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!

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.

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.

My wife and I have had the pleasure of sending both of our children (1 girl & 1 boy) to Mariposa…read moreover the past 4 years. They are well staffed with a team that has been there for years. They are empathetic and adjust their care to each child's differentiated personality and needs. From young toddlers in diapers to 4 & 5 year olds heading to TK and Kindergarten, they are very experienced at every stage of their developmental needs. They are also great about communicating what is happening at the school from birthday and school events to illnesses to keep parent informed and equipped to make the best choices they can for their children. When my daughter entered TK she was able to help ESL kids at her new school and has continued to take after school Spanish classes. We hope to see our son continue to build on and leverage the early Spanish he learned at Mariposa as well. We can not recommend them highly enough! 10 out of 5 stars!

An Amazing Bilingual Preschool…read more If you are looking for an amazing bilingual Spanish preschool, I highly recommend Mariposa Bilingual School. Ms. Patty, along with Ms. Jessica, Ms. Brenda, and Ms. Harmon, run an incredible program filled with love, learning, and so much care for the children. My firstborn was with an au pair for his first four years, so transitioning to preschool was a big change for him. The teachers at Mariposa made that transition so positive and comfortable. He has learned so much, developed wonderful social skills, and grown tremendously in confidence. One of my favorite things is hearing him sing in Spanish, it makes my heart so happy! He absolutely loves going to school and looks forward to all the activities, celebrations, birthdays, and holidays throughout the year. The special events they organize are always so much fun for the kids and create beautiful, lasting childhood memories. We are incredibly grateful to the entire Mariposa team for creating such a warm, nurturing, and engaging environment. It truly feels like a second home for our children. We couldn't recommend Mariposa Bilingual School enough!

Without a drop of hesitation I can say that Sunnyside is a wonderful place for our daughter. In…read morethe year she's been attending, her development has advanced by leaps and bounds, she's smarter, more active, independent, and even minds her manners more! Miss Sylvie and her staff are kindness personified and there's so much to recommend about the preschool. There are tons of activities, structured and free, her yard is huge and there is so much for the kids to do outside that they're never bored. Slides, rides, sandboxes, water table, working garden they can actively cultivate and eat (she gobbles tomatoes down now). Inside is structured with tidy workstations and activities that stretch their brains and hands. Also, Sunnyside comes with perks most of the preschools we screened do not: snacks and lunches are covered and healthy, and they assist with the transition to potty training with grace and good humor. We're insanely lucky to have found this place and it's worth the longer drive to get there (we are a few towns away).

Highly recommend! My son attended Sylvie's for almost two years and I always felt super comfortable…read moredropping him off knowing he was in great hands. He was always smiling when we picked him up! Some of his favorite things were gardening/picking and eating fruits/veg, worm day, painting, and playing outside with his friends. Sylvie provides a safe and nurturing space for littles and a welcoming community for families. She is patient, kind, supportive, and communicative. You can tell she truly cares for the kiddos and the classroom environment. It's a wonderful space for little ones to learn and grow!

We are so grateful we found Oakview. After moving to Marin during COVID, it was difficult to find a…read moresense of community, but Oakview gave our family that and so much more. Our daughter started at Oakview at age two, and from the moment we toured the school, we knew it was special. The warm and welcoming environment stood out to us. Every classroom felt joyful, engaging, colorful, and thoughtfully designed. After touring a handful of places we knew Oakview was the one. Over the years, it has been a joy to watch our daughters grow and thrive. Our oldest recently graduated and is heading to kindergarten with confidence, independence, and a genuine love of learning. I have especially loved seeing how much she admires and adores her teachers. The teachers really go above and beyond with unique and creative, hands-on projects and building relationships with each child and their families. Lastly, as newcomers to Marin, we met so many wonderful families through the school who have become some of our closest friends. Oakview has been an incredibly special part of our lives, and we are deeply grateful for the love, care, education, creativity, and community it has provided. We couldn't recommend it more highly.

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 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.

We've been going to Little Stars since our 3 year old daughter was 6 months old and started our…read moresecond there at 5 months old. Jessica and her team now feel like family. When I was looking for a daycare before my first was born I had no idea where to even start and was terrified of leaving my daugther with strangers. Little Stars was by far the cleanest and most organized of all the daycares we toured. Jessica communicates wonderfully and lets us know if there are any issues. The staff are so warm and loving and know exactly what each child needs each day. Watching my three year old grow there has been a delight. I love that the program is bilingual and she has become very proficient at Spanish. The play based curriculum with lots of singing and dancing has made learning fun and taught her more than I could imagine for a three year old. If you're looking for a daycare you can trust and feel comfortable leaving your kid everyday this is your spot.

We have had such a wonderful experience at Little Stars Daycare and could not be more grateful for…read morethe care and love they have given Ari. From the very beginning, we felt that he was in a safe, nurturing, and caring environment, and it gave us so much peace of mind as first-time parents. All the teachers have been incredibly kind, attentive, and wonderful with Ari. He started at 5 months old and it has been so special to see him grow, learn, and become comfortable there. He always smiles when we drop him off and pick him up. We are truly sad that our time at the daycare will come to an end--not because of the experience, but simply because our family is moving to Petaluma. We highly recommend Little Stars and Jessica to any family looking for a warm, caring, and trustworthy place for their little one. Thank you for everything you have done for Ari and for our family!

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.

Our two girls aged 7 & 9 are just finishing their second year at Montessori De Terra Linda. We came…read moremid-year from another Montessori school out of state and were very lucky to be able to transition into MDTL last year. The teachers and staff, classrooms, environment, and grounds are excellent as you'd expect from any montessori school. What is quite special though is the community involvement and great parent participation. There's never a day you'd visit campus and not find families contributing their skills and interests to the well being of the community and the kids. In addition to their regular Montessori work day our kids have been able to work with professional artists, spend time tending the organic garden, and going on community outreach trips to explore Marin's incredible natural environment. We plan on keeping our kids involved with MDTL through their entire program.

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!