Hands down one of the coolest preschool programs in Chico--if not the coolest! Unique structure,…read morelow teacher to child ratios, and an awesome teaching philosophy. The curriculum is always changing and fresh and having inclusive classrooms allows staff to look at the individual considerations of all children. Innovative also collaborates with the Chico State Child Development department so there are many opportunities for interns and students to come learn from the teaching staff about working with children of all abilities. Coming from that department myself, I had the opportunity to spend time in several different preschool programs around town and none of them came close to the quality that I feel Innovative offers families. I chose to work here because I believe in the way this program looks at early childhood development and how the teaching staff works on an individual level with children. This program has been around for 25 years and has done amazing things teaching children social emotional foundations, in addition to getting kiddos ready for many other challenges that life will offer post-preschool. I highly encourage families to check out this preschool program to see everything that it offers!

This preschool is life changing! They are not only the most wonderful educators, they are wonderful…read morehumans. Their partnership with Chico Unified allows them to provide inclusive services to children with special needs as well as typically developing children. They have a strong connection to Chico State which provides highly qualified students in the classroom with children. They hire teachers with strong educational backgrounds that truly love being with children. There is such a feeling of joy in the classrooms and everyone becomes family.

Great school, great teachers My daughter has the sweetest…read morememories from this preschool

I really cannot say enough about this preschool. If you aren't familiar with the Montessori Method,…read moreyou truly are doing your child a disservice. It is the only way to go for the Pre-K years. My daughter went here for three years before entering a traditional elementary school, and it was truly a wonderful experience; we felt she was loved by the teachers and encouraged to use her voice and interests to grow and develop her own little self. The Montessori Method is the only way to go for pre-school, and this school embraced the method fully. My daughter's confidence, academics and social skills blossomed while attending. I loved that there is a parent observation room (with a mirror so students can't see you), and parents are welcome to observe any time. Whereas other preschools have rigid rules and policies, children at this preschool aren't punished or shamed for wanting snack when they are hungry; wanting to master a certain art project; and/or take responsibility for their actions. They encourage kids to be independent and master their interests before moving on to the next thing. I loved that the teachers are all parents themselves, and have been with the school for years and years. My child is now in Kindergarten and is excelling in academics and socially as well. Her Kinder teacher tells us she is focused, is beyond proficient in her reading, writing and math, and is known to all as a kind friend. I know much of that has to do with parenting, but also some of it is the fact that she attended the Montessori School. Thank you CMCH for three great years of pre-school!

We loved our time at MEM. My daughter attended for two years and she learned so much. They do an…read moreexcellent job preparing children for comprehensive school. I loved all of the cultural enrichment they provided. We made many connections and even now, in first grade, she still plays with many of her friends she made while at MEM.

This preschool is such a jewel! Fantastic teachers, great facilities & fun projects & field trips…read morefor the children. It is also a bilingual school, which was important to me. And they do alot of music & dance which I think is great! The school has a good sized outside playarea with everything from a large sandbox to a play structure & even a garden. The inside of the school is always warm & comforting & with lots of fun things for the kids to do. Mi Escuelita Maya is truly such a wonderful school! I'm so happy that I discovered this little place. All the teachers have been amazing & are great with the kids. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a preschool for their child.

This has been my children's daycare for years. My son went here for about 7 years and now my…read moredaughter goes here. I like the staff and they are great with kids. Good location and services. Would highly recommend.

We love Kings Christian. Staff are loving and caring people. Our son loves it here too! We look…read moreforward to our youngest to start going to Kings in the fall. We definetly recommend!

Both of my kids have gone to Kinder Kids for years, and I couldn't be happier with our experience…read more They are a caring, family-owned business that has been part of the community for over 30 years. The staff has remained consistent over the years, and my children love them like family. The facility is always clean, and the kids are happy, engaged, constantly learning, and well prepared for kindergarten. Their prices are very reasonable for the value they provide. We also love the yearly class photos, Mother's Day and Father's Day events, and annual holiday party. I highly recommend Kinder Kids to any family looking for a loving, dependable daycare and preschool.

Just thought I would update, my son went to this school for a year after I did the walk through…read more. He LOVED it, loved the teachers and I was happy with the stuff he would bring home... They do crafts everyday and learning worksheets... My son never wants to leave and he made a lot of new friends. I went on a few field trips with my son books family farm, a pumpkin patch in Chico, the museum of science in Chico.. I think there are a few more I'm forgetting.. But my son loved it. I will probably enroll my other son who is 3 at kinder kids as well starting august. My other son is now 5 and starting kindergarten!

About me: I am the antithesis of the PTA mom. I'm pretty much a hot mess most days. I have two…read morewonderful boys (20 mos and 3 mos) that run my life and keep my busy beyond belief. I sought daycare, not because I needed someone to watch my children (thanks grammy!) but because I wanted my children to be socialized, learn some structure, and HAVE FUN! I'm extremely protective and highly opinionated mom, but I will be the first to admit that I kinda suck at this mom gig. So! Any help I can get, I'm game. SO, I shopped around at a few daycares in town and was surprised by the massive variety of variables in care, prices, and personalities. My first impression, just from visiting Little Discoveries: I love it! I just enrolled my 20-month-old son three days a week. Here's why: The moment I stepped into the safety-gated front door, I was greeted with a smile. It felt genuine. Not desperate or lackluster. I was also THAT mom who called and literally asked 68 questions in a mini interview before even stepping foot in the doors and the owner was kind enough to answer EVERY question in detail. I was surprised to not have any concerns when I got off the phone with her. I had heard from MANY friends, especially THOSE moms who everyone wants to be like, that Little Discoveries was the place to go. True to my rebellious nature, I decided it'd be the last place I checked out. I am SO glad I did. I felt something missing from so many other daycares. Something I think is more important than just about anything else: LOVE! I want to know that when I drop my little guy off, he will be held and cuddled and adored as much as humanly possible for those who've not birthed him. I was stoked to see many hugs and snuggles given the moment I walked into the infant area. I heard soft, pleasant voices cooing at babies, saying "please" and "thank you." It was peaceful enough that I wanted to lie down and rest listening to the staff's sweet voices. I witnessed positive structure. The kind where back pats and hugs happen when something goes right. The kind where safety is first, but kindness isn't far behind. I saw SMILES! I had no idea how much of a difference this would make to me, but it was huge! Too many other places in town have structure without smiles. That just feels so wrong. Here, everyone was smiling. The kids, the staff. It's lovely! I saw tons of age-appropriate toys, a well-fenced backyard for play, and all kinds of active, devoted staff. The place is not immaculately clean, but it's cleaner than my home. I found daycares that were too clean and it bugged me. How can kids have fun if they don't get a little paint on their hands? How do I know they've eaten if there aren't yummy little crumbs on their clothes? I think a healthy level of cleanliness is important to observe. Part of it being healthy is having room for brain-growing messes. Little Discoveries had exactly that. I LOVE that they feed the kids. I didn't know how off-putting it'd be to have to think about making lunches and meals for kids, but it literally made me disinterested in another daycare. Being able to drop my little guy off knowing they are well stocked on healthy food and feed kids throughout the day so I don't have to worry about a thing is GREAT! The pricing is reasonable and better than a few other places in town. For the value, it's the best by far. You can do part time, full time, or drop-in if you're registered already. They adhere to the state ratio laws and seem overstaffed at times (which I think is a bonus). Little Discoveries has a few citations on the licensing board site BUT! If you look at those citations, there are far fewer than any other places and their license is one of the oldest in town. Also, one of the citations is for a staff member playing with kids and accidentally falling. If there's gunna be a hazard for my kid, I HOPE it's while he's having tons of fun doing something engaging. At least that's my take. There are definitely places I didn't even check out based on the citations I read alone. Feel free to check the website and see what I mean... Finally, I like their electronic check in and camera systems. The first thing anyone hears about, when daycare shopping, is the cameras. There's something about knowing you can peek in on your kiddo anytime that soothes the soul. Also, who's gunna do wrong when they know they're on camera? Not many folks... I'm BEYOND happy to have a place like Little Discoveries in Chico. They have two other locations as well and it sounds like they're very flexible with parents and their scheduling needs. Based off of first impressions alone, obviously, I'm sold. I shall update more as our experience deepens. Wishing all the other parents shopping for this most important service luck! It's terrifying and wonderful. Trust your gut! There are definitely worse places to take your kiddos. For now, I highly recommend Little Discoveries. :)

All three of my children at one time or another have gone here. Now, my two year old attends during…read moreschool hours mon-fri. Every morning the staff greet him so kindly and respectfully; me too of course. I'm so appreciative of how much he loves going to "school" like his big brother and sister. It's a clear reflection of the diligence and love Rhonda and her staff put into making the place so welcoming and warm; so that my son can get down to the hard work of being two!

If you were looking for the best preschool in Chico, CA, look no further!! We've had our daughter…read moregoing there since she was an infant and can't say enough good things about Smart Start!! They're about "the whole child" and not of the philosophy of simply a "day-care"; but truly invest in the learning, social skills and overall best well being of all of their children. Their staff is amazing and give each and every child the individual attention that we, as parents, hope that our children get. Their facility is consistently clean, and their classrooms are large and spacious. If you've done your research and looked into other pre-schools (as we did...and quite extensively), you'll know exactly what I'm referring to. Bravo Teacher Ann, and her loving staff for investing in OUR next generation and future!!

We couldn't be happier with our experience at Smart Start! From the moment I called to schedule a…read moretour as a panicked first time mom leaving her child somewhere for the first time, it was clear that this place is special. The staff is incredibly warm, attentive, and truly passionate about the children and the parents honestly. My daughter flourished here as the learning is fun and educational, with plenty of hands-on activities and lots of things to take home as memories. By the age of 3, she knew all of her ABCs, could point out any letter, numbers and started learning how to write her name. I loved the daily updates and photos I got. The teachers also took the time to understand my childs needs and interests, and if any changes happened at home, they ensured to help with them at school the best they could. I couldn't have asked for a safer, better school to help keep my baby safe and get her a jump start on school.

We have been with Chico Christian for the past 6 years. Our second child is in her last year with…read moreChico Christian and our first daughter graduated two years ago and still talks about how much she loved going there...she especially misses the teachers. Chico Christian excels on many levels, but one of the most important to us was their communication across the board. Every employee there is truly special and if we had a third child they would be attending Chico Christian as well. Thank you to all of their staff. My wife and I both highly recommend sending your child to Chico Christian if you're looking for a great and safe daycare.

We've been part of this daycare since my son was about 14 months old, and we can't say enough good…read morethings about the staff and teachers! As a first-time mom, I was nervous about leaving my baby in someone else's care, but they went above and beyond to ease my worries. Everyone here genuinely loves what they do -- they care for the kids as if they were their own, showing real warmth, attentiveness, and dedication to their safety. Updates through the app are so great! They often send pictures and even videos, too. We definitely recommend Chico Christian.

My son has really enjoyed his 3 years at Sherwood. His teacher, Sheng (same for 3 years) has been…read morewonderful. It's a small, caring, community and my son looks forward to school each day. Traditional school models are not a good fit for him, and he enjoys the work at your own pace Montessori method. He is able to quickly do his work then earn free time and help others.

Wonderful learning environment and community. So greatful my son has this experience!read more

No problems here! We had to find something in a hurry for my daycare. Mother in law was injured and…read moreunable to watch my 21 month old. Stephanie, the director was very understanding and supportive. She made room for 3 full days of coverage immediately. When we told her our coverage plan had changed, she was flexible with us again. As to the caretakers, the 4-5 ladies I met and interacted with have all been extremely caring, encouraging, and supportive as well. They interacted well with my child and gave me daily progress reports on all his behaviors and meals. They log when he eats, what he eats, his diaper status, his nap times and his behavior. At the end of the day, more than one of them would tell me in person if he was fussy, good, funny, happy, etc. These are priceless updates for someone who just put their child in daycare. The facility is perfectly secure and keeps babies and bigger kiddos apart. They have staff that is dedicated to that particular age range, but event the OTHER ladies knew who my son was by day 2. They all talk about their kids and so you know the entire staff is looking out for your child. When we visited, the facility was being used...this means, food being served and kids putting food in their hair, on the floor, etc. The team of daycare providers quickly and efficiently cleaned up after them. There is always a load of laundry and there are always people washing dishes or making something clean. Even when the ladies are "at lunch" they are in the break room, making sure things are OK, and keeping an eye on visitors. What really sold us: They allowed my family to stop in and say hello, within reason. You have to get permission (or give it if you are the parent), but we have a grandmother, nieces, and other family members that care a great deal for our child. They will all them to visit, take a look, ask questions, and at the end of the day, I still get a full verbal report about who visited and when. This is, hands down, the best place to bring your child.

My daughter has been at Castles since she was 5 months old, she is 3 now. The teachers at Castles…read moreare amazing! Good communication, and great learning environment. Also, one of the few (maybe the only) that has a good range to hours - 6:30am-6pm. There are so many Castles families where the kids have been there for years. We love Castles and Castles staff!