It is impossible to say enough wonderful things about Waltham Childcare Center. For the past 5…read moreyears, I have seen nothing but a staff of loving caregivers and brilliant teachers who are genuinely invested in every child's growth and happiness. The classroom space is organized, positive and always stimulates and enriches their learning; from the interactive reading of CAPS where students got to practice balancing hats on their heads, to the excitement of playing in the 'big gym' at the Boys and Girls club and of course, the creative art projects that involve him painting his hands to make imprints or making homemade slime or experimenting with the fizzy properties of baking soda! The staff is always engaging with students, checking-in, and making them feel heard and seen. Waltham Childcare Center is also dedicated to preparing their students for Kindergarten. My son, who will be 5-years-old this October, has made tremendous gains in his social-emotional learning, counting, letter identification and speech. As a teacher myself, their curriculum and learning instruction are outstanding and I have no doubts that my son will enter Kindergarten hitting every benchmark and then some. In fact, they are often able visit the library which has enabled my son to develop a love for books. Waltham Childcare Center is a rare gem and I am so grateful that they have been able to provide an amazing childcare experience for both my children. I highly recommend them to any parent-you will not be disappointed and neither will your child.

My son has attended this childcare center for over a year, and the entire team provides a…read moresupportive environment with age-appropriate learning, an emphasis on manners, and guidance on how to be a good friend. They follow a consistent schedule, which has made coming to school a joy for him and has given me peace of mind as a parent going to work knowing he is in a safe, caring place.

This is by far the best daycare. I toured many daycares before choosing this daycare. My son has…read morebeen here for almost 2 years now and we still love it. The teachers are sweet and kind and Ashley and Amanda are THE BEST. I am never switching daycares !

A VERY HAPPY PLACE. We love it here. My daughter (toddler) has been attending this school for the…read morepast 1 year, and she really likes it there. The curriculum and activities are so much fun and she gets to learn a lot. The teachers and staff are always welcoming, and always try to do a little more for the kids. The classrooms are nice, clean, spacey and filled with sunlight, memories and learning materials. While the kids are pampered with snacks, and fruits sometime, the lunch options can be improved to be tailored for age specific. It has gotten better and better, and certainly one of the best day schools in the area. Kudos to the Discovery Team.

I'm not sure why more daycares aren't rated on websites. When I was pregnant with my first child,…read moreI found it really hard to research places and find independent information. Come on parents, let's do this! Anyway, we are currently at this center and are very happy here. The director, Alice, is a genuine, kind, accessible woman who runs a tight ship. It's a larger center with several infant and toddler rooms (3-5 of each depending on enrollment), 2 preschool classes, and also offers pre-K. It was recently NAEYC accredited. The center has a great playground that is divided by age and Bright Horizons as a company is always looking for ways to improve their students' education and experience. They recently started offering a way to pay for tuition online and the kids each have a journal that is updated each week with pictures and stories from their experiences. It's not cheap, but I think education is one of those things where you often get what you pay for.

When I first enrolled my child at this place, I was really happy with my decision. But as time went…read moreby, I started noticing some imperfections in the center. The odometer for learning and development, as well as odometer for a fun atmosphere, is strongly based on the teacher your child is with. There are a few super great teachers who really know what they are doing engaging the children and really making sure their eyes are on the kids. Sadly, a very big handful of them just stand stuck behind their teacher clipboard busy checking things off hardly paying attention to the little ones or just socializing with other teachers, which means, whose got their eyes on the kids?? When trouble erupts, guess what, no teacher is gonna know what happened or how it started. They'll just see the aftermath of when the situation already blew up. I know child care places generally have high staff turnovers, but this place tops it! When talking to my colleagues and neighbors, I realize my child's school has an extremely high turnover rate, which makes me wonder why. Honestly, most of the really great teachers are gone. Since its hard to find quality teachers, you end up with sub par ones. Don't get me wrong, overall the center is okay because of the Bright Horizons philosophy the programs set in place, the few solid teachers and enough hands on developmental toys for children to stay busy and engaged. But with the incoming teachers that are just "meh" an unorganized administrative office, a growing back up of kids waiting to go to their next classes, but can't because of major poor planning, its the reason why I gave a 3-star review. I was really close to giving it a 2-star review, but its not quite there yet. Hopefully it doesn't. Hopefully school smartens up and makes changes to improve. I am kind of on the look out for other child care centers and plan to transfer when I find the right fit. I know a few parents who have already started their search for new schools.

My son has been attending this daycare for the last year and half it's amazing. They care about…read moreeach child and give them the attention each child needs. I would highly recommend this daycare and do at every chance I get.

From the owner: Loving Home Environment Child Care-…read more A patient, professional childcare in Watertown. The childcare is situated in a newly renovated house, sun filled, tidy and cozy. Miss Amy, the teacher, has 5 years' experience working in family daycare and daycare centers. Loving and caring, the teacher also volunteers to offer art classes and lead games for local non-profit organizations. Amy's Family Child care mission is a safe and fun place for kids. Amy is an experienced and licensed teacher who nurtures children from 3 months to 5 years. Through games, music, craft and stories, children can explore and enjoy early childhood. All children will be encouraged to learn both English and Chinese!

Ok, 3rd update on this place---the sauna issue is FINALLY no more, as the heat-draining ventilation…read moreout-fan has either broken down or been permanently disabled...thank da Lawd!!! NOW this sauna is finally able to reach a decently hot temperature without requiring some bothersome intervention (e.g. applying a wet paper towel or plastic piece to block the useless fan). It's not QUITE as hot as the Cambridge Y's sauna, but I'll take it. Otherwise, the rest of the place is great. They keep improving things. The second strength area, more of a functional fitness room, has now increased in size by at least 1/3, with an astro-turfed area for a sled, plyo boxes, etc. My only gripe is that there needs to be more weight plates in a separate plate stand just for the new astro-turf area because people often steal the rubber bumper plates that are supposed to be used for deadlifting at the side squat/deadlift station. YMCA staff while plentiful (you often see them sitting on their backsides in the office on the way into this weight room) are completely lazy/useless in terms of putting the weights back in their proper places, waiting until closing time to do it. More watchful management here would be helpful, because they seem to be very well funded and somewhat overstaffed actually. Oh, and it would be nice if there were a few more kettlebells---they top out at 36kg (wish they went up to 44kg) and are missing the key 24kg pair. Awesome thing about this Y is its relatively decent closing times: 10pm Mon-Thu, 8pm Fridays, and 6pm weekends.

We enrolled our 3-year-old son, in the Stage 1 swimming class at YMCA Waltham and unfortunately had…read morea very concerning experience. From the start, the coaching approach by the main instructor was not supportive of his emotional and developmental needs. He was often overlooked, and when he cried or became upset, the responses lacked empathy and patience. At times, he even received judgmental looks instead of reassurance. One incident that really upset us was when he accidentally fell into the pool during class, and the coach at the time showed little attentiveness or constructive feedback afterward. Ignoring a young child when he is struggling only adds to their fear, and it was disheartening to witness. Thankfully, on the second day, Coach Max stepped in and completely changed our son's experience. His patience, kindness, and understanding helped him feel safer and more confident. Coach Max showed exactly the level of care and empathy that we believe is essential when working with young children. We are truly grateful for his support and would love to recognize him further for his outstanding efforts. We hope YMCA Waltham takes this feedback seriously and ensures more thoughtful, inclusive coaching for all children.

I have two children in preschool and toddlers at Creative Kids and they really enjoy it. They are…read morewell cared for and teachers adore them. My kids enjoy the art and music enrichment classes in addition to their daily activities. They are well fed and the kids enjoy the food. My older son is learning a lot in preschool/pre-K to prepare him for Kindergarten. The school is clean which makes me feel comfortable and secure. I am happy to send my kids there and would recommend to other families.

My 3 year old daughter loves this school. As a parent, I love it even more. This school has it…read moreall! Aside from academics, she's learning music, art, dance, gets regular exercise and loves her teachers. A huge selling point for me is the teachers speak multiple languages with the kids. My daughter is 3 and she's already speaking 3 languages: English, French and Russian!

We love First Circle! Our daughter has been here almost a year and the teachers take extraordinary…read morecare of the little ones, with so much love, learning, and silly fun throughout the day. They're also so helpful in helping our daughter progress and become independent. Big shoutout to Amber and Naomi in infant 3! And to Clay and Kaitie for jumping in to help whenever needed!

We love this place! My job forces us to travel often, and I wanted some stability for my son. First…read moreCircle provided that and lots of love, care, and patience. I can not speak more highly of the staff!

Kim and Ralph cared for both our children from infancy until it was time to go to preschool. To be…read morehonest, they helped care for us, too--especially when we were first-time parents who worried about every new scrape and bump. Kim and Ralph taught our kids to love reading and basketball, alike. They were patient, creative, and excellent at working with the full range of ages in their care. Their huge yard was a perfect playground, and I loved that our children spent time with different ages of kids As babies, they had big kids to look up to; as the big kids, they learned to be gentle and patient with the younger ones. Bringing our kids each morning felt like bringing them to extended family. We couldn't have asked for anything better.

I truly cannot recommend Kim's Family Child Care enough. My 20 month old son has been at Kim and…read moreRalph's since he was 3 months old, and I cannot imagine better people to care for him while my husband and I are at work. Kim and Ralph are kind and patient, and they care for the kids as if they're their own. They plan fun, developmentally-appropriate activities each day, tailored to the kids' interests, and they have a HUGE shaded backyard to play in during the warmer months. They're also great communicators. Kim always let me know how my son did during the day, and, when asked, she gives great advice about managing the many baby and toddler transitions (e.g., starting solids, sleeping issues, discipline). My son absolutely LOVES it there, and he's rarely ready to leave when I pick him up at the end of the day. In fact, he talks about Kim and Ralph and his daycare friends all weekend long. We don't have family in the area, but Kim and Ralph have become like our extended family. I truly don't know what we'd do without them, and I highly, highly recommend them.

Little Llama isn't just a daycare but a second home. The…read morecare, warmth, and intention they pour into every child is exceptional. Our toddler is not only hitting developmental milestones with ease, but is also thriving in a multicultural environment that nurtures curiosity and confidence. Trust, love, and growth is all in one place. Thank you all! We appreciate all your efforts!

We tried several models of daycare in the Belmont / Watertown area for our two children, before…read morefinding Little Llama when our youngest was entering preschool at 2.9 years. We have had an amazing experience at Little Llama and simply did not think that a childcare / preschool provider could be this wonderful. The curriculum is creative and engaging, including music, exercise, and hands-on activities every day. The children also go outside every day, often several times a day, for fresh air, walks, and play in every season. The space is sunlit, bright, and spotlessly clean. What especially stands out to us is how communicative the owner, Evgenia, has been from day one, and how communicative the teachers are throughout our son's day. We get updates, photos, and daily summarizes about his experience and any time we send a message to teachers, they respond immediately. The preschool teachers are so wonderful, treating the children with kindness, respect, and enthusiasm. And as bonuses: a healthy (!) lunch is provided every day, drop off and pick up are easy with ample side street space to pull up to, and there is a very secure safety system installed in the building. Our son is thriving and loves going to school every day. We truly cannot recommend Little Llama enough; we only wish we had found this wonderful childcare and preschool earlier in our parenting journeys.

TLDR: This is the best decision you will make for your…read morechild. Don't look anywhere else. Stepping Stones is amazing. The people are amazing. Longer version: First thing I want to say is I am bummed I've ever given a 5 star rating, or that there isn't a 6 star option for places that are just way above and beyond. Stepping Stones is honestly in a separate class. We brought our daughter here when she was 4 months old. We did a ton of research before she was even born because we wanted to make sure we were choosing the right place for our future kid, and for us. The transition process was much tougher on us than it was on her. She got into a groove so quickly. Stepping Stones is a collection of amazing, talented, caring people. I would like to name a couple of the teachers we worked most closely with, but honestly everyone we met we interacted with a number of times (either pick up, drop off, or when a teacher was on vacation)... and everyone was awesome. Elizabeth is available whenever you need her. Everyone, honestly. Stepping Stones felt (actually, still feels!) completely like an extension of our family. Unfortunately we had to leave after covid hit because we moved this summer. We considered trying to make it work despite being 45 minutes away, in the wrong direction, but just couldn't with our schedules. If we could have we absolutely would. Our daughter enjoyed going every day. They are amazing at keeping families in the loop. The small "class" sizes were great, and I never felt like there was ever a time my kid wasn't being paid attention to. She seemed to really be growing a lot while she was there. The other kids were great. We had her on a special diet for most of the time she was there (cow's milk allergy) and it was not an issue. It was a really secure feeling. They respond to any question you have, and proactively give you ideas for what to do with them during a pandemic. There aren't many businesses where you feel like you get everything you could have wanted.. but honestly feels like Stepping Stones was the best decision we've ever made. Thank you guys so much!!

I had to come back and rate Stepping Stone again. We moved in July from Watertown and transferred…read moreour son to another daycare. It was a nightmare. It wasn't a good fit. I was frustrated and confused because my son had such a wonderful experience at Stepping Stone. I reached out to the Administrator, Elizabeth to ask for help, suggestions, feedback, etc. I was at a loss. She not only helped me understand more about the work she taught at her establishment but helped me find a new daycare for my son. She offered to speak with new teachers even come and observe. She went above and beyond. I mean WAY above and beyond for me and my family. If you are lucky enough to get a spot at Stepping Stone, take it.