time care, but could probably make do with Part Time care for a bit. What is your availability in January 2025 for a 3 month old? What is the cost for Part Time and Full Time care? Thank you! Best, Nadia" Elianna C. - "Hi there I would like to do a virtual tour this week if possible and talk about your questions. Please let me know what days work for you two . After 5pm" Me - "Hi there, Thank you for the invitation to do a virtual tour. We'd love to schedule something, however, first, we're really looking to see if you'll have availability in January and what the tuition will be. Is that something that you can share with me prior to a virtual tour? Best, Nadia" Elianna C. - "No I don't share a price unless we meet either virtual or in person because you want to see what a program has to offer and you want to compare quality for you child. If I am responding back it's because the availability is there . Or I would Of said there is a wait list but yes if price is your priority then this may not be the right progr for you . I would recommend looking at a place and see if it's a fit all the way around . The quality of care meet the person or staff that will be with your. Child that is very important. Thanks" Me - "Thank you for your time. I think you're right, Tender Loving Preschool Childcare does not sound like the right fit for our family. We value transparency and communication when considering childcare options for the most vulnerable member of our family and it sounds like that is something we would struggle with at your center. I wish you the best. - Nadia" Elianna C. - "Thank you"

I cannot say enough good things about Ms Ellie and her amazing preschool! My son has been in Ms…read moreEllie's care since he was 5 months old. Now, at 2.5 yrs he knows numbers, letters, shapes, and is talking non-stop! He LOVES going and waves goodbye to me happily every day at drop off. This is how I know that this is a warm and safe place for my son to learn and grow with people who care about him every day. What I love most about this school is that your child benefits from being with the other older children at a young age. Ms Ellie provides an amazing curriculum throughout the year focusing on academics as well as motor and social/emotional skills. The kids are learning so much every day. She is an excellent communicator and I always know how my son's day went, what he did, what he ate, and if there are any issues she is proactive in communicating them and we speak easily over text and the phone when needed. The food is amazing, and she makes it fresh every day. In addition to Ms Ellie she has amazing family and team members who provide consistent and loving care to the children. Ms Ellie's school is a true gem. Home based daycare can span a wide range of quality, but we are so grateful to have this school for our son where he is thriving. As much as it is hard to be a working parent who can't be with your child all day, having a partner like Ms Ellie and her whole team makes all the difference!

Choosing this daycare for my daughter has been one of the best decisions I have made. From the…read moremoment you walk through the door, you can feel the sense of community, warmth, and genuine care that fills the entire space. It's not just a daycare--it's a place where children are truly known, nurtured, and celebrated. The teachers bring so much love and joy into their work every single day. They greet each child with kindness, patience, and enthusiasm, and it's clear how deeply they care about the kids. My daughter has grown, learned, and blossomed here in ways I could never have imagined. She feels safe, supported, and excited to come each day--and as a parent, that level of trust and comfort is priceless. I will always feel grateful that this has been my daughter's first experience in care outside our family home!

My son started with Ahma and her family when he was 7 months old, he is almost two. He now runs…read moreinto Ahma's house in the morning like it's his own. Ahma communicates with me daily about naps, eating, behavior and often sends photos. She has helped me navigate through all of his milestones and been very patient with him as he learns to navigate his emotions. Overall I can't say enough great things about TLFA, we are so grateful to have found them!

Our son is finishing up his time at sunshine house Martinez. He is graduating and moving onto…read morekindergarten in the fall. We can't thank Sunshine house and all the staff/teachers enough for everything they have done for our son. He has excelled and show such progress during T-K. They have prepared him for his next step and we can't thank Sunshine house enough. We are so excited our daughter will attending in the fall as well!

Sending our two boys to Sunshine House Preschool in Martinez has been such a wonderful decision…read more They absolutely love it there, and knowing they are excited to see their friends and teachers every morning gives us complete peace of mind. The teachers are uniquely caring, patient, and organized. They've built a warm, safe space where our sons have truly blossomed into more confident, independent, and happy little boys. We chose Sunshine House because my boss recommended it--her son went there 18 years ago! It's amazing that after all this time, the school hasn't lost a bit of its magic or high standards. Thank you to the incredible staff for everything you do for our family. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for a truly nurturing preschool.