This school is incredible and one of a kind! My son absolutely loves it here. It took us a while to…read morefigure out as a family what would be the best choice for us and we are so glad we looked around the South Bay and we are so glad we found MBNS. There is such a wonderful sense of community with the families and staff here. Families from the area and greater Los Angeles come together at this magical place. At MBNS children are really free to lead their own play and their feelings and ideas are respected. It's so wonderful to see how the mixed age groups play together. MBNS campus is so beautiful and lush! Lots of plants and trees to offer shade. My son loves to play with dirt and water, which can be found anytime you need it here. There are also lots of fun toys, tricycles, homemade play dough, books to be read, and more. As a an educator myself, I feel qualified to say this is a paradise for kids and a wonderful place to learn!

We joined this school back in 2021 because we were drawn to it's free play, child-led "curriculum",…read moreand emotionally supportive staff. We enjoyed most of our time there, made great friendships, and grew as parents. However, as time went on and we began to get more involved (including serving on the Board for 2 years), it became clear that not all was well. The director, Carol Tatsumi, repeatedly dismissed community feedback unless it fit her vision of how school should operate. She failed to distribute the co-op bylaws to the Board or parents, such that no one knew they had voting rights as members or how the co-op should work. When this came to light, she denied wrongdoing and rejected suggestions from the Board to share the bylaws with members so they could be made aware of their rights and responsibilities in the organization. She even had Board Meeting minutes deleted that contained any bylaw discussion, even though they are supposed to be made available to members. Furthermore, the director failed to abide by California state laws and permitted 60% of the students enrolled to be unvaccinated and used the students records who WERE vaccinated to be the "cover" during state inspections. Once caught by the government agency, she abruptly unenrolled the students who were partially or fully unvaccinated rather than giving them the 10 days allowed by the government to either get up to date or at least say goodbye to the school and have a smooth transition. This was incredibly painful for those students and their families and negatively impacted the entire school community. Sadly, this "co-op" doesn't operate like one, and it's poorly operated at that. The building is in need of major repairs although the director dismissed multiple suggestions to improve its safety, function, and appearance. Furthermore, the school has been losing money due to low enrollment and hasn't recovered since COVID, so there is limited budget to address safety concerns let alone hire, develop, or retain talented staff. Finally, the "rules" families need to follow is laundry list long, from forbidding packaged foods to making kids turn their shirt inside out if it has a character or any brand on it. There might only be 3 kids at school one day, but all parents need to volunteer every single week such that there are often more adults on campus than children. And perhaps most disappointing, there isn't actual coaching of non-violent communication skills, just avoiding of setting limits and boundaries among kids such that exclusion and cliqueyness prevail. This school will probably be a fit for those looking for a very specific experience for their children, but do know that there are not enough families enrolled here to make this co-op run smoothly, so you will be required to do more than your fair share to try to keep it running and your feedback to how it could be more efficiently handled will probably be ignored. Good luck!

We absolutely love The Village Children's Center! My son has been attending since he was 2 years…read moreold, and the experience has been so wonderful that we're now enrolling our daughter as well. Every single teacher is amazing . so caring, patient, and genuinely invested in the kids. My son truly loves them, which says everything. The environment is safe, nurturing, and full of fun learning opportunities, and I always feel completely at ease knowing my children are in such good hands. A special thank you to Ms. Yuli, the director, who is incredibly kind, and welcoming. You can truly feel how much she cares about every child and family. We trust them completely and are so grateful to be part of this school community.

If you are looking for dedicated staff, engaging curriculum, and a warm and caring environment,…read morethis preschool is for you. I have observed the teachers creating engaging lesson plans and seen the joy and excitement on the faces of the children. Highly recommend.

Our daughter Sandra started here when she was three years old, and now, as we are getting ready to…read moreleave for Kindergarten, it is honestly hard to put into words how grateful we are for everything this school has given her -- and our whole family. When she first started, she spoke virtually no English at all. English is her second language, and we are native Russian speakers, so naturally, we had so many worries in the beginning. How would she communicate? How would she understand the teachers? Would she feel comfortable and safe in a place where she couldn't yet speak the language? From literally the very first day, the staff and teachers made the entire transition feel so much easier than we ever expected. We were absolutely blown away by how caring, patient, flexible, and supportive everyone was. Communication was always easy, every concern was taken seriously, and we always felt that we could talk to the teachers and work things out together. That alone meant so much to us as parents. And then we watched our daughter completely blossom. She started picking up English incredibly quickly -- first words, then phrases, then conversations -- and before we knew it, she was communicating confidently and naturally. Watching that transformation has been incredible. She is leaving this school for K with such a strong foundation, not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. One of the most beautiful things this school gave her was a genuine love for creativity. There were constantly crafts, art projects, activities, little creations coming home -- sometimes it felt like every single day she had made something new. :) The teachers put so much thought and creativity into what the kids were doing each week. Our daughter absolutely fell in love with making things with her hands, drawing, painting, cutting, gluing, creating -- and that love of art and crafts has become such a big part of who she is! There were also so many little milestones that felt huge to us. When she started, she wasn't potty trained yet, which was another thing we were worried about. And somehow, within literally a day or two of starting school, she began using the potty on her own. We could barely believe it. It felt like a miracle at the time! The confidence and independence she developed here have been incredible to watch. But more than anything, she was HAPPY here She loved her teachers, she loved her friends, and she genuinely felt at home at school. She was so loved and cared for, and as parents, you can feel when your child feels completely safe somewhere. There were honestly days when she didn't even want to leave and go home -- which probably says more about this place than anything we could write in a review. Now we are leaving for Kindergarten with a child who speaks English, is independent, potty trained, creative, confident, curious, and genuinely excited about learning. When we think back to the little three-year-old who first walked through these doors without speaking English, the difference is almost unbelievable. We are leaving with such full hearts and, honestly, almost with tears in our eyes. This school has been such an important part of our daughter's childhood and development, and we will always remember Ms. Sirene and Ms. Dimuthu and all the incredible staff who helped her become the little person she is today. Thank you for loving her, teaching her, encouraging her creativity, helping her find her confidence and independence, and making school feel like a second home. We could not have asked for a better beginning for her.

I can't tell enough good things about Playhouse and the staff here. I have 3 kids from 17 to 4…read moreyears old so I knew exactly what made an awesome school. My son had Ms.Serene and then Ms. Muthu (that is short sweet version I son called her) during the time he attended school. I feel warmth and dedication in the way the teachers taking care of my kids and others. Teachers focus on both behavior and academics. They have worksheets (Math, English) everyday and so many fun activities (daily, every holiday, summers). They have great family picnics occasionally at the back yard. I met a lot of parents there and all of them loved the school. I highly recommend Playhouse for any parents who wants to find passionate teachers for their kids!

We absolutely love Tuvia Preschool. All three of our children have attended, and it truly feels…read morelike a home away from home. The teachers, staff, and administrators are incredibly loving, caring, and communicative, and we feel so lucky to be part of this community. One of the most special parts of Tuvia has been the relationships we've built. Many of our closest family friendships started through the school, and there is such a warm, welcoming sense of community among the families. The playground is amazing with so much space for the kids to run, play, and explore. We also really appreciate the constant updates and communication from the school, which makes parents feel connected and informed. Tuvia does a beautiful job instilling strong Jewish values while also being inclusive and welcoming to all families. It's a small community school that has been absolutely perfect for our family.

I enrolled my son in Tuvia Preschool when he was 2.5 years old. Although we weren't members, the…read moreprogram checked all the boxes for us: close to home, a half-day schedule, strong security, and reasonably priced. Before Tuvia, we had him in another local preschool that looked beautiful on the surface but something just wasn't right. He cried and clung to us at drop-off every single day for an entire year. It was heartbreaking and made us question everything. The difference at Tuvia was immediate. By the middle of his first week, the tears were gone. He genuinely looked forward to going and even told us how much happier he was compared to his old school. The program itself is fantastic. Parents receive regular updates and photos through an app, which we really appreciated. It feels like a true school experience, with structured activities like PE, music, and even performances that the kids participate in. They also do a lot of hands-on activities--like mixing and baking their own muffins and cookies--which is possible because they have their own kitchen. It's those little touches that really stand out. What truly sets Tuvia apart, though, is the teachers. They are incredibly attentive, warm, and genuinely invested in the kids. It never feels like they're just supervising. They truly care. One of our initial concerns was whether we would fit in since we're not Jewish, but that quickly disappeared. The school does a beautiful job of honoring its traditions while remaining inclusive and welcoming to everyone. There's also a strong sense of community that you can feel right away. I can't say enough good things about this program. It is truly a gem that we have overlooked for so long. We're so grateful we found it and honestly wish we had found it sooner for our older kids.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Southwood. My daughter has been there for almost 10…read moremonths and she is thriving. She started when she turned 2 and it was a tough transition at first, as she had never spent time away from mom and dad before. She cried a lot and asked for mom, but her teachers (Ms. Stephanie and Ms. Ashley) comforted her and helped her to adjust. Speaking of her teachers- they are awesome! Ms. Stephanie is a rockstar, managing a classroom full of children while keeping everyone calm and well behaved. The energy in the classroom overall is relaxed and cheerful. I also have to give a lot of credit to Ms. Caroline and Ms. Anita, who clearly love children and show that everyday. Len, the owner, has done a fantastic job with the school. He clearly cares about how the school is run. They celebrate various holidays, birthdays, and often have fun events during the week to keep the kids busy. The school is always decorated with bright, fun decorations that feature a unique theme. The facility is clean and nicely maintained. They have a huge playground in the back where the kids can get fresh air and lots of exercise. I love how Southwood prepares the kids for Pre-K and kindergarten by properly socializing them and educating them. They have specific lesson plans everyday, and they do a lot of arts and crafts. My daughter's verbal and communication skills have grown tremendously, thanks to the educational activites that the teachers offer. I also want to mention that Southwood is very affordable for the area, which I appreciate. Finally, they have a strict vaccine policy, which requires all children to have up-to-date immunizations. This makes me feel at ease, as a parent, knowing that my daughter's health and safety is being prioritized. I highly recommend Southwood!

Very disappointing experience…read more Our experience at Southwood was ultimately very disappointing, and we made the difficult decision to remove our son from the school. We frequently witnessed time-outs, a punitive approach to typical preschool behavior, and teachers yelling at children. This made us question whether the school prioritizes teaching emotional regulation and appropriate behavior in a calm, nurturing environment. We also observed significant teacher turnover, which raised concerns about consistency and stability. In addition, we heard teachers express concerns about their working conditions, including inadequate bathroom breaks, the removal of the water cooler, and bonuses being taken away. These comments made us question whether staff were receiving the support they needed to care for the children effectively. We encourage parents considering Southwood to ask about its discipline philosophy, use of time-outs, staff turnover, and teacher support. This was not the environment we wanted for our son, and we are comfortable with our decision to leave.

You know a school is good when most of the teachers have been there for 10-20 years. They love…read morewhat they do and it shows. We're so happy we found playhouse for both our children.

dirty school. unprofessional teachers. my kid is always sick from this dirty school. always…read more teachers refuse to meet with parents to discuss concerns. very unprofessional and dirty. My son has gotten hurt several times by other kids and was never informed do not send your littles here.

This place is amazing! My son had been going here since he was 5 months old and is 3 now. The…read moreteachers are very nice and caring. I have complete trust and feel very safe when leaving him in the hands of these fine folks. He actually enjoys coming every day which is great (no fighting with him to get out the car). The class rooms are split up by age but once your out of the baby room the next couple of rooms (also separated by certain ages) are connected on the playground so he can still see his old teachers and play with his friends who haven't caught up yet. My son always comes home with a smile on his face and stories about the day. The teachers are very attentive and helpful. When my son was potty training at home they helped out on their end which made the whole process easier and faster. Highly recommended!!

Long overdue review-…read more It pains me to write this but, as a parent, I want to save future parents who are considering this care center. Daycare is not easy to find and especially not easy to change so please consider my words as cautionary. Discoveryland USED TO BE a wonderful place until after August 2020. Make no mistake, no facility is perfect. You have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages yourself and consider the impact to your family. I loved this place for 3 years, we made lots of wonderful friends and memories. I never felt as if my kids were mistreated, in danger or neglected until recently. The turnover here is appalling. Kids need consistency. My review is not to take away from the staff who care for the children but, to bring light to the inadequate oversight to Discoveryland. My children were in the Bear and Rainbow room when we finally left. My complaints are mainly with the Bear (2-3 year olds) room. Consistency is so important with small kids, they thrive on having a schedule, reliable routines and familiar faces. The wonderful staff that was in the Bear room left, there were over 7 teacher changes in less than 5 months. The director would not provide additional support to the long tenured teachers so they left and she replaced the head teacher with someone that was not qualified. This replacement teacher was not equipped to deal with rambunctious toddlers and ultimately succumbed to the stress. How do I know this? I was the target of her frustrations one morning when she screamed at me in front of a room of children. Horrifying to be yelled at in front of my children and even more horrifying to imagine her behavior when another adult was not present. I was called to pick up my daughter because her nose was bleeding and she wouldn't let the staff help her. Kids are intuitive and very smart, they pickup on feeling and react to it. My daughter was not comfortable with the teacher and didn't feel safe. Her intuition was spot on. The teachers are not treated as well as they deserve and it shows. Multiple emails over the course of months to the director, administration, pastor, and staff were IGNORED. Not a peep. It wasn't until licensing was called in for violations (of which have been miraculously resolved or found unsubstantiated) that angry parents were addressed in a sad Zoom meeting full of empty promises. All the parents needed was acknowledgment of our frustrations and an open dialogue. What we received was months of ignored emails, excuses and deflection. How does a childcare facility that claims to be cloaked in faith knowingly ignore parents?

There's nothing more comforting than your child WANTING to be somewhere you are not…read more From day 1 my daughter really enjoyed coming to PEM. The teachers, Ms.Maduka, Ms. Sharon, and Ms.Andrea in particular were a very important part in her development. The curriculum here is spot on and really enhances what your kid enjoys doing while also teaching them many other important subjects and ways to learn. If you are looking for a school that takes absolute care and dedication of your kid then look no further. I highly recommend this school to all. You will not be disappointed.

My daughter spent nearly two years at Pacific Explorer Montessori, and I'm so grateful for the…read moreexperience. From the very beginning, Mrs. Maduka created a warm and supportive environment where my daughter has truly thrived. She absolutely loves all her teachers, including Ms. Andrea, who introduced her to Spanish in such a fun and engaging way, and Ms. Sheron, who has also played a big role in her learning journey. My daughter has become more independent, confident, and curious, and has developed strong language, reading, and math skills. We've always felt at ease and fully recommend this school to any family looking for a supportive and enriching early education environment.