We passed through town for one week on a cross-country adventure, and needed some kid time for our…read morefive year old. The admin side of Kids Junction was professional, expedient and accommodating. My son only attended summer camp for a week, but the kid side of that week was jam-packed with adventure, community and learning. He came home pleasantly knackered every afternoon. Thanks all!

From the owner: Building Strong Mind, Body & Christian Characterread more

I would never recommend this place based on the experience I had…read more I signed my son up in the summer of 2022. When it came time to make the payment, I attempted to pay twice, but both times I was told that the card machine was broken. At the time, I was eight months pregnant. Shortly after, I had to be induced early due to complications. Five days after giving birth, I suffered a severe hemorrhage and went into cardiac arrest. Doctors performed CPR on me for about 30 minutes, and I was placed in a coma for two weeks. When I woke up, I had undergone multiple surgeries and had to learn how to walk again. My entire focus during that time was on surviving and recovering. Because of everything that happened, the payments had completely slipped my mind and I had honestly forgotten all about it during my recovery. During that time, the owner contacted me regarding two missed payments totaling $2,700. She told me that emails had been sent, but I never received any communication. When I explained the medical emergency and everything I had been through, I was met with a very rude response and was told that I needed to pay the full amount immediately or I would be sued. I never said that I wouldn't pay what was owed. However, I was extremely disappointed by the complete lack of compassion and understanding given the life-threatening situation I had just gone through. I was given no time or flexibility to arrange payment, even though I had been unable to work for quite some time due to multiple surgeries and a long recovery. A little compassion and understanding during such a difficult time would have made a big difference.

What a great place to have a kids birthday! Unlimited amount of kids and adults. You have the…read moreentire building to yourself with an upstairs full of exploring options. The downstairs is more of a physical adventure with a bouncy house and other fun things to burn off that energy. There's sample seating and plenty of tables for a birthday party with a full-size refrigeratorfor all your treats and beverages

Beautiful school! Kids are so happy to go to school, they love learning. There is so much outside…read moretime, and they fit in Spanish and German from 1st grade on. The kids play music and sing all the time, they have huge smiles and seem so healthy. We love Waldorf.

As an active volunteer and parent at MWS, I was deeply invested in the school's success. However,…read moreafter witnessing faculty, staff, and board members dismiss and downplay credible concerns about child safety, ignore warnings from outside experts, and treat concerned families with open hostility, my partner and I felt compelled to disenroll our child for their safety. In our child's first year in MWS's mixed-aged kindergarten class, its pedagogy suited them well, and they thrived. We were deeply thankful for that experience. However with their second year came strict enforcement of a forced nap policy that caused noticeable emotional and behavioral struggles for them as well as multiple children who had outgrown naps. We eventually learned that this policy required all children to lie still and quiet in a dark room for up to 90 minutes a day, without alternatives for quiet play or reading in a lit space for those who could not sleep, while the teacher often left the room for the rest of the day. This had not been fully disclosed to parents previously. Seeking clarity, we consulted outside experts including a licensed child psychologist, who advised MWS that the enforced nap practice was developmentally inappropriate and potentially harmful, especially as most 5- and 6-year-olds will have outgrown naps by that age. We contacted other Waldorf schools which reacted with surprise and concern when told of MWS's nap policy. We also learned that, by contrast, WI state law requires licensed childcare centers (which MWS is not) to allow children who don't fall asleep within 30 minutes to move "off their sleeping surface and given a choice of activities in a reasonably lighted area". Despite bringing this information to the school in a good-faith and collaborative manner, our attempts to discuss this topic further were met with defensiveness and dismissal. Alarmed by the effects of subjecting children who have outgrown naps to this treatment, we voiced our worries to the school administrator and board. We were met with further dismissal and disparagement. After additional parents raised their own concerns, the board did eventually agree to an outside review -- but rejected calls to work with a licensed child psychologist in favor of hiring an "anthroposophical psychologist" instead. The school ultimately contracted a formal Waldorf teacher who lacked any training or licensure as a psychologist. During my meeting with this individual, whose role was to ostensibly serve as a neutral party and childhood development expert, they stated that while practitioners of "mainstream psychology" might be concerned with the appropriateness and safety of the current MWS naptime policy, Waldorf educators "know what's best" for their children, and that that should be sufficient to put any concerns to rest. Increasingly out-of-touch and aggressive communications from the school community followed. One individual, vying for the school's open admissions director role, urged the board and administration to expel us and another family for questioning the practices of a Waldorf teacher. Their memo also pressed for what was then an ongoing investigation into child safety concerns be quashed immediately. That individual was subsequently hired. My partner and I ultimately withdrew our child from MWS to ensure their safety and well-being, and in protest of how this and other issues across the school were handled. Subsequently connecting with other families who left MWS revealed a disturbing pattern of dismissal, denial, bullying and gaslighting -- including but not limited to concerns over naptime policy -- as well. I urge current and prospective families to be vigilant and to critically assess what type of environment they want for their child and family. Finally, it saddens me to anticipate that MWS might respond to this and other critical reviews with misinformation and personal disparagements. I encourage readers to weigh any such responses thoughtfully as they draw their own conclusions about which school is right for their family.

The staff are all warm and welcoming! We love bringing our children here. The new director (Robin)…read moreknows all the parents and children by name, and makes sure that we are always welcomed with a smile every morning and every evening. The infant staff make sure we get plenty of videos and pictures to make us feel like we are not missing out on anything.

Robin the new director is going to take this center to become the best of Verona! She is very…read moretalented and passionate about this job, her families and her staff.

Our family has been part of Hickory Hill Academy (HHA) since its founding in 2020, and we've…read morewatched the school grow and evolve. Starting a new school during COVID was no small feat, and while there have been occasional missteps--what school doesn't have them?--HHA's commitment to improvement stands out. Challenges are met with reflection and growth, ensuring lasting progress. The administration, faculty, and staff are deeply dedicated to HHA's mission. This isn't just a school for academics; it's a place that fosters character and community. My kids love attending, and the sense of belonging is incredible. From hugs shared during Community Circle to my daughter having besties in every grade in the school, it's clear HHA is building a kind, inclusive community. If you're looking for a school where your child can thrive academically and personally, HHA is an amazing choice.

We did the summer on the farm camp and it was extremely disappointing. My daughter was indoors most…read moreof the day doing school work and only did a couple of the activities that were advertised on the website. We thought she would be outside most of the day, but they only do one small activity session in the morning and a second one in the afternoon. Each week is the same activity. My daughter did not have the opportunity to do any of the activities she was excited about (and that we paid for).

We absolutely love King's Kids Academy! The staff are caring, attentive, and truly invested in the…read morekids' growth and happiness. It feels great knowing our little one is in such a safe, loving environment every day. Highly recommend!

From the owner: Where Curiosity Meets Care. Skip standard supervision—give…read moreyour child a joyful space to thrive! From hands-on preschool learning to cozy infant care, King’s Kids Academy provides passionate teachers, nutritious meals, and a safe, family-first environment right here in near Verona, and Madisons Westside in the Midtown Commons area. Building bright futures, one playful day at a time. Enroll now!

Our experience as a family has been just wonderful. The level of staff experience here is the…read morehighest I have ever encountered. Many teachers have been with the preschool for more than a decade, and it shows.

Our family has been at ORNS for the last 7 years. The teachers, staff, and director are all caring…read moreand enthusiastic. Their play-based curriculum is ideal for early learners. ORNS has been voted Hulafrog's "Favorite" preschool in Madison. It's a great place to start a love for school.

My child has been going to kids junction since she was 5months old. She is now in the 1-2 classroom…read moreand is thriving. The teachers understand her and are so easy to chat with at drop-off/pick-up. They are effective at communicating any needs and follow protocol when accidents happen. It is very important to me that my daughter receives quality care that supports her physical wellbeing and emotional/social development. The staff do exactly this. We were recommended Kids Junction by friends, and I want to pass on my recommendation to you.

My daughter did the summer camp here and it was excellent! The field trips are amazing and my…read moredaughter always looked forward to going. Would definitely recommend!

We enrolled our 5 and 3 year old at Guidepost Montessori almost 2 years ago and have seen a huge…read moreimprovement in their confidence, independence and social skills. We were worried at first about how our children would fit in and if they would be behind as they did not start out in Montessori, but in a very short time, our 5 year old has learned to read, write and can count to 1,000 and our 3 year old has become more independent (cleaning around the house, getting dressed independently, etc.). We highly recommend Guidepost, it has been a great environment for our family.

I enrolled my son 7-8 months before they officially opened and at the time under the understanding…read morethat meals would be provided ie breakfast, lunch, snack. As it got closer to opening and doing tours the staff said they would not initially have the main meals but would hope to get them in the coming months after opening. When it was time to start, they shared that I had been told the wrong information and they plan to never have the main meals, parents have to pack and provide those meals and the school will provide only snacks. I was able to get my deposit back but lost the $200 registration fee. I can't recommend this school because they do not provide meals, which is important to me and my family. However, the curriculum and classrooms are top of the line. So it just depends on what you need from a school/daycare.