I love this place. I had my 5 year old in a couple different daycares before finding this gem. I…read morehad her in Kindercare, but the rates kept going up and up. Even being in Kindergarten half a day, the rate was still almost $1000 a month there and I was leery of what she was "picking up" there when she came home one day and said "whatchu talking about bruh?" Uh, no. Luckily, Playtime had an opening and I got her in. She LOVES it here. She loves the teachers and they keep her busy after school. Rates are very reasonable and there's a good mix of teachers. They make crafts and get to play outside when it's nice. This place isn't closed on every bank holiday, like a lot of daycares are, and I really think she's getting better care here because they do not accept vouchers. That's just my opinion. Everyone pays out of pocket for their child's care. She'll be in first grade in the fall but will still come to Playtime after school.

I have to say I like this place more and more as time passes. It's a multicultural, multiage…read moredaycare/school run by the YMCA. They were just bought out and I think they made improvements on the programming. I liked it when we went for a tour so much that I pulled my kid out of daycare and he started this week! The teachers are great so far and there is so much stimulation for my energetic little one that he needs to be in a place like this. My wife and I both think this is the best place for him and I'm grateful we found this place. We just stumbled into it on a humbug. The bonus- the lesson plan for the month and the schedule are clear and we know what to expect and my child is around other kids from different races and ethnic backgrounds. His school almost mirrors his actual friends circle and I personally could not be happy. Compared to the place we moved my son from this was an easy decision to make and it only cost $50 more a month!

This preschool is very family oriented! The teachers care for each student as their own. We were…read moreblessed to have such a loving environment for our kids to learn in. The school is play based, so the kids didn't even know they were learning at times. As a parent, my favorite part was being able to be a part of the classroom. It was fantastic to watch my child interact with others, and see the joy in their eyes when they got to share their special day with me.

My family sent all of our children to this preschool. They are fantastic! We were looking for a…read morepreschool that encourages involvement from parents and other adult family members. They have it! They ask for adults to help with special events (talent shows, bunny brunch, plant sales, pumpkin night...) and the school community shows up and knocks it out of the park! The kids are constantly around teachers, aides, parent helpers, and other adults who care. The teachers want to see these children grow and flourish. I remember my wife & I going to all our preschool open house tours. Individually, we both just knew - after seeing the school and talking to the teachers - this was where our kids needed to go!

I have nothing but positive things to say about AAK! We enrolled our daughter (21 months at the…read moretime) about 4.5 months ago and our son started at 14 weeks back at the end of January. We've been extremely pleased so far with the care they're receiving. Our daughter is really thriving. She transitioned from an in-home facility, so it was a big change for her. They do such a great job of balancing letting them play and go wild while also keeping structure and learning. She naps well, eats well, plays well, and is constantly learning new things. Her teachers have also been a huge help recently with potty training! The teachers in her class are on the younger side and have the energy it takes to run around with a bunch of two year olds all day Our son is doing well too! He's been napping well, he's getting his bottles on time, and is a pretty happy little guy every evening when we pick him up. The primary teachers in his classroom are ladies who have likely already raised their families. They are very loving and affectionate and also have the patience it takes to deal with crying babies most of the day A HUGE selling point for us is the camera system. Personally, I cannot even begging to put a price on the peace of mind I get from being able to check in on my kids whenever I want. Whether I am just missing them or want to check in for other reasons (has my daughter peed her pants and had to change clothes today? Ha) it is really really beneficial. Each day we get a paper for each child that says when they went to the bathroom/had their diaper changed, when they napped, when and what they ate, etc. For control freaks like me, this is great. I'm a "the more information the better" person. Anytime we have had comments/suggestions, they've been addressed and implemented immediately. For instance, we asked if our daughter's teachers could give us more feedback on her days and they immediately started writing little "high/low" recaps on her papers for us. We asked if they could give her a late afternoon/early evening snack to help with her "hangriness" on the car ride home and that same day they started an additional snack. Long story short, we have most certainly not been disappointed with our choice!

Overall not a great experience for us personally. Some teachers are absolutely amazing (especially…read moreinfant room and age 2) but the preK room was a mess this past year with a ton of turnover from the teachers to the point where I didn't even know who was in my child's classroom. Then one teacher decided to hit on my husband which made him super uncomfortable and he refused to do dropoffs for quite some time. My kid is far from perfect which we know and understand but they had me convinced there were serious issues at play so we put my child into therapy and had them tested for ADHD and personality/behavior disorders. All the tests came back negative and the therapist and counselor couldn't figure out why we were there since my child was considered a normal 5 year old testing boundaries and understanding feelings. My child has attended many birthday parties and they are always praised for being the best behaved child there and we have few to no issues at home. All poor behavior seems to be related to AAK. There are cameras in the room so you can check in often but the teachers rarely have control of the classroom and they are often on their phones which I brought up to the front desk staff multiple times to no avail. The high turnover for the room also results in teachers with various discipline styles and not always age appropriate. I have saved all communication with the center and I have an email from the center telling me that they believe in ignoring bad behavior which is why they don't talk to my child when they are upset. While I understand the concept, this often led to escalation that could have been avoided by verbal communication and respect. One discipline action was to have the child write "I will not disrespect my teacher" over and over again.... Did I mention this is a 4&5 classroom where they can't read yet? In another example After the news shared about a school shooting my child came home and said that the teacher told them that happened because kids didn't behave!!! I was furious on that one as my child was convinced misbehavior led to getting shot. When my child was finally expelled for violence we never received a written letter nor an incident report but instead were just told on the phone that my child wasn't welcomed back. The other parents and I have a group text and no one heard the same story of what happened and I still don't know what all happened that day (I imagine the truth is somewhere in the middle of what the center, the kids (including the other involved student), and my own child have told me). Based on the other reviews on here I imagine the daycare will reply back back blaming me and my child as they usually do but I just recommend any new parents talk to other parents before enrolling and talk to parents with children in the upper classrooms who have had experiences. We were there 5 years before my child was expelled and as a result I also pulled my second younger child which is a shame because they loved their teachers. But I just couldn't risk them ending up in the same situation as the older sibling. If you do go here I also recommend Not letting your child move up classrooms early as they get bored quite easily and routines are the same. My child was in the last classroom since 3.5yrs old (even though its a 4&5 room) and they were learning the same things at 3.5 as 5.5yrs so there is no division in the class for different coursework based on age or intellect. We have since moved to a new daycare and my eldest is doing amazing!! They are being challenged intellectually, have had no behavioral issues, and are loved by their teachers: Either the change in centers changed my child or nothing about my child changed but the issue was with AAK. I debated posting a review but its important that parents to talk to parents. Everyone will likely have a different experience and I'm sure some people will have a wonderful 5 years there but this was just our experience and even if we are an outlier I felt it needed to be shared.

I rarely leave reviews, but I feel obligated to share my experience with the admissions process at…read moreCentral Montessori Academy. I first applied for my child on May 14, 2024, and received confirmation. Over time, I was told he was on the waiting list, and later that he was first on the waiting list. Then that there was no waitlist and administration had changed. I remained patient and continued to follow up appropriately. Since then, I have reapplied and followed up multiple times across the past two years. Most recently, I submitted another application and reached out again only to receive no response at all. I understand that staff may be out of the office at times. However, a complete lack of communication and follow-through over an extended period reflects a breakdown in process, not just timing issues. As a parent, it's frustrating and discouraging to feel like your child's application is not being actively managed. I genuinely like what this school represents, which makes this experience even more disappointing. Strong schools should have strong communication especially in admissions, where families are trying to make important decisions. At this point, it's difficult to feel confident in how prospective families are handled.

Everyone at CMA is kind, patient and loving. They make each child feel safe and confident, so they…read morecan learn without anything slowing them down. CMA has mastered authentic Montessori education (as American Montessori Society members). Not all "Montessori" schools do it right. Here, from the materials (wood, not plastic) to the environment (bright, clean, natural), to the people (warm and experienced), CMA does everything right. My family is so lucky to have this treasure in our community.

I love the teachers my daughter is 4 & she loves all her friends & teachers . They're really good…read morewith the kids & making sure us parents are aware of any & everything going on in the daycare & with our child(ren) !

My kids attend daycare and preschool here. They love it & LOVE their teachers. My daughter that…read moreattends the preschool, has learned so much this year, I am impressed.

The staff is excellent, they keep their equipment up to date, and have the best pools of any Y I've…read morebeen to.

Joining the Y last year was a fantastic decision. Cincinnati has tons of gardens and running paths…read moreto use during the fair weather months, but the winter is relatively unkind to outdoor exercise. Originally, one of the biggest perks of the Cincy Y membership was that it allowed you to use all Cincinnati branches. Now, you can go to any Ohio YMCA with your membership! Way to go! I know the membership pricing varies based on economic conditions, and while the Y certainly isn't the cheapest option, I will say they offer a lot of bang for your buck if you are willing to take advantage. Pools and saunas at most locations, fitness classes offered at all of them and at varying times, ActiveTrax to customize your fitness regime, weight rooms, workout facilities, personal coaching, and various free training programs from weight loss to competitive running to healthy eating make the YMCA not just a weight room, but a comprehensive facility for better living. I will say that while the Y offers a wonderful program for synchronized and competitive swimming, it wreaks havoc on the pool availability schedule. During the school year, expect the pool to be occupied whenever the children can be there. Even with 3 pools available at the Powel Crosley, it is difficult to discern from the schedule when the pool is open to the public. The good news? You can always call and talk to a human being.