We sent our younger kiddo to Bigelow after moving to the neighborhood and have had a wonderful experience. She's in the preschool classroom, and her teachers are incredibly creative and engaged. Bigelow is Reggio Emilia inspired, and focuses on child-led learning, so when the teachers noticed our kid and several others were interested in writing letters, they incorporated opportunities into everyday activities. Boom, our 4 year old is writing! The facilities are also lovely, and include a large shared space for gross motor play even when the weather is yucky. Most of all, we have really appreciated the community of other families, many of whom have become friends. read more

My 7yo son went to Bigelow from when he was 3yo to 5yo and now my daughter is in her 2nd year there. It is a cooperative so parents head the various committees and get to set the various policies but there is a director and teachers so nit parent run. The teachers are wonderful, creative, loving, I cant say enough good things really. They create many opportunities for children to explore and discover. Also, parents can volunteer to spend time in the classroom which is super fun. The classrooms are spacious and inviting with lots of windows and there is a giant playroom in the center of school for those days that outside play isn't an option. The school has a very large fenced yard that has trees, giant sand pit with water pump, track for biking/scooting/push alongs, and garden. It is truly a gem. read more

My daughter joined Bigelow this past fall and we couldn't be more delighted. We were at a different daycare in the somerville area previously, and always left feeling like it just wasn't excellent. On the contrary, I am constantly surprised and impressed by how awesome Bigelow is, for many reasons ... We love the teachers. They are passionate, loving, intelligent, gentle, and care deeply about their kids. Every week they explore different topics, like emotions, potty usage, siblings and more. Everyday they take the kids outside, sing songs, do art or cooking projects, and facilitate play with a huge selection of toys. The teachers are wonderful at bringing shy kids out and helping resolve issues when they arise. Likewise, we have been delighted that they even send us an email almost everyday during nap time telling us what each of the kids have been up to and some of the charming or hilarious things they say. The teachers are superstars. Likewise, we love the community. We were a little nervous about whether a coop community would be over the top, or kind of crazy, but instead we have just discovered an incredible community or balanced, loving, sensible, fun and highly invested parents. It is amazing to see parents who are architects and designers that actually designed our new school space, others who work at VCs and help run our board, ones work in yoga and come in to hands on teach the kids, and many, many others bring their unique skills to play at the school. Finally, we love the school. The space is beautiful, the students are wonderful (though really, what little kids aren't :)), and the staff is incredible. It has been a hugely rewarding experience for my daughter, my husband and I, and I strongly, without reservation, recommend Bigelow to any other parent looking for an awesome daycare!! read more

Coming to Bigelow, you not only have access to a great caring, warm and stimulating environment for you kids, but you gain a whole new family. It does not matter where you are coming from, what language you speak, you will always find tremendous support for your kids and you family, in addition to having a voice for all the decisions taken during the year. I thought it could not get better than that and yet with the planned move to Somerville in a much better and larger space (designed specifically for Bigelow) things will get even better. Too bad our kids are heading to school next year. read more

Our son started out at Bigelow when he was almost 3 years old and we've loved it ever since. We left the US for two years, and when we returned, it was a no-brainer to enroll our son here again, as well as his younger sister. Bigelow is the ideal combination of a preschool-quality education but with daycare hours for working parents (8:30-3:30, but with the possibility of 8-6). What attracted us to Bigelow when we were looking for a daycare were the teachers, and the center's celebration of diversity. (Many places tolerate diversity, but Bigelow truly believes it enriches the experience and they are absolutely right. There is a high percentage of families from different cultures which we love.) There is very low turnover among the teachers, and without exception, the teachers have years and years of experience and education in early childhood development. (We visited other places that basically had students--not necessarily of early childhood education--watching the kids.) My son is in the class of 5 year olds, and I was impressed that they were doing projects learning about simple machines. My daughter was a super clingy toddler, but her transition was amazingly easy, and now she is wanting to go more than the two days she attends! Bigelow is also an example of the adage about getting out what you put in. The parent participation portion can seem heavy (working on a committee and parent work time for 2-2.5 hours a week if you attend 4-5 days or every other week for 2-3 days), but the connection you get with the other parents and staff is really invaluable, and I don't wonder what my children do all day, I know. The teachers send email updates of the day's activities and are always available to talk. The trust that is built through this cooperative model is really irreplaceable. read more

There are a few things that really stand out for me about Bigelow: The kids all eat a hot lunch together cooked by parents (we each have to prepare lunch about once every three weeks). Every week the fantastic musician Wayne Potash comes in a plays for the kids, getting them really excited and singing and dancing around the room...a favorite activity for everyone. The teachers lie on the floor with the kids holding their hands and comforting until they fall asleep at naptime. They get to play at the fantastic Cambridge Common playground, which is right across the street. We chose Bigelow because we wanted a small cooperative preschool, Bigelow had a great reputation and it was the school that had a spot available for us! But in the two years since our son started there, we have been extremely happy. Our son takes a while warming up to new places and people and he really loves the setting, the teachers, the toys, activities, other kids. It is a warm community that works together to provide a great, safe, comforting educational experience for our kids right in Harvard Square! And now that we're getting a bigger, better space, also conveniently located in Somerville, I think Bigelow is only going to get better. read more

Teachers were amazing and facility is great. Out little one loved her end of the experience. Unfortunately current leadership is a mess in terms of using the talent, energy and time of family involvement and volunteers productively. Lots of poor communication, unclear expectations and frustrating moments as a parent trying to contribute. We left after one year because of this. read more

Our son is in his second year at Bigelow and we couldn't be happier. He has learned and developed so much under the care of the amazing, wonderful, kind, experienced teachers. I truly believe he's smarter, better behaved, and more socially and emotionally skilled because of Bigelow. Plus he loves going there and talks about it all the time. When I pick him up at day's end, I practically have to bribe him to get him to go home. He makes me drive past the building several times each weekend. Bigelow is full of fantastic kids and wonderful families. I feel so lucky to be part of the community. read more

We love Bigelow. Our daughter is in her second year there, and the thing that I appreciate the most is that Bigelow -- through its wonderful staff and extended community -- creates a warm and loving environment for her. It's hard to quantify something like warmth, but having been at another (well-regarded and professionally run) center previously, it was clear immediately that Bigelow had the nurturing and caring qualities we wanted in an environment where our daughter spends so much time. The teachers are wonderful and they do a great job providing a safe and interesting space for the children to explore. As a cooperative, Bigelow does expect a commitment from its parents, but I think the commitment required only makes the experience better for everyone. Parent time in the classroom means I get to know my daughter's classmates and teachers, while the children get to know their classmates' parents, each of whom has something different to offer. I also love the communal lunch program, which is a wonderful reflection of both the community aspects of Bigelow and its diversity. Each family prepares lunch for the class on a rotating basis, and as a result, my daughter gets exposed to a rich variety of freshly-prepared food. Finally, I also appreciate the range of schedules Bigelow offers. Families can opt to have their children there 2-5 days a week, for 3/4 days or full days. In my experience, it was not easy to find daycare centers or pre-schools that offered full-day care on a part-time basis. read more

We looked at several co-ops in Cambridge before choosing Bigelow for our then-nearly 3-year-old son. We were impressed by the staff at the school. Most have been there for several years with a few there for about 20 years, but all of them either have had formal early education teaching training or years and years of working with preschool children. The co-op does have a significant parent involvement component, but we believe that is what makes the experience at Bigelow so special. You very quickly get to know the other parents, kids, and staff so you feel good knowing that your child will be in caring and capable hands while you are away. Bigelow also stood out for its true celebration of diversity. Some other preschools we looked at seemed to "tolerate" diversity but Bigelow truly welcomes it and sees it as enriching the school and its community. The communal lunch (each family cooks and brings in lunch for the classroom once every 2-4 weeks) is a fun way that diversity is shared. Kids get to try different foods and see how other families eat. For example, one family brought in a traditional Rosh Hashanah meal the week of the holiday. We've brought our 4-month old with us to the community meetings and the fall work weekend and everyone was very accommodating and welcoming. We also like how Bigelow has the quality of a pre-school, but the schedule of a daycare--open 12 months instead of just 9 months as most pre-schools are. Parents can choose the standard 3/4 day from 8:30-3:30 or add on extended day (3:30-5:30). There is also early morning drop off (from 8am) and late pickup (until 6pm) to fit the schedule of working parents. I think any family who would like to see preschool as an enlarging and enriching experience, and wants to be involved with their child's preschool experience can find no better place than Bigelow. Additional Note: Bigelow is moving to a huge new space which is convenient to Porter Sq and Harvard Sq for the 2012-13 school year with dedicated parking spots, so we only anticipate Bigelow getting better! read more

We were only in Somerville for a year due to a one-year appointment at MIT. But, Bigelow was one of the highlights. We were welcomed with open arms by an incredible community of parents, many of whom had been sending their kids to Bigelow since they were three-months-old. Our son joined the "Rainbow 3" classroom with kids who showed him how Bigelow was a home away from home. The curriculum is a mix of play and projects, with many choices from painting to numbers to building blocks to dress ups open to the kids. We were lucky to have Becca, one of the veteran teachers, who was the glue of the classroom. We adore her. She and her co-teachers were always coming up with new and creative projects for the kids. We also loved the "work time" component, as we got to know the kids in our son's class, and other parents got to know our son. It was pretty special to have relationships with all the children, separate from playdates. There was some teacher turnover during our year, including a search for a new director. But, with the strong parent and teacher community, I'm confident the school will continue to help kids thrive. Also, the outdoor space is amazing. They take the kids on walks to local parks and playgrounds, but they also have their own space to run around in, play, ride bikes and work on the garden. It was a wonderful first school experience for our son. We will miss our Bigelow family when we move back to California. read more

We love this school. Both of our children have attended and we can't say enough about the loving atmosphere and the amazing families that we have met. We can leave our children there with no concern about their well being and safety. In fact, our second child, who is there now barely gives us a second look when we drop her off in the morning. read more

Bigelow is truly a special place! This is my family's 5th year at Bigelow. My oldest daughter went through all 3 classrooms and my youngest daughter is now in their preschool room. What truly sets Bigelow apart is the dedicated team of teachers as well as the wonderful community of parents. It is such a fun place to be that when I am dropping my daughter off in the morning, I feel sad that I also cannot spend the whole day there as well. When I am at work, I never worry about my child's well being. I know she is having fun, safe and well taken care of. Getting her to leave in the afternoon can be a challenge because after a full day at Bigelow, she is still having fun. read more

My daughter is in her fourth year at Bigelow. She races through the doors in the morning and is a little reluctant to leave in the afternoon when it's time for her after school activity. Her love of the center is why we enrolled our 1.5 year old son there this fall. We know he will grow to love the school as much as his sister. The teachers are wonderful and warm and nurturing, but Bigelow offers the children even more by having loving parents in the room for most of the day as well. It's a cliche, but it is true that it takes a village to raise a child. Bigelow is the epitome of the concept. read more

Bigelow was a great choice for our family. Because it's a cooperative day care, parents have the opportunity to have first-hand exposure to the educational and social setting their child is experiencing. It has been incredibly rewarding to see our son grow and thrive in this community. The teaching staff is excellent, and the cooperative aspect really helps parents appreciate the talent, creativity, and professionalism the teachers bring to this program. Staff retention at Bigelow is very strong, which is unusual for preschool education as a whole, and a testament to the commitment of the teachers to Bigelow and the children. The educational philosophy stresses free play and our son was enthusiastic about going to school on his "Bigelow" days. We can't say enough about our positive experiences with this school! read more

We love Bigelow! Our daughter has been at Bigelow since she was 11 months old, and she really loves it there. On the weekends, she asks us if she can go to Bigelow and see her friends and teachers. All of her teachers have been wonderful -- caring, engaged professionals who show enormous affection for the children in their classrooms and are also very supportive of the parents of those children. Because it is a cooperative, the school feels like an extension of our home, which I think is why our daughter feels so comfortable and happy there. An additional benefit of the cooperative is getting to know the other families and making friends with folks from many backgrounds and cultures. It's a very special place. read more