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Santee KinderCare

3.2 (26 reviews)
Open 6:00 am - 6:30 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Services - Santee KinderCare

Multiple children care

Single child care

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For parents looking for daycare: For the past year this school has not been able to keep a teacher for more than a couple months, there is a revolving door of faces that come and go.. They seem to hire anyone they possibly can and frankly who don't have any experience taking care of children or have education behind this matter . My son was in mobiles class and the two main teachers he had were Ms Marylou and Mr Junior who individually I would give them both a 5 star rating because they seem to be very genuine in their roles as care taker and who my son seems to light up when they are around . Once my son moved over to twos I found that the class is very chaotic having 12+ kids to one teacher. Obviously a huge shift in atmosphere to where my son began to become stressed out and overstimulated. You can see in the teachers faces how frustrated they can be with the ratio, there is usually always understaffing or so they call it, "a lot of call outs". If teachers are visually frustrated what makes them think a two year old wouldn't be? My son was never a "biter" he became acustome to it since that's how children express themselves which is understandable because they can not speak their frustrations so of course my son picked up on the habit. After meeting with the staff and his teacher we all agreed to give him up to an hour where he can be off to the side to do his own thing where I brought in a box full of stuff to keep him busy. Everyday after the meeting I have asked "did my son do his box today?" And the answer was always yes he did. I was "offered" this alternative to get my sons behavior in the class to settle down and then they said if this didn't work they offer a specialtist who can come in and work with my son one and one so he can be given the proper care with someone who isn't in charge of 15 other kids. So once I asked for this alternative they said it's not offered because they have to believe he is autistic? Teachers don't diagnosis children doctors do, what child care is supposed to offer is calm, healthy, positive atmosphere yet every teacher seems to be stressed, frustrated with how many kids they have in the class. So then, I have them telling me I have a week to find care for my son because they can not get him to control his emotions in such a chaotic setting. For any parent this can be a nightmare, a week notice ? I have been disappointed by this staff and their lack of communication, and childcare I pay for. The last day I went to pick my son up because he was being sent home a teacher was serving lunch and just throwing bread into the plates to where the plate and bread completely fell over onto the little girls lap, no apology or no effort to even go pick up the food she was just throwing onto plates. After given this week notice I had no confidence as a parent to leave my son there anymore so I went to pick him his belongings, As I was leaving a teacher who has had my son before asked, "where is he?" And I stated he can't come here anymore I was given a week to find somewhere for him and the look she gave me was unsettling as she was trying not to cry like "really your son?"like yep I can't believe it either. My son is such a sweet baby he didn't deserve how his care had to be terminated and so quickly. I don't believe the kids are the problem I believe the staffing is. Nothing in my son's box was ever used, and I 100% believe he never even used it at any time to calm down from the chaos. I don't believe there was a true effort in helping not only my son but all the other kids who are crowded into one room with one teacher in that class. Messages can take days or weeks to even get a response and this whole situation has left me super upset as a parent because I have had my son here for almost two years where the teachers he had before this class are long gone. My son's wellbeing is always my first concern. The environment is not as friendly as they portray to be and I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my son with people who just think getting rid of the child is better or easier than helping the teachers do their jobs they sign up for. I would not recommend this daycare until they apply more structure and staffing to this facility and classrooms. Their job is to take care of children and parents should be at ease leaving their kids with people who go into this kind of environment knowing kids are going to behave based on their surroundings. Truly an upset parent.

Same as another reviewer, wrong billing--guess she assumed I missed it because we were out for his grandma's memorial?
Nancy P.

My hope is to be as transparent as possible to help any parent who is going through the very stressful process of finding the right fit for their little one. My son is 21 months old and we were in the toddler room from July to today. Environment: -I really like the school like setting, facility is clean and orderly. -Closed only on major holidays, no last minute trips or a week of closure at a time. -Includes variety of meals & snacks Curriculum: -A benefit of a larger facility versus in home daycare is there is a calendar of curriculum that follows closely with the child's development--Kindercare has neat themes of the week and follows a lesson plan. Staffing: -One of my biggest concerns for any daycare setting has always been staffing--as you see from previous yelp reviews, that was a concern of other parents here. When I asked about this during our tour, the Assistant Director said that those reviews are old and they have no issues now. That was not the case. Many times there were comments about staffing during drop off. Two times my son was moved to a different classroom due to staffing and I was not informed. -I felt like the lead teacher played favorites: saw her doing the same little girl's hair a few times during drop off, or had her in her lap in almost all the pictures in the app. This little girl didn't seem to have any trouble or anything to need this, so that was strange. --There were some staff that did seemed like they actually cared, and had genuine kindness. Kids pick up on that. Even after 3 weeks, when the lead teacher came to the door at drop off, my son would whine and start to fuss. (Maybe this is the treatment towards him from lead teacher? Or he picked up on the favoritism?) When it was another teacher at drop off, my son was totally fine and went right into her arms. -Some people have bad days here and there, and that's understandable--felt like lead teacher, director, and assistant director had the opposite: good days that were far and inbetween. Would it hurt to smile or look like you're enjoying your job? As part of leadership, makes me assume that is one reason for high turn over. Communication: -Poor communication, and when there was communication it was short, unprofessional, and did not answer my questions fully. Couple of times I had to send messages twice to get a reply or acknowledgement. -They have a neat app, similar to brightwheel, but I wonder if what they inputted was always accurate: i.e. my son eats a snack or breakfast in the morning sometimes, and I would see that he ate all his breakfast as daycare. Strange. Also felt like the pictures were more checking the box of 2 photos minimum a day, rather than being interactive/sharing something that he was doing/learning/milestone etc. -I had to take my son out for 3 days for my mother-in-law's memorial. When I messaged them to inform them there was no reply..no condolences or even acknowledgment. Not sure if that is a representation of character, or being overworked, or both? But they DID make sure to message me about a missing payment for that week--only later to tell me it was another family (I know the policy and had already paid). Sick policy: -Safety of the our kid and other kids is priority. 100%. But being sent home for 48 hours for temperature that was .4 over the limit, when it was 100 degrees outside for almost 2 weeks, and no other symptoms was the last straw for me. When I picked him up he did not have a fever, was happy, eating, sleeping, not even a runny nose or cough. Makes me wonder if it was more of a staffing thing.. I know there is no perfect place, these are just things I wish I knew/followed my gut. Especially when there is a waitlist everywhere for kids under 2 years old. We are now going to Le Petite, and I have to tell you--my experience so far is night and day. Director is responsive, genuine, transparent, clear, took her time to explain things, made me feel very grounded. Most of all she seemed to enjoyed her job. I look forward to feeling like family here. The onboarding process has not been like Kindercare at all--I remember getting my package for kindercare and almost 80% of what was on the intake checklist did not happen/was not in the package. That should have been another sign. I really think the director, assistant director, and lead teacher be more mindful & reflective about their position in the school. Still I like to be amicable, I dropped off treats and thank you gift card on my son's last day. But again, no acknowledgement, not that I expected one but just funny to me--and again, telling. I also just realized didn't get any of my son's art work.. Kindercare had all the right elements of being a great daycare, staff and leadership needs to be reassessed or paid more.. I hope this helps you. Good luck. Any questions feel free to message me.

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4 months ago

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13 years ago

We've had two vastly different experiences with this KinderCare - the first a very positive one, most recent was not to our liking.

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Ask the Community - Santee KinderCare

Review Highlights - Santee KinderCare

Becca, the two's class teacher, is phenomenal.

Mentioned in 4 reviews

Read more highlights

Little Learners Preschool - We love LLP

Little Learners Preschool

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My children have been attending Little Learner's since August 2023. The teachers are very engaging…read morewith the students and parents and I love the app they use for communication between parent and teacher. It's been a great fit for our family and very accommodating to fit our schedule needs!

When my child started at Little Learners in January 2019 he was coming off of some terrible…read moreexperiences at other schools where he had been bullied and made to feel stupid (and he was only 4!!). I told Little Learners about the past problems we had, and that in some ways my kid was working on rebuilding his confidence. After a few weeks there he began to be more like himself, even wore his favorite pink shirt to school! (This was something he'd been bullied for in the past, so this was a big step.) At that moment, I knew he was really starting to feel safe and accepted at LLP. My kiddo is also not one of the kids who sits still very well. He is fidgety and is still learning to be good at circle time. They have been patient with him and have kept me well informed of his progress. They even let me visit the classroom many times to see what they did at circle time, and helped brainstorm ideas on how to get my child to learn to best behave. They have encouraged me and my child, and have been VERY helpful and very good at collaborating with me to think up ways to best help my son overcome challenges, and learn good behavior. They also have been great at being sure to celebrate his successes and his accomplishments, too. They just hosted the preschool graduation and we were thrilled! They had a nice, big ceremony in a nice venue and they put a lot more thought and planning into the event than I ever expected. It's clear that they really care about the children and parents, and work hard to ensure that the families that attend LLP are happy and know they're appreciated. They really know my son, and all of his likes, dislikes, and his charming qualities and what makes him tick. I would absolutely recommend this place to friends and family.

Blooming Blossoms Learning Center

Blooming Blossoms Learning Center

(33 reviews)

The absolute BEST childcare experience -- truly part of our family…read more Our daughter was with Miss Lauryn for over two years, and I can honestly say there are not enough good things I could ever write about her or Blooming Blossoms Learning Center. Leaving was one of the hardest decisions we've ever made, and we only did so because we recently transitioned our daughter to preschool. It truly felt like leaving a piece of our heart behind. We began with Miss Lauryn at her PB location and loved her so much that we followed her through her relocation to Santee -- even though it's far from our home. That alone speaks to the depth of our trust in her. Her Santee facility is beautiful, clean, safe, thoughtfully designed, and located in a wonderful neighborhood. Our daughter became her very first student there, and we couldn't have been happier. From day one, Miss Lauryn created the safest, warmest, most nurturing environment a parent could ever hope for. Our daughter had only ever been cared for at home by a nanny, so the idea of sending her somewhere outside our home felt intimidating at first -- but she made the transition seamless. Her program is the perfect bridge between in-home care and a true school setting: loving, personal, and homey, yet structured with curriculum, routines, and so many opportunities for social and developmental growth. Our daughter absolutely THRIVED with her. She grew into an expressive, confident, funny, kind little girl with such a big personality, and Miss Lauryn and her wonderful assistants were a huge part of that. She is attentive, patient, loving, and genuinely treats each child as if they were her own. Her communication with parents is absolutely exceptional. She uses the ClassDojo app and posts photos and updates every day, so you always feel connected and reassured. She is incredibly responsive, understanding, and communicative -- which is especially comforting if you're a more cautious or anxious parent (like we were in the beginning). You truly feel informed, included, and at ease at all times. On top of all of that, her hours are amazing -- better than nearly anything else we found -- and she provides all food, snacks, and lunches, which is such a huge help for busy families. And her rates are extremely fair and competitive for the level of care, communication, and structure she provides. It truly doesn't get better than this. If you are looking for a safe, loving, clean, developmentally focused, and genuinely warm environment for your child, Blooming Blossoms is the very best decision you can make. We are forever grateful for the foundation she gave our daughter and the love she poured into her every single day. We cannot recommend Miss Lauryn and her program enough.

I can't speak highly enough for Lauryn and the entire Blooming Blossoms staff! Our 1-year-old…read moredaughter had never been to a daycare or school before and was very shy, so I was nervous to say goodbye to her. Lauryn made me and my daughter feel comfortable, safe, and nurtured. Lauryn kept me updated throughout the day and helped brainstorm ways to help my daughter adjust. Lauryn and her team have a stellar knowledge of child development and how to meet the needs of the kids. The low teacher-to-student ratio helped me feel extra comfortable. The staff clearly care deeply about the kids and families they serve, and this spreads to the community they create among the families :) Thanks Lauryn and Blooming Blossoms for everything you did for our daughter! They even hugely helped potty train our daughter before she transitioned to school full time - wow!

The Little School - The Little School: For Happy Kids

The Little School

(2 reviews)

WE LOVED THE LITTLE SCHOOL!!!!…read more If you're looking for a behavior-based pre-school that will help your kids grow into well-balanced, respectful and self-aware little children, then this is without-a-doubt the school for your family! Both of my kids attended The Little School (TLS) from 2011-2016, and I can honestly say (with absolute gratitude and humility) that they are typically the most well-behaved and well-spoken kids in most social settings. During the last five years, our family of four learned a great deal about how to use positive reinforcement and respect when dealing with parent/child intercommunications. The children learned how to communicate using their words (use your words, please), problem solve with their little peers (ask Megan about the buddy-bench), and accept their own responsibilities (who's responsibility is it?). From the start, TLS helped me personally be a better parent. For example, when my first child started to walk and learned how to climb up onto a chair my first reaction was to say, "No standing!". Yet, what I learned was, the best way to handle that situation is to say, "Sit down, please." As parents, my wife and I also learned how to provide better direction to our children; without them losing a sense of control. For example: "Kids, it's shower time. Do you want to walk, or do you want me to carry you?" Either way they're taking a shower. The same option was also used when we started to put them to bed on their own. Brilliant! There are way too many scenarios to list here so I won't even try. Megan and her staff are extremely loving and supportive, and if there's anything you need help with as a parent she can help you with some great suggestions and ideas to help you manage through it. We really consider Megan and her family, and some of the other families we met there, an extension of our own family. In short, for us, The Little School experience was the social foundation and fabric from which our kids' lives are formed from - and for that we will eternally be grateful. HUGE HUGS AND SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE LITTLE SCHOOL TEACHERS!!!! YOU ROCK!!!!

First, I'll say my daughter loves the Little School for all the amazing fun stuff she gets to do…read morethere that we don't always do at home - painting, songs, dancing. We moved last summer and she still remembers the songs and reminds me that she painted her very first painting that I framed.( She's NOW 2) I loved the little school for the perfect care and love we both received. As an "older" mom, I never thought I'd need to know about kid's nutrition or potty training! But I learned SO MUCH about parenting from the teachers and staff. With the Positive Discipline approach the terrible twos have not been terrible at all....I'm actually surviving them (only 2-months in). But most importantly, the genuine regard for all the children's unique personalities, talents and quirks really set the Little School apart from others that I entertained. There is a peace about the environment there that I've not found eleswhere. Each child is appreciated. Each child is respected. You can't ask for more than that! (Even though you do get more.....much more)

Safe Loving Childcare & Preschool - Baby Xio 05.10.23

Safe Loving Childcare & Preschool

(12 reviews)

Xio has been with Ms. Janet and Maria since she was only 4 - 6 months old. When I was originally…read morelooking for childcare, I visited almost 3 - 5 different daycare centers all of which were very promising, but at the time their availability did not match our family schedule. So I stopped looking and then one day, I was searching and found Safe Loving Childcare. I scheduled to meet with Ms. Janet and I knew after the moment that I met her that she was the one I was going to trust to take care of my baby. Xio is now almost 4 years old and let me tell you, she loves Ms. Janet and Maria. Xio is pretty much their adopted grandchild lol They do arts and crafts, water play, eat well (based off of how the house smells like food every time I drop her off lol) and a lot of times when I forget something, I can rely on them to remember. All major holidays they will always remember to have gifts and games for the kids, putting family values at the top of their priorities. I appreciate and love them so much for all that they do for my little one and all the other littles. Thank you for loving Xio, as if she were you're own. -Gina

Thank you, Janet, for always taking great care of our two boys. We will always be so grateful for…read moreyou and your team. The personal touch and care the boys receive has put us a peace knowing they've always been in good hands And it melts our hearts every time our youngest (started attending at three months) reaches out to you every time he's dropped off!

Santee KinderCare - childcare - Updated May 2026

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