Elizabeth was amazing and a great help. She provided valuable feedback and insight from her years…read moreof experience. We did 10 sessions with Elizabeth and the format that we had Elizabeth during these sessions was very conducive to our needs. We feel better prepared to handle different situations that arises with our young daughter than if we didn't have Elizabeth before.

I hired Elisabeth in 2020 because I needed help with my tween. I was going through a high conflict…read moredivorce. I can honestly say second best decision I have made. She taught me how to set boundaries but parent and listen. It is now 2024 and I still go to her every time I have to deal with conflict with my 16 year old. I use her 24 hour 15 minute help so I can avoid a major blowout. I brag about her all the time to whomever will listen. This past weekend my sister noted how much calmer I have been. That is thanks to her! There is no such thing as a perfect parent and I believe every parent could use someone to lean on for some advice. I have never been disappointed and my daughter likes and respects her so it's really great:)

Leticia was an incredible birth doula and such an important part of my birth experience. She was…read moreextremely knowledgeable and provided so much comfort, reassurance, and encouragement throughout the entire process. Her calm and supportive presence made a huge difference, and my experience truly wouldn't have been the same without her. She also shared helpful information before and after the birth, which made us feel much more prepared and supported. I'm so grateful to have had her by our side and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a compassionate and skilled doula

We loved having Leticia as our night nanny. She was very professional and knowledgeable. Leticia…read morehelped us diagnose and address any issues as we are first time parents. It felt like having a nurse supporting us through those early weeks. She communicated clearly and consistently, which gave us a lot of peace of mind. We recommend her to all of our friends to have some sanity during the newborn stage! Totally worth the investment.

The Terrific Twos class with Heidi was such a wonderful experience. I learned so many skills as a…read moreparent of a spirited two year old that I'm able to model some sweet Jedi mind tricks and my partner gives me credit, but really it's all Heidi and the other parents in the class. My two year old looked forward to the play zone and the kind volunteers who played with him. He enjoyed the activities and he learned to confidently separate from me. We were just in the next room but it was also really nice to have some adult interaction without an army of toddlers to supervise. (Bless you childcare volunteers.) If you're trying to navigate tantrums, sleep issues, biting, hitting, carseat battles, basically being two, this series of classes is amazing.

I'm a big fan of this organization. Not only do they provide parent and family services and…read moreprograms but they also have a drop off location for items you want to donate, which go directly to the families in need.

Robin has been doing messy play classes for my 2 year old twin boys for almost a year and a half…read moreand it is the BEST thing we do every single week. From oobleck to coffee grounds, dirts, slime, pumpkin guts and so much more she always has incredible tactile activities for them and they always love it. On top of the awesome activities she has great insight about dealing with so many of those early parenting issues - tantrums, sharing, saying no, etc. She is a great sounding board with wonderful advice. I could not recommend her, her classes and her products more highly.

From the owner: Hands on Parenting offers classes and services for new parents in the SF Bay Area. We offer classes…read moreon newborn care, prenatal breastfeeding education, infant massage, Happiest Baby on the Block newborn soothing techniques, and more. We also offer Messy Play classes- educational sensory play for young children! We teach at a variety of locations in the Bay Area as well as privately- our messy play birthday parties area blast! We focus on children ages 1-5 for these parties, but can certainly incorporate children of other ages as well.

About 1 year ago, I was constantly at war with my daughter. I was feeling terrible and exhausted. I…read moregoogled to see if there are local parenting support groups that could help me with my situation. I found Mary. Initially I wrote her off as "yet another useless consulting". But I eventually decided to give her a shot out of desperation. So glad that I did. The advice Mary gave was practical and effective. For instance, she suggested I schedule a weekly bonding time with my daughter, which is now the most-anticipated activity of the week for both me and my daughter. Last week, I almost cried when my daughter told me that I'm her closest person in the world, given I was clearly her most-hated person less than a year ago! My relationship with my daughter has been completely transformed since I met Mary. Wish more parents could get help from her! I snatched a photo yesterday when walking the dog with my daughter. Moments like this make me wonder if the constant wars with my daughter a year ago was actually just a nightmare. lol Thank you Mary!

stop..... read this before working with mary. she is the owner of the company and very…read moremanipulative. you might want to double check with having her interact with your kids and family. i have interacted with her and she is very wishy-washy and not direct. if it's not her way, she will try every way imaginable to not face things on a professional level be aware of people like this and interacting with your kids and family as my experience was not pleasant.

I can not say enough about how valuable Kiran's parenting class was for me. I came into it looking…read morefor answers on how to better manage my 'challenging child' but instead came away with a new way of parenting based on compassion, love and connection. As a mom to 4 young kids I have often felt tired and overwhelmed with the daily tasks of parenting, despite the joys. I now feel Ive gained useful tools to manage those crazy days, being less reactive and having a whole lot more fun parenting. My kids go to bed feeling more loved and value. What a gift Kiran has taught me. The ability to share personal experiences and feelings with other moms on a weekly basis allowed me to relieve a lot of built up tension that I would otherwise have bottled up from day to day. I was surprised how natural it felt to share deep feelings with the group and the process of verbalising those feelings really helped me both understand and act on areas of concern. I found Kiran to be a wonderful supportive facilitator who's genuine care for her clients shines through. She has a warm friendly approach and offers countless useful examples of the tools learned to better put them into practice. I truly believe this course has allowed me to reconnect with my kids and be more present in their childhood. They thrive in the special attention and I have seen a marked decrease in acting out episodes.

I recently took one of Kiran's connected family courses. Kiran expertly guided us through multiple…read moresessions, teaching us about family connections, self-care, and many other useful concepts. Having a framework to learn from was so helpful. Not only was the course material helpful, but we were given useful materials to help us execute our vision. I really enjoyed Kiran's warmth, professionalism, and ability to engage the group into productive discussions.

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.

I worked with Kris last year while in a transition period with my toddler. She was SO incredibly…read morekind, helpful and gave great suggestions while still making me feel great! Her tips were so simple and practical to use and created instant results in not only our daily lives, but in our happiness and joy with enjoying our little one! Thank you Kris!

My 5.5 year old often has a difficult time knowing and/or naming his emotions. We completed the…read morepre-meditation classes. He particularly liked the activities such as making a Mind Jar and walking the labyrinth. We are integrating some of the breathing and calming techniques into our lives. It isn't immediate, so little is, but it is making a difference in his ability to realize and name his emotions. Also, in his ability to recenter himself. Kris works great with children and parents, meeting where each individual is. I recommend this class as a way to increase your bond with your child as well as to help your child learn to calm in a world that is very hectic and full.

I have known Leah for nearly 20 years. Well before she started her business. Leah is an exceptional…read moreperson and friend with a genuine passion for helping others. Her ability to develop trust with people she barely knows is truly remarkable. As a person with trust issues, opening up to anyone is tough for me, but I can tell you she immediately made me feel safe as she is non-judgmental, calm, and patient. She is also a steadfast advocate and anyone would be lucky to have her in their court as a ally. Leah has always been someone people can turn to when dealing with personal issues. Her doing it professionally simply makes sense. The team at Therapy by Choice is truly compassionate, professional, and dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges. Their approach to therapy is warm, supportive, and specific to each client's unique needs. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, or personal growth, they provide insightful guidance and practical tools that foster real, lasting change. The office environment is welcoming, and the entire team operates with the highest level of care and confidentiality. If you are looking for a trusted, skilled, and compassionate therapist, I highly recommend Therapy by Choice for anyone seeking support on their mental health journey.

Leah is a kind caring and empathetic person and therapist. From the very first moment in sitting…read morewith Leah, you feel safe as well as genuinely seen and heard. Her compassion and commitment to support you throughout your therapy is authentic and evident from the beginning. I highly recommend Leah and her team at Therapy by Choice.

I had such a wonderful experience at Nova Studio! This place is a hidden gem for anyone who loves…read morecandles, creativity, and relaxing activities. If you are looking for a candle making studio, DIY candle workshop, or a fun creative experience, Nova is absolutely the place to go. The studio is beautiful, clean, and very cozy. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. They guide you through the whole candle making process, from choosing your jar to selecting amazing fragrance oils and scents. There are so many options to create your own custom scented candle. This is such a great activity for friends, date nights, birthdays, team building, girls night, or a fun weekend activity. If you are searching for things to do, creative workshops, candle making classes, or DIY experiences, I highly recommend Nova. The quality of the candles and materials is excellent, and the experience itself is relaxing, fun, and unique. It's also a perfect place if you love home fragrance, handmade candles, artisanal candles, and custom candle making.

Have you ever tried making your own candles? I recently joined a candle-making workshop, and it was…read morethe most beautiful blend of creativity and calm. From the moment I walked in, the space smelled dreamy with all the essential oils and fragrances laid out--it already felt like a little retreat. We started by choosing our favorite scents, mixing and matching until we found the perfect combination that felt "us." Then came the slow, mindful process of melting wax, stirring with care, and finally pouring it into jars. Each step felt surprisingly therapeutic--almost like meditation in motion. What I loved most were the little tips & tricks shared along the way that make each candle unique. And the best part? Taking home something handmade that now fills my space with warmth and light. It's such a cozy reminder that sometimes the simplest activities can feel the most magical. If you're looking for a mindful, hands-on experience that lets you slow down, be creative, and leave with something beautiful--you'll love this class as much as I did.