I'm writing this to share my experience and hopefully help other parents make an informed decision. My daughter is almost 1 1/2 years old and has been attending Lil Explorers since she was just 8 weeks old. Unfortunately, since the administration changed in October 2025, the quality of care has significantly declined. There has been a very high turnover rate with teachers, which creates an unstable environment for the children. One of my biggest concerns has been safety. My daughter was repeatedly bitten by the same child, and there were multiple instances where I was not informed. I only discovered the injuries after noticing marks on her arms and legs when she got home. At one point, my daughter was bitten four times in a single day. I reported this to child Care Licensing in California, and they conducted a visit to the facility the following week. After that, I felt there was a shift in how my daughter was treated. I began receiving reports that she was "biting" and "fighting," which had never been an issue before--either at home or previously at the school. What's most concerning is the lack of transparency and consistency. On multiple occasions, I've received completely different explanations from different staff members about the same incident. Most recently, I picked up my daughter and found a bite mark on her hand that I had not been informed about, and I was given three different stories by three different teachers. While the director may come across as professional, my experience has been that communication is inconsistent and not always truthful. I strongly encourage parents to do their due diligence by looking up the facility's licensing history on the California state website and reviewing any complaints. At the end of the day, we trust these facilities to protect and care for our children. Based on my experience, I no longer feel confident that this center is providing the level of care and supervision that children deserve. I also want to add that my experience wasn't always negative. My son attended this facility from the time he was a year old and graduated in summer 2025. During his time there, I had a wonderful experience. The staff was always loving, caring, and attentive, and I never had any issues. It was truly heartbreaking to see so many of those amazing teachers leave when the administration changed, because they made such a positive impact on my child and our family. Child Care Licensing state of California https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-care-licensing the facility license number is 153808662 and 153808664 read more

My baby loves coming to school here. All of her teachers are so nice and so are the other ladies working in the front room. She's learning soo much! We are really happy here. read more

My kids love this school. The staff are very nice and helpful. I like the activities they do with children

My babies, 2 & 4 now, have been attending since August 2016 so where do I start? When we pick them up, we are given a half sheet daily report that includes the day's menu, the focus of the week, if they napped, important notes on behavior or rewards, and even emojis to tell us what their mood was like that day: happy, quiet, tired, excited, etc. As a parent and educator, I find this form of communication helpful as well as convenient. Here is some work we have up this month. I'm always excited to see what they will bring home next! Thanks to the team at Lil Explorers read more

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Starting preschool for a two year old should be a fun, exciting experience. As they are still in the age where running around and tickling is fun. I explained to the school that my son had never been in a daycare/preschool and the one time we tried she sent him home on his first day because he was running around & was not catching onto the routine. HIS FIRST DAY. I knew she just didn't want to take the time to work with him, so I thought preschool would be a better option for him. Lil Explorers mislead me and told me that they're patient to help him and understanding when it comes to this, that they don't expect him to catch on in a day. Well, within his first 3 days they were already sending him home with "bad" notes. Saying he's running around and opening doors. He did pull a little girls hair, in which yes, he does deserve a bad note for that. But he's a energetic toddler and running around should be expected. I'm not sure what they expected from him, as he just turned two! I don't know a two year old that just sits down for long periods of time. Thursday (his 2nd day) his speech therapist went in to do a session, they sat in on it and were asking her questions on how to "fix" him. Friday (his 3rd day) he was jumping in puddles outside so his socks/shoes/pants were soaked and instead of changing him, she left him soak throughout lunch and nap (3 hours) & dad picked him up she told him she just didn't have the time. He was already catching a cough, so leaving him soak makes it worse. Tuesday (his 4th day) his therapist went in again, and they told her "oh finally we get a break" like if he's this horrible kid? If their ratio wasn't 1 teacher to 12 TODDLERS maybe they would be able to have the patience to work with them. She said he was sitting on the carpet just crying, no one was caring for him. Dad picked him up and my son was by himself in a different area from where the kids nap, crying with BLANKET OVER HIS HEAD!!! His cot was soaked!!! Dad picked him up about 2:40pm and nap is supposed to be over at 2:30 but because the teacher is late from lunch they're forced to stay laying down, even though other kids from classrooms next to them are getting up. They don't show any love nor compassion, how could they leave him just crying all the time, instead of calling his parents. They labeled him negative since the first day & had no patience to make him feel at home. They are supposed to be professionals and if they can not adjust then they shouldn't be in this business. Every child is different with different personalities, they should know this and help him cope with this new environment he's in. Instead they alienated him. I'm saddened as I thought this would be a great experience for my baby, I wanted him to have fun while me and dad were at work but instead it was misery. Instead of trying to redirect him to a different activity, or comfort him, they just emotionally abused him and didn't care for his feelings. This was all new to my family and they made it horrible experience. Also When I went over paperwork it says ratio of toddlers should be 1:6, Ms. Dawn (Director) kept trying to push that I was wrong it's 1:12, I posted a picture of what it directly says in the paperwork. read more

Lil Explorer's Preschool - Preschools Near Me - Bakersfield, California

My little girl loves her new preschool! The teachers are all so nice and my child has learned so much. Not only that but I can see a difference in her behavior too. She seems more mature and even cleans up her own toys now! read more

Our baby (almost 5 months old) has been enrolled for a about 3 weeks now. I am so happy that our baby goes here! Everyone is nice and I feel good every time I walk in the door. I know my baby is well cared for and he is often smiling and laughing when I pick him up. We are thankful and grateful for the care our little one receives. I definitely recommend!! read more

Update: I battled with posting this review but as a parent I want to know FACTS! Keeping it short and sweet after almost a year my daughter started not wanting to go into class. She'd fall out crying and what not-unlike her. Well, slowly over time we got more and more calls about her behavior and one teacher recommended that we take her to see a Dr., she was barely 1yr old. Twice I showed up and found her screaming to the top of her lungs and the teachers occupied, once I even heard her screaming from outside of the facility. They were not much help and to my surprise as soon as we moved her, not ONE complaint! It saddens me to write this but as I said before, as a parent I want to know the FACTS and the facts are that they did NOT care for my baby accordingly, especially in the toddler class. Parents caution this facility! Also I work nights so that I am free to care for my daughter Incase she's sick, grumpy, etc. The two times I mentioned that I came in to find her in tears with a fever, they didn't bother to call. It got to the point where I begged them to call me if she wasn't having a good day and they refused to. Everyday picking her up was like walking into a dark cloud and hearing how "difficult" she was. I'm so glad I moved her and should have did it a long time ago! Do better! read more

My daughter was traumatized by a teacher in specific Mrs. Lupe (kinder). My daughter is extremely shy, well behaved and strives academically. My child dreaded to go to school each morning and to 1st grade due to the mental damage this teacher did. Each time a child would make a mistake, Lupe would crumble their papers in front of their faces and have them redo the work, without explaining to the child what they did wrong. As a result, my child is afraid to make mistakes now. Also, Kinder grade does not allow naps nor cots as they are not supposed to be taking naps anymore, so Lupe would have them pick a random spot on the bare ground to sleep in! When I addressed this, I was told that they had a toddler class next door to them and the Kinders were being too loud, so they figured napping the kinder class at the same time the toddlers slept was ideal. (i don't have a problem with my kinder child sleeping) but sleeping on the bare ground without a cot or pillow is not ethically right! Moreover, It was brought my attention a year later (now that my daughter can verbally express more, that she was placed on a couch for time out and was forced to watch the other kids play as punishment for simply asking the other kids to share with her. Again, my daughter is shy, she doesn't speak up ever, and when she asks to share, she was punished. She would also give the more behaved kids candy and let the others that didn't behave watch the others eat the candy. I can go on and on, everything this woman has done is ethically wrong and should not be in a teaching position. Fortunately, my daughter has had a great and loving 1st grade teacher that has helped her heal those wounds. Parents listen to your child! if they are crying daily and dread going to school, more than likely something deeper is happening. read more

4/5/2012-Just a bit concerned that on more than one occasion there hasn't been anyone at the front desk to monitor who walks in. Also, the fact that the electronic mechanism on the gate to get in isn't locked so it really doesn't keep anyone in or out. I would feel a bit more comfortable if these issues were corrected. 7/1/2012- I ended up pulling my son out of this school because in the short time he was there not only did he seem traumatized when ever he was dropped off but he came home with pink eye and shortly after getting rid of that he ended up with Hand-Foot-Mouth disease which he passed on to his older and younger brothers. After that, he never returned! They don't seem to be very sanitary. The sleeping cots would be stacked on top of each other with the children's sheet and blankets left still on them. If the child had a runny nose, they didn't wipe their nose until the parent showed up. In regards to the safety, I would suggest that someone test them. Have someone you know, but they don't, go and pick up your child and see if they say anything or if anyone even notices. Chances are slim that anyone will even be at the front desk! It's sad, at first glance, this place seemed wonderful. As time went by, more and more things began to look very wrong! Their prices are very cheap compared to most other places, but what is your child worth to you? I will pay more to have my child safe and healthy rather than be cheap and have to worry about what's going to happen next! BEWARE!! read more

They don't check those who come in to pick up a child, should be taking them. A simple sign in/out sheet is not very effective. Their billing is incorrect and they charge more than what it should be. One of the children's bathrooms face the entrance, and anyone coming in can see the children going potty and bare bottoms. Any child tall enough can push the button and open the door to get out, no one watches the front. My daughter's teacher(s) are great, but that's about all we liked there. read more

This school has great qualified teachers that actually love their kids. I always feel secure with them . the food there is sanitary because I see the teachers eat with students too. They do so many activities with kids there. It is worth your money. Miss Susy is my daughters teacher and I feel the love and concern she has for child and others. My daughter learned so many things in there and is ready to go to kindergarten. Thanks for your hard creative work Lil Explorers!! --NaLayah's Mom read more

Our family has had a great experience with Lil' Explorers! Our children have attended for 2.5 years, from ages 9 months through 4 years old. Each age level has great teachers who are very caring. Knowing our children are in good hands helps ease our minds each day. Administration and staff are friendly and helpful. We have also been appreciative of the academic curriculum provided for preschool age children preparing to start elementary school. read more

Moving to a different county was tough especially not having any family around to trust with my little one. Luckily I came across Lil Explorers! Me. Dawn was incredibly helpful and answered all my initial questions before enrollment. My son was fortunate enough to be in Ms. Lupe's class. Ms. Lupe is such a wonderful, caring, dedicated teacher! Words cannot express how grateful I am for Lil Explorers. All the staff is amazing! Highly recommend. Don't let ones bad experience fool you! See for yourself. This place is safe, clean, and caring! Thank you so so much Lil Explorers! read more

My daughter has been going here for a little over 3 months now. I'm very happy with our experience so far. My daughter smiles when she sees the teachers. I see her being held all the time (I show up at very different times, so I know it isn't for show). As far as the front desk, there have been times when no one is sitting there, but the front door is locked, so either you have a code, or you're buzzed in. I have been asked before who I am by someone who hadn't met me yet. I feel my daughter is safe. As far as cleanliness, my daughter has had RSV her first week there, an upper respiratory infection and pink eye. But I do expect that she is exposed to more germs, she's around a bunch of kids! It would be the same at school. I do wish sick kids stayed home more though. I've seen the teachers wash their hands. There are gel dispensers outside in the hall, and in the room. I'm realistic about germs. They make cute crafts and gifts for parents. I think the tuition is very fair. I was extremely anxious about starting daycare, but they encourage me to call or come in whenever. They've been great and I am comfortable knowing my daughter is in good hands. She seems happy, so I'm happy! read more

This is a really good preschool. My son came here for a short time before starting kindergarten. Although he was not here long, he learned a lot and was well prepared for kindergarten. A few years after my daughter was ready for preschool. When it came to decide which preschool she should attend, the decision was easy because of how happy I was previously with this school. She has been coming to this preschool for about two years now. She has learned so much and loves her teachers. The staff here is nice. The Director of this location always has a smile on her face and makes you feel welcome. My daughter has loved every single teacher she has worked with and I love that she is learning, making friends, and seems happy here. I recommend this preschool. read more

Please do not send your child to this child care. I would never send my baby here, but a friend of mine does and I occasionally pick him up for her and they will just let anyone take your kid. No structure, very unsafe!! You're better off letting your kid stay home alone unsupervised. I'm surprised this place is even legal with the child to staff ratio. Half the staff has no idea what's going on. There is way too much going on for the staff to handle. One time I walked in while the kids were making paint crafts and the kids were eating paint. There was only one teacher and she wasn't paying attention to the kids. read more

Never go here! I went on a tour today, there was food all over the floors and tables. No check-in system. There were soo many kids in one class that there was almost no room for the teachers. I will NEVER let my son attend here anyone can walk in and out and the prices and fees are outrageous fur their terrible care. read more

Thank you, Dawn for how great you run this facility. My daughter has been attending since she was nearly 2 years old. She is now 3 and a half and loves going to school. Miss Andrea and Miss Yurri are her favorite teachers. They provide me information about how she was everyday and are both extremely attentive to her. I like the daily report cards and all the drawings and crafts they have done. The staff listens to a few concerns I've had and addressed them timely and effectively. I also like the different themes they have every week this summer. My daughter talks about her teachers and friends often. I love that she loves it there. Another bonus about this preschool is that they provide after hours care which I have used once which is more reliable than a sitter. Thank you lil explorers! read more

My son has been attending for almost a year now, and transitioned from the toddler class to the two's. I have nothing but positive feedback to give about them. We relocated here from CT and I spent a week calling and touring other centers in the area before deciding to enroll here. They truly are the best! The staff here are professional and simply amazing with the children. read more

Taking my son there was a big mistake. They have the kids watch TV. There claim is that they use TV occasionally for learning, but I don't know how Frozen can be educational. When kids are taken outside, kids play unsupervised while the adults present chat. I had my son kicked once and his lip got busted. He told me he got on the floor, and nobody saw anything. When I asked the "caretaker", Lucy, she said she was too busy cleaning the tables because they were told to worry about having the tables clean before parents showed up, so she did not see anything. Her supervisors had no idea what happened and no adult present saw anything. One time my son got up when a movie was being played, and because he was told twice to watch the movie he was labeled down on Lucy's scale. My son's actions lasted a minute while he followed the rules for the rest of the day. For that bad minute he was told he was a bad kid. The staff's bad actions can emotionally affect a young kid. I took my kid to my church's school, and the difference was enormous. I'm glad I moved him, but I regret the time I wasted in this crappy place. read more

My daughter has been attending here for almost 3 years. I'm sad that she will now be going to Kinder in August. She started as attending part-time when she was 2 years old and gradually increased to full-time. Her dad and I have been very pleased with the child care/preschool. We were referred from a family member and have referred more family. Their structure is fantastic; the material the kids cover in the 4's class has been instrumental for her preparation for kinder. She has enjoyed the activies for holidays and for summer time. The cleanliness of the facility and food program is very satisfactory. The security of the facility is up to par. The few times my mom has picked up my daughter she has been asked for ID to make sure she was on my daughter's pick up list. I will continue to make referrals to this Preschool. Thumbs up Lil Explorers!! read more

My 3 year old grandson loves this preschool. He is excited to go to school every day. The teachers are friendly and attentive. I highly recommend them! read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about Lil Explorers!!! My four-year-old granddaughter was attending another local preschool/daycare and it was a battle to get her through the door...but when we walk into Lil Explorers they are always in the middle of something fun and she can't wait to join in! One morning we walked in and my granddaughter's class was inside a tent, eating Smore's. Another morning a real live sheep paid a visit. Last week was "Olympics Week" with all kinds of crazy "athletic events". My granddaughter refuses to take off the "Olympic Medal" she earned! The staff at Lil Explorers is kind and helpful. At Lil Explorers the children matter more than a long list of rules policies. read more

I'm so thankful for the amazing staff at Lil Explorers. My Daughter just graduated their preschool program. She just started Kindergarten this week and did AMAZING! I give credit for that to the wonderful staff who taught her to be comfortable without her parents always holding her hand. They gave her the confidence and education she needed to be more than ready for Kindergarten! Thank you Lil Explores! read more

Please, read. It's worth it. :) Hopefully, this will allow you to give Lil' Explorers at least the opportunity to try' if not completely entrust them with your child. Great evening services. Lil' Explorers Preschool has been really good to us as parents and our children. The staff members are very professional. Remember, in order to receive respect and professionalism both parents and staff members have to realize it works both ways. I was amazed how flexible, professional, and understanding they are. Unfortunately, the staff is not getting paid like members of congress; even though they are entrusted with our children's lives. It's parents and the teachers job to work with one another to ensure their children's success. I never seen any pesky insects in the classroom. Yes, there is a little smell as the door is open to the bathrooms, but it's not dramatic. It's not like a clean and febreeze can't solve that minor issue. At least we are not in a third world country where you can't do anything about it. The kids are supervised when they go potty and wash their hands. The security for the building, I feel is up to par. The teachers are more than willing to speak with you regarding your children's progress; even though, they give you a progress paper of what your child do. As a parent, the staff are professional and respectful to me at all times. I just wish that rates didn't have to increase, even though they haven't had an increase in approx 2 or 3 yrs. Remember, this is not a fast food restaurant we are speaking about where you take orders, pay for the food, and leave. These are staff members who unfortunately do not make wages like gov't officials, but we are entrusting them with our children's lives to assist the kids in shaping their future. My two cents-If the gov't can raise taxes, pay their officials huge checks for practically looking at their own interests, and leaving families in the limbo to figure out how/where to get their next meal; then they can give teachers incentives and bump up their pay. Thanks, for reading. read more

While I understand the concerns of previous reviewers, as a parent of two small children that have both attended this school I can say that I've been very thrilled with my experience and the experiences of my kids at Lil Explorers. The staff for the most part is caring and loving and they have made tremendous strides improving the amenities at the school and in developing and implementing their curriculum to prepare my children for grade school. All schools with small children have their share of issues with kids passing illnesses to one another and I find no fault in the care provider for what seems to be a byproduct of those parents who choose to send their sick kids to school where it inevitably is shared with others. The door code issue has been addressed and I have personally seen people not recognized by staff asked for their identification prior to being allowed to pick up children. Those individuals are checked against lists for each child to determine if they are authorized to pick that child up. Seeing my kids develop new skills and making new friends, coming home with crafts and homework and a repertoire of new songs they have learned all makes their time there even more fulfilling. Special guests (like firefighters, the weather girl and her weather dog, the veterinarian, and the Condors mascot to name a few) are another part of our children's favorite activities. The director, teachers and staff are a wonderful group of people. The new owners have devoted a number of resources and dollars back into the school to make this a place I am proud and happy to send my children. I would invite anyone having second thoughts about sending their children here to speak to the director and/or schedule an appointment to tour the facilities. As someone who believes that children are our most precious gift from God, I do not take recommending any school lightly. With that in mind, I whole heatedly recommend Lil Explorers. read more

I agree with the complaint of safety regarding picking up your children. No one ever questioned me or even asked who I was or who I was there to pick up. My daughter is 2 1/2 yrs old. She does not have much experience with daycare, although seems to socialize well with other children when around friends or family. I enrolled her because I thought it would be a pleasant and fun experience for her, which I informed the staff of. I also asked that they call me to pick her up if she did calm down (as she was obviously upset when I left, which I expected the first couple of times). The first day, I received no call so assumed everything was fine. When I picked her up she seemed busy playing. I was informed by her teacher that she was a bit emotional, but enjoyed most activities. The second day she was worse about me leaving. I asked again for them to call if she didn't calm down. No call was made, so again I assumed everything was fine. I returned to see her crying at the entrance gate. When I asked how she did, they told me "honestly, much worse than the last time". From what I was told, she only enjoyed art & a song, the rest of her day was spent crying, which again I specifically asked to be called for. I un-enrolled her upon the decision that she was not ready, nor did the staff care to understand my request for this being an enjoyable experience for her. An additional note, although 2 yr olds can say a lot of nonsense; when questioning my daughter she told me she didn't want to go, and that all the kids were crying and in trouble. Definitely would not recommend this facility. read more

We love Lil Explorers. My two love their teachers and are always excited to go to school and always tell me about how much fun their day was. Both have made vast improvements in learning and socialization. We enrolled my nephew when he was 3 but not yet potty trained. They put him in the 2s class and helped us teach him to use the toilet. He has now moved up the 3s class. We enrolled our daughter shorty after my nephew and she was placed in the 3s class. She struggled at first with drop off but they were always accommodating to her needs. She advanced to the 4s class and is doing so well. She loves it. There is a locked front door with a pass code or you are buzzed in. The first time my husband went to pick up the kids they required him to show his ID to do so. We feel the kids are safe and well cared for while there. All the staff knows their names and are so welcoming and kind. There is an organized chaos in the mornings and afternoons with kids coming and going but the times I've come early or late the teachers and kids are always engaged in an activity and the atmosphere is very calm and collected. read more

Have had nothing but positive experiences here with our 3 year old. She's been there for 6 months and she absolutely loves going to school. Not only that, but they have closed out enrollment because they are busy and full. There's about a dozen kids in her class and all the kids seemed very happy whenever we go there to pick her up. Seems like somebody may have a vendetta against this place. It is also NOT the most expensive place by any means. Actually it was the least expensive of the 4 we visited originally. But they have cute theme days for the kids and good educational experience when they leave. They are busy because they do a good job and the kids love it. The teachers all seem to really enjoy working there as well. They are always smiling and they don't even know we are watching. So far, so good. read more

My little cousin GG has been going to LiL explorers for about a year now and she absolutely loves it! She wakes up before everyone in the household and is always ready to go to school and every time she gets picked up she's always so anxious to show everyone what she has done and share everything she has learned. I'm so thankful she attends a school with wonderful teachers who are always there to keep her one step ahead. read more

My twin boys started attending this preschool around August of 2012. They were two years old at the time and were assigned to Miss Tina and Miss Melody. Miss Nanny is another teacher in the three's class that my boys were not assigned to but she knew them and worked with them too. Being a very picky mother, I can state that these ladies did a fantastic job with my boys and this helped me be at easy. I was able to call the school and speak with the teachers during the day. I also appreciate that they sent daily activity reports home for each child, so that I knew if they eat, slept and if they went potty and what they did on any particular day. There is definitely some magic going on in the Two's class that these wonderful teachers create and I wish I could move these ladies with my boys to three's class. I recommend this school to any family with young children. Their program for babies and toddlers is fantastic. Also they have updated their security and have given parents a security code to enter the school lobby. read more

If there was an option to give this "day care" no stars I would. I picked my child up today crying on the ground outside under 100 degree hot, while 2 teachers were standing and chatting. I came unexpectedly and saw through window that my child was sitting on a ground and crying under the hot sun, my heart was broken, I was sure that someone would try to calm her down, or at least move her under the shade, but unfortunately nobody did. I rushed outside she was still alone and crying and teachers even didn't mind of her screaming. When I reached her I could tell that she was crying for a long time, as her face was red, eyes puffy and nose running. I just went there and grabbed her. Still they didn't even stop me to explain why she was crying or why they didn't calm her down. When I brought up the issue to the administrator it was swept under the rug and was told that I understand everything wrong way and the teachers have nothing but the children's best interest in mind. This was something that I have personally witnessed myself. I am planning to complain about this daycare and staff to the CPC Bakersfield. read more

Love the staff. My grandson cannot wait to get through the door. They genuinely care for all the children