My kid has been attending for 3 years now - and they've kept him alive for that long, so that's…read moreworth at least a couple stars! Really though, the teachers we've had have all been wonderful and genuinely care about their kiddos. Yes there is some turnover because it's a daycare center, many of the staff are younger and go on to pursue their educations, but there is also turnover in the clientele because kids grow up. In school, they will have different teachers every year, so that's not been an issue for us. They have a good curriculum that covers all the basics: counting basic reading/writing, vocabulary, and other subjects needed to prepare for Kindergarten, and they track each child's process to find any areas needing improvement. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are all provided. The meals are healthy, and my picky kid actually eats them (most of the time). They have lots of play time and fun activities, including programs where they bring in outside instructors (e.g., yoga, tae kwon do, and music lessons). They have secured access like most centers, a daily report that you can have emailed (or use the iPhone app), and video monitoring of every area that you can view online-- which frankly I hardly log into anymore since it's mainly just peace of mind that they have it. I've always found the administrators to be very helpful and processional. They will talk through any issues and try to make it a great experience for parents and children. They have a summer camp enrollment option with field trips for pre-K age and up for a modest extra fee (younger kids stay in the center but they do themes for each week of camp). Certain school districts will provide bussing here after school for those of us working parents who aren't home by 2:30 p.m. My son has flourished and made lots of great friends here, plus he is very well-prepared to start school. We are glad we made the choice to send him to Doodlebugs!

I would give it zero stars if I could…read more Doodle bugs is just for you, parents. The center is beautiful, with an indoor play room and awesome outdoor playgrounds. Fingerprint scanner to get in. Online check in and check out. An app to watch your kids during the day. As a parent, it's intoxicating. How do you walk away and send your kid someplace else? Be warned. They are fooling you. The bells and whistles do NOT translate to better care for your kids. I can't speak for other centers. But I can speak for the Sheridan center and corporate. My kid started there when he was three months old. He stayed until he was three, when his behavior no longer pleased the director. I was happy there for a while, even tried to get my second (unborn) child in, telling the center about the pregnancy before anyone in my family knew. I was told that maybe there would be a spot, maybe not, but if I didn't want to wait until the month before I returned to work, that I could go someplace else. The director is a princess in her mid 20s. No kids. And no experience as far as I can tell other than being a preschool teacher at another doodle bugs. The assistant director, same. The underlings, same. And it seems that corporate will back these dolls (who call themselves "the quad squad" and decorate the center with pictures of themselves) at any cost. Whatever they say goes and it isn't always what's right for your kids. I have had several Doodle teachers watch my kids for me in my home. They all complain about the "quad squad" being an unstoppable, suffocating group that stifle teachers, demand that they come to work when they're vomiting with fevers, and who chase teachers out the door for "not meeting the Doodle bug standards." Listen, I've never had a complaint about how the teachers have treated my children. Except when I have no idea who they are from week to week. A friend of mine on the other hand, watched her three year old being forced to the floor by a teacher and that was reported to the state. I imagine there was something to that because that teacher was gone the next week. The "quad squad" is insufferable and it shows in the teacher turn over. This doodle location is ALWAYS hiring and it's because they can't keep teachers who are willing to deal with the management. And this is why you probably don't know your kids teachers from week to week. To me, the playgrounds do not outweigh the directors. Anything taken to corporate is referred back to the "quad squad" to deal with. Delightful. Just one more thought. When my friend was expecting and my kids were still there, I referred them to Doodle Bugs. They questioned me about the director right away, having had concerns on their center tour. They enrolled their child anyhow due to convenience, and is happy there because they have one of the only teachers who has been there more than a year. The director assured my friend that I would receive the referral bonus the following week. Several months later, I still hadn't received it. The day I confronted the princess however, I received it. Within the hour. Hmm. Since my child was abruptly dismissed from Doodle Bugs, he's been appropriately assessed by another preschool and is excelling with teachers he knows and is comfortable with. Do yourselves a favor, parents. Ignore the bells and whistles. Take your kids (and your money) someplace else

I don't have much to compare this center to, as it is the only location my daughter has ever went…read moreto, but I think it is beyond deserving of a 5 star rating. They have been imperative in helping break my little one of her shyness and every teacher that she has had has treated her as if she is their own. The owners are helpful and friendly and willing to work with you regardless of your schedule. I would definitely recommend giving them a look!

We have the most perfect place for 2,3,4&5 years olds. My son has flourished with lasting memories…read morefriendships and would choose it over and over again!

Open Door gave both our girls amazing educational starts. You won't find a more caring staff, more…read moreimaginative curriculum, more joyful place, and an awesome gym space! Our youngest attended kindergarten readiness class. Mrs. Sexton addressed every one of our daughters anxieties about kindergarten and she went off enthusiastically to school and has never looked back. You'll never regret giving them that extra time so they are happy and confident when they reach kindergarten. Just because they qualify for kindergarten age wise, they don't HAVE to go. We just wish the whole world was as wonderful as Open Door.

My three year old son was very hesitant and shy, and would cry almost every day at drop off. From…read morethe very start, his teachers were there to comfort him and help him through his day. A couple weeks in, I watched as my son walked away from me in tears and went right into the arms of his teacher. While I was sad to see him upset, my heart exploded when I saw how much he loved and trusted his teacher to make him feel better. I have seen nothing but kindness, love and patience from the teachers and staff at Carousel. Their communication, willingness to treat each individual family with attention and care, and their welcoming classrooms make it an amazing place to care for your babies. I cannot be happier with my experience, and I am so sad that we will have to say goodbye soon!

Always remember that the review of anything depends upon your expectations and how much it meets…read more!!!! This school was recommended by my friend .She has her both the kids enrolled there. One older child for after school or during the breaks. Here is what i found . I know i know , you want to scroll down to see which line meets your expectations :) 1) Full day care , awesome, clean, great location, friendly staff, playground ! 2) Need 2 1/2 hr program? yes ! 9 30 - 12 for $25.00 3) Great teachers... Again, its based upon your child's needs and my son never cried here as he cried a lot in previous center so you never know! 4) Flexible flexible : just give them an advance notice and if they have space they will adjust you or switch you from regular time & day. I usually need this when i have to volunteer at my older child's school. 5) Dance/Gym/ Karate: Yes 6) Price: same as other day cares, reasonable. Though there are cheaper ones than this too. 7) Transportation: No link to transportation for after school from other elementary schools. Your own! 8) UPK: Not available as they have their own 2 1/2 hr program. 9) Teaching or learning activities: They keep the kids happy and engaged in various activities. They enforce teaching and learning through various methods but most important difference that i found here from previous place is that they pay special attention to details of each child's behavior. If my son doesn't listen, they make him listen. Previous center they didn't make him sit or listen even if he wandered or walked away from circle time or karate. 10) Technology: No Hi-Fi sci-fi stuff. Simple password entry. Its more like you can think that "the world was much better when apple and blackberries were just fruits". meaning that there was more human touch and emotional bonding. Overall for me it works great... Good luck! :)

I would not recommend this UPK program based on our experience. I truly feel that their UPK…read moreprivileges should be removed, given that it is a state run program. After requesting an evaluation through the Clarence Central School District due to concerns about how our child was being treated, we noticed a significant shift in how staff interacted with him. He began receiving multiple incident reports for very minor, age-typical behaviors (tapping a pencil on his arm, lightly poking his arm, rubbing an object on his leg). Instead of being redirected, he was repeatedly removed from the classroom and sent to the office. In one week alone, he was made to sit alone at lunch 4 out of 5 days for things like: * Crushing a few fruit loops instead of using it for an activity * Calling a classmate "bucko" * Making noises/tapping his foot * Pretend play with Legos He was also disciplined for pretending to "arrest" a friend during play. Additionally, nearly every day at pickup, staff would go over negative behaviors in front of our child often for very minor issues, rather than discussing them privately. This was extremely discouraging and, over time, clearly impacted how he viewed himself at school. Staff described him as "sweet," "kind," and "non-violent," which made what happened next especially concerning. We received a call claiming he had "punched 8 kids in a row" and needed to be picked up immediately. When we later reviewed the video (we have the footage), it appeared he was lightly tapping other children, almost as if counting, not acting aggressively. We absolutely understand that keeping hands to himself is something to learn, but the situation was escalated far beyond what seemed appropriate. While, my husband was at the school reviewing the footage Mary Beth can be heard in the video he recorded that she nor the teacher reviewed the footage after the incident they just assumed his guilt. They repeatedly told him he hit other kids until he admitted it and started to believe he did (which he didn't). Rather than an apology from Mary Beth after reviewing the video, she chose to tell us he was no longer welcome at Little Red School House. Other concerning moments: * I personally witnessed a teacher say "ugh, not you again" to him and take a utensil out of his hand in a rough manner * He came home saying a teacher used inappropriate language * An incident initially described as "spitting in a teacher's face" was later clarified by the teacher as accidental blowing a "raspberry" Most concerning was the emotional impact. Our child began saying:"I'm a bad kid at school,""The teachers don't like me,""They yell at me all the time,"and described Mary Beth as "scary." Additionally, professionals we consulted with described the program's approach as feeling more like a "boot camp" environment for young children, which we found very concerning for a UPK setting. At 4 years old, children need guidance, patience, and redirection not repeated removal, isolation, and labeling. Every child is different, but based on our experience, this environment felt overly harsh and not developmentally appropriate. Families should be aware and ask detailed questions about how behavior is handled before enrolling.

The school is incredible and my child is way ahead of other kids her age. The owners and workers…read moreare all fantastic people. The teachers are great and my daughter loves them. Field trips are fun. Progress reports are very insightful and provide great feedback and learning opportunities. Great way for our child to also make friends her age who she often runs into at the pool, playground, or kids events.

My 4 year old absolutely loved this preschool. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming and the small…read moreclass was perfect for my son who is easily overwhelmed. The teachers are so kind and caring and the class work was fun and helped prepare my child for kindergarten. He was excited to show me his work every day. I highly recommend this preschool.

From the owner: Students are able to learn, develop and grow educationally through multiple instructional…read moreactivities that celebrate the strengths and talents of each individual child.

This place has gone downhill so quickly over the past year. Continuous teacher turnover with no…read morecommunication about allergies, conditions or potty training. New directors door is always closed. Has been overcharging families with over one week turnaround to get money back. We've been going there over five years and today I tried to complain to someone that it smelled like smoke through the entire facility and couldn't recognize a single teacher

From the owner: While learning is a large part of what we do, we also focus on your individual child and his or her…read morewell-being. At The Learning Garden, your child is more than just a student to us. They become part of our family. Our Mission is to enrich the quality of family life by providing peace of mind to parents and enhancing the life experiences of the children in our care. We strive to create a warm and welcoming environment so that children look forward to arriving each day.