My GrandBlessing attends here as a preschooler, and she truly enjoys it. The school operates with…read moresuch a great safeguard and interactive learning curriculum for all ages. The teachers truly care about the kids and take pride in their work. Sometimes I arrive early for pick up so I can sit in the class and watch all the little Blessings interact with everyone. There's several locations in Manhattan, and I would definitely recommend Bright Horizons for a solid early childhood program in the city.

Not sure why the negative reviews, but noticed they are old and some related to back up care vs…read morefull time care. My little one has been at Bright Horizons Columbus Circle since 5 months. Initially, kids inevitably get sick often - just be ready for it - it's either now or Pre-K. But we found it worked for us because we didn't have the space w remote working to have a nanny or bandwidth to be a one person HR. The administration and teachers have been great. We've all seen that nanny in the park on her phone - you don't have to worry about that here. Everything is structured, held to a high legal standard, monitored and the centre is clean. BH provided diverse stimulation (art, reading, different developmental activities, etc), structure and outdoor time weather permitting - we follow the same schedule at home. Every day you get a detailed journal of every diaper change, nap and meal / snack and tons of videos and pics. AM/PM snacks are provided. A lot of the staff have or are working on education degrees too. Have seen my little one develop intellectually and physically in leaps and bounds - his palette has also expanded being able to take advantage of the Little Green Gourmet meal delivery service, and eat w a group of little ones. He is always excited to go to school, and it's so sweet to see him and his buddies excitedly run into each other at the playground. BH is now on the universal pre-K program, and an enrolled child can get priority for enrollment which is huge. A big thanks to Ms Kim and Miriam for running the centre, Ms Christine, Tia, Kia and Stef for the toddler rooms and Ms Sam, Evelyn, Jasmine and Danelvi the infant rooms.

Our whole family loves Star America so much! We took our son here when he was 1 (8 years ago!)…read moreuntil he was 4, and he learned so much, made so many friends, kept in touch with his teachers, etc. They have so many fun events too, like for Mother's & Father's Day, etc.! Fast forward to now, we put our daughter in Ms. Banu's class at 5 months old, and the transition was super easy because Ms. Banu is the BEST (she was at Star America when my son was there 8 years ago (though she didn't teach him directly because he started at age 1), but I remember she always had good vibes and was always so happy being with the babies, and because of her we commute to this location vs the one across the street from us). When you find amazing teachers, you stick with them!! The director Aaron is also amazing, and is always available to give tours, answer any questions, etc. We stayed in touch during the 4 years none of our kids were in daycare, and we were so glad to return to Star with our baby girl! The teachers are also always communicating with us about our baby's progress, they have a Tadpoles app where they upload photos, videos, and notes every day, and they provide extra classes like music, movement, etc. The entire staff does SO MUCH for the kids here, and you can tell they really love them and go above and beyond. Thank you so much Star America, for everything!!

Going into our daycare search for our first child, my wife and I were extremely nervous and anxious…read morewith our options, because after all, we are entrusting a school with our child's well being. We visited around 10 schools, and landed on Star America. It was the school that was "just right," and after meeting Ms Banu (our child's teacher), we immediately felt comfort. As we left our visit, we spoke to a fellow parent whose child had been there for several months, and she confirmed our impression with the best testimony on Ms Banu and the rest of the Star America staff. Since then, we've never looked back. Ms Banu and team (Ms Tania, etc) look after our child as if they were their own, and their many many years of experience keeps on having us constantly get their input on the many challenges that come for first time parents. We've ourselves felt like Ms Banu's own children, as she has nurtured our anxiety and nervousness with calmness and confidence. The rest of the staff (Mr Aaron, Ms Althea) have shown the utmost professionalism and courtesy to us, and have always treated us in a way where we felt not like a customer, but part of their family. The program and curriculum they put in place have made our son comfortable with other infants and curious in all the good ways. Highly recommend!

The Goddard School in New York is one of the best preschools in the area. Our family has had a…read morewonderful experience with the school, and our children have thrived both academically and socially. The Goddard School has a great curriculum that is both challenging and fun. The teachers are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about early education, and they are always working to find new and innovative ways to engage the students. The Goddard School also has a wonderful social environment. The children are encouraged to be friendly and helpful to one another, and they learn how to resolve conflicts in a healthy way. This is such an important skill, and the Goddard School does an excellent job of teaching it. Overall, we have been extremely happy with The Goddard School in New York. Our children have learned a lot and have had a lot of fun too. We would highly recommend it to any family looking for a great preschool experience.

We started my daughter at the Goddard school when she was 7 months old. Ever since then, each one…read moreof her teachers have shown her so much love and support. When she was in her infant room, Ms. Christine was kind and patient. She engaged her both emotionally and physically. Im sure that my daughter reached all her milestones early because her teachers worked so hard with her. Now my daughter is in the toddler classroom and she is obsessed with Ms. Lidia and Ms. Danielle. She calls for them by name on the weekends. I feel so safe and comfortable knowing that these 2 women are taking care of my daughter. In addition to all the love and care she get, I am so beyond impressed with the menu my daughter I served everyday. She eats such a diverse menu of foods that I couldn't possible recreate in my house!

We just moved out of New York City, and We are missing this school. We are at another Montessori…read moreschool - but it is not the same unfortunately. We were at this school for 3 years, and were happy with the progress - and the parent community. My son is already bored because he already knows the curriculum they are giving him. We miss you Montessori School of NY!

Montessori International School of NYC is one of a kind! This school has been the biggest…read moreblessing!! I cannot speak highly enough of this school. My son started to go to this school at the age of 2.5 years. When we were researching schools, it was important for me that he is in a safe environment where he can learn and grow. Early childhood learning is undoubtedly an important foundation that Montessori International NYC excels at; they truly have exceeded my expectations. Academics The school invests their time and energy into the kid's learning which is exactly what you want in a school. The school started giving my son workbooks/homework in reading and math. He has excelled so much in the past few years and is now at a 1st/2nd grade level in reading/writing/math and he is just a few weeks shy of being 5 years old. His writing, reading, and math skills have grown so much! I now have a second child who goes to the school. She is 2.5 years old now. I have already seen a difference. She is singing songs and her ABC's, speaking full sentences, very social, and knows how to play by herself and with others. The Montessori method allows students to learn and advance at their own pace. They truly have made a huge difference and I am so happy for all that they invested in their learning. Activities The kids get to do so many activities. They go on field trips to the Central Park Zoo, Botanic Gardens, and Museums. They have activities and events throughout the year. They celebrate diversity throughout the year, the kids are learning about various countries and even get a taste of various cuisines. They have "Asia" day where they pick a country in Asia and present a poster about the culture and dress, etc. They have "India" day and were even given Indian food to taste for lunch. They also learn about other countries including countries in Africa and Europe. They are well rounded and have made a strong effort to introduce the kids to a wide variety of cultures which holds true to their name as Montessori School International. They are very active in the school with art projects and coloring. They have science fairs (and yes even for the little ones) which I think is amazing since it teaches them how to stand up in front of the classroom and present. They have spelling bees and an annual "Montessorics" where they have friendly competitions in physical sports i.e. running etc. They go on walks when the weather permits and learn about their surroundings. I also like that they have a dress code so the kids are well dressed and dressed for success. They have white and blue Montessori International shirts that they wear on outings or gym day (once every week). They have their own Montessori jackets and sweaters. They offer additional extracurricular classes both during the school year and summer school, when age appropriate and child-ready, which can vary but include swimming, tennis, martial arts, gymnastics, and chess. The field trips and classes may begin at various ages but the school works on getting the kids prepared to begin going on field trips when they are ready (level of independence, comfort with going on and off the bus, ability to listen to instruction, etc). Teachers/administration The teachers are one of a kind! They really give them their all, working long hours, working hard, and dedicating their time and resources for the children. As a note, this is not a daycare in which teachers are snapping photos all day and updating you on what they ate as some schools may do. Instead, they use the school time actually devoting their attention to the class. They do offer progress reports twice a year, and occasional photos from presentations and events. More importantly, I can call in or email them and always get a prompt response. They answer all my questions and are absolutely helpful. They are truly a gem in the city. Summary The school has been absolutely wonderful!! I genuinely have so much to say about the school. They also have summer camp which is incredible. The kids have a great time. My family and I are relocating in the summer so that is the only reason why we will have to leave the school and quite frankly has been heavy on my heart because we really have created such wonderful memories with the school and their faculty/staff. They have been absolutely exceptional and I will miss them so much! I feel so happy that we have our kids at this school. When I was searching other schools, there is really nothing that even comes close. Most notably, I have yet to find any school that provides workbooks/homework for kids at this level. I personally have appreciated all their hard work, strong work ethic, investment into the kids' growth, and all the encouragement they provide! I highly recommend!!!

We can't say enough wonderful things about this very special school. Our daughter has been here two…read moreyears and it is her home away from home. The teachers are so thoughtful and caring as are all of the staff. A truly special place where our daughter has flourished and finds such joy in learning and being part of her school community!

I had a phone call to ask a few question regarding the school and the program. I was seriously…read moreconsidering sending my daughter there. The answer to some of my questions was- we have been doing this for 40 years, we know how to do this instead of answering my question. She also kept interrupting me before I completed my sentences a few times. Based on that attitude, I would not recommend this school. If they are dealing like this with adults, I do not know how they deal with kids.

Bridge Community Playschool is an absolutely wonderful school. The staff are thoughtful, caring,…read moreand nurturing. They are clearly experts in the field of early childhood education and know how to establish the valuable building blocks for a child's school journey. We have had several years of experience as our children have each been students at the school across the different classrooms and ages. Every experience has been superb and our children have benefited immensely, being well-positioned to enter kindergarten and develop beyond. We highly recommend this school.

Bridge Playschool is such a wonderful little school. Our main objective for our daughter's first…read moreschool experience was to leave her with the impression that learning can be fun and they did not disappoint. Not a day went by that she did anything but jump at the chance to go to school, sometimes wondering why she couldn't attend on the weekends. Jackie is a wonderful director and all her teachers were so great- Miss Lisa, Miss Rebecca and Miss Laura. Thank you for giving our girl such a great first school experience! Special shout out to Mr. Rory for always manning the front door and making all the kids feel like his best buddy!

Both of our children attended Wee Ones, and we have experience with the Mommy and me two's,…read moredrop-off threes, and drop-off fours (pre-K) programs. I can't say enough good things about our experiences with the owner, Kara, and the warm, professional teachers/teaching assistants she uses to staff the classes. The facilities are clean, bright, and welcoming, especially after the 2015 remodel. A policy of removing/changing into indoor shoes at the door is enforced, which I love. We've enjoyed all programs, but I am a raving fan of the pre-K program and want to focus my review there. I think it is one of the best (though not intentionally) kept secrets in the Murray Hill neighborhood. Kids are exposed to a very structured (but fun) full-day program that typically includes daily uppercase and lowercase letter/number writing, (with 2 weekly homework sheets), free play, counting exercises (learning to count by 10s, etc.), daily reader worksheets, art, music, stretching, show and tell, Chess, pre-math skills via Cuisenaire rods, rest time, and tons of field trips (at least 5 per school year, I'd guess). There is no pressured emphasis on learning to read, but the kids are given a great pre-literacy foundation, and some that are ready/interested will often learn to read in this class in my experience. Pre-K class size varies by year, but is incredibly small some years, which has its pros and cons, but has been a mostly positive attribute in our experience (and one of the reasons we chose Wee Ones over UPK twice). Even in small class years, the class has both a head teacher and a teaching assistant present most days. While the class is very structured in nature, it is not a cold environment in any way. The teachers are available and responsive via e-mail and sometimes text (even throughout the day if there is a pressing concern, in my experience). My kids have really loved going and being welcomed down the stairs and into the classroom every day. I truly feel that they have been better prepared for Kindergarten than some of their peers who went to entirely play-based-learning preschools (oh, and did I mention that it's a fraction of the cost of most other neighborhood options???) Please feel free to reach out if you have questions.

My 16 month old has been in the Frogs Mommy & Me class for months and it's truly his (and my)…read morefavorite part of the week. the owner Kara is so caring and really sees and understands the nature of each child. He really comes alive in class and it's teaching him so much. We've already signed him up for the 2s program and know he'll thrive. if you're considering Wee Ones - take a trial class - you won't be disappointed!

We have been at Park West for two years and are so happy with our experience. The teachers are…read moreprofessional, thoughtful and caring. They are in tune with parents' questions and concerns for their children and help us feel at ease. Admin is easy to reach and communicative. My child is flourishing and thriving and loves being there!

As often as I read reviews, I figured it's about time I contribute, and I whole heartedly want to…read morethank Park West for a wonderful education for my son. During our son's "graduation" at Magenta class today, there were many teary eyes (from the parents that is, the kids had no clue). Why I chose Park West two years ago: 1) It started while I was with my son at the local CPW playground, I remembered being impressed with how well behaved the kids from the school were. Seriously, how were they able to get these little 3 year olds to be so good? 2) the administration: exmissions (yes a word you'll come to know as a Manhattan parent), was very thorough. Since the school ends at 6 years old, they are not incentivized to shunt you to their elementary program. During the period when we were applying for elementary schools, I had almost daily updates on deadlines to be aware of. Very helpful when the whole process is ridiculously complicated. Office workers are very approachable 3) Montessori system: My son was shy and not the type that "opens up" if he were pushed/cajoled/bribed to do what the other kids were doing. I needed a place that allowed for him to progress at his own rate with less rigidity (I had to overcome with my tiger mom instincts). 4) Hours- they have a 12 month option, enrichment programs to 6 PM. Given that most parents there have to work, it's nice to know that this school realizes that and works with it. Two years later, it proved the right decision for us. At four years and a half years old, he is reading simple books, dressing himself, and counting to 100 along with his classmates. He's attending a gifted and talented public school program in September. I hope this is helpful. I wish you best of luck on this crazy process.