I removed my previous review because, after reflecting on our family's experience, I no longer felt…read moreit accurately represented how I feel today.
My daughter attended Tiny Thinkers beginning in December 2020 and remained there through age four, so this review reflects several years of experience rather than a brief enrollment.
There were many things I genuinely appreciated about Tiny Thinkers. Ms. Jana, Ms. Delilah, Ms. Alejandra, and many of the teachers in the younger classrooms were incredibly kind, patient, and caring. Ms. Alejandra even helped potty train my daughter, and I will always be grateful for the love and support she showed our family. Those positive experiences are the reason this review is difficult to write.
Unfortunately, our experience changed as my daughter got older. Around age four, she cried every day at drop-off. At the time, I assumed it was simply separation anxiety. Even now, over a year later, she still tells me she doesn't want to go back because "Ms. Lupe was mean to me." She brought it up again just yesterday, completely on her own.
For context, my daughter is autistic and high-functioning. She is verbal, was successfully potty trained while attending Tiny Thinkers, and did not have significant behavioral issues such as aggression toward staff or other children. Like many young children, she sometimes struggled with transitions and occasionally needed extra patience and emotional support.
What concerned me most was how those moments seemed to be handled. I often felt that when she struggled, the response was to remove her from an activity rather than help teach her through it. One example that has stayed with me was when she had difficulty sharing the soccer ball. Instead of being coached through taking turns and learning the expectations of the game, she was simply no longer allowed to participate. I understand preschool teachers manage busy classrooms and difficult situations every day, but I had hoped for a more nurturing, teaching-focused approach.
Initially, my daughter attended Tiny Thinkers for part of the day while also attending a public school special day class. When that program changed, we had to find another full-time placement. At the time, it felt incredibly stressful, but looking back it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. She flourished almost immediately after transitioning. She now loves going to school and summer camp, participates happily, has grown tremendously socially and emotionally, and no longer cries at drop-off. Watching that transformation made me reflect differently on our experience and realize she simply needed an environment that was a better fit for how she learns and develops.
I know every child is different, and many families may have a wonderful experience here, especially in the younger classrooms. However, if your child is neurodivergent or benefits from additional patience, flexibility, and emotional support, I would encourage you to ask detailed questions about how those needs are handled.
I truly wanted to leave another glowing review because there are wonderful teachers at Tiny Thinkers who made a positive impact on our family. But knowing what I know now, I would make a different choice for my daughter, and I hope sharing our experience helps other parents find the environment that's the best fit for their child.
