I had a bad feeling about this place the second I walked in. I had to use the restroom and the…read moreadult restroom was dirty. Ever since I noticed that, during our tour, I also noticed the rooms that the kids were in were pretty dirty and messy. Grated, kids are messy, but this was a different dirty and messy, like they haven't washed the floor in a while dirty. The newborns were crawling around where there had been food dropped from lunch about 1/2 hour-1 hour prior, It made me really grossed out, plus what if the baby was allergic to whatever was on the ground?! The person we spoke to was nice, and sort of seemed to know her stuff, but gave us some misinformation (pricing info, staff info, etc.). The turnover is really high: 3 teachers leaving all together. That makes me nervous. I couldn't get out of there quick enough. The vibe was terrible. I didn't want to give it one star, but I the location is good for commuting parents.

I truly recommend this place. My two daughters ( 3 and 5 years old) attended for a week and they…read morehave a great time. The fascilities are big and super clean and the personnel very professional. Vanessa Freeman, the director knows exactly how to do her job. Very organized, problem solver, she would make your life easier. In comparison with other centers, for instance bright horizons in Allston and Kiddie academy ( very bad) this one was by far the best and there is a big gap. Thank you!

I happened to find this daycare by chance and booked an appointment to check it out. I loved the…read morespace in the activity room and the ton of options for the kid. Lilia is very sweet and makes the kid feel truly welcome and special. My daughter started attending the school as a preschooler and she loved it. She still talks about the friends she made and the teachers!

Best daycare in the area. My one year old daughter has been going there since June2018. They have a…read moregreat in-house kitchen and the exposure of different activities they provide for physical and social emotional development is amazing. Also, the love and care that the teachers, staff and the director show is just unmatchable. Very grateful to have found them!

My two sons attended APTG over the course of 5 years. During our first month there, we were told…read moreby the current director (who has since been let go) that a child was accidentally left at the park across the street during outdoor play. Apparently, no one at the center realized this mistake until a random town resident returned the child to the school. The mind boggles... Obviously, this was a long time ago (and we ended up keeping our children there), but I think parents reading reviews would want to know this. The school is housed in a plain gray building which is sort of depressing the first time you see it. Inside, however, is a very warm and caring environment, thanks mainly to the teachers, who are for the most part very good and attentive. Some of the teachers were not-so-great and were clearly just passing through on the way to greener pastures. The teacher turnover rate has always been relatively high, including a near-total turnover in the space of a few months at one point. Luckily, most of the teachers we interacted with were awesome and devoted to the children. Dropoff in the morning is a completely chaotic affair. Parents are rushing in and out, kids are screaming/arguing/crying, teachers are catching up with each other about their weekends, etc. Totally hectic and very rough on kids who require a smoother transition. Now that my youngest is in a different daycare environment, I can see what total madness this was. The daycare has a weird layout, mainly due to its small size. In fact, to get to one particular classroom, you have to walk through another classroom. The center's "office" is situated in a cramped room that's sandwiched directly between two classrooms. This means that if you have anything to discuss with the director (even confidential matters), you'll be subjected to other teachers, parents, kids, etc. wandering through to get to the other room. The center director runs the center well, from an organizational standpoint. However, she lacks the warmth that you would expect from someone who works with young children all day. I often got the impression that she'd be much happier with the job if it weren't for all of those pesky children. The founder of APTG is not around very often, but sometimes stops in for big events. There's no kind way to say this: she has an extremely condescending manner. She's clearly very smart and has a lot of experience with children, but I always felt like she was lecturing the parents rather than offering helpful/useful advice. The school makes a big todo about its "curriculum", but...there really isn't one. They cover a couple of cute themes and practice some words and letters, but this is not Montessori. I think it's perfectly adequate for what it does, but let's not get carried away overselling it. APTG organizes several really fun events throughout the year. This includes a picnic in the summer, apple picking in the fall, a stone soup meal, and lots of other special events. These are always a lot of fun and a good way to see your kids in action. The nutritionist APTG hired is fantastic. She overhauled their snack menu to make it much healtheier, which was appreciated. She sometimes offers workshops at the school. If you can attend one of these, I highly recommend it as she offers a lot of useful advice. Play time (and most of the day, really) is very geared toward girls. Lots of beadwork, coloring, dramatic play, etc. Of course, this is all fun stuff for boys too! But there is virtually no rough-and-tumble, sports, kicking balls, etc. If you have a spirited/active boy (or girl), he/she will soon grow bored with the lack of variety. I don't think APTG actually _wants_ spirited/active children, since they are more work and will buck against the rigid structure. The tuition is very expensive, but seems to be par for the course for Belmont and the surrounding area. From what I've gathered, the teachers are not paid very well, which probably explains the high turnover rate. APTG isn't amazing, it isn't terrible either. It's perfectly adequate and sometimes that's exactly good enough. But there are better alternatives out there, especially for older children.

Luckily, this place didn't have availability for our child. The director was not pleasant during…read morethe first inquiry call. She acted like a snob. Listening to her sounded like accommodating parents schedule is something no one ever heard of. Apparently this place is too "good" to work with parents. First impression is the one that stays. And this is what I will be remembering about this "carrying" place. I am glad the decision not to leave our child in this place didn't have to be agonizing one. Thank goodness, certain things just don't mean to happen.

We visited the center to enroll our toddler…read more First impression: the center is in a basement with no windows and there is a terrible urine smell all throughout. As we walk through, there were only 4 teachers for 3 classroom (2 in infants, 1 for toddler and 1 for preschool), seems like the ratios are not being respected, how can they keep track of all the children when they are understaffed...? Now for the worst.: we walked in the bathroom where the children are being changed and there was a small child on the changing table by himself, the teacher had left the room to grab something, and 3 toddlers were playing around the toilet, again by themselves. This seems like a dangerous place for kids! The director Catherine apologized, but nevertheless that teacher shouldn't be allowed around kids, this is a child's life we are talking about, he could have fallen the changing table and get a concussion. Don't bring your child here, it's not a safe place .

Bright Future Educare Center has been wonderful in caring for our children. My son has been there…read morefrom the age of 1,5 years old and my daughter from the age of 3 months old. Every morning when we arrive, we are cheerfully greeted by the staff and the kids alike. My son has learned how to dance and sing, he was potty-trained and he's been doing craft projects. There are Christmas and Thanksgiving parties, and parties for the kids birthdays. The atmosphere is family-like, laid back, yet professional. Everybody knows each other by their first name and my kids simply love going there in the morning. We'll miss this place and the people (we are moving overseas).

We love First Circle! Our daughter has been here almost a year and the teachers take extraordinary…read morecare of the little ones, with so much love, learning, and silly fun throughout the day. They're also so helpful in helping our daughter progress and become independent. Big shoutout to Amber and Naomi in infant 3! And to Clay and Kaitie for jumping in to help whenever needed!

We love this place! My job forces us to travel often, and I wanted some stability for my son. First…read moreCircle provided that and lots of love, care, and patience. I can not speak more highly of the staff!

Both of my children have been going here for 2 years since they were 1 and 2 years old. It's always…read morea joy and so relieving going into Knowledge Beginnings in Lexington because I know when my children are here, they are safe, loved, and always learning something new!

Trusting your child's joy and safety with someone is never easy. But our family deeply trusts the…read moreteachers and love the environment of learning and play we've experienced in our 1.5 years here. It's clear the teachers love our child as much as we do.

I could go on forever taking about how amazzzing this place is and how wonderful the entire staff…read moreis. It's like they were born to take care and teach these children. Above and beyond is all I can say.

It is hard to put into words how much we have appreciated the Brookline Infant Toddler Center's…read morecare for our son. They provide a loving, warm comprehensive environment for all of the children in their care. Unlike some daycare centers, where the management remains aloof and detached from the children and staff, the BITC Management team are constantly moving through the center, providing support and supervision. I was particularly happy with the fact that their two playgrounds are directly attached to the building and completely enclosed. Choosing a daycare can be an anxiety provoking decision for a parent, we are happy in our knowledge that we made the right choice with BITC.

It is impossible to say enough wonderful things about Waltham Childcare Center. For the past 5…read moreyears, I have seen nothing but a staff of loving caregivers and brilliant teachers who are genuinely invested in every child's growth and happiness. The classroom space is organized, positive and always stimulates and enriches their learning; from the interactive reading of CAPS where students got to practice balancing hats on their heads, to the excitement of playing in the 'big gym' at the Boys and Girls club and of course, the creative art projects that involve him painting his hands to make imprints or making homemade slime or experimenting with the fizzy properties of baking soda! The staff is always engaging with students, checking-in, and making them feel heard and seen. Waltham Childcare Center is also dedicated to preparing their students for Kindergarten. My son, who will be 5-years-old this October, has made tremendous gains in his social-emotional learning, counting, letter identification and speech. As a teacher myself, their curriculum and learning instruction are outstanding and I have no doubts that my son will enter Kindergarten hitting every benchmark and then some. In fact, they are often able visit the library which has enabled my son to develop a love for books. Waltham Childcare Center is a rare gem and I am so grateful that they have been able to provide an amazing childcare experience for both my children. I highly recommend them to any parent-you will not be disappointed and neither will your child.

My son has attended this childcare center for over a year, and the entire team provides a…read moresupportive environment with age-appropriate learning, an emphasis on manners, and guidance on how to be a good friend. They follow a consistent schedule, which has made coming to school a joy for him and has given me peace of mind as a parent going to work knowing he is in a safe, caring place.