Caterpillar Cottage is the preschool you want for your little one as well as to help you through…read moreyour own parenting journey. If you're looking for "play based learning," the teachers and owner are the golden standard for this approach (and if you're not familiar you must get familiar and find a play based environment for your kiddo-I have lots of thoughts on this). All the teachers care deeply about each student and are always exploring, considering and applying the most thoughtful means to help guide and nurture each and every one of them. I can't say enough. Go to an open house and see for yourself. You will be forever changed from the first step in the door. I heard so many good things about this school from friends with older kids before we toured and it did not fail to impress and inspire me.

Caterpillar Cottage is a true gem. Both our daughters attended pre-school here (our youngest is…read morestill attending), and though the girls have such different personalities, they both thrived. The school's approach is empathetic so that even the littlest children feel seen, heard, and understood. The teachers model and foster social-emotional skills skillfully, so that the kiddos become considerate but effective self-advocates and negotiators, establishing the building blocks for identifying their own emotions and needs and working through conflict. The teachers are gentle and caring. You feel totally confident leaving your child under their guidance, knowing they will be treated with respect and kindness. The teachers and director also become your genuine partners along the journey of raising your child. Through coffee hour chats, expert talks, knowledgeable resource recommendations, and one-on-one conversations they can help troubleshoot any parenting challenges you are working through. For myself and some alumni parent friends of mine, the school has been such a trusted guiding light that "Caterpillar" has become a verb. If you're not sure how to deal with a child situation, you ask yourself, "How can I Caterpillar this?" What would (lead teacher) Andrea say or do? All this is on top of the other good stuff of pre-school they provide: arts exploration, outdoor play, stories and gardening and science experiments and a lovely community of parents and friends. Highest recommendation!

Couldn't be happier with our experience at Harmon Oaks so far. I feel so lucky that our son is able…read moreto go here. My son started here at 18 months and I feel like his development has skyrocketed ever since. The administration team is outstanding and the teachers are so caring and do a great job of meeting each individual child's needs. I love how they give us update on our child's development and the milestones he is reaching. They offer so many fun activities on top of their regular curriculum and even "Parent's night out" events where they offer care for kids so parents can socialize or go out. Each month the kids focus on a different topic like space, trees, California, where food comes from and more. They provide resources for parents to keep educating their child at home on the month's topics like local events and books. They also provide photo and video updates about what the kids are up to in class. Highly highly recommend checking out Harmon Oaks if you are looking for a preschool for your little! Spots are very limited so make sure you get to an open house when they have them!

I just went through photos of my 4 YO (bloomer) from this month's activities at Harmon oaks and I…read morecan't stop smiling. From the thoughtful and detailed Valentine's Day activities, to the show-and-tell from my son about his aeronautic-engineer grandfather during space-exploration month, to videos of his bloomers cohort running through cones with Coach pancake. My heart is full going through these memories. I could say a million more good things from the great meal plans, to the caring teachers. The thoughtfulness of the curriculum to enrich the learners exploration, and always through play is astounding. I can't recommend HO enough. initial communications to get into HO were slow and frustrating, which might have been due to demand at the end of the pandemic. But once accepted into the school, quicker communication happens through the school's app directly with the teacher.

Valley Waldorf is a tiny school. It has only a few teachers and few students, but it has so much…read morejoy. I heard that it was a large and thriving school before the pandemic and it is now growing, but organically. But currently, the classroom size is about 6 or 8 kids in my son's class, it has room to grow. The timbre of the theory of the school is to develop the child with wonder, curiosity, desire, and the confidence to learn and create, and then they could pursue the facts to learn. In this world of technology changing everything exponentially, some educators wonder if they should drill the children with facts and figures when computers will be providing all of that. These educators seem to think that the children who will succeed in the future are those who think and create. My son likes this school. He was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and the instructors are continuously learning and growing to work with him. And the biggest thing they seem to be teaching are social skills. This school currently runs from pre-k to 5th, and they are in talks about going up to 6th grade.

Valley Waldorf is a miracle for us. We wanted our son to feel like he was going to learn from a…read morefamily member or a close friend that we knew had the same ethics and goals that we had. After a long search, we have found it with Valley Waldorf City School, and we could not be more grateful. The staff, teachers and the school are incredible to say the least and we truly believe we have put our son on a path to success and happiness. Thank you, Valley Waldorf, for accepting us as part of the fam!

This is the best kept secret in the valley! The school exudes warmth and happiness. The teachers,…read moreOoanagh and Beth are both Master degreed educators with years of experience and intuition. They ran a small home based preschool in Sherman Oaks for a long time and were highly sought after with a continuous wait list and no need to advertise. Recently (fall 2011) they moved to Lake Balboa to a wonderful new space. I found this school for my son after searching high and low for a preschool that features a small class size. Most preschools pack 20+ children in a classroom with a teacher and an assistant or two. These other schools claim a 8:1 ratio but that is not the same as a SMALL class!!! Too many children in a small space generates frustration and aggression. The teachers end up managing kids instead of teaching them. So... after a year at one of these big and busy preschools, I knew that I could do better for my son. He is now in a class of 10 and loving every minute. The Little Preschool is a play based preschool at it's finest. The children play out elaborate pretend games together in a way that isn't possible in a big and noisy classroom. It is beautiful to watch! Additionally, they paint outdoor murals, bake bread, climb trees and learn at a surprising rate. The school is not academic by description, but academics are presented in a creative and progressive way to be received if the child is ready. Ironically, the children are learning at a quicker rate than the kids were at our prior "academic" school. And lastly, the school is amazing at facilitating social skills, which along with our imagination is the foundation for a successful school experience. Again, most schools claim to enrich social skills but can't because it requires a lot of personal attention. Teaching the children to interface respectfly is an art that Oonagh and Beth excel at. I could not be any happier and only wish they would consider a kindergarten class.

Both of my children, now 4 and 6, have gone or are currently going here. I volunteered at Little…read moreTreasures for about the half the year last year, and it simply the best school for any child. They do circle time with infants! The curriculum is entirely hands on and child centered. No worksheets here!

I've had two boys attend Petite School House, so I had been with the school for at least 4 years…read more Although I live in Sherman Oaks, I was willing to commute because I absolutely love Petite School, and the staff. They are the perfect blend of caring, safe, thoughtful, and child-centered. Both my sons learned a lot and were always excited to go to school. The facility is not only very clean, but beautiful, and everything is done thoughtfully and with the kids in mind. One of my sons had some dietary restrictions, and my ability to work with the kitchen staff was so helpful. They were always warm and welcoming, and more than ready to support my son with whatever he needed. Shout out to Salmeena for being an amazing Director--her warmth and kindness made dropping off the boys a joy. Shout out to Ms. Janelle who was one of my son's teachers, and was such a great influence for him - firm but always kind, and willing to engage with parents in service of the kids. And of course, shout out to Ms. Martha, who felt like family, always stopping to say hi, check in on old and new members of my family, and keep a close eye on my son. Thank you Petite School for 4+ wonderful years. We will miss you.

Petite School House was truly a godsend for our family. Both my kids went there, and I can honestly…read moresay it's the kind of place you wish they could stay in all the way through college! My oldest (now 8) attended from ages 3-5, and my youngest just finished at age 4 before we transitioned her to her brother's school, mainly for the convenience of one drop-off (any parent gets it!). If it weren't for that, she'd still be there in a heartbeat. The teachers are absolutely incredible, attentive, nurturing, and genuinely invested in every child. The care and love they show every day made it so easy to trust them completely. Not once did I ever worry about my kids while they were there. The food is fantastic too -- my daughter made sure to remind me daily that she only liked Petite's food, not mine! (Let's just say she had to adjust quickly once I started packing lunches again at her new school.) And the office staff? Beyond amazing! Always friendly, helpful, and on top of everything. Petite School House gave us the best possible preschool experience. I can't recommend it highly enough, it's truly a special place that sets the bar for early education and care.

Choosing this daycare was one of the best decisions we've made. Ms. Teshania is nurturing and…read moreattentive, and she take the time to understand each child's needs. We really appreciate the daily updates and photos, and the structured activities that still allow for fun and creativity. Our child has learned so much and comes home happy every day. We couldn't ask for a better place.

My daughter has been going to Little Blossoms Child Care for over 4 years since she was 3.5 months…read moreold. I know this review is way over due!! Before my husband and I decided to send her there, we visited 5 different daycare places. Amongst all places, Teshani was the only one to look and say hi to our daughter who was sleeping in an infant car seat and giving us a good impression, so we decided to send her there. Just like all the other new moms, I was worried about leaving her all day every day from 7am - 5pm. But from the day one, Teshani made me feel comfortable and gave me confidence to send my daughter to her. My daughter loves Teshani and looks forward to going there and spending time with her friends every day. I definitely recommend this place!

Awesome comprehensive childcare! I came to Little Learners Academy after have a bad experience at…read moreanother preschool. I was distraught and needed to find a new preschool ASAP. From the first phone converstation, I was put at ease by the kind and polite teacher who answered. Then I did a tour with Mrs. Maria and Shazna where I explained my experience and they were so understanding and relieved all my worries by actually explaining their policies and how consistently every employee follows said policies, which was one of my biggest concerns. These women were professional and straight forward which I greatly appreciated. I like that enrollment includes weekly music lessons, annual performances, all kids bring their own labeled water cups, breakfast, lunch and snacks are included, and kids can bring lunch boxes from home if they want. They also have an app that, among other things, they use to disperse their weekly menus, send photos and videos weekly, communicate with parents, pay tuition, and disclose potty accidents as they occur. The application was 6 downloadable pdf forms and a 10 page parent handbook that plainly states their policies and only required signatures on the last 2 pages. They also offer optional dance, soccer, and young ninja programs that are sold seperatly and occur on the premises during regular hours, so no additional transportation is requirted and the kids are never distracted by their parents presence. It's been 4 months and I haven't had a single problem since. My son has made friends and become noticeably confident. He loves the optional Hip Hop dance classes and the Young Ninjas classes! He doesn't cry at drop off. He confidently walks striaght to Mrs. Maria classroom, usually without even syaing goodbye to me. This preschool is also the best priced establishiment I found in the Valley... even less expensive than the home childcare we was in for over 2 years and way less than the previously mentioned BAD preschool we had tried. Mrs, Maria has been a pleasure to work with and I couldn't say enough great things about this place. Please, do not hesitate to take a tour and see for yourself! ... Oh and we LOVE the seasonal window paint they have at the entrance. My son always gets excited when it changes.

We are SOOO lucky to have found little learners. Our 2 yr old started going to LL since she was 8…read moremonths old and this place is just so amazing and our kid are so happy at school each day. The director Ms. Shazna is always thinking of ways to enrich the school experience (dance class, music, art, science, and now culture classes to different cultures around the world). The teachers pay great attention to how the kids are doing and are so patient. Special shout out to Ms. Maria A., and infant, toddler class teachers Ms. Jessica, Ms. Maria C., Ms. Humira, Ms. Lisa, Ms.!!

My older daughter went here and now my 2.5 year old has been here for over a year, still loves it…read more If you're looking for an in home Russian sadik, this is it! Food is great, hours are also very flexible and the kids are very happy. True definition of "Happy Kids"!

We've been sending our daughter to OneGen since she was 4 months old and we love it here! She's our…read morefirst baby and was so young so we were really nervous about whether we picked the right daycare for her - after all she's spending more awake time at the daycare than at home during the week! So far we have been so impressed by the daycare. The teachers are so caring and nice, and they do so many fun and educational activities with them (even though she's just a baby!). My daughter loves going to daycare everyday and she has the biggest smiles when she sees the teachers in the morning! OneGeneration also does a lot of good for the community including a senior daycare, meals on wheels, food bank, grandparents as parents etc. so we feel really good about supporting and being associated with such a great organization.

I visited the center this past Saturday due to a fundraiser event they were hosting. The center…read moreoffers senior care and childcare. They also host their own farmer's market which is open year-round on Sundays from 8am to 1pm. Market proceeds support ONEgeneration programs. Transportation is also offered to those who qualify. I am amazed at how great this center is to the community and provides resources for aid. They have a large parking lot available as well. Staff is friendly and very approachable. Don't hesitate to do your research on this amazing center and what they offer back to the community. Some of their programs are donation based and that is important to note so the community can also get involved and help support this center. The Encino food and wine festival was pleasant, I was able to try out a lot of drinks but in my opinion, I do wish the vendors had more food bites. The best one was from Mendocino farms that I can recall. Benihana disappointed as I only got their fried rice. Other than that, very good time, people enjoying themselves on the dance floor and Photo Booth. Would love to come back again next year

My kids were here for about 3 years. We went through Team 1, 2, 3, and TK! We've done it all, and I…read morecan't recommend it strongly enough. I felt like it was a privilege my kids got to be at such a great school with teachers who genuinely give their all and love the kids. They are all wonderful, with some of them being so magical they feel like something out of a storybook. My older child had been in an accredited Montessori school prior to Discovery, and he ended up being very behind academically. Not only did his teachers from Team 3 (pre-k) and TK flag the issue early on, they also put in extra time to try and help get him caught up. This was their personal time they gave him when they could have gone home or probably enjoyed a slightly longer break. My kids learn SO much here and they have fun doing it. It's play based, but the kids learn and love to learn. The enrichments that they offer and are included in the program, mostly funded through the DSPA, are second to none. And the community at the school is fantastic. The more you take part in school functions and volunteer, the more you'll feel the community. Leaving the school is so hard, not just for us, but for lots of families, because it's just the best. Most families go on to "top tier" private schools, and some do public schools, but I would say the public school families are a much smaller portion of the school. We never felt like anybody judged our choices one way or another. Eyde runs the school, and keeps it running like a well-oiled machine. She always listens to parents when they come to her and treats everybody with warmth and kindness. She also is there to help guide you if you want to go the private school route, so you end up at the school that is right for you. She's incredibly knowledgeable in this department. And last but not least, the campus. It's huge! A friend of mine referred to it as feeling like something out of Willy Wonka. They have slides, monkey bars, play structures, swings, a meditation yurt (it sounded ridiculous to me when I first saw it, but my son did come home and meditate so judge for yourself), a petting zoo (If I remember correctly there are miniature ponies, a pig, birds, and tourtises) etc... There is so much room for them to run and play, and they never get bored of it. There was never a day that went by where I worried about my children's safety, whether or not they were learning, or if they were having fun. My kids were full-time students and stayed for extended care. They spent almost as much time with my kids as I do, and I'm glad my kids got to spend that time with them. We drove almost 30 minutes each way to take our kids to go to Discovery, and I would do it all over again. If you're lucky enough to snag a spot at the school, take it. It's worth every penny!

We went here for parent and me classes and moved it! Teacher Brenda is just the sweetest. And so is…read moreteacher Justyne! The campus is so beautiful and my son loves the farm and there's so many different playgrounds. They're a very creative school! I chose this school even though it was a fisher drive than others because my son loves it so much!