Miss Nicky's Preschool is pure magic. My daughter attended from age 2 to 5, blossoming from the…read moreCaterpillar Room (toddlers) to the Butterfly Room (Pre K) with ease, care, and support. Along the way she met every developmental milestone, thanks to Miss Nicky and her incredible teaching staff. The amount of sweat, love, and dedication Miss Nicky pours into her school is truly unmatched. The classrooms strike the perfect balance of play based exploration and academics, with literacy and math seamlessly woven into hands on games, centers, and creative projects. Summer camp is just as special, fun filled, imaginative, and full of joy. What made it most magical, though, was how much my daughter loved being there. She thrived because her teachers loved being with her. One memory she always cherishes is the day she got a splinter. Miss Nicky welcomed her into her office, gently removed it, and turned a "boo boo" moment into a memory of being cared for and safe. That's the kind of nurturing heart behind this school. As parents, my husband and I especially appreciated the sense of community Miss Nicky built. From family events to celebrations, she created opportunities not only for children to connect but for parents to form friendships that will last well beyond preschool years. What makes it even more special is that the building that houses this amazing school is the very same one where I attended preschool over 30 years ago. It has been beautifully updated and maintained with modern safety features, nestled in one of the most safe and beautiful neighborhoods in Marin. (I know! I am also a proud Terra Linda High School graduate.) Miss Nicky's Preschool is truly a gem, and when our journey came to an end I cried. My five year old held my hand and said, "Mom, it's ok, Miss Nicky said we can always come back and visit!" A true testament to how Miss Nicky and her teaching team foster social emotional growth, creating confident and compassionate kids. If you're wondering whether Miss Nicky's is the right place for your child the answer is yes. In a world that moves too fast, this school preserves the wonder and innocence of early childhood. It is safe, happy, creative, and filled with love. Miss Nicky's Preschool isn't just a school, it's a place where childhood magic is kept alive.

Excellent preschool! Loving teachers, great curriculum and facilities, fun spirit days. Great…read morecommunication and very organized and well run. Highly recommend!

We couldn't be happier with our experience at Ice Cream & Shoe Preschool. It's such a warm,…read morethoughtful, and nurturing environment, and you can truly feel how much the teachers care about the kids as individuals. The TK classroom atmosphere is calm and welcoming, and the play-based approach strikes a great balance between social-emotional development and early learning. Our child feels safe, supported, and excited to go to school each day, which says everything. The teachers are attentive, patient, and incredibly skilled at guiding children through friendships, problem-solving, and independence. We also really appreciate the strong sense of community among families and staff. Communication is clear, and it's obvious this school has been thoughtfully run for many years!

Our son attended preschool at Ice Cream and Shoe and we truly loved the experience - the teachers…read moreare so nurturing, the methodology was loved by parents and kids, and the experience prepared him for kindergarten in a noticeable way! I highly recommend this preschool program!

My daughter started at MIM once she turned 2 and she's loving it. So much so, she never wants to…read morecome back home when it's time for pick up. All the teachers are warm and attentive to the children. The space is cozy and inviting. And the playground is a small paradise for the little ones. She is learning a lot, from new words and sentences to putting on her socks and jacket by herself. We've seen a lot of progress in a few months! All good things. The older kids keep an eye on the younger ones and they are very sweet to each other. All in all, I highly recommend the school.

Montessori in Motion is truly a gem. From the moment we walked in, I could feel the calm, nurturing…read moreenergy of the school, and it has been nothing short of magical for my daughter. The teachers -- Crystal, Josh, Tracy, Alyiah, and Ashley -- are amazing. My daughter transitioned mid-year, and the way they welcomed her made her feel comfortable and excited to be there. The classrooms are filled with a diverse set of activities and materials to explore, and they have the best play yard I have ever seen. As a mom, the biggest gift was peace of mind. I could leave each morning knowing my daughter was not only cared for, but genuinely thriving. She has grown in confidence and independence, and came home excited to share her day and look forward to the next morning. The contrast from other schools we've experienced was night and day. At MIM, I felt supported as a parent, informed, and confident knowing my daughter's overall well-being was prioritized. It is a wonderful community. Montessori in Motion isn't just a preschool -- it's a magical place where children flourish.

Highly recommend this Mariposa school…read more My daughter went in with minimal speech in both English and Spanish, after a year with Mariposa she was speaking fluently in both languages. She learned to count 1-20, the ABC's all within months of being there. Her progress was astounding. The teachers and director were so kind and dedicated to her learning. I feel very grateful for all their support and the education they provided for my daughter. My daughter flourished there. I was very happy with the outcome after only a year there and highly recommend this school. They touch on all the developmental areas for young children and really focus on each Childs needs to help their educational journey. I am very grateful to the teachers and director for all their hard work and their dedication to the children.

Mariposa is an AMAZING Spanish-immersion pre-school…read more My son went there for 2 years, and absolutely loved it. I'm a native Spanish speaker and we're a bilingual family, so we were extraordinarily grateful to find a Spanish-immersion pre-school that *also* teaches initial academics. My son's Spanish vocabulary and pronunciation advanced significantly, even with Spanish speaking in the home. Patty and her team are loving and attentive, and truly care for each child. If you're looking to give your child the gift of a second language -- an opening to another world -- I can't recommend Mariposa more highly!

We couldn't be happier with our experience at Sunnyside Preschool in San Rafael. Our son started…read morehere at just 18 months old and it has been incredible to watch him grow in such a nurturing, enriching, and caring environment. The Montessori approach has been amazing for fostering his independence, curiosity, and love of learning. Sylvie and Jael are patient, attentive, and genuinely invested in each child's development. Every day is filled with thoughtful activities that encourage creativity, confidence, and social growth. One thing we especially appreciate is the wholesome meals they provide -- it gives us peace of mind knowing our son is being served healthy, balanced food throughout the day. Choosing Sunnyside for our son's early childhood education and care has been one of the best decisions we've made as parents. We're so grateful for this wonderful community and highly recommend it to any family looking for a warm and supportive preschool experience.

Sylvie's is the best! Miss Sylvie and her assistant are trustworthy, kind, experienced,…read morecommunicative, and I trust them implicitly with my child's care. My son (first child) started her program at 1.5 years old and she made the transition smooth for him as it was his first time leaving home. He walks in every day by himself, happy and ready to start his morning! Her Montessori-based program is thoughtfully designed to foster focus, exploration, and curiosity during the most crucial toddler years. Her classroom is inviting and intentional, with developmentally-appropriate shelf works for various ages. The backyard is very spacious with an impressive array of climbing equipment, big sandbox, swings, cars and scooters, toys, slides, and an huge lush green lawn. The best part of the yard is the garden beds where the children help plant seeds and grow food which they later enjoy for lunch together. (I love that snack and lunch are included in tuition!) In a nutshell, Miss Sylvie's is a toddler's paradise, inside and out. It is where kind and gentle socialization happens, and where I trust my child's every need is being met. We love the other children and families we have met as well. Five stars all the way! Thank you for everything you do, Sylvie!!

We've had such a wonderful experience at Oakview Preschool. Each classroom tailors its program to…read morethe children's age and developmental stage, which makes a noticeable difference. The teachers lead with so much kindness and care and you can genuinely feel how much they value each child. It feels great knowing my two boys are safe, well cared for, having fun, and learning every day, not just academically, but also how to be kind little humans. They enjoy being there and are happy when I pick them up, and that says everything to me. The amazing parent community is an added bonus. I feel lucky to have found Oakview and would absolutely recommend Oakview as the best place for children to get their start with school.

We have been so pleased with the teachers and staff at Oakview. Our older son went to a different…read moreschool and we were tired of always being nitpicked about everything! (I once got a note telling me I cut his grapes wrong). When it came time to enroll our younger son we switched to Oakview and I'm so glad we did! The teachers are amazing and the new owner Lindsey has made some great improvements. What puts them over the top for me are the onsite activities. There are classes like Yoga and Music or they might have guests like Wildcare. My son has been on nature walks to learn about the outdoors and learned about fitness by using age appropriate strength activities. For my energetic boy It's a great balance between getting prepped for kindergarten academically and still focusing on the importance of play and being a child. They have also been great partners through milestones like nap transition and potty training. Lastly, I love the community feel. There is an active Parent Council who volunteer their time to help organize events for the families. I've met so many wonderful families here!

We love Miss Nicky's! As first time parents we weren't sure what to expect in a preschool when we…read moreenrolled our daughter almost 3 years ago, but we (and she) couldn't be happier. Literally within 24 hours of her first day we noticed her vocabulary had expanded, she was more sociable, she was excited to go to school each day, and she has been thriving ever since. The teachers at Miss Nicky's are fabulous- so patient, knowledgeable, helpful, and genuinely caring. The school has so many fun events for the kiddos year round, and they do an amazing job of balancing fun with education and learning. Highly recommend this preschool! And bonus that it runs year round with an awesome summer program!

Context: This is our first pre-school experience for first child (three year old) in the midst of…read morethe covid-19 pandemic(enrolled in Jan 2021). Our son is thriving and LOVES going to pre-school(MNP&TC campus). He raves about Miss Karina and his teacher Miss Mandy. While the pandemic/safety protocols have made it difficult to get a closer glimpse inside the walls, staff and Nicky are great at communicating our son's progress, development, and day-to-day details. Miss Nicky is super responsive and makes herself available in all phases from pre-enrollment to being a tenured student. It's worth noting that we started our son during one of the largest COVID surges and were admittedly anxious. Miss Nicky invested a material amount of time guiding us through the protocols staff takes in addition to her close tracking of state/county/officials and subject matter experts on operating safely during these times. Additionally, Nicky and some of her staff's children are enrolled at the campuses which I see as a positive. Thank you for creating an environment that brings so much joy and love to all those who are lucky enough to attend! Random side note: The outside area at MNPTC is awesome and spacious, I toured many different preschools in Marin and SF and this one stands out in particular.

I highly recommend Little Stars Daycare!!! Our son has been at this daycare for 1.5 years, and we…read morecouldn't be happier with our experience. Jessica and her team are incredibly loving and kind, and they treat the kids like their own. We've watched our son grow and thrive in their care, and it gives us such comfort knowing he is in a safe, nurturing environment each day. We are so thankful for everything they do!

We can't say enough good things about this daycare! The staff is incredibly kind, warm and…read moreaccommodating. From day one, they made our family feel so welcomed and cared for. They're very attentive and proactive about communicating any updates or small issues that come up during the day. Most importantly, our daughter truly loves going! She always gives a staff a big hug at drop off and greets us with a smile when we pick her up. Knowing she's happy, engaged and in such good hands gives us so much peace of mind :).

If I could give 6 stars, I would! Like so many Bay Area families we have no family support…read morestructure here, so choosing a preschool became as much an exercise in researching early childhood education philosophies and the quality of the staff and facilities, as finding an environment that aligned to the type of community that we wanted to foster for our family. Who would become our adopted FR-AMILY, if you will. ;) RVNS is unparalleled in this respect imo. There is a true sense of inclusiveness and belonging, of high-touch/low-pressure engagement between the teachers and staff, the children, and the amazing families who enroll. RVNS has that special something that is so hard to put words to so I encourage you to schedule a tour and experience it for yourself. Just be forewarned...if your child is anything like mine you'll have a hard time getting them to leave after that tour! :) Also worth noting that during the Covid-19 era RVNS has masterfully embraced the heightened safety guidelines without losing any of their special sauce. They've made adjustments to their programs to allow for small pods, maximum time outdoors, and implemented new mask and cleaning protocols without in any way alarming the children. The level of thought, care and communication with parents has been top-notch, and we feel safe and comforted in these uncertain times.

We LOVE this school! Our son has spent the last three years there and we feel so lucky to be part…read moreof such a wonderful community. Not only are the teachers exceptional, but so are all the other families that attend. Our son has flourished at RVNS with their play-based approach and we feel confident that RVNS has given him the foundation to thrive next year in Kindergarden.

I'm a Montessori alumnus and proud of it!…read more I attended pre-school, kindergarden and elementary school here in the '90s for 9 years and it changed my life. I made friends here whom I still keep in contact with in addition to keeping in contact with a few of my teachers. The school is in a beautiful location, and I have so many fond memories here. I know that if I have children in Marin (a few years until that happens), I will without hesitation send them to this Montessori school. I learned many life skills here that my others friends attending public school never experienced, nor do they understand the bonds I created having the opportunity to be in a classroom with students of all ages. You can find my handprint in clay on the main walkway under the trellace leading up to the main side door into the playground. I also helped to create the small Japanese tea garden in the small plot of land next to the front doors. I have memories here that will last me a lifetime. I love this school!

Amazing school! Outstanding teachers and program. My granddaughter attended MdTL starting when she…read morewas 2, and she graduated after completing the 6th grade. Montessori education has been such a gift for her and her friends. She has had outstanding academics, great experiences with art, music, tons of outings... The teachers have been at the school many years, and they are the most caring, wonderful group of educators you could hope to have for your children. In her last year at the school, the whole class participated in a model United Nations program and went to New York where they actually spoke at the UN. She thrived at MdTL and is still thriving as a soon-to-be freshman in high school, and I believe it was her solid foundation at Montessori de Terra Linda that set her up for success. He