As a first time parent, I am so relieved and glad to have found Little Explorers Montessori. I had heard many stories from coworkers of having to get on waitlists while pregnant, high costs, etc etc and was very anxious once my maternity leave neared its end that we wouldn't be able to find a suitable place. We toured many daycares- some in-home ones and others with facilities (ChildTime, etc) but none compared to this. Our first in-home daycare before arriving at Little Explorers was truly abysmal (breast milk wasted, instructions not followed, few updates, TV on every day...), so when we toured Little Explorers and saw the peaceful environment and amazing parent experiences, we were truly so relieved. My daughter has been now at Little Explorers for just over a year and I've felt such a peace of mind having her there. The app updates and photos were so appreciated, especially when she was fussy with breast milk and transitioning to various foods. In many instances Ms. Julia was able to get my daughter to drink more milk than I could even do at home. In addition, my daughter's egg allergy was taken seriously and I am so glad the school provides NUTRITIOUS healthy food that is home cooked! She loves the birds and bunnies there, as well as socializing with the other kids. Highly recommend this place to any new and experienced parents :). read more

We've been with Little Explorers since our son Silas was just 18 months old, and this year, he is preparing to begin an exciting new chapter in kindergarten. It is truly a bittersweet moment for our family knowing that he will be leaving what has become his second home, and we felt compelled to share our experience with other parents searching for a childcare program for their little ones. What Julia and Vlad provide goes beyond a daycare or early childhood education. They have created a warm, family oriented environment where my son felt loved and encouraged to grow. We are eternally grateful for the role they have played in shaping our son into the kind and curious little boy he is today. Not only is he leaps and bounds ahead in his language and math skills, but more importantly, he has developed a strong sense of integrity, empathy, and independence. Every day, we dropped him off knowing he was in the care of people who genuinely loved and cared about him and his development. I believe that that type of peace of mind is something every parent hopes to find. In fact, among all the excitement for starting kindergarten, one of the first questions he asked was "will Ms. Julia be there." The memories we built here are priceless, and Julia and Vlad will continue to be part of our lives as family friends. We wholeheartedly recommend Little Explorers to anyone looking for a place where their child will not only learn, but truly thrive. read more

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We are so happy to be with Little Explorers Montessori! We enrolled our son when I returned to work when he was 4 months old and he is nearly 2 now and happy and thriving. He adores his teachers and the structure of the day. We are so appreciative of the love and investment in our son's growth and development and it truly feels like Little Explorers is part of our village. We have so much trust in Julia, Vlad, and the team and appreciate them endlessly. This is such a special place and we are so happy with our son's experience! read more

My daughter has grown leaps and bounds emotionally, socially, and academically since attending Little Explorers Montessori. When looking for childcare, trust is the number one thing parents look for. Our family wholeheartedly trust the teachers here. The quality of time and effort they put into the children is so amazing. The low student to teacher ratio is another reason why it's been such a success. Detailed and individualized care is given to each child. The materials used are perfectly crafted for learning. Julia and Vlad show. So much love and care and you can feel it radiating the moment you step into the school. We couldn't have chosen a better place for our daughter to learn and grow. The value you receive from this school is unmatched read more

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We have been sending our now toddler to Julia and Vlad here for about a year now for daycare, since she was just 4 months old. Obviously we were nervous at first, but this place has been such a blessing! Our daughter has never, not once cried at drop off, and in fact is eager to leave my arms to go to Julia each morning. This really speaks to what a loving atmosphere they have, and it's such a comfort that I don't have to feel guilty leaving her here while I'm working. They have hours that are fantastic for working parents, a variety of ages which has helped my baby develop faster by watching other kids, and an amazing outdoor, shaded space with lots of activities. Their prices are very reasonable, and they even provide wonderful meals and snacks, which takes such a load off of me in the mornings. Communication is fantastic, and they provide adorable photos now and again of our daughter's daily activities. I highly recommend!! read more

This daycare has brought happiness not only to my son but to our whole family. We are truly grateful. It has all the advantages of a home-based daycare, without any of the typical drawbacks. Here are just a few reasons why: The teachers are everything when it comes to choosing a place to care for young children -- and in that regard, this daycare scores beyond perfect. Ms. Julia and Mr. Vlad, along with their amazing staff, always greet the children with warm smiles. They are caring, patient, and handle discipline with just the right amount of firmness and kindness. As a result, the kids both love and respect them -- and they listen well! The daycare uses the entire first floor of their home plus the backyard, creating a cozy, homey atmosphere. But at the same time, the space is fully designed for children -- much like a larger preschool. There are swings, a slide, a seesaw, and even rabbits and parrots for the children to enjoy! Despite being a home daycare, there are engaging daily activities, many of them Montessori-based. There's even gentle academic learning, tailored to the kids' pace. In just 3-4 months, our child joyfully mastered phonics here! Every week there's also a "Show and Tell" time that our child would look forward to -- likely because the teachers are so encouraging. They also make sure play is part of every day. In the summer, there's daily water table play. They even change each child into dry clothes afterward -- something many parents, including myself, would find hard to do at home every single day. Because of all this, our child -- who struggled to adjust emotionally at a large preschool before -- became visibly happier at this daycare. He looked forward to going each day, shared lots of joyful stories about his teachers and friends at home, and even sometimes asked to stay longer at pickup time! read more

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We feel incredibly lucky to have found this in-home Montessori program for our infant son. From our very first visit, we knew this was a special place. The environment is peaceful, spotless, and designed with so much intention--from the low shelves to the natural, developmentally appropriate materials. Our son has absolutely thrived here. We've watched him grow in ways that continue to amaze us--gaining confidence, developing fine motor skills, and becoming more independent each week. It's clear that the Montessori approach is being implemented with a deep understanding of infant development, and it's been so beautiful to watch our son respond to that. The caregivers are warm, attentive, and truly gifted in working with little ones. Ms. Julia has created a calm, structured rhythm that makes our son feel secure and supported. Knowing that he is in such a safe, clean, and loving space brings us so much peace of mind. I truly love the individual attention that each family gets. We are treated with a lot of respect and personal touch. Little Explorers Montessori has been incredible, working around our schedule and being super flexible. We also appreciate many enrollment options, even for infants (which most schools do not offer). And finally, they use an app where they post updates through out the day! It is very convenient for the infant so that we are aware of the feeding, diaper changes and naps. Makes it much easier and beneficial to keep the routine going! We have been here for a little over a year and have more years to come! Big thanks to the team of Little Explorers! read more

Having our infant son attend an in-home Little Explorers Montessori school has been a wonderful decision, and the experience has exceeded all of our expectations. From the very beginning, we've been impressed with the thoughtful, nurturing environment created by the owner, Ms. Julia and very qualified teachers. The in-home setting feels warm and personal, allowing for a calm, individualized experience where he is truly seen and valued. The beauty of the Montessori approach, especially at such a young age, is its emphasis on creating an environment that fosters independence, curiosity, and a love of learning. Even as an infant, our son has been introduced to age-appropriate, sensory-rich materials that support his developmental milestones. It's amazing to watch him engage with carefully selected objects and activities that allow him to explore his world in a hands-on, meaningful way. What stands out the most is the respect and attention given to our son's pace and interests. His guide is incredibly attuned to his cues, responding with gentle guidance while also giving him the space to explore and learn at his own speed. Whether he's discovering new textures, practicing motor skills, or starting to form sounds, every experience feels intentional and in line with his natural development. We also appreciate the strong sense of connection that comes with the in-home setting. The smaller, intimate environment provides a calm and focused space for him to interact with his guide and the other children, which has been wonderful for his socialization. The pace is slower and more individualized, and we can already see how it encourages his natural sense of order, concentration, and respect for his surroundings. In addition, the home-based Montessori environment allows for great flexibility, and the communication with his guide is open and consistent. We feel so included in his learning process and are always updated on his progress, which helps us reinforce the values of the Montessori method at home. Little Explorers Montessori uses the Transparent Classroom app to update daily progress of my son, and I just get a notification on my phone! The personalized care, the thoughtfully designed environment, and the focus on his developmental needs have laid a strong foundation for his growth. We feel so grateful that he's in such capable hands, and we're excited to watch him continue to thrive in this nurturing, respectful setting. read more

I can't express how thankful my family and I are for Little Explorers and the incredible teachers that are there. All 3 of my babies have attended/attend this Montessori and we are extremely lucky to have found this place. Ms Julia and all the staff have been so accommodating with our family needs and have accepted each of our kids with open arms and love. One aspect I am particularly grateful for is how Little Explorers has accommodated our special needs child. They have gone above and beyond to ensure he has a personalized experience that fosters his growth and happiness, making sure he feels included and supported in every activity (Shout out to Ms Naynara and Ms Nico)!!! Our youngest has blossomed so much with Ms Elena, who he truly loves so much, has already grown in their independence, creativity, social skills, and language! He misses everyone on the weekend and is so happy to arrive every weekday morning. :) We love Little Explorers and cannot thank each and everyone of them for making such a positive impact in our lives! read more

I'm not really a person who writes reviews but I felt that I need to share. My child is graduating Little Explorers Montessori and is going straight to the first grade this fall! It can sound a little scary and overwhelming, but I can easily tell that my child is ready! Based on the academics and the knowledge that we see at home, our child is by far ahead of the fists grade. I'm not talking about the alphabet and the basic skills, I'm talking about reading and having a complete comprehension of the text! I'm talking about Math, where the child is very comfortable working with big numbers and is not afraid of math problems! We see a great balance of education, that goes hand in hand with social skills, self care, manners and complete independence! A child who is reading signs, commercials, street names, etc. on the way to school, and that is not even the first grade! We have been with Little Explorers Montessori for almost three years now, and I know for sure that we will be stopping by to say "hello" to the school pretty often! We, as parents, have to be honest with ourselves that a child spends way more time in childcare and with their class than with us. That's where all the learning happens, especially during sensitive periods of 0-6 years old! I'm truly fascinated and forever grateful that we had that connection with the school and that we were able to find our fit! Thank you again Little Explorers Montessori! read more

Little Explorers Montessori - During circle time - Preschools Near Me - Irvine, California

I absolutely love Little Explorers and am SO grateful to have found them after interviewing 3 other places in Orange County. We enrolled our son at 10 months old and he is now almost 4! That's how much we love and trust Julia and Vlad and how happy we are with the level of care and attention they provide our son. They offer a warm home environment that feels very natural and cozy. All the food is home-cooked which is a huge help for a mama like me that feels strongly about healthy eating. The toys are simple and encourage imagination and creativity and their Montessori style teaching has taught our son highly valuable life skills that have helped him thrive in language, social play, and independent work. I feel such peace of mind knowing that while I'm at work, he is being well taken care of, learning, and having a great time. I also appreciate how openly they communicate and send pictures of what our son is working on to keep us connected to his day. I highly recommend this school! read more

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Just wanted to share my personal experience with the school. I have been with the school since my child was a year old. I have toured many different places, both in-home schools and different centers as well. The connection and the feel that I got for the Little Explorers was just incomparable to any other school. What I really appreciate there is their approach to education. Nowadays, a lot of schools use iPads and different devices for learning, even at that young age! But at the Little Explorers all the learning happens when the child explores the material, work, is able to touch, smell, experiment and have a lot of lessons on practical life, Math, English, Geography, etc. And then I have my child coming home and telling me all those things that I did not even know... Also, have to share the importance of independence! My child, at the age of 3 years old, is able to complete an enormous amount of work by himself. Simple things of dressing and undressing, putting shoes on and taking them off, serving food and cleaning up, hygiene, folding, swiping floors and WASHING DISHES! It might sound like not a big deal, but when was the last time you saw a 3-4 year old child do all of that?! Overall, I just want to thank the staff of the Little Explorer for their hard work. The preparation that they put into their daily schedules, the food that they provide, the education, and, of course, the love and individual approach for each child individually! read more

After visiting numerous of places, I'm grateful I stumbled upon this hidden gem. Even if you're unfamiliar with Montessori, sign up anyways! You won't regret leaving your children in their care. Your child will be loved, safe, and make a lot of fun memories. It's been a year already for our little man! I never felt 100% about enrolling our 6month old in any of the places we visited. I was beginning to think that maybe I just wasn't ready until I did a tour with Little Explorers Montessori (LEM). Not only did I love the fact that they had Montessori materials, but they actually practice and implement the Montessori philosophy (which is hard to find both with in-home Monti schools). Mrs. Julia & Mr. Vlad were so friendly and welcoming. I love that they are a husband and wife team. Our son immediately warmed up to them and kept smiling at them. I loved seeing that he was already comfortable enough to crawl towards them and even climb on them as we asked questions about their program. Meeting with them you can tell they care, are competent, keep a beautiful classroom/home, but seeing how safe our baby felt and happy he was, sealed the deal. I immediately knew that our search was over. We enrolled our son part-time (2 days a week). It's now been almost a year. Isaiah enjoys going to Monti school and participates in activities. It's obvious that LEM has your child's development best interest. It took about 2 weeks to adjust, but now he looks forward to seeing his friends. I love that they get multiple fresh healthy snacks and meals. Pricing is reasonable and on par with other high quality establishments. When it comes to your child's care, in my opinion, you get what you pay for. Here, they have great food, small classroom size, positive environment, engaged knowledgeable staff, and quality materials on rotation. They do such a great job changing things up outdoors and in the classroom to make it feel like a fun new place to explore. Highly recommend! They're even flexible if I need to add a day due to an emergency. read more

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ORIGINAL REVIEW: Dear Parents, please be sure to do your homework before you entrust Julia (Yulia) and Vlad with your children. Please review their citations and substantiated claims: See: https://www.ccld.dss.ca.gov/carefacilitysearch/FacDetail/304313419 UPDATED REVIEW (I did not want to wait for Yelp to allow me to update my review, which takes days/weeks/months at times): Julia, your response is extremely misleading for parents. I did not want to go into the details, but since you have opened Pandora's Box, I have no choice but to reply with details. 1). You state that the citations and substantiated claims "were cleared and they were all about paperwork." According to the Department of Social Services (DSS), this is not true and substantiated claims cannot be "dismissed" as you allege. Having two men sleeping upstairs in a home that is supposed to be dedicated to child care is not acceptable under any circumstance, let alone men that have not cleared criminal checks. See Facility Evaluation Report dated 02/08/22. 2) According to DSS, you are not permitted to operate two home daycares, yet you have two locations at 70 Decker, Irvine 92620 and another at 68 Darby, Irvine 92620. 3) According to DSS, you are not permitted to operate a home daycare where you are not residing in the home at least 80% of the time. You freely told me that you and Vlad do not live at either 70 Decker or 68 Darby. 4) Multiple complaints that you are "operating out of ratio", "parent not allowed entrance to the facility" when by law you must allow a parent to enter during all operating hours, "Facility did not provide a clean and safe environment for day care children", "Licensee operates more than one family day care home", and "Licensee resides in another home." See Complaint Investigation Reports dated 05/02/19, 03/05/21 and 05/04/22. 5) "You came to another school for a tour, that school has no citations and/or substantiated claims. You did your homework for another school." Julia, again this is misleading. You freely told us you and Vlad operate 70 Decker. 70 Decker has MULTIPLE citations and substantiated claims. 68 Darby is approximately 100 yards from 70 Decker. You told us you were "expanding" and opened up 68 Darby in July 2022, which I stated in No. 2 above is not permitted. What confidence do us parents have that you and Vlad will run and operate 68 Darby, the newer location, any differently than you have 70 Decker? And once again, I point to the fact that, per DSS, it is not permissible for you to operate two home daycares. Period. Again, I urge each parent to review the online reports and to speak directly with DSS. Their information (which Julia did not provide to us in the paperwork, which she is obligated to do, so that made us suspicious and we started looking on our own online). I provide it here for your convenience: Orange County Child Care 750 The City Drive, Suite 250 Orange, CA 92868 (714) 703-2800 Julia, I have no beef with you other than I do not think you have been entirely honest. I hope that you and Vlad will learn from your mistakes and be better. But, based on our assessment of the reports written by different investigators from DSS, we would never entrust our most precious little toddler in your care. We are thankful that we did our homework, since our sweet daughter was set to start at your school in 2 weeks. We had the check all written out. I grappled with whether to post this online review, and the reason I am doing so is to help other parents, as I desperately wished for someone to have provided this information, since multiple other parents have complained to DSS and they investigated accordingly. PARENTS PLEASE BEWARE. read more

Little Explorers Montessori - Citations - Not Good - Preschools Near Me - Irvine, California

My husband and I visited 10 facilities over a few months to find the perfect location for our toddler. Upon walking into Little Explorers and meeting Julia and Vlad we were immediately put at ease with their kind, nurturing, and calm behavior. Our child immediately took to them both and was already beginning to explore the backyard and getting to know the resident parakeets. After that visit and a follow-up visit we both agreed this was the perfect location for our child to learn, develop, and grow. He has enjoyed every day since starting in August and looks forward to returning and learning each day. From a developmental perspective, his vocabulary, coordination, and cognitive development has rapidly improved. Vlad, Julia, and their teachers are always available for questions, texts, discussion etc... They give you updates, ranging from photos to written messages on your child's activities. The most important thing to my husband and I was to feel secure with where our child was and who they were learning from. We couldn't be more pleased and would strongly recommend them to anyone. We look forward to having our toddler join their 2nd location when he is old enough. Finally, like anything in life, you sometimes have to sift through the noise. My recommendation, do your own research like our family did.... visit the facility, and get to know the team. Also, review the actual regulations on the CDSS website, Title 22, Division 12, Chapter 3. Family Child Care Homes, for yourself so you have the most accurate information--not everyone online has a regulatory background. read more

Parents: I have thought about how I would write this review for months now. I've avoided it but today decided it was time. In June 2022, we pulled our son out of Little Explorer's Montessori. He was almost two at the time. He'd been attending for little over a year. Another student's parents pulled their child out at the same time. A few months later, another parent pulled their child. That is 25% of their enrollment. All were related to the same concerns of communication and safety. The decision to pull out our child was a very hard one as it left us (and the other family) with absolutely no childcare for months. Hopefully the below helps at least one parent make an informed decision. This review is not about revenge or wanting to "get even". Rather, my belief that parents have the right to make an informed decision. When we first toured Little Explorer's Montessori, it was considered a "small family daycare". Vlad and Julia were the primary teachers. They and their family lived in the home. Over the course of the year, they achieved "large family daycare" status and were able to enroll more students. It was at this point we noticed red flags. -Teachers would come and go. We never really knew who was with our child or their credentials. Individuals other than their immediate family were living in the home. -Food served wasn't in line with their commitment to "homemade organic" (for example, pizza and Yoplait-type sugar-filled yogurt). -There were also multiple visits by Social Services based off "tips" from parents and neighbors. I am not one to speculate, so will provide the link below for you to review. Concerns about findings from these visits were always discussed with Vlad and Julia. Some of their responses were reasonable and reassuring, whereas other times stories didn't line up, they were defensive, and questions were avoided. Our breaking point occurred when I saw Vlad and Julia leaving in their car as I dropped off my son. The person who greeted us to check him in was a stranger. I asked who they were and where Vlad and Julia were. They stated they were a new teacher, that Vlad and Julia were upstairs and would be down shortly. Throughout the course of the day, another parent and I witnessed many concerning things including improper student-to-teacher ratios, a child getting injured without an adult around, and multiple instances of conflicting stories (someone was knowingly lying). I pulled my son out that day. Vlad and Julia set up time with within 24h us to discuss our concerns. As with prior conversations, some of their responses were very reasonable and reassuring, whereas others were untruthful and inconsistent. At the time of leaving, my husband and I shared some recommendations with Vlad and Julia to prevent future parent's from pulling their children. I really hope they've taken them to heart and made changes. Please know this review not a "vendetta". Every parent deserves to have all the facts presented when making as big of a decision as childcare. Everything stated above is fact. The Social Service visit findings are fact. Please use those facts to help you make an informed decision. https://www.ccld.dss.ca.gov/carefacilitysearch/FacDetail/304313419 read more

This was the first preschool we looked for my daughter when she was ready to start preschool and fell in love with the place! It felt like a second home rather than a commercial chain or those mall preschools here in Irvine. The location is perfect, designed very cozy and nice. The couple knows what they are doing and most importantly they LOVE what they are doing here! When I looked how they were communicating with the kids they treat them like adults and they respect them all the time. My daughter loves going to her school and she loves everyone in the school. They offer freshly made home cooked snacks, fruits and a decent menu of lunch every single day. My daughter loves all the materials there and she loves being busy there. When I ask how her day is, she says "fantastic!" She was hardly speaking english due to 3 language exposure but after a few months of school, she started making proper sentences and she is not shy anymore. I can say for sure that Little Explorers Montessori belives in what they are doing, loves what they are doing and do their best for our kids! We feel we are privileged that our daughter is growing up with so many nice memories here. The place has a clean, peaceful and a happy atmosphere. I feel like we are one of the luckiest families here in Irvine! Thank you! read more

I've been working at Little Explorers Montessori for about a year, and I can testify to the work and the love that both Julia and Vlad dedicate to their school. They genuinely love the children in their care, and treat them as if they are their own. They are very caring and patient, and have a heart centered approach to all they do. Many of the families who are part of their community have been with them for several years. This is also proof of their dedication and commitment to the well being and the education of the children. As a teacher, I am very happy to work at Little Explorers Montessori because Julia and Vlad are very supportive and allow me the freedom to do my best work. I have worked in many different schools, and I know a place like Little Explorers is hard to find... And it is just getting better everyday! I highly recommend Little Explorers to any parent who wants a place where their children are safe, loved, and well cared for. read more

We absolutely love Little Explorers! Julia and Vlad are wonderful. We knew from day one that this school was a great fit. Our son has been attending since he was 3 months and is now 8 months old. My mother is a daycare teacher of 40 plus years and came with us when we originally took a tour of the school. Side note her daycare is too far and the age limit starts at 2 years old. She said, "if it's a right fit, you will get a good feeling when you visit the school." Well, we got that good feeling. I am a prodigy of daycare and I feel it is so important for social skills, behavior, and development. With that said though not every daycare is the same. When we started looking at schools some had way too many kids per teacher, a year waiting list, and high rates. Here we feel like our son gets enough attention and care he needs. Knowing our son is in good hands puts us at ease (especially being first-time parents). Every time we drop him off and pick him up he has a smile on his face and is excited to be there. We couldn't have asked for a better layout of the house, which includes the cribs location and blackout curtains, the type of toys, books, indoor and outside play area, and activities. We are glad they do not have bouncers or walkers, we do not have these in our home as well, as they could delay development. We love that the kids get a lot of outside play time and fresh air. They have been accommodating in allowing us to bring breast milk and homemade baby food. They always keep us informed about his day, any new milestones, how well he ate and slept. My son loves playing with the other kids and developmental toys. I could keep going on and on about all the good things that Julia and Vlad do for our son. They truly are amazing and so important to our family and our sons future. read more

We can't recommend Little Explorers Montessori highly enough. Our experience there for 2.25 years (and counting) has been wonderful. Julia and Vlad are great with the kids and I feel completely comfortable with our daughter in their care. They have great educational and play equipment for the kids. I like that they spend a good portion of the day active and playing outside. They hold regular parent teacher conferences to review progress, and we always feel that we can reach out with any questions or concerns. read more

I honestly wish I could give six stars. Julia and her husband Vlad are amazing and we literally consider them family at this point. Our son has been going since he was about 6 months old and he's 13 months now. He's treated like their own kid as are all the little ones they take care of. The home is so warm and cozy. The minute you drop them off they greet your LO with a big smile. They have all the best toys and keep the kids always interacting in new ways. Everything is kept super clean and sanitary as well. I know he's made so many new friends and he's always so happy to go every morning! Julia cooks up the most delicious food for them and it's all ORGANIC! My wife and I were so happy to hear that as it's important to us. Vlad and Julia are always sending us updates of how much fun he's having and the new things he's learning which makes us as parents feel a lot better. I can keep going but I'll just say we went through a bunch of daycares and are truly blessed we found them. Julia and Vlad are on another level and we can't wait to see what's next! read more

This review is long overdue... I'm glad I'm finally sitting down to write about how much We would recommend Little Explorers. Our son started coming to Little Explorers when he was 4 months old and he is now 17 months old and it has been the best experience. We knew our child was going to be in the best hands from the moment I met Julia and Vlad. Being first time parents made us especially nervous about leaving our little one in the care of someone else. Julia and Vlad were very warm and welcoming and made us feel very comfortable as soon as we met. They provide a very safe and nurturing environment and they really care about the well being and development of the children. They accommodated us with feeding and storing breastmilk for our son and never pressured us into any particular eating habits. Julia and Vlad really value good nutrition, sleep, and outdoor time for the children. They provide healthy, diverse, home cooked meals each day, a safe sleeping environment, and creative outdoor play. They focus on providing toys and activities that foster learning and development. I was amazed at how quickly our son was learning by being around other children and participating in activities from such a young age. They provide updates as to how he is doing during the day, which are very comforting and reassuring, especially in those first few weeks. We feel comfortable leaving our son in Julia and Vlad's care and know that he's learning, socializing, and having a good time. They deeply care about the children and treat them like their own. We love the photos/videos we receive and the cute art projects he brings home and the daily updates on his well-being and milestones. Julia and Vlad and their staff are amazing at what they do and we truly consider them family now. read more

Just wanted to add to the review that our daughter is still going to this daycare and now our second daughter has started going there too. This is how much we like Julia and Vlad. Just want to clarify that Julia and Vlad own two licensed daycares based on two different age groups and both the locations are very close to each other. We almost waited for 2 months for them to get their new license so that we can start sending our younger one there. My elder daughter is now 4 and half years old and goes to 68 Darby location and my younger one is 16 months old and goes to 70 Decker location. They follow Montessori curriculum and my elder daughter is loving it so far. They have a head teacher Ms Naynara whom we adore. I love the way she keeps sending us daily updates and overall progress. Their day ends with fun activities or playtime with Mr. Vlad. My younger daughter started going to Ms Julia almost a month back. She took 2-3 weeks to get adjusted there but knowing Julia and my experience with my elder daughter there, I was sure that she would be fine. Now she looks forward to go to Ms Julia and Ms Flor. Can't thank Julia and Vlad enough for their their patience and love towards all the kids. As a parent, it gives me a great comfort to send my girls to them. read more

I wholeheartedly recommend Julia and Vlad's daycare center. Ever since my daughter began attending a year ago we have had nothing but peace of mind which was in stark contrast to what we felt when she attended another Montessori establishment previously.They are incredibly loving, kind, and attentive and treat her like their own. When I was in the hospital delivering my second they allowed me to drop her off on the weekend and took care of her like a family member would Their passion for developing well rounded emotionally intelligent children shows in everything they do. Their activities for the children are always so well thought out, fun, and focused on teaching practical life skills and cultivating critical thinking. My two year old can dress her self like a pro, eats on her own, can put together complex puzzles, and is potty trained thanks to them. Another huge plus is that they provide food all day for the kids which is healthy and delicious and freshly prepared Overall they create an environment that feels like home which can explain why sometimes my daughter needs to be convinced to leave read more

Our son has gone here since shortly after his first birthday, he is now 3. When we first moved to Irvine and I was looking for a daycare for my son, they promptly respond to my inquiry and scheduled a tour, which immediately made me feel like we were in good hands. Julia and Vlad, the owners, take great pride in their school and treat your child like their own. When I ask him who his best friends are, he always names them too. The teachers in each class/age group have been wonderful, and the overall learning environment is intimate, which has always made my son feel secure. They always take the time at pickup to talk to us about his day. My son loves going to school here, we are so grateful and happy with Little Explorers! read more

This review is long overdue but I wanted to mention how amazing Ms. Julia was for our 2 year old. Placing our daughter at Little Explorers was a great decision for us over choosing a nanny because it really helped our daughter transition from being at home to going to a full time day care. The time our daughter spent at Little Explorers was so positive and it was so difficult for us to take her out when the time came to begin a full time daycare/school program. My wife and I highly recommend Little Explorers and have nothing but the best things to say about Ms. Julia and her staff. read more

I love Little Explorers and I can tell my son enjoys going here! The family is warm and inviting and they genuinely care for my son. The space is beautiful, clean and all toys are carefully curated. I love how my son can easily go from inside to the outdoors anytime he wants! They also use real cribs here with black out curtains which I love! The activities they provide for my son are educational and fun. I would highly recommend this daycare! read more

Irvine Little Explorers is a new in-home daycare that opened this year. My son first went to little explorers when he was nearly 4 months old. He was the first baby to enroll there. Enrollment is quick and easy through the Wonderschool website. He was there for about 6 weeks because we had family members coming to take care of him. Ms Julia was very kind to accommodate us for the short enrollment period. Drop off and pick up time is quite flexible. My baby was quite happy there. He takes 3 naps there daily and ate well for the most part (except when he had teething issues). I like that they don't do TV or bouncy seats. He's usually on the mat or outdoors on the stroller. They also have educational toys for babies and toddlers as they grow. Ms Julia is gentle and loving with kids and works hard to build up her daycare. She is also taking classes in the Montessori method. read more

Great experience, warm atmosphere and professional approach. Activities leaded in English and Russian languages, that helps Kids to develop their Russian vocabulary and start to learn English at the same time. read more

My husband and I were looking for the right mix of one on one attention and care along with a comfortable learning environment that would help our son thrive. One of our main concerns was finding the right fit that felt right. From the moment we walked into little explorers toddler care we immediately felt the warm of Julia and Vlad (the schools main instructors). My son gravitated immediately to Ms. Julia. You could feel how much they truly care for the children who attend there. They are also parents themselves and understand the importance of finding the right care for their little ones. We really wanted to focus on my son's development, social skills with other children, and his academics. Even at a young age my son thrives off of routine and learning. One thing little explorers emphasized was teaching and development. The program Julia and Vlad have put together is thought out and carefully executed. This is a great school for anyone looking to provide their child with a lower ratio of teacher to child care with the warmth and comforts of home. Little explorers is no babysitter but a small but well rounded in home early learning center that provides the luxury of home with the aspects of a larger Montessori. It's a great place to send your toddler especially between age 2-3 when so much development takes place and there is a great need to help those little brains grow, learn, explore, and have fun! I'm so glad my son goes here. It's been the best experience and transition for our family. My son has been going there for 6 months and absolutely loves it! Daily reports, updates, and photos of our child's progress are provided and their is an open line of communication between parents and teachers. read more

Our 3 year old son has been full-time at Little Explorers for 1 year now and our experience has been phenomenal. Let me preface our review that my husband and I both work full-time in healthcare, and I am a Registered Nurse in Pediatrics. Our son was experiencing slight delayed speech at 2 years of age, which completely resolved within a few months after his enrollment. His socialization, fine motor skills, and other developmental milestones have just blossomed and he wholeheartedly enjoys going to school. The owners, Julia and Vlad, are extremely knowledgeable and experienced with Montessori curriculum, and most importantly they are completely trustworthy. Our son has developed a very special bond with them and there is nothing more reassuring and comforting in the world, than knowing and feeling that your child is happy and safe when you cannot be with them yourself. I am grateful everyday for the attentiveness, compassion, professionalism, and flexibility that Julia and Vlad have shown our family for the last year. We highly recommend their child care services. read more