I cannot say enough about this school. I really wanted a mandarin immersion program, and I'm so pleased I found Nihao. Let's start with the staff. They are incredibly amazing. The main two teachers, Chichi and Delsy, treat the children with great care and kindness. Next, the lessons and activities they have are engaging. There's singing and dancing. There's motor skill development. They work on presentation, writing, and more. My daughter is nearly potty trained at 2 years and 3 months old, just under 3 months at the school. There's the group, Soccer Shots, that come to the school as well as an extracurricular. The facility is spacious and clean. It caters to the students with. The outdoor play area is well covered with canopies. The equipment does not look rundown. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles that some schools do, but it has all it needs and then some. Lastly, the communication is frequent throughout the day. Unlike some other school where it drops off after the first week, we get consistent updates with photos and videos. It provides reassurance that she's having a lot of fun at school. I moved my daughter here when she turned two, and we don't look back. She actually asks for her teachers constantly at home. She's excited to go in. read more

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Our two kids have had a wonderful experience at NiHao. We originally enrolled them with no Chinese background--not because we were focused on language, but because we were looking for a warm, safe, and engaging environment. And that's exactly what we found. The teachers and staff are incredibly kind, attentive, and easy to communicate with, and we always feel our kids are in good hands. The school is very well-run, and the parent app keeps us updated with daily photos, nap times, potty info, and any incidents. It gives us great peace of mind to know what's going on throughout the day. The indoor and outdoor play spaces give the kids plenty of room to explore, and the environment is full of joy and creativity. We're especially impressed with the fun, thoughtful curriculum. The kids practice drawing and writing in playful ways and get to be little scientists with hands-on, imaginative activities. They've brought home the most creative projects, and the school goes above and beyond with family events like art and dance shows, and celebrations for Mother's Day, Father's Day, and other holidays. While some staff turnover happens due to 1-year contracts, our kids have adjusted well, and there are always multiple teachers in the classroom to provide continuity and support. Though learning Chinese wasn't our top priority, it's been a neat bonus to see our kids pick up songs and understand basic directions in Mandarin. More than anything, we're grateful for the kindness, safety, and joy NiHao brings into their lives. read more

I held off on writing a review until we graduated. My first child has been in this daycare for two years, starting in the younger class at two and graduating from the older class at four. I have really appreciated this school. They were entrusted with my most precious person, and they took amazing care of him. It is hard to leave your young baby somewhere. They helped transition him quickly, and sent a lot of photos and videos and updates. This continued for the whole two years we were here. The Mandarin teachers are usually Taiwanese. My son had the same primary teacher for his first year, and a second primary teacher for his second year. We did not mind the changes since in public school, the teachers often change each year. All his teachers were excellent and we will miss them a lot. You bring your own lunch. The school is nut free and provides snacks. They have a lot of mini events and performances throughout the year. They are extremely well done - I really liked how creative the activities were! My kid came home with projects and drawings all the time. He practiced age-appropriate skills (cutting paper, pasting, writing, coloring). The curriculum includes some basics in math (numbers and number counting), English (letters), science (projects), and Mandarin (characters). When the weather was nice, they had lessons outdoors. When I initially toured, the location seemed a little sketchy to me, but there has never been an incident. There is a large play area for the kids, with sun cover. The inside of the rooms are lovely, well decorated and carefully set up. They deep clean often. This is a smaller school, with only two classrooms, but with excellent teacher:student ratios. As a result, my son had a lot of attention paid to him. The teachers all went above and beyond, every single one. As a parent who cares first and foremost about how happy my child is, I wholeheartedly recommend this school. read more

We did the parent & me class and it was so much fun! Definitely would recommend!!! we made banana with cereal and did songs and a balance beam! We will be coming back again! read more

Our son attended NHbubble School in Costa Mesa from ages 2 to 4, and we couldn't have asked for a better early learning experience. The teachers are incredibly caring, patient, and dedicated, creating a warm and nurturing environment where children are very happy. They also went above and beyond when we were in the potty training phase and really helped us and accommodated all our requests. The program's immersive Mandarin was very good f-- our son started with no Mandarin at all and, by the time he graduated, he had developed a remarkable level of fluency and confidence in the language. Niihao has a nice little community as well and they balance between play and learning and structured activities helped him grow socially, emotionally, and academically. We didn't want to send our son to a big program and loved the small feel at this age. We're so grateful for the loving foundation NHbubble provided! read more

We took our daughter to one of the Parent and Me classes on Saturday. Our little one is almost 2 years old, so we wanted to try out the school to see how she would do. The class was great! The teachers were very engaging and greeted each child as they arrived. The class was very interactive (they made "ice cream" cones with pumpkin puree) and all the kids had a lot of fun. Our daughter had a lot of fun and can't wait to attend the next Parent and Me class. We will definitely be enrolling our daughter here when she gets a little older. read more

My 2.5 year old goes to Nihao and has been since she turned 2. In the 5 months she's been there, she's learned so much! She's more confident in expressing herself now and more social. The teachers, ChiChi laoshi and ms.Delsy and Jenny laoshi are so nurturing and patient. Classes are small so it's 2 teachers to 5-6 kids per class so each kid gets a lot of attention. They do 80% in mandarin and 20% English so my little one is immersed in language learning at school and at home. They are also very communicative and sends us messages and pictures throughout the day through their app. I highly recommend this school to anyone looking for high quality child care at a very reasonable price. read more

Nihao - Preschools Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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I attended their parent-and-me class on Saturday. This was the first time my son joined a group class, and he loved the story time and the group activities organized by the teachers. Both teachers were very caring and attentive to each child. The classroom was bright and clean, with child-height sinks in the same room. My son especially loved the playground, which is large and offers many different activities. This would be my first choice if we didn't live so far and could attend more than just weekend classes. read more

I took my 3 years old daughter to the PME class on Saturday to get her started with bilingual school. I am very impressed with the activities that they do and my daughter really enjoyed it. The place is also organized and clean. The teachers are attentive to the kids. read more

My son goes here and he really likes it. The teachers were friendly and detailed. They also send updates to mobile app so we can see what the kids are doing throughout the day. read more

We couldn't be happier with Nihao! I am so glad to found this as a first school for my daughter because of the thoughtful programs they offer here. The teachers are so caring, patient, and creative -- they truly make learning fun. Our child has grown so much in confidence and curiosity since joining. The environment feels safe, nurturing, and full of joy. I especially love the updates and photos the teachers send throughout the day. We're so grateful to be part of this wonderful community! read more

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Highly recommend Nihao to the families looking for multilingual immerse (they do Mandarin Chinese with English and Spanish classes), fun, love, and safe preschool that doesn't break the bank. The teachers are very caring and communicative. They talks to parents in person and through app. Post at least 5 activity photos daily and sometimes videos too, which helps us chat about school activities with our son in the evening. The teachers also put a lot of efforts to celebrate and decorate holidays with the kids. We also love the parents here, everyone is super friendly and engaged. Kids get special treats all the time. Sometimes we even have special class sessions designed and leaded by the parents. The class is designed with different theme monthly with different focus subject weekly. My son has attended Nihao for 3 months now and we saw his growth tremendously. He loves the school so much that he doesn't want to leave and continue talking about his friends and teachers on the way home. read more

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My daughter is so happy to go to Nihao every day! Her Chinese has improved tremendously in just two months, and she's even learned how to interact well with other children. The teachers share photos and updates every day, allowing us to see what our child is doing at school, and they always respond to messages very quickly. The activities and lessons are meaningful and interesting, and my daughter has enjoyed them so much. read more

We have been at this school for almost 4 years, with our third now in attendance. They are truly one of a kind! Thank you Ni Hao for taking such good care of our babies! We owe so much to this school and the teachers. read more

This review is long overdue. My son attended Nihao for 2 years. My son loves the teachers especially Ms Delsey. The school does change teachers often, but my son embrace change pretty well. We wish we could stay another year. Due to IEP plan at public school, we decided to leave the school. I'm now looking for a Chinese weekend class that matches this school care and patient to my son special needs. I recommend this school. read more

The teachers here are amazing. Chichi, Delsy and Jenny are awesome teachers. They are very patience, kind and caring towards our baby Sky. She's learned so much in such a short period. It's amazing to watch her grow into her own little person. I would highly recommend this school for all new parents. read more

My son attended this school for over 2 years starting from age 2 in the small class. They helped him get through potty training and he spent over a year in the big class. (They only have 2 classes) I have nothing but good things to say about his experience there. We got so many pictures updates throughout the day - from pictures about snack time to pictures of play time, as well as notifications about nap time. I knew that they were taking good care of him and that he was learning a lot. All the teachers are so caring and attentive. The class sizes are small so my son got a lot of personalized attention. He would come home and tell me so many stories about how his teachers played with him and what he learned. His mandarin skills also grew leaps and bounds from his time at ni hao. He can have full conversations with his mandarin speaking family members and he helps me with translation when I don't know the words. Overall, we are so lucky that he spent his first preschool years in such a caring and nurturing environment. read more

My son attends full-day classes there, and the teachers are amazing. His thinking process and behavior have greatly improved. He also has a wonderful time at school and often talks about how much fun he has. Thank you, Nihao! read more

Extremely well run school. Place is always clean, staff is thoughtful and dedicated, and children are well balanced in routine and freedom of self exploration. They offer mandarin immersion with English, Spanish, math, and music classes, as well as quarterly themed projects, various activities, and seasonal events. NIHAO emphasizes a holistic approach to well-being, and their results are evident in students-- academically, physically, emotionally, and socially. Strongly recommend families of all backgrounds to allow their student to build their educational foundations with NIHAO's program. read more

My son has been with Nihao preschool since 2019 and will graduate this summer. It has been a great school for him. They have fluent speakers of Chinese Mandarin, Spanish and English. This was a very important aspect of the school for us since my son is growing up in a bilingual household. So having both languages taught at Nihao has been great! The school has an excellent curriculum, preparing the kids for kindergarten. My son has learned his alphabet, animals, colors, shapes, patterns, numbers, etc. Topics that are already a kindergarten level or even first grade. The school also allows the children to explore their own creativity in playtime and letting them choose their own tasks or work. This has been very good for my son who likes to build trucks, buildings, cities with the blocks and big legos. Overall, this has been a very excellent preschool and my son has flourished here. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good preschool! read more

Nihao - My son has fun at school - Preschools Near Me - Santa Ana, California

There are so many great things about this school that I don't know where to begin. My husband and I were looking to have our toddler attend an immersion program one day, and nH came up earlier than expected. Kids here are learning Mandarin, English, and Spanish. Our son loves and thrives at this preschool! It's a clean, smaller environment which we love and Montessori inspired. Both pluses! He has learned so much, loves everyone there, participates in a lot of hands-on activities, and I'm super grateful for Ms. Janki (director), Ms. Ting (teacher) and our Spanish teachers! They are all so patient, genuinely kind and love all the kids. Parents receive a lot of communication and updates about the kids, and the activities for parent/child are super sweet. Previous reviews referred to this place as a gem, and I totally agree! read more

My 4 year old daughter attended the NHBubble in Santa Ana / Costa Mesa over the summer. We were visiting and looking for somewhere that she could practice her Mandarin and have fun over the summer. We were not looking for a very serious program but instead wanted something she could enjoy and where she would feel that Mandarin is a useful language she could interact with others in. Although she was only there for a couple of weeks, she did really enjoy her time there and would often want to stay longer into the afternoon if given the choice! Her Mandarin language use increased in just the short time she was there. The school is clean, organized and caring of the children. I liked that Ms. Janki had many Montessori tools and principles in place at the school. I only noted one Mandarin speaking teacher there, but maybe during the normal school year there are more. For us it was the perfect program for our summer. Thanks Nihao! read more

We joined Nihao because the parent of an existing student said good things about it. Logistically, it's closer to our home, has the option for extended hours (7:30am - 6 pm,) and costs less - so we can save more towards our child's higher education.The quality of the education and services at Nihao isn't any less, and in fact in many ways better than our prior preschools. What sold us was the fact that Miss Ting-Yu chose to transition to early childhood education (from teaching Chinese to kids of all ages) bc she loves the younger kids, and she obtained the additional credentials to pursue her passion. We like the small, intimate environment on a quiet residential street. It's more relaxed for both the kids and parents (e.g. lower Covid risk vs larger schools.) The teachers miss Ting-Yu, Miss Anna, and director Ms Janki, are very loving and responsible, delivering a good balance between training independence and providing security. The curriculum and the Montessori methods help the kids learn a lot: two crafts/projects and two stories every day, and our child has made much progress in both Chinese and English. We appreciate the encouragement for teamwork vs strictly independent projects. The Spanish exposure is a plus, as this is the best age for language development. The school also values the outdoors and sports, though the equipment could probably use an update. We super appreciate the teachers' patience outside of the curriculum. Our child became fully potty trained within a couple of weeks with the teachers' help (often multiple accidents a day.) Our child is developing better self-feeding habits. The mixed age classroom provides benefitial role models for our kid eg started to like reading more, yet the activities for the older kids are age appropriate (reading and writing.) We also loved the events on weekend eg Chinese New year and the parent and me classes. The summer camp content looks great too. We feel this school is a hidden gem for busy families that value their children's education as well as overall physical, mental and character development. While it does more capacity (30 kids), we secretly wouldn't mind keeping it small. read more

My daughter started at NiHao NHbubble in the beginning of summer 2022. This was her first school ever and she immediately loved going each and every morning. She especially loves her teachers. They have engaging fun activities for the kids and my daughter has really grown since attending NH. Ms. Ting and Ms. Salome are really the best! They are both nurturing, patient, and kind. Ms. Ting is an amazing Chinese teacher and my daughter has really improved in her language skills. They are really responsive to any concerns you have and keep you up-to-date on the progress of your child. They post photos of your child twice a week on the app and it really makes my day when I see the photos of her enjoying her time at school and learning new things. We could have gone to another highly rated popular Montessori that is way closer to our house (brand new facilities) but decided it was in my daughters best interest to do the longer commute to NH. The warmth and passion of the teachers really showed and their facilities are very very clean (although a bit older). We were concerned when starting bc of Covid but once we visited , we really fell in love and knew they took cleanliness and safety seriously. We love it here because it feels like a small close-knit family. We have made lifelong friends here and will dearly miss it after this summer as my daughter is graduating. Even after we leave, I hope to bring my daughter back to visit her amazing teachers whenever we are in the area! read more

A hidden jewel! The facilities are unassuming, but the inside hides a great school. My son has been attending Ni Hao for the past year and we are so glad we enrolled him here. He was at a MUCH more expensive Montessori program before that had a Mandarin Immersion program, but he stopped progressing once he moved up into a larger class. When I moved him in the summer, his use of Chinese increased dramatically. In the Montessori program, they emphasized self-selected learning, so he kept doing the same things and not really progressing. But at Ni Hao, he was in a more structured class setting that started to prepare him for kindergarten. The Chinese materials are very good and they're great at communicating with parents. The teachers have been great! Really caring and my son loves them. They added Spanish in September and my son has really picked it up. He loves to say things in the three languages and likes to watch the Magic School Bus in Spanish. The class sizes are small and the other kids are really nice. I'm so happy with them that I will be enrolling my younger son when he turns two. Go to Ni Hao! You won't regret it! read more

When we moved to orange county his fall, my daughter began attending nhbubble. She was 3 when she started at NiHao. We have had both of our children in Montessori daycares/preschools since they were babies and this school, by far has been the best learning and nurturing environment. The teachers are very engaged and you can tell they love working with young children. There have been many times when my daughter would refuse to enter preschool when I dropped her off, but not at this school. She literally grabs her lunch box and water bottle and goes right in, never a fuss. She even asked us to pick her up later so she can continue to play with her friends there. This in itself shows that she just loves being there and that she feels safe there, which is so important us because we want her to develop a love for learning. The program is very structured, they have a daily schedule of activities so the children know what to expect each day. However, the schedule is also fluid to accommodate for special activities and learning opportunities. The Montessori programing helps the children learn by self-directed playing, hands on activities and social/EQ development. They have show-and-tell on Fridays where they can bring in a book or object to share with the class. These little things may not seem like much, but they are in the curriculum to help children learn and develop public speaking skills at a young age. But not only is the school a Montessori based school, but the children are immersed in the Mandarin Chinese language. The children learn to listen, speak, write and read Chinese! in a fun, non-pressured way. Our family does not speak mandarin at home and my daughter has learned so much at the school. She comes home each day singing Chinese songs! The school also offers activities and programs that the kids can attend for a small fee. For instance, once a week they have Soccer Shots come in and teach them soccer and once a month the kids go on a field trip for rock climbing at Sender One. This is so helpful to us working parents because my daughter can go to extracurricular activities without me having to get off work early to drive her to them. I cannot say enough great things about this school, it's teachers and administrators. My daughter loves it there and I love that I can communicate with the teachers and administrators with such ease. They are so quick to respond, many times within 30 minutes of me texting them! read more

Absolutely an EXCELLENT SCHOOL and the STAFF is EXTREMELY caring. My son has been attending this school for a few months. From the first day I called the school to inquire about it, Annie, the director, was extremely attentive and caring. She met my scheduling needs and met me on a Saturday morning to show me the school and talk about their program. I had my son with me and saw how she interacted with him and the natural instinct to be caring person with children. On the spot, I decided that this was the right school for my son. Every morning that I drop him off, Sara and the other staff members are so caring and welcoming and I feel good leaving my son at the school. The parents get pictures of the daily activities and every day I look forward to getting these pictures and seeing what they are doing. They are always engaged in playful activities and he looks happy. AMAZINGLY, a few days ago, the day before my son turned three (3), I was asking my son, "How old are you?" He kept saying, "sam" or something like that. I was not sure what he was saying. I then realized that he was counting in Mandarin. Then, unexpectedly one morning he started singing and asking for things in Mandarin. We had to ask Annie what some of these words meant. As a parent, I could not be happier. I almost jumped for joy when I heard him speaking and singing Happy Birthday in Mandarin. This school, Annie, Sara, and the entire staff are excellent and amazing at caring for kids. My son needs TLC and they sure give it to him. Yesterday, it was my son's birthday and he brought home a gift that one of the other students had given him. This also made me so happy to know that he is not only attending a great school, but starting to make friends that I hope will last a life-time and with whom he will be able to speak with in Mandarin. read more

My kids have been attending Nihao for about 5 months now. As a working parent, you can't ask for more - the kids are having fun learning and speaking Mandarin all day. Teachers are very personable, and take a genuine interest in the kids well being and giving feedback on a regular basis when i pick them up in the evenings. Kids picked up a great amount of vocabulary in just one month and they can hold an actual conversation in Mandarin with me and write in simplified Chinese too! Note that they also have about 45 mins of English class daily. Nihao has a few other location in LA county and this is their first in OC. Its a gem! Ratio of students to teacher is small and kids look forward to going to school every morning. I highly recommend an immersion program and this school has their own curriculum and materials that will definitely enrich a learning mind! read more

My 3 year old son started NHBubble this past February. At first he was very shy in going to school and about a month in, I noticed that he started to open up not only at school but at home too. He started to sing all the songs he learned from school and can identify and name the objects from a picture book. Now he can't wait to go to school to see his friends and to learn more. Thank you NHBubble for helping my son to grow and to learn. You guys are amazing!! read more

I am happy to have found this amazing program. This has been my daughters first experience away from home. She loves all her teachers and is always happy being there. Staff and teachers are all friendly, courteous and professional. Place is clean and provides a thriving environment to little learners.I highly recommend Ni Hao Chinese1000 Keller Ave Santa Ana CA 92707 to any parent who is looking for their little one's bright future.. keep it up the good work "Janki Shah and the entire staff read more

This school has been amazing! Our daughter miraculously speaks all 3 languages and is developing socially and intellectually. The teachers are amazing and caters the teaching to each individual child. I have looked and attended several programs and this is by far the best. I love that they give an entire book to you each month to recap their lessons and for you to read at home with your child. We are so happy to have found this program and can't wait to come back for next year! read more

My daughter was a student of this preschool for a year and she didn't learn a thing, 4 teachers change in just one year, totally unprofessional, they charged for a potty training and after a year my daughter didn't show any improvement, I was offered a 50% off because I'm a resident of the complex where this preschool is located , in March 2020 due to covid 19 outbreak classes were suspended but it supposed to resume in August in the meantime nihao sent an email asking to pay a continuation fee non refundable but part of the money will be used to pay part of the monthly fee when the kids return to class, so in July I confirmed my daughter will return when the school year starts(September) and they said ok this is the new monthly fee , this new fee didn't include the 50% so I asked what happened and they said the promotion was just for one year, nobody mentioned that when I signed , so I asked for proof of that, they didn't provide any, because they don't have any document or email saying the promotion was just for a year, we believed in them and payed the continuation fee even without a return to class date and they also stole my money because they refused to refund the continuation fee, dishonest and unprofessional, don't recommend this place at all. read more

Great new preschool (they have other locations too) with teachers that really care. They are affectionate and kind, not like some places where the teachers act like they'd rather be somewhere else. I really like the curriculum that focuses on different topics every few weeks. They have their own materials that they developed themselves. My child has learned so much since he's started. He only knew a few words in Mandarin previously and can read and write in just a few weeks. They are not militant or pedantic which is important to me. Children should enjoy learning and have time to play. I look forward to seeing all the things he has created everyday. They also adjust their methods to the student. If my son can learn more, they teach more, if he needs more help then they help. read more

I live in the apartments behind this facility. They offer free mommy and me classes on Saturdays. I went and Ms. Joyce was amazing with the children. She was engaging and allowed the children to explore the classroom. I am really excited that there is a mommy and me class offered on the weekends that I can take my daughter to. read more

Brand new faciltiy with nice staff, my son loves this place so much. Went to their orientation, found out they offer various classes in chinese, spanish and english. They also have summer camp. My feeling for this place is very good, definitely recommend it. read more