Children's Enrichment Center (CEC) is a preschool located on the Twin Lakes Church campus. They…read moreserve children ages 2 through transitional kindergarten. CEC is a very academic preschool with a fun-loving and caring staff. Great remodeled facilities and playgrounds. Cannot say enough positive things about CEC.

This is a great school. My brother went there pre-5th. My oldest son goes there now and I plan to…read morehave our youngest boy go as well.

My daughter cries to go to her preschool when she has to stay home sick. She LOVES it!…read more Super clean, very organized, lots of choices for kids to play and learn, VERY communicative owner and teachers, great focus on learning positive behavior, making positive choices, and channeling creativity. Low teacher turnover (fabulous). Also, HUGE backyard and again, lots of choices for outdoor play. Thank you for running a wonderful little school, Stacey!

I'm so happy we found this preschool and were able to get in. 2020 has been insane, and having a…read moresafe and fun place to send my child is a HUGE relief. He absolutely loves it there, and after his first day he told me he likes to follow Teacher Kim around at school because he loves her so much. The kids are definitely spoiled there with all the new playgrounds, and most importantly, the COVID safety measures they take are everything a worried parent could ask for. Thanks, Stacey & COF staff!

This place is amazing and if you live in or near Ben Lomond you should not hesitate to consider…read morethem for your child care needs! As a new mother, deciding on a child care provider for my daughter when it was time to go back to work was one of the most difficult decisions. I could not be happier with our choice of Highland's Park Community Bridges. She receives the highest quality of care and they provide a very nurturing environment filled with unique and age-appropriate educational experiences that I could not provide at home. Most importantly, she is so happy to be there! All of the staff are friendly and professional and I am grateful for all of the support and communication they provide to us as parents. The Site Supervisor, Roxy is so compassionate, professional, and understanding. She really listens to families and children equally well. She is always thinking of new ways to engage the children and help them to thrive. I feel like we are part of a community, and I look forward to watching her grow and develop at this center for years to come, while our family is building connections with other children and local families.

My daughter has been going to the Day Care/Preschool for about two years. The staff and teachers…read moreare awesome and show a tremendous amount of care for each individual child. Leaving your kid behind while you are at work can be hard, but knowing that they are safe, learning, and most of all having fun makes it less stressful.

Kinder Cottage is an amazing learning community for children and their families with exceptionally…read morecaring and compassionate teachers! My husband and I are both elementary school teachers, and we have been a part of the Kinder Cottage community for six years (with two more to go!). When it came time to choose a preschool, we didn't look at a single other one. Many of our teacher friends' children already attended Kinder Cottage, which is how we learned about it (in fact, many local educators enroll or have enrolled their children there), and when we stepped inside and saw this community in action, we knew we wanted our daughter to be a part of it. Our daughter began Kinder Cottage when she was two-and-a-half years old. We chose to keep her at Kinder Cottage rather than put her into Transitional Kindergarten (TK) although she was eligible, because it was so clear that the teachers and their compassionate and developmentally appropriate approach to teaching and learning were not just preparing the children to be successful in kindergarten, they were preparing them with skills to be successful in life. As a teacher, I have so valued Terri's approach in working with children. Terri is a lifelong learner, having completed her Master's in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in Special Education within the past few years, and she is passionate about the role she plays in all of our lives--for example, by creating opportunities for mentorship and community-building for parents while having tea and treats at her home once a month, discussing anything and everything, helping to prepare parents in supporting their child's transition into kindergarten, and sharing her wealth of knowledge about children and learning. In the school, important learning is taking place everywhere, and while much of it is student-directed and always in the context of activity and play, Terri and the other teachers recognize and seize upon opportunities for learning in action all the time, and this is a true art. Having earned my doctorate in Education, I can really appreciate how Terri and all of the teachers put theory into practice, as children develop skills and strategies for sharing, working with others, solving problems, and forming friendships. Just today for instance, I watched as Terri helped an older child who was troubled because a younger child took a toy from her. When the older child asked Terri for help, she helped the two resolve the situation while learning important communication skills and lessons for next time, asking the older child whether she had told the younger child she was still using the toy, and offering that she might show the younger child where there were more like it. While in many situations an adult might simply say, "give it back," consider what was learned by both children in this situation, the respect given to both, and responsibility this fostered. The older child was empowered, showed the younger one where to find the toy, and both played together happily--with the tools to resolve the situation themselves and knowledge and language for how to do so in the future. All this while parents dropping off children, giving snack, and getting ready for a field trip! That is expertise! While Terri could easily teach at the university level, she has found her place in this world where she can affect change and make a difference in the lives of so many, and recognizes how important this work is, finding it meaningful and rewarding. She has such respect for young people, such understanding of them, and this permeates all of her actions and it is so clear this is the work she is meant to do. The kindness, love, and caring she gives her students is limitless, and the foundation of her work. You hear it in her voice the way she speaks to the children. It is not something she tries to do, it is who she is. I have to say, I could go on and on similarly about each of the teachers, I focus on Terri especially because she is not only a teacher and teacher-leader, this school embodies and enacts her vision and it is beautiful to behold. I have reflected myself recently on how between my two kids, our family will have collectively been a part of the Kinder Cottage community for as long as our children will be in elementary school or longer. It has been a gift, and I have to appreciate each day because I know far too soon, it will be behind us. Kinder Cottage has truly been our children's foundation in learning, and we will always be grateful for it.

The school is very beautiful, inside and out, with a delicious menu for the kids too. The teachers…read morealso seem knowledgeable. the problem is with the teachers' attitudes towards certain parents and students. There was a striking difference between how they treated certain families (mine included)--quite cold and dismissive towards some, and very friendly and sociable towards others. it's very unfortunate that this was our introduction to Santa Cruz.

I am extremely happy with my experience at Happy Days. The staff is so caring and attentive and my…read moredaughter is really thriving. Toby, the owner, has been very accommodating in working with my schedule. I highly recommend this daycare. (We are at the Live Oak location).

Great daycare. Fantastic teachers. Consistent quality and value. They really care. The teacher and…read moreowners are phenomenal.

This is our second year at SCPENS and we really love being a part of this quality co-op school!…read more My children are intrigued with the various activities (yes, I am able to bring baby along to preschool classroom). There are various activities set up to appeal to different children/moods/learning styles etc. There is always a sensory table set up with an activity like playdough, bean trays or making snow. An art activity (painting, stickers, glue...). The exploration table allows students to discover and experiment with scientific and mathematical manipulatives. On the rug, the kids will often be building with blocks or trains. There is dramatic play with dress up, a play kitchen, dolls,and a store. And of course, there is a quiet corner complete with books relating to the classrooms theme. In addition to these permanent classroom features, there is frequently something special happening: water play on hot days, setting up a tent when learning about the forest, or riding on a large tiger toy when studying wild animals. This brings me to the amazing SCPENS teachers. This year our teacher is Dara. She is passionate, smart, creative, patient and responsive. She inspires me to be a better person and I am constantly in awe of her boundless energy. She and other parents have been great models for positive discipline. Dara and my fellow parent peers make it that much more fun to come to school. Last year, we had teacher Wendy in the toddler classroom. She is kind, caring and incredibly well matched for toddlers. The SCPENS teachers are full of love for the children who pass through their doors. A few final aspects that we love about the program. One is the afternoon choice. There is no rushing out of the house first thing in the morning, it is a good fit for our current sleeping schedule. I also value the co-op atmosphere which provides the opportunity to be a part of my child's early education, the great speakers at parent nights, the sense of community, and the chance to connect with other parents. Finally, as an elementary school teacher, I appreciate the differentiated instruction provided and feel that the preschool program prepares children for kindergarten in an age appropriate, play based fashion. Come visit our gem of a school and see the wonder for yourself!

My daughter and I had fun adventures at SCPENS. I would highly recommend it to all. It was a great…read moreexperience! Cynthia D.

My family loves Little People's School!…read more My daughter was attending another Pre-school in the area. It was very crunchy and focused on imaginary play, valued positive discipline and followed a more Montessori-like structure. We liked it and it was great encourager for our shy 2.5 year old, but as she grew we found it didn't provide enough structure for the analytical child she was becoming. Little Peoples seems to breach both worlds in terms of encouraging a child's imagination and allowing them to explore their world without rushing them into a system of structured learning too soon.. and also providing enough educational stimulas to engage their minds. We love how the teachers interact with the kids; especially Ms. Peg and Mr. Matt. My daughter attended for a year and half, and was more than ready to enter Kindergarden. Ms Peg always has great advice and seems to instinctively know how to approach a child based on the specific personality. We like it so much our son now attends, and since he's only 3.5 and a summer child, we will more likely be there for another 2 years. Another Great perk? Having a male pre-school instructor who is great with the kids and also a good role model for our son. I would agree with one of the previous reviewers, and ignore Susana H. She may have had valid concerns but her review is positively ridiculous and unfair since she didn't leave any reasonings for the bad review.

Nothing more to say then I am now sending my 3rd child there! The best teachers, curriculum,…read morepricing, and most of all, a great family and community!!!

We adore Discovery Midtown! When our in-home daycare unexpectedly closed, we were lucky enough to…read morefind a spot for our youngest daughter (aged 2) at Discovery Midtown. Their warm, supportive environment fosters experiential learning and loving growth. From imaginative play, to outdoor, hands on exploration, our daughter thrived under the guidance of Discovery's caring and dedicated teachers. I'll also add that our daughter is very introverted, but within days, she felt right at home--making friends and engaging in the many inquiry-based activities curated by her teachers. Children have ample outdoor time, exploring garden beds, participating in water play, as well as climbing, sliding, and watching monarch pupa transform into butterflies! The educational team is outstanding and thoughtfully created each fun, hand on activity to support the developmental stages of the children. Teachers communicate regularly with parents about what our children were doing each week and share pictures of them in action. As a parent of 4 who works full time, feeling this connected to what my daughter is doing while I'm at work is amazing! Last but certainly not least, Midtown offers parent education meetings. These meetings not only support parents with actionable information, but foster community between parents in a wonderful, welcoming way. Discovery Midtown is one of the absolute best preschools in Santa Cruz County and we are so glad our daughter has been able to grow in this loving, creative, and nurturing community.