I am 24 years old now. I routinely think about Robin and this pre-school. I can't believe I…read moreremember anything. I think what resonated, is that they prepare kids to learn and adapt, so we can become the adult we were meant to be. It's easy to keep a child busy and entertained. Working with kids and treating them with respect, showing them how to learn on their own, is what pre-school should be for everybody. I had a very difficult time with my parents - I struggled for independence for literally no reason. Robin never talked down to me, and helped me cope with the very difficult task of being a toddler. The friends I made, especially Sophia(I love you) are lifelong and foundational. I had to say something - looking at my life, Sarah Lawrence was a key developmental period. I hope my children have the same opportunity as I did. This is where your kid can love learning. THANK YOU ROBIN!!! There will be nothing but blessings in your life. From a very very grateful student.

Sarah Lawrence College's Early Childhood Center is a progressive, lab school community for…read morepreschool-aged children. It's child-centered and play-based. My child started the 2s program this fall (2014) and I couldn't be happier with our experience. Everyone-from the Director to the teachers to the receptionist-is not only incredibly loving and warm but also child development nerds. These people know children. Deeply. The people at the ECC are true professionals. They have graduate degrees in early childhood education, many have been teaching for decades, and they all love a good geek-out on anything kid related. Anytime I bring up a topic I'm interested whomever I am speaking with pulls out books, recommends films, and sends me articles about the topic. They are not inly knowledgeable about how children learn and develop but they are passionate about it. I've learned so much about how children learn and process their world and can truly say that I am a better parent for being part of this community. For example I never knew how important narrative play was. Ever since we started the ECC I now try to narrate and get my child to narrate what he is doing when he is playing. His verbal, storytelling, and memory skills have developed so much. On the subject of play- this school takes play very, very seriously. Much child development research indicates that play is of tantamount importance-it is how children learn and develop the skills and foundation for later life success. The book Children's Play: The Roots of Reading by Edward Zigler is a great place to to start your overview of the research. For more on the topic of play being the work of children check out a TEDx talk by an ECC graduate student https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7y6ZgQCnvw If you are looking for a place that does flashcard drills and gives 3 year olds homework, look elsewhere. This is not an "academic" preschool. This is a preschool where children are given the space and opportunity to be children and learn in developmentally appropriate ways, which research shows prepares them so well for later academic study. It is also a place where your child will develop their love and passion for learning. My child is so excited about school-it's the best part of our week. It's truly breathtaking to see his curiosity nurtured and to know that his first experience with school is joyous and fun-he hasn't gotten the joy and curiosity beaten out of him in the name of Common Core and standardized testing. The community is very diverse-economically, socially, ethnically, and racially and my child is exposed to what the real world looks like. Families come from as south as the Upper West Side and as north as Brewster. ECC families represent the full economic and social spectrum of the US, an achievement that is sadly too rare in the highly stratified society of New York. Families are very involved-it truly feels like a community. The Parents Association is active and sponsors several activities throughout the year for both children and adults that are always well attended and enjoyed. I think it's a great alternative and even superior option in some ways to Bank Street or Barnard's Toddler Center for upper Manhattan and Bronx families because it has more space and outdoor play areas. Children go outside to play in the expansive play areas every class day even in cold weather. The 2s program does require a parent/primary caregiver -can't be a secondary caregiver- to attend with the child the whole year. This only works if one or more parents have flexible jobs or stay at home. I structured my work schedule to be able to accompany my child but not everyone has that privilege. Starting in the 3s program children are dropped off but in accordance with the school philosophy each child separates at their own pace. Lastly, the ECC is a lab school-one of the oldest of it's kind. It serves as a laboratory environment for undergraduate and graduate students. There are always one or several students in addition to teachers and teacher assistants in the classroom. Their main objective is to study and learn from the children but having so many adults in the classroom provides for amazing one-on-one attention. Students (undergrads/grads) are always supervised and mentored by the teacher in the classroom.

If you need a daycare spot do your family a favor and get in touch with Brilliant Futures! This is…read moreour 4th daycare in the area (due to unanticipated closures of others) and we were so nervous to have our little one readjust yet again. But the staff at Radcliff Ave are absolutely wonderful. Communication is transparent both in person and via the Brightwheel app. The comfort of updates throughout the day includes pictures, videos and messaging with staff. It is clear the kids participate in activities everyday and that the monthly curriculum updates are adhered to. Balanced meals are offered, naptime is consistent, health policy is clear and followed, and the staff's dedication to the safety and happiness of the kids is evident. We couldn't be happier with our decision.

Our son started the daycare when he was 4 month old, and from the first moment we appreciated the…read morecare and the love to welcoming him. I trusted them every single moment since that I was seeing every day my son happy to go school, happy to stay there. Now he is 3 years old and I have seen all the impressive learning/speaching improvements that he made. We loved every single activity, stimulation, support, care in the food selection and outside activity. Lovely and accomplished teachers, clean and safe place.I highly recommend this place. I can't think of a better place than the BF.

Bronxville Montessori (BMS) is a hidden gem. Our family moved nearby last year, and we were a bit…read moreconcerned about being able to find a high quality preschool. My husband works in education, and we're both very focused on the impact of an educational environment on the development of young children. After seeing several daycares and preschools in the area, we visited BMS and knew it was the program for us. Our daughter, almost 3, just made the cutoff to get into the mixed age classroom. BMS has almost a magical quality about it - The head of the school, Deborah, runs an excellent operation. From having kind, passionate, well trained teachers, to fostering a secure, collaborative, learning environment for the children, we could not be happier with our experience at BMS. While I could go on about the different best practices I've seen there, I think the most important proof is in the pudding... Since starting at BMS, our daughter has grown wonderfully. She's become more thoughtful, conscientious, and engaged. She's excited to go to school in the morning, and models the behaviors they foster there, outside of school (curiosity about the world, empathy, cleaning up after herself, and more). To us, Bronxville Montessori maintains the perfect balance of lots of play (creative and physical), some traditional classroom instruction, and character focused activities/norms. Of course there's work on the parents' part to help foster a similar environment at home, but we feel BMS has helped lay an excellent foundation for our daughter. We recommend the school to all our local friends (one just enrolled their toddler in the 2s program). We have also been very happy with their ability to reopen for the 2020/2021 school year, and with all the precautions they're taking to ensure a safe environment amidst COVID-19. The 3-5 age class students wear masks inside and outside, are screened every morning, practice frequent hand-washing, follow social distancing measures inside the classroom, and more. The pandemic has been extra challenging for all our children, and since returning to BMS after the pandemic school lockdown, our now almost-4-year-old has has been progressing back to her more normal state - happier, less anxious, fewer meltdowns, etc.

Me and my wife enrolled our son in this montessori school about 2 years ago.The first year was…read morekinda ok,i would say it was great but the teachers they employe are not really worth the amount of many you pay for tuition.At 15,000 a year plus all the donations they constantly ask for they should really have better teachers.With a ratio of 6 to 1 they should be aware and on top of what each kid needs.That didn't happen the first year as our teacher had to be pulled from the class room for speaking to parents as thou they were friends of hers and not adults with children there.Very Bad communication skills with parents.The second year got even worse.Again you expect certain level of professionalism for what you pay for a 3-6 year old to go to this school but not the case.This time the teacher we got was very snarky and also answered disrespectfully to my wife on several occasions.Again not professional at all.During the second year they had a child in the class that liked to go after kids.Push punch bite whatever the case.Now i know kids play but this is continuous and for what you pay and the 6 to 1 ratio What are you paying for?This child ended up picking up scissors to cut my child's hair and paperwork and no one did nothing.They said "It was a misunderstanding"What's to misunderstand the kid and parents should have been dealt with but a school that is private,if you have a few kids maybe that will attend in future they will close an eye which they did.Unfortunately because of one uncontrollable child i had to pull my child from the school.Its not the first time it's happened at this school.I will be contacting the licensing board in the next couple of weeks or when they are available to discuss this kind of teaching and behavior.I would not recommend you send your child here as you might have to pay a lot to worry and be ignored if something comes up.For the money there are better options out there than this especially for s child

Staff are very personable and maintain a family oriented environment for both children and parents…read more Enjoy how they meet the needs of my child.

Great staff and early care program. My son is 2 and he loves the staff at Early Care Preschool…read more They are very friend and nice. They go above and beyond to ensure that my son is happy, comfortable and is learning. They are good at what they do.

There was an obese roach that attacked my child when she was in seventh grade at ICS. We told the…read moreschool and they did nothing about it. My child is still traumatized to this DAY. She now has to go to therapy, and has had multiple episodes since the incident. Would not recommend!

horrible school my son was there 3 years ago and was treated…read morehorribly by principal, staff and teachers. we pulled our son out in the middle of the school year. He has been on the A honor roll and excelling in every way since we transitioned from that disgusting horrible ENVIRONMENT! I feel they were Racist!

Wonderful staff! Clean, educational and very nurturing…read more.. Awesome job

This learning center is for kids 2.5 through pre-k. It is very clean and organized, the staff are…read morekind, patient, and very professional (but still really warm and affectionate). They eat healthy meals and play outdoors every day in a beautiful back yard (so hard to find in NYC). There is also an age appropriate curriculum that is made available to parents. The staff (and the owner Angie, who is awesome) will meet with parents to go over key developmental milestones and where parents might want to focus attention. We were so sad to leave!

Really like this school for my kids. Ladies are wonderful and loving. The kids get lunch…read moreand snacks and are well taken care of. Ms Noel is understanding and communicates with the parents. I actual had my daughter in another pre-K programs in which director never once met me and only communicated via email so this is a nice welcoming chan Follow up - make sure you review the contract and make copies and keep for your records !