If there were a Yelp for toddler happiness and IQ growth, Gateway Daycare and Home Preschool would…read morehave more stars than the sticker charts in Nayana's classroom. Nayana isn't just a caretaker... she's a toddler whisperer, snack sommelier, and tiny human growth architect all rolled into one. Somehow, she manages to create a space where our kids feel loved, seen, challenged, and gently nudged toward being actual geniuses. Thanks to her thoughtful curriculum, they're hitting (and let's be honest, crushing) every developmental milestone like it's a competitive sport. Letters? They know them all. Numbers? Counted, sorted, and probably color-coded. Shapes? Mastered. Arts and crafts? We're not sure if they're learning or training to become Etsy entrepreneurs. There are so many masterpieces coming home, we've had to annex fridge space and consider installing a tiny gallery wall. She wraps learning in play so seamlessly that the kids don't even realize their brains are growing faster than their shoe sizes. And the best part? They love every minute of it. Drop-offs are easy, pick-ups are joyful, and she provides nutritious snacks and meals (which is a significant stress reliever)!! Nayana has made Gateway the gold standard of early education and care. We don't know how she does it -- but we're endlessly grateful that she does.

Nayana has truly been a blessing to our family. With major health challenges and countless doctor's…read moreappointments, we were feeling overwhelmed, but she made everything so much easier for us. She cares for our toddler as if she were her own--providing healthy meals, cozy sleeping cots and blankets, endless toys both indoors and outdoors in her spacious backyard, and engaging, age-appropriate learning activities. She even makes payments simple with Zelle, which is such a thoughtful convenience. Although this was a temporary arrangement, our toddler absolutely loves spending time with Nayana and the other children. Her dedication, flexibility, and genuine love for the kids have given us so much peace of mind. Nayana, we are deeply grateful for all you've done for our family. Thank you for caring for our little one during such a difficult time--you are truly appreciated!

[Review #248] 2018 Yelp 100 Challenge (11/100)…read more GD&HP did not have any infant openings, so I was referred to Christine de Mel by her colleague, who also happens to be my daughter's former preschool teacher. And because of this connection, I felt I could trust Christine without a "formal" interview. Christine's Infant Care provides an intimate home daycare setting for infants & toddlers. While licensed for more children, Christine, aka Ms. D, chooses to limit 4 children under her care. The interior space is small but neatly organized for feeding, diaper changing, napping, playtime, & learning. The backyard is stocked with scoot cars, a water table, & other outdoor toys that are age-appropriate for your child. Parents are responsible for: diapers; wipes; diaper cream; lip balm; food, snacks, & milk; sunscreen; extra clothes; bibs & burp cloths; & crib sheets. Pros: 1) great hours (7:00 AM-6:00 PM), especially for working parents; 2) clean home/facility; 3) time-off/holidays that coincide with work schedule (New Year's Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (Thursday & Friday), Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve), & there's no charge when Christine is ill or takes a vacation; 4) child may take up to 5 school days/calendar year at half price; 5) competitive tuition & low application fee; 6) low enrollment = more attention to your child; 7) daily log of your child's feeding, diaper changing, & napping schedule (I'm very Type A, so I LOVE this because I can keep tabs on my son's day); 8) on occasion she will text you some pics of their daily activities or special occasion pic (I LOVE our 2017 holiday pic of the kids... SO ADORABLE!); 9) Ms. D will work with you & your baby's needs (e.g. my son had a bad night & woke up early, she fed him earlier to start his nap earlier & he took a longer nap... I knew he did make-up the loss of sleep at naptime because he no longer has dark circles under his eyes; another example, we were transitioning to sippy cups & he didn't finish milk so she suggested to keep his milk in the bottles & practice drinking water in sippy cups or cups... his bottles came back empty); 10) as your child gets closer to preschool, s/he will learn new skills/develop existing ones: how to self-feed; how to play with others & how to share (I found that in a smaller group, it has been easier for my son to "give up" a toy & share than when he's in a larger group); the alphabet & colors, how to count, etc. (I noticed a drastic improvement in my son's vocabulary from our story time discussions & his care at CIC; at 2 years old, my son can string 3-7 word sentences, not always grammatically correct but he is ahead of his neighborhood peers, but he has a lot to say... ;-) hehehe). Cons: 1) you're responsible for your child's snacks & lunch (my daughter's infant daycare had provided her meals & milk for the babies older than 1, & I only provided breastmilk until she weaned herself; that was a MAJOR bonus & timesaver for us); 2) your child may be photographed or video recorded while at the daycare & the images/videos may be uploaded on its website (by your enrollment, you consent to release of all media)... I'm mostly ok by this because her website isn't mainstream but some parents may have an issue so I'm pointing this out in case they didn't read the contract thoroughly. Overall, Christine's Infant Care is 4-1/2 stars; 1/2 star deduction for the snacks & meals, otherwise CIC would be perfect. When we're overwhelmed, we've either forgot our son's lunch or his food altogether :-*( so it would be a major advantage if food is provided. If you're unable to be a stay-at-home parent & need to find a trusted & quality care provider for your child, then look not further than Christine's Infant Care... I highly recommend Ms. D to look after your precious baby.

Christine's Infant Care is one of the best in the area. What sets this place apart from the rest is…read moretheir strong emphasis on safety. Christine stays up to date on all the newest guidelines and has all the proper safety equipment needed. I'm confident that she is well trained to handle any possible situation.

I feel very fortunate that my son was a part of this daycare for almost 4 years. He started here at…read morejust 4 months old. I loved the daycare so much that I kept him there until it was time to start TK. From his infant stages, Shiromi made sure that he was well-fed, had good sleep/nap habits, and given plenty of loving attention. The daycare is very clean, temperature is checked daily, and all toddlers wash their hands. This daycare is so clean that my son never got sick from here; he only got sick if we took him out in public or if his older brother brought home a disease from school. Once my son entered his toddler years, Shiromi was on top of it with his milestones. Shiromi knows what toddlers are capable of, and she starts teaching academic concepts at age 1. I have videos of my son being able to recognize/say the whole alphabet, numbers, and all colors by the time he was 18 months old! I don't know how she does it, but the education that toddlers receive here is very impressive! I think that's one of the advantages of a small daycare setting; plenty of attention and great education! I provided a preschool workbook and she was able to have my son complete it at age 3. He's 4 years old now, has just started TK, he can read site words and short words, and he can do some math; all of these are skills that are usually accomplished at the end of Kindergarten. My son is well-prepare for school thanks to Shiromi. I also love the little crafts/art, STEM toys, story time, dance time, and holiday parties done at this daycare. It was a very fun, nurturing, and educational environment for my son to grow up in. My son is having a blast in TK right now, but he still misses Shiromi and has the best memories of his time growing up there. This daycare is a true gem and I am forever grateful for everything Shiromi has done for my son.

Our daughter Gracelyn spent two and a half wonderful years at Shiromi's daycare, and we couldn't be…read moremore thankful for the experience. The love, care, and affection she received here have shaped her into who she is today. As parents, it gave us complete peace of mind knowing she was in the best hands away from home. From day one, Shiromi went above and beyond. She helped establish a healthy sleep pattern, encouraged good eating habits, and always made sure children who weren't feeling well stayed home to protect others. Safety and well-being are always her top priorities. What we appreciate most is how much personal attention each child receives. Shiromi takes the time to understand their needs, talents, and interests -- whether it's recognizing when a child might need special care, encouraging their strengths, or guiding them to be social, responsible, and respectful of others' boundaries. She also keeps parents well-informed with clear, thoughtful communication about their child's progress and daily experiences, which we found incredibly reassuring. Gracey had so much fun during her time here, while also learning and growing emotionally, intellectually, and socially. She made wonderful friends and created memories that will last a lifetime. Shiromi's attention to detail, nurturing nature, and dedication to every child's growth is unmatched. We feel truly blessed to have found her daycare, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to any parent seeking a safe, loving, and enriching environment for their children.

We have had the most wonderful experience with our son at Covey Family Child Care and absolutely…read morelove Sylvina. We are sad having our son leave to go to preschool, but we highly recommend her and when we have our next baby, we will be back.

Mrs. Covey is sweet and loving. We put our 9 month old son in her daycare and he loved it so much…read morehe wasn't ready to come home if we picked him up early. She is attentive and communicated with us anytime we had a questions. The price was really affordable compared to other places as well. I'd recommend her to anyone. We moved out of state and were sad to leave.

Where do I even begin. Miss Dilu and Miss Dil of Fern Family Daycare they are like our second…read morefamily! The passion, dedication, and love for what they do shows right through how they interact with the children in their care. Our first born son came into their care when he was a little over 10 months old. Prior to committing to Fern family daycare, we spoke to Ms Dilu, and she showed us the day care and spoke to us of what they do. She pretty much walk us through what we will be expecting as we left our eldest in their care, which was very reassuring as a first time mom. Our eldest had a few health issues, especially with allergies, but they were very accommodating and caring towards him. They helped him grow into a happy and sweet boy, who likes to play outside and sing. Aside from their care towards our eldest, they also extended their time and care to us, the parents. When I was pregnant with my second, I had to do an earlier c-section than what was planned, and they were there supporting us. Came our second son, he came in to their care when he was a little over 5 months old, and they welcomed him with open arms. Our second, as he learned to walk, he was very curious and likes to explore. Per Ms Dil, he was very independent and curious, so they would keep an extra eye on him. Our second born is quite the handful, but still they regard him as a very inquisitive, active, and happy boy. Our eldest spent his toddler years in their care, and, when he started Pre-K and until now, he would still say "Ms Dilu and Ms Dil will go to his school together." When we would pick up our youngest, prior to him starting preschool, our eldest would like to come down and say hi to Ms Dilu and Ms Dil and give them a hig hug. Now that both our boys are in school, it makes us appreciate all they have done for the boys and our family. Honestly, we don't know how we would have done it without Ms Dilu and Ms Dil. Everyday we are thankful that we found them, and they have played a huge part of our boys and our lives. Their thoughtfulness, love, and care for what they do makes it a bitter sweet goodbye. Our family loves Fern Family Day care, especially Ms Dilu and Ms Dil!

Ahh the idea of day care especially as a new mother was quite stressful to think about! Thankfully,…read morea friend of mine brought all four of her children here so I was at A's bringing my daughter. She was 13mo old when she started but Dilu and ms Dils were amazing they took care of her with so much love and care. She also learned so much while being there like her colors and alphabets and behavioral aspects like sharing and much more. I ended up taking my daughter to a preschool when she was two and half because she was advance for her age and we had a school much closer to our house but I believe her transition to preschool went so smooth because of the seed that was sown at Fern Daycare! We have a new baby on the way and so grateful we have a go to daycare! Also they do alot of arts and crafts of course with lots of help from the teachers :)

We are so incredibly grateful for the care and dedication the teachers have shown to our 4-year-old…read moredaughter. Since joining the school, she has learned so much- from developing her writing skills to expressing her creativity through drawing. It is wonderful to see how much she has grown. We are truly appreciative of all the hard work the staff puts in every single day to support her development. As she prepares to graduate, we find ourselves reflecting on what a positive experience this has been; we will truly miss this school and the wonderful community here. Thank you for providing such a loving and educational environment.

As my daughter wraps up her time at St. Abraam Preschool Academy, I'm compelled to come back and…read moregush about the incredible TK experience she had in Ms. Amany's class. Every stage of the academy prepared her for the exceptional academic growth she was about to experience. In the past nine months she has progressed tremendously and has even surpassed kids in her age group and above in math, English, and sciences. She is well prepared to begin her formal academic journey, and I am so grateful to St. Abraam Preschool Academy for that. When it was time to consider where my son was going to go for daycare and preschool there wasn't even any hesitation that this was the best place for him. Beyond grateful for my children to enjoy this safe, loving, and nurturing environment.

Jeanette and her staff are beyond amazing. I don't know what I would have done without this home…read moredaycare. My daughter started with Jeannette at 2.5 and didn't speak much. She was shy and reserved. Jeannette not only helped my daughter come out of her she'll, but by the time she was ready for Transitional Kindergarten, my daughter knew all of her letters, addition, subtraction, most kindergarten sight words, and she was communicating in complete sentences. My son Ian began at 1. He knows so much about everything, has a love for books, and makes friends easily. We just moved to Riverside and he started a private school here. The teacher raves about how well he understands how to walk in a line, shares, and knows so much. I am grateful to Jeannette for helping me raise my babies to be compassionate and articulate, and for preparing them for school.

This review is way overdue...Both of our girls started attending Balsz Family Daycare as soon as…read morethey turned 3 months. We initially found them on Yelp, met with them and felt good about it so decided to give them a try. Turned out it was the best decision we made. Leaving a newborn with someone else is never easy, whether you are a first time parents or not. Jeanette took her time in her busy day to send us pictures and videos of our daughters and let us know how they were doing. If things were a bit hectic during the day she made sure to update us via text or in person during pick up. My girls learned so much at Balsz Family Daycare. Jeanette incorporated learning time in activities such as role playing, singing, reading, arts and crafts and games to name a few. If she noticed something that my daughters needed to improve, she worked with them, told us what exactly she was doing to help them and encouraged us to do the same at home. Jeanette was always open to our suggestions and requests as well. Jeanette prepared healthy homemade meals and snacks (breakfast, mid-morning snacks, lunch and afternoon snacks) daily so we never had to worry about packing food (except bottles and baby food when they were super little). This was a huge plus for us. Our girls were always very happy to see Jeanette and Melina (meeting Melina at Balsz Family Daycare was another huge blessing to us) in the morning when we dropped them off. It truly was their second home. We made the decision to transition our girls to a full time Japanese speaking preschool when they turned 2 to improve their Japanese language skills, but if this school was not an option for us, we would have definitely stayed with Balsz Family Daycare. We are very thankful for everything they have done for our family. Highly recommend!

Mariel has helped care for our daughter from 3 months to nearly 3 years old, and she's been an…read moreincredible--and truly irreplaceable--part of our lives. She's thoughtful, endlessly patient, and reliable--always creating a calm, engaging environment with meaningful activities and consistent care. We trust her completely and continue to feel so supported as first-time parents. As a mom herself, with prior teaching experience and specialized training, she understands kids deeply and strikes a great balance of structure, creativity, and kindness. Now that our daughter is starting school, there's no question--we'll go to Mariel first when we need care again, and we know we will. If you're looking for somewhere your child will be truly cared for, supported, and encouraged as they grow, look no further--you've found it.

Mariel at Bay Buddies has been so kind and great. From the moment I stepped into the daycare for a…read moretour, I noticed just how clean and baby friendly the space was from the main play area to the outdoor backyard that has a great children's play set. Mariel was very thorough in explaining to us the daily routine for the babies and all the things she does to keep them safe. The tuition price is very fair especially for the flexibility of the time and dates that our daughter attends and that was something that was very hard to find at other preschools/daycares. We feel very good about sending our daughter here, knowing that she is being cared for with love and thoughtfulness. Mariel's prior background in teaching is also a huge plus!