Our son will be transitioning to kindergarten this upcoming school year (2025) and he is emotionally ready because of his time here at Little Beans. He went from not really having much interaction with other kids (prior to preschool) to joining and making a best friend and plenty of other friends. We love the picture and videos of all of his fun and special moments. It's allowed us to feel involved in his day even though he's there all day. The teachers are absolutely wonderful and kind and genuinely loving. I appreciate the continuous updates I receive and the feedback. Any time I have a concern (of my son's behavior), they're always so quick to respond. Their communication has always been wonderful from discussing potty training, greater independence, getting him to eat, delayed language and so on. He comes home so happy (and tired which is a good thing). I love that they spend so much time outside instead of sitting in a sterile classroom environment. Heather has been so easy to work with from the first time we contacted showing interest to the end. I highly recommend Little Beans read more

Little Beans Preschool was the best choice we made for our 3 year old boy. He loved the school since Day 1 and was always happy talking about his new friends and teachers. He literally told me when I picked him up after school "Mama I like the beans school. Can we come everyday?" And in the morning when we have breakfast he'd ask me "Mama are we going to school?" If it is a weekday and I say yes, he is so happy "Yayy!" If it is a weekend and I say no we will go on Monday, he is a little bummed. I was joking with his dad that this never happened to us when we were kids because we were always dreading going to school. I am especially thankful to Heather and all the caring teachers who helped our son make such a smooth transition. We love the picture updates showing all the fun activities our son learned at school. The Yoga camp was so fun that our son was teaching (showing off) his yoga poses to his grandma. Other important factors setting Little Beans Preschool apart include plenty of outdoor time, individualized attention, reasonable fees, professionalism in Admin and Management, etc. read more

Our son started attending Little Beans when he was about 2.5 years old. He adjusted very well thanks to his teachers who are so welcoming and sweet to him. His teachers gave us updates as he gained new interests and made new friends. We especially love how much time they spend outdoors when they can, and the variety of activities that the kids are able to participate in, along with some structure (music, naptime, soccer, show and tell). Heather and the LB teachers are so supportive of the kids' interests; they created a new "construction site" for our son to play in with his friends at school because they are obsessed with construction vehicles. Little Beans has also been extremely supportive of his potty training, which took only a month for him to be independent and successful! read more

We LOVE Little Beans Preschool! Our daughter spent her entire 3-year preschool experience here, and our son had an amazing experience during his 1.5 years here as well. The staff are so responsive, supportive, and caring. My children both still talk about their teachers from Little Beans often even though we've moved out of state. We will remain forever grateful to Heather and Little Beans for our children's preschool experience! read more

Little Beans has been a blessing for me and my child. There's a lot of preschools in Berkeley but not many with this level of education and professionalism. I was so surprised to hear all the things they were teaching him, of course you don't find out much until your kid actually starts sharing all the great things they do everyday. But I first noticed when he said please and thank you everyday and it felt like a team effort raising my kid with a group of teachers whom also have the same ideals as me. As a single full time parent, it can be really hard to raise a child on your own but having Heather and her team going above and beyond while I'm stuck at work makes me very happy! That's why we stayed all the way until kindergarten. The classes are mostly outdoor now due to the covid and they always cleaned and sanitized way before covid anyways. So the environment itself is exceptional and stands out among the other preschools. Yes it is pricey, but it has more amenities and they keep on adding to the curriculum and upgrading their space. I say check it out and if your kid is happy then stay for as long as possible. read more

I could not be happier with our experience with Little Beans! Heather is amazing and runs a fantastic program. When looking for a preschool I looked at over 20 schools in the area. I knew as soon as I met Heather and the entire staff that this was the school for my daughter.  She loves going to school and loves all of her teachers at Little Beans. Their patience, willingness to help and just overall care for our daughter just gives me such peace of mind when I drop her off. I just love this school so much I can't even begin to express how grateful I am!!!  This is a top notch preschool and I would highly recommend it!  Thank you Heather and the wonderful teachers at Little Beans. We will miss you so much!!!! read more

I rarely write reviews, especially negative ones, but sometimes it feels necessary. We had similar experiences with this place as some other disappointed reviewers. It doesn't seem to me like a professional place with competent people. 1) The people who take care of the kids didn't wear masks when they talked to me in person, well inside social distancing range (this comment is during COVID-19). The kids also don't wear masks outside, and even though they try to keep them outside all day in a small, fenced off area, that would not prevent the spread of the virus effectively (this is my interpretation of the CDC guidelines, feel free to check them). 2) They keep the 3-year-old kids outside all day, exposing them to UV radiation, thinking that some shade that covers some of the area will protect them. Apparently, they don't know about reflected UV light either. 3) They do suggest sunscreen (but don't enforce it), and wearing that for 8 hours a day is definitely not healthy, especially for developing kids (I could suggest for the owners some scientific publications on this topic, if they doubt this). 4) They have been rude to us, and I see it from the other reviews that this is a trend there. Although, to be fair I see very positive reviews too. 5) They essentially forced us to take our child from there, because "they can't pay attention to individual kids". Whatever that means coming from an institution that supposed to take care of small kids. 6) We luckily still had out daycare spot, otherwise would have stayed without any kind of daycare/preschool support. That is something no serious place would do to working parents, especially since we signed up to them about a year in advance. 7) They have no trial days/hours to find out if they will send the kid away the first week leaving the parents in trouble. read more

My daughter has been in Little Beans since August of 2019. Since the very first moments, she has thrived there. I have watched my daughter grown exponentially. The school has always stood out to me because of the level of care the owners put into the school. It is their passion and it shows. When covid-19 hit and California locked down it was a tumultuous time for our family. My wife was out of work and we couldn't take our daughter to pre-school. Little Beans quickly set up a virtual program and began remote classes via Zoom. It helped our daughter stay connected to her friends and it was one of the few moments during the week that felt like our normal routine. Now that they are operating again, they are adhering to strict public health protocols and have reopened according to state and county guidelines. I don't know what we would have done without them during this time. I would highly recommend this school. read more

My son has been attending Little Beans for over a year. Little Beans has been a beacon for my family during this pandemic. The kids are mainly outdoors unless the weather is not permitting and have a lot of space inside and out. We have always felt they have taken all precautions with temperature checks and notices to parents. They worked with my son to have a speech therapist come to the school and help him with his language delays and also worked with the school district to help us get speech therapy. Heather is always looking out for the kids and I appreciate the parent-teacher conferences. I feel my son is set up for success getting ready for Kindergarten thanks to Little Beans! read more

We reserved a spot in Feb 2021 for our 3 year old daughter starting in Sept 2021. On her second half-day trial just before she was to start full-time, we were called at 10am to pick her up due to her behavior (tantruming during transitions in a completely new environment after being there a grand total of 6 hours over 2 days). Was told they couldn't invest the "1:1" time with her and we'd have to pick her up early as long as she kept tantruming. My husband witnessed a younger caretaker having no idea what to do with her when he went to pick her up. They expect all kids down to age 2 to immediately comply with a military style activity schedule with absolutely no time to allow them to transition into the program. I can't help but feel it's a total scam operation (also with other reviews giving remarkably similar stories). No surprise they always have spots open. They pick and choose the least spirited, easiest to manage toddlers, and steal the $600 application fee from everyone else (which is absolutely insane and multiple times higher than ANY other fee in the Bay Area - Heather did refund our $1000 deposit and first month payment but not the application fee). Worth noting that our daughter just started at a new preschool this March and has had absolutely NO problems there. Most places can deal with kids and know that the transition can be difficult at first. This place does not and will effectively kick your kid out (request early pickups such that you have no reliable childcare, which is what we are paying for and what we need - we very nearly lost our home daycare slot due to this entire disaster). Edited 4/12: After writing this review, Heather reimbursed me the $600 application fee. So we are whole monetarily from this situation now but it caused us a LOT of undue stress with our childcare situation. Her current preschool just tells me they have "absolutely no problem" with our daughter (she has been there for over a month now) and that "she gets along with everyone". Still not happy with how everything went, but she was fair in reimbursing us fully now. read more

Little beans was awesome. Our daughter went there for two years and I couldn't have been more happy. She learned a lot, made great friends- my wife and I made friends with some of the parents. Looking back it was a great experience. Ms Kathleen and heather run a tight ship. They hire excellent teachers and our daughter loved them all. We were there when the schools had to close in March 2020 and we returned when Little beans was allowed to open back up. When they reopened the classes were all outside and I had no doubt they were taking all the precautions necessary to keep the kids safe. Prior to the pandemic, I would always notice how clean they kept the facility so it was no surprise that the cleanliness and care was carried through. Prior to the pandemic-both me and my wife worked in SF and would use the North Berkeley Bart to get to LB's. It's an easy walk over and convenient in the morning to catch a trans at bus on University. read more

We've gone through may preschools due to moving frequently and Little Beans is our favorite! Our kids started in Little Beans during the pandemic. The preschool reorganized extremely well to accommodate the pandemic conditions (moved outside, etc.) and has been handling any further changes since then perfectly. Our children are so happy here and us parents feel supported by the Little Beans team. They went above and beyond for our family in a year that was not only difficult for us but more so for them. The best part about Little Beans? The teachers! All of them are wonderful, and Miss Heather is fantastic at choosing new teachers. This is a place with a heart where children feel loved and cared for. It's playful, well-rounded, and homey. Also, they offer date nights once a month - while children party in their pajamas, watch a movie, and make crafts. Genius. read more

Heather (1 of the 2 leaders) kicked our 2 year old out before even attending. She did so as retribution for us because: We asked for 1 week's worth of tuition back because Little Beans was not going to provide services for 2 weeks! because of the pandemic. here's an email i send here concerning her choice: Good day Heather, Your decision to kick Logan out of her pre-school before having a chance to attend was selfish and unjust. Selfish because you were enacting retribution upon our family and unjust because we had done nothing wrong. Our family exists below the poverty line and we do what it takes to get by. Perhaps you are used to clients able to incur the entirety of the burden without it causing perilous upset to their financial well being...our family is not in that category and we should not be punished by you for it. the entirety of your last email: "You were the only parent on the Team that did not show support during an extremely difficult time, you made our relationship entirely transactional. Team Little Beans" a response from me: being the only parent to do something does not make it wrong. It means i did not choose to rally a slew of other parents to do the same thing and approach little beans as a unified group. I chose not the do this 4 1 reason: Out of respect 4 the substantial financial burden it may have put on Little Beans, To "support during an extremely difficult time" means that (especially on a "Team") sharing a burden, which is what I proposed, and you agreed 2. After agreeing you then compounded your lack of support by kicking out a 2 year old out a school she was looking forward 2 attending, forcing yet another burden upon our family. Apparently you seemed 2 want the parents 2 incur all of the burden of this pandemic...a very unsupportive perspective. As a parent asking for half of the money back (for services un rendered) you seem to unleash your retribution...that is childish, petty, ruthlessly capitalistic (putting profit over people) and unjust. I understand the need 2 make money but your business and personal practices are seriously lacking. I hope you recognize this and remedy it as soon as possible, so that that burden of your ways do not continue to be imposed entirely upon others. all the best, Damon, Teresa, Mika and Logan p.s. Kika's House happily shared the burden without an intense fight nor after-agreement-retribution. read more

We moved our 4-year-old to Little Beans in fall 2019, looking for a school that was playful but not full-out preschooler anarchy, and have had a wonderful experience since. It took some time for our son to adjust to having more structure in his days, but all the teachers have been supportive, encouraging, and persistent with him, and now he really enjoys himself, is making friend, and learning more than in his previous school. But it's been how Little Beans has handled the pandemic that's impressed me the most. Immediately after all daycares had to shut down, they had a program of daily synchronous Zoom activities for the kids, with the existing full-time teachers and the special-activities teachers (e.g. for yoga) that the students knew and loved. They continued doing that the entire time the school was closed to the public in general, giving kids some structure, familiar faces, and a way to see their friends, even after they started reopening for essential workers. What's more, unlike many other schools, they continued paying their teachers while they were closed, even though it meant the directors, Heather and Kathleen, wouldn't be able to take a salary. They've also done an amazing job figuring out how to make their multiple indoor spaces safely work for their distinct groups of kids during periods of smoke, with the help of air purifiers and coaching kids with mask wearing. (My 2-year-old is now a better mask wearer than a lot the adults I see outside!) Sometimes during all these compounding crises, it feels like Little Beans is the only place in our lives that actually understands what it's like to be a working parent and is actively trying to help make an impossible situation doable. The structured yet play-oriented program, responsive and understanding directors, and thoughtful and ethical management approach are all reasons why we're very happy to have our son in Little Beans, send our daughter once she turned 2, and have our son's best friend join him there this fall. read more

Our daughter Frances (4) started at Little Beans when she was 2.5. Since starting preschool she has really opened up and developed a lot of social skills. When first starting out she was very reserved and quiet but now she is very chatty and extroverted, even saying hi to people on the street. She's also made her first "best friend" which the teachers helped encourage. I've appreciated all of the efforts Little Beans has taken to keep kids safe right now with Covid. Class is mostly held outdoors as much as possible, temperature checks every day, small consistent pods of kids, and teachers wearing masks. It's been a huge relief to be able to send Frances back to school so that she can continue getting much needed social time, art, and learning activities. read more

Our 4 year old daughter has been at Little Beans for almost 2 years. I knew it was a good place when I first walked into the school: walls adorned with kids' art, groups of kids laughing and playing together, shelves of gently used books, and nice teachers greeting us at the door. My daughter has really prospered here, growing out of her shell, and I have no doubt she will do well when she enters kindergarten. The teachers are caring, compassionate, and skilled with the kids and have helped us work through some challenges without offering judgement. I cannot overstate how grateful I am at how responsive LB has been in this pandemic. From the moment we had a shelter in place, LB created a list serve so the teachers and parents could communicate with each other, offered a schedule of daily virtual classes to keep the kids connected and engaged, and shared weekly curriculum, and they did this without asking for tuition. It was extremely selfless. Now that the school has reopened, LB has employed safe practices including requiring temperature checks, limiting class size to small cohorts, keeping the kids primarily outside, and separating the cohorts spatially. I'm so glad that my kid is able to go back to school in a safe environment so that she can get the social and learning activities she needs. Thank you, Little Beans! read more

Our two kids have been at Little Beans for a combined 4.5 years. We love it and have never considered moving them to another daycare. Our eldest has graduated to Kindergarten and I feel that LB prepared her well for the structure that comes with a Berkeley public elementary school. The younger of our two still has another year and a half to go and he loves it, especially now that he's a "String Bean," aka big kid. The 2 and 3yo Bean Sprouts and the 4 and 5yo String Beans often get split up to do their own age-appropriate activities but often it's one big happy family, which I think is especially great for the younger ones. We've referred LB to a few friends who have brought their own children in and had their own good experiences. You should still tour and talk to current families if you're considering enrolling, but all in all I have nothing but the highest recommendation for the program and the owners, Kathleen and Heather, who have put it all together. read more

We came to the USA for the first time in October 2022. Our son was 2.5 years old. We searched almost 15 preschools for our child. Unfortunately, we could not get a response from any of them that fit our budget, until our way fell on the little beans preschool. Ms. Heather, without exaggeration, we can say that she is the best person we have met in the USA. She is very kind, professional, understanding, helpful and communicative. At the same time, all the school teachers are very communicative, supportive and professional. Although our child has a language barrier, he got used to the preschool in a very short time and they provided great support in this process. They constantly informed and warned about his development by phone or email. Within 2 weeks, we were able to leave our child blindfolded and we felt very safe and happy. If you are new to Berkeley or living here and in search of a preschool, we definitely recommend you evaluate this place. The school is in a very safe and accessible location. The garden is quite large and beautiful. They organize a lot of activities for kids and families. If you are looking for a safe, comfortable, educational, developmental and peaceful school for your child, you can talk to Ms. Heather without any hesitation. We can't thank Ms. Heather and great teachers at Little Beans Preschool enough. We will really miss you. Thank you for everything. read more

Our daughter has been at Little Bean Preschool for 2 years now. She loves it ! We love the staff who are all super nice and caring. Kids have a lot of time to play and a lot of space too. They also have several cool classes like yoga, or music. We really liked the fact that kids are very often separate in small groups so they can play and learn in a calm and relaxing atmosphere. We also like that the teacher respect the pace and individuality of each kid in terms of learning. After a couple months of break dues to the pandemic, our daughter will go back and she has never been so excited! We feel safe because we know they have the space to practice social distancing. read more

We've had our daughter at Little Beans since she turned two and--once she got through the transition--she's never come home unhappy. That's what's most important to us. Heather, Kathleen, and all the other teachers there clearly care about the kids and have room to let each one find their place of comfort. There's always something our daughter has to share about her day: art, soccer, dance, and more. And yeah, she's three, so sometimes she has hard days, but the Little Beans crew is there for that and there to help us find ways to keep everything improving and growing. They don't tell us how to raise our daughter (or what to pack her for lunch) but they always have good advice when we ask. We love Little Beans because it's personal, homey, and feels like an authentic and essential part of our community. It isn't corporate or the kind of place where you're going to feel like a cog; it's good people you trust with those who are most precious to you. read more

Our family was new to Little Beans in 2015. My daughter started at 2 yr 4 months. We have been so thrilled with everything from the caring, engaged teachers, bright, clean, cheerful and light classroom environment, weekly activities like yoga and music, the charming outdoor playground and the age appropriate application of the High Scope curriculum. The team at Little Beans helped my daughter easily transition to school and made it important to do things on her terms, gradually as she was ready, directed by her interests (she's a "spirited" kid and has never even had a baby sitter or been to daycare previously and has become confident and so happy at school). It feels like a partnership between parent and teachers- lots of communication about how the days are going and always encouragement. It's also wonderful to see the bigger and little kids interact with each other in such a respectful way. I feel so lucky to have found Little Beans. I recommend this school without hesitation to parents considering preschool, even for kids under 3 like mine. Good to know: Part and full time options with flexibility, no fees and extra charges, kids bring their own lunch and snack, my daughter started not fully potty trained read more

We absolutely love Little Beans! Our son was well prepared for kindergarten after spending two years there. We now have our daughter enrolled and she is thriving. We will be sad to go when our youngest graduates. I have nothing but good things to say about Little Beans. I recommend them wholeheartedly. read more

Little Beans was the perfect place for our two boys to spend their pre-school years. We couldn't have hoped for a warmer more nurturing environment that helped each of our sons thrive in his own way (and they are quite different from each other). The teachers are fantastic and we witnessed how the kids loved them and grew attached to them. We were new in Berkeley and were quickly made to feel welcome by the extended family of Little Beans, and often the teachers went out of their way to help in a pinch. The boys have moved on to elementary now, but every time we're the neighborhood they fondly point and say "that's my old school"... read more

My son had a very difficult time adjusting to Little Beans preschool. They have a regimented structure and require the children to spend much of their time sitting and following teacher direction and are not accommodating of children who are not cannot sit still for as long as they are asked. Here is what their daily schedule looks like for two-year olds: 8:00 school opens, free time indoors 9:00 outdoor play 9:30 circle time 9:40 story/song time 10:00 snack 10:10 outside play/dance/yoga class 11:00 class time 11:20 diaper changes 11:45 lunch 12:20 story time 12:30 nap/clean up/quiet play/story time 3:30 play time until go home Notice that the amount of time the two-year-olds are asked to sit quietly for circle/story/class/mealtimes adds up to about an hour and forty-five minutes each day - which is a lot more than any other preschool I visited. The kids really have to sit for all those events - there's no flexibility for a kid who wants to wander around the room during circle or story time, whereas other preschools seem to take that in stride. On top of the designated circle/story/class/mealtimes, there is also the three-hour block of nap and quiet time. Also, even during those times that seem like opportunities for free play, the children are often asked to participate in a teacher-led activity. For example, during play time, the children are regularly asked to sit quietly and wait their turn while one at a time is allowed to roll a ball with the teacher or run back and forth between two cones. I only observed dance class once, but the time I saw it, the children were asked to line up and wait while one at a time took a turn moving around the room. This is a very different approach from a true "play-based" environment, in which children are encouraged to engage in self-directed exploration. We found that the owners of Little Beans were confrontational and negative in their communication style. The tone was consistently negative, complaining that our child would not sit still for the required periods of time and as a result took too much of their time. They never offered any productive solutions to help him adjust. A major concern for us was that he was not eating all day and we could never seem to get them to pay sufficient attention to this problem. Ultimately the situation reached a head when we asked them to meet with us to discuss the fact that our son wasn't eating and, according to them, was being aggressive with other children. Their report of aggressive behavior took us aback because it was out of character for our son, and we were worried that he was acting differently because he was unhappy and hungry all day. We couldn't seem to work out a time to meet with them and eventually they simply sent us an email that there was no need to meet, and that "It is clear that this is just not working out, we will give you until the end of the month, but you need to find another childcare situation." Our time at Little Beans was a sad and stressful period for our family. However, our son adjusted to his new childcare within a week and is now eating well, sleeping well, and back to his cheerful self. He smiles when he sees his caretaker, says bye-bye, and talks about her during the evening, which he never did at Little Beans. There are no more reports of aggressive behavior. We were slow to pull him out of Little Beans in part because we were reluctant to change his routine, and thought that he would have some difficulty adjusting to any new childcare. Turns out that we should have just paid attention to the signs that he was unhappy and moved him to a new situation more quickly. read more

Our son can be a bit shy, and has always had trouble with transitions. Slow-to-warm, as we call it. The wonderful teachers at Little Beans were so warm, patient, and kind as he took his time getting comfortable in this new environment. I can't stress enough how thoughtful they were about the best way to make him comfortable during his first few weeks, providing us with much-needed and very helpful tips based on their years of experience. Their attentiveness is truly above and beyond. There are so many other positive aspects of Little Beans. Our kid loves this place, and we are lucky to have found it. read more

We recently moved out of the area and the entire family (not just my five year old!) misses Little Beans Preschool and its community of students, teachers, and families. On a typical day, my son was engaged in art, free play with his friends, active play in the yard, reading time, yoga (or music or Spanish, depending on the day of the week!), and kindergarten preparation. I always looked forward to the drive home after picking him up because his daily updates were filled with stories of what he saw on the walk to the park with his classmates, how teachers helped him address an argument with a friend, what 2+3 equals, and how many planets are in the solar system (seriously!). It was a relief at times to know that although I was exhausted from work and my other (younger) children, my son was receiving a daily dose of fresh air, community building, and learning. I am a bit surprised to see a negative review on Yelp for this preschool. Clearly, not every school is a perfect fit for every child/family. But it was always my experience that this school clearly communicated issues with impacted families and made every effort possible to accommodate children that were having a challenging time. For example, after our twins were born, I recall numerous discussions with several teachers at the school about how that challenging transition was impacting my older son's behavior - for example, lapses in potty training, use of bad/negative language, etc. These are not easy topics to discuss, but the conversations were always positive and pro-active. I appreciated the direct communication and found all the teachers to be patient with his behavior and helpful in getting him through the "big brother" transition. In short, I wish I could still send my son to this school but we live too far away now. He was nurtured and inspired in a wonderfully creative and safe setting. And when I can't be with him myself, this is precisely the type of experience I want for my son. Go take a tour today. Follow the sounds of happy kids caught up in learning and adventures. Like me, you will probably want to stay and play and forget that you are an adult for awhile. read more

Little beans helped raise our two boys. They helped with potty training, socialization, writing, letters and understanding important messages from stories. Marcelo and Rafael were very well prepared for kindergarten. read more

My four and two year old have been at Little Beans for almost a year, and they have thrived there. The teachers have been wonderful, and my kids always come home so happy! They have great activities - movement and dance, soccer, swim, music. (They also have a great tradition of occasional themed date nights (for a reasonable fee) where the kids can stay until 9 pm. It's a win-win because the kids are thrilled, and the adults get some R&R:). The grow vegetables in the garden, and the children go on occasional "field trips" around the neighborhood. I'm so happy that we found Little Beans! read more

Initially when I reached out, Little Beans sent back a wait list application in a timely manner. Afterwards I wrote an email inquiring about a tour. A week later, after no response to the email, I call directly and was told to email to request a tour with the name of my child. I confirmed the email address and the next day I emailed again requesting a tour with the name of my child. I received a response stating that the preschool was not offering tours at this time and to check back again at a later time. I'm not sure why potentially paying clients are given the run around, poor communication nor do I understand the lack of professionalism. read more

Little Beans preschool is a nice place... for most kids. If they decide your kid is too much trouble for them they can be mean, mean, mean, until you leave. read more

Little Beans has been a great environment for both my kids and it's great to see them on Yelp. My daughter started when Little Beans first opened and attended for two years, and my son is in his second of three years there. We are very happy with the level of attention and affection the teachers give the kids, the amount of physical play and outside time, and the variety of activities that allows kids to choose what works for them (even though there is a charming new art project to do everyday, my son usually chooses toys instead - and that is ok). When my son was new and needed help adjusting to the transition, someone held his hand almost all day long. I've seen this with many other kids in their first weeks too. I've also seen teachers on the floor rubbing little backs at naptime and holding kids who need a hug for an hour until they feel better. Now of course my son runs right in and forgets to say goodbye to me, loves his friends and teachers, and really likes the monthly date night where he gets to stay until 9pm! (I like this night too!) The programming has been totally age-appropriate. At age 2, they helped him potty train and he spent all day playing and learning songs. At 4, he's going out on walking field trips to nearby parks and bringing home real knowledge of yoga and music. I know from my daughter's experience that at 5, he will continue to go on more adventurous field trips and start some pre-K work. I was very pleased with how well my daughter was prepared for kindergarten and the one-on-one attention she got when learning letters and numbers. But mostly, it's the people that I love about Little Beans. They have very low staff turnover and they all seem to really love their jobs and the kids. They are enthusiastic, positive, fair, and consistent with rules, which has been important for my son. When he's upset or headed toward a meltdown, they make him laugh and redirect, and it works almost every time. Every day I get a report on how his day went, how well he napped and ate. When he's gotten time outs, they always say, "He had a hard day but we know he's going to turn it around!" He has adopted this positive attitude at home and it has really helped him pull himself out of tantrums. I never have any trouble communicating with the teachers and I they are very responsive when I need them to work with me on something. Almost every Bean family I know returned with their second child - that should tell you what you need to know right there. read more

We absolutely love Little Beans. Preschool has been such a great experience for my son, who can be a little introverted. Little Beans helped him to gain confidence and expand his skills when it comes to writing and drawing as well. He loves going to school every day, and we couldn't be happier. read more

I have been the parent of a little bean for the past 3 years and my second child will be starting there in January. I have only good things to say about our experience there. My daughter started when she was two and I had concerns that she would not be able to participate in activities like yoga or circle time because she is a free spirit and an active child who, at that age, was not capable of sitting for long periods of time. I remember how reassuring the teachers were when they explained their expectations for the kids: no two year old is expected to sit long periods of time or follow multi-step instructions, but over time they will develop these skills. I have had the chance to witness how the teachers meet each child where they are. The way they nurture and coach each child is different because no two children are alike and at Little Beans these differences are celebrated. Some of my favorite things about Little Beans are the extra activities they provide such as swim lessons, yoga, dance, gardening, cooking, soccer, neighborhood exploration and date night (childcare from 5-9 once a month to allow parents a night out). A few weeks ago I picked my daughter up and was thrilled to hear she had been on a 3 mile hike that day. I also like that the school's priority is on the children, instead of charging more to employ a secretary, business manager or school photographer. The directors have created an experience that is professional and well organized while maintaining their personal touch. I could write on and on about the things that I love about Little Beans but perhaps the best voice to consider is from a child who goes there. My daughter never resists going to school, she talks about how she misses it during holiday breaks, and when I assumed she wouldn't want to stay after school for "date night" because she'd been there all day, she begged me to let her stay. She sometimes asks to sleep with school projects she has made and keeps a picture of her classmates next to her bed at night. Little Beans has been a wonderful addition to our lives. We like the teachers, parents and kids and we feel excited that when our youngest daughter starts there we can look forward to another 3 years. read more

Little Beans was the second home for my 2 boys, now 9 and 6. They both attended for 3 years and could not have had a better time in preschool. They have different characters and both thrived there; they were more than ready for Kindergarten. It is play base but there is just enough emphasis on knowing your numbers and letters. Kids who wanted to do more could but nothing felt forced academically. Yes they have a structured day and emphasize good manners but in a gentle, caring way. My sons never cried or complained that they had to go back to Little Beans after a vacation and at pick up time they were always engaged and, most importantly, happy. Little Beans has also been very accommodating for toilet training and again, their gentleness made for a smooth transition. I was particularly appreciative of their "getting to know the real world" approach. My sons loved taking the city bus, going to the store, the library and just walking the street - they became street smart and aware thanks to Little Beans. Moreover, their "date-night" was the event of the month for my sons. Thank you Kathleen and Heather! read more

I have sent both of my children to Little Beans (we've been going there for a combined 6 years). Little Beans has a good yard full of play structures, and a nice interior with lots of differentiated spaces, all naturally-lit (lots of windows). They have art time and outside play every morning (they play outside a lot), and teachers take the older kids on field trips around the neighborhood. The owners and other teachers are kind, capable people. I always had the impression that the LB team really cares. They really try to work with you as the parent and provide a warm, supportive environment for the children. My 2 year old daughter had a terrible time transitioning into preschool so it was a nightmare for the first month, but they worked with her and gave me tools to finally get her situated. Now she's 4 and is doing really well here despite being a pretty shy, sensitive child. This place is great, i highly recommend it. read more