My child attended DIG from age 2 years 10 months to 3 years 11 months and we were both completely…read morehappy with this decision. She had never been in the care of anyone besides her parents or two grandmothers until DIG. I was so worried about how my child would be treated somewhere, and this was the place I trusted to drop my child off for the first time. The teachers treat the children with respect and give them freedom while keeping them safe. The (real dirt) yard is one of the best. It is indoor/outdoor free-flowing, and surprise surprise, my child chose to spend most of her day outside. She loved being barefoot all day - shoes are optional. It feels tranquil and is fully shaded, I never put sunscreen on her. There is a pet bunny rabbit and a raised garden bed, slide, outdoor "kitchen," tricycles, trucks, dinosaurs, a water table, and DIG even spent a full week or two replacing the yard ground completely after the Palisades fires, which I deeply appreciated. There is also a tinkering room, pillow room, and light room. This is play-based and not an academic program, which is exactly what a 2 or 3 year old needs. My child did not attend for 4+ years old so I can't speak to that. After her time at DIG, my child went straight into TK at SMMUSD and is doing great there too. Take a tour - the day I took a tour I felt good and that tells you everything. ~ Edited to add: How could I not have mentioned the parent support group offered for free with a certified social worker who is aligned in philosophy! This a wonderful benefit! And, your child can play on the yard while you attend! DIG might not be ideal for you if your child still naps. It is possible to do, but there will probably be only 1 or 2 children who do (there is a room with bed where they can do that) but there is not a "class nap" culture. My child had already dropped her nap when we started, so I was specifically looking for a school who wouldn't try to force her to nap or force her to stay quiet and still while others napped, and so DIG was perfect for us in this regard.

We feel incredibly grateful to have found DIG Childhood Center. From the very beginning, the…read moreenvironment has been warm, nurturing, and thoughtfully designed for young children to truly thrive. The teachers are exceptional -- attentive, patient, and genuinely invested in each child's development. It's clear they take the time to understand every child's personality, helping them grow. My son looks forward to going every day, which says everything. What stands out most is the balance between structure and creativity. The program encourages curiosity, independence, and confidence, while still providing a safe and consistent routine. The communication with parents is also excellent -- I always feel informed, included, and reassured. The space itself is beautiful, clean, and intentionally set up to inspire learning through play. You can tell there is a strong philosophy behind everything they do. If you're looking for a preschool that truly cares and goes above and beyond, DIG Childhood Center is an absolute gem. We couldn't be happier with our experience.

This is my daughter's third year at Tree House. We started her right when she turned two. It's…read morereally been the most wonderful experience; Julianne and her teachers take a very wholistic approach to educating. School was very play-based, and I watched my daughter grow an incredible amount these last three years. (Not to mention, the school has amazing hours and flexible schedules that include half days and part time!)

Our family loves The Tree House School! The biggest reason being that our 3 year old son wakes up…read moreevery school day screaming "It's school day!" over and over with so much excitement. We toured a dozen pre-schools ( I know it probably sounds a bit overboard), and the The Tree House School was head and shoulders above the rest. We love their laid back approach, and their willingness to listen to parents concerns. They have a great curriculum where each week there is a new fun and interesting theme. Our son comes home super excited and tells us all about his day. The teachers are all easy to talk to and very kind. They have an age appropriate approach where they allow the kids to learn and explore activities and friendships through play. Also, our son loves playing outside, and The Tree House School has the biggest play yard of any school we toured in the area. They have a giant sand box, swings, a garden, a large tree house, a wooden home, tons of tractors, oversized dinosaurs and giant wooden blocks. When I visit it makes we wish I attended this school when I was a kid. I am super happy we found this amazing school!

We took a tour the other day. They are a top notch organization. Brittany was great to work with…read more The facilities were great and safe. All the kids seemed to be having so much fun. We didn't end up sending our daughter here, but only because there wasn't an opening in the age group we needed when we needed it to be. But I wanted to post a review because I liked it so much.

Such incredible teachers and staff that make our beloved boy feel safe, loved, and cared for…read more They're so creative with all their lessons, organized with weekly themes, prompt to respond anytime we have questions or concerns, and very engaged with each child. Our parent/teacher conference was so encouraging to know that the things we see and the things we teach align with how the teachers here encourage our child. We couldn't have asked for a better experience when we sent our firstborn here. It's also extremely affordable for how amazing the school is so thank you!!!

My son went to this school for two years and I can't recommend it enough. We searched and toured…read morepreschools while I was pregnant and after discovering the first school we knew we had found the perfect place for him. The teachers and staff are all so wonder and caring. (Especially Teacher Lucy) This school is a loving, safe community for parents and children. They even helped guide us into the right elementary school.

So, it's been almost two decades since I was a student here, but I still have such fond memories of…read morethe First School. Everyday was a different activity (from gardening to learning about dinosaurs) and the teachers were incredible. Every afternoon we were sent home with a piece of masking tape on our shirts stating what we'd done that day so our folks would know. --- Take Big Blue Bus #8.

We have 2 children attending Hill and Dale, one at the Learning Center and one at the Discovery…read moreCenter. They have only been at H&D for a few months, but we have already noticed a drastic growth in their behavior and development. Before we even applied to H&D, the Admin team made us feel like a part of the community. Heather, Ashley, Zulma and Agatha are absolutely wonderful. The teachers are special and have made meaningful connections with our kids. We are grateful for the level of communication, and the teachers love to share stories about our kids when we pick them up. Some of the other ways H&D stands out is their extended hours (7:30am - 6:00pm) and the lunch program. This has been incredibly important for our family because we are working parents. I can't say enough about the lunch program. It's been a pleasant surprise to see our strong-willed children serving themselves and enjoying different kinds of food. We love to see how happy our kids are here and feel lucky to be part of the H&D community.

Both our daughter and son attended Hill & Dale in the infant and toddler rooms and we cannot say…read moreenough wonderful things about the school or the program. The nutrition program is a true highlight and we credit it with opening our kids up to lots of flavors. The teachers are so collaborative and truly care about each of the kids. The school itself is a wonderful community with lots of nice/welcoming parents. We cannot recommend this program enough!

The Early Years School is truly a special place. We have had the absolute best experience with them…read moreand couldn't recommend it more highly. One of our sons has already graduated, and our younger son is still happily attending, which really says everything about how much we trust and love this place. TEYS' approach sticks out in how much they listen to and respect the children. It has never felt like a place where the kids are dropped off and left to figure things out. Rather, the students are encouraged to make informed choices and ask questions about why and what's next. Their individuality and independence are front and center, but they're also learning to coexist with their friends in a productive way. Conflict is always resolved from a place of respect and understanding. The teachers and staff are incredibly caring, attentive, and truly invested in each child. I could write a paragraph about each teacher individually and the bonds they've created with our kids. In addition, they are extremely thorough in their approach and go to great lengths to deep dive into anything related to early childhood development. It feels like they have researched everything on the topic to the benefit of our children. Our older son thrived here both socially and emotionally, and we saw such beautiful growth in his confidence, independence, and love of learning during his time at the school. When he first started, he was timid and insecure, because we unfortunately had tried attending two other schools that were nothing like Early Years. Watching him graduate felt like watching another person from who he was walking in. Now seeing our younger son walk in excited every day reassures us all over again that this is a truly exceptional environment. At the time of writing this, we are traveling, but our son still asks to go to "yellow group" every day. Now that our daughter has made her way into the world, there's no question about where she'll be spending her early years *wink* The communication with parents has always been supportive and the classrooms are warm, clean, nurturing, and thoughtfully structured. It's worth noting that one of the teachers is an art teacher, so their art room alone makes me as an adult want to go back to preschool. I heard another alum mom say "maybe they don't have a ton of jungle gyms, but they helped shape my child into a good person" and that's what we all want, right? Early Years feels like a community, not just a school. We are so grateful for the foundation it has given our children and for the love and care they receive every single day.

Both of my children attended The Early Years School and are now 31 and 28. Looking back, I can see…read morejust how profound the school's influence has been. Beyond providing an outstanding education, The Early Years helped them develop self-awareness, confidence, empathy, and resilience. They learned to navigate conflict with respect, communicate thoughtfully, and build strong, lasting personal and professional relationships. Those skills have served them well throughout college, their careers, and adulthood. They also left with a strong sense of curiosity, integrity, and trust in themselves that has given them the confidence to pursue meaningful work and fulfilling lives. The teachers and community created an extraordinary environment where children were truly known, valued, and encouraged to become their best selves. I remain deeply grateful for the lifelong foundation The Early Years gave our family.

As a parent of three beautiful girls, I am very selective and intentional about where I leave my…read morechildren. Ideally, I want my kids to always be with me, so finding a school that aligned with my values, one that would support my children, nurture their spirits, see them as individuals, and meet them where they are was AND is essential to me. Westside Waldorf is able to deliver exactly that, for me and for my children. It is an education rooted in nurturing the whole child and their inner spirit, helping that spirit be seen, be held, and be nurtured all while teaching them how to navigate the world through their senses and age-appropriate development. This approach truly makes me feel like I am collaborating with the school in raising my children. In my opinion, this is some of the best education available in Los Angeles, and I would not dream of taking my children anywhere else. My sweet babies thrive in this environment of nature, grounding, and child-centered learning. I am so proud to be a part of this school community, and I highly recommend it.

Our daughter is thriving at Westside Waldorf! She is confident, happy, and free to be herself. The…read moreteachers, the philosophy, and the environment all support the children in a very intimate and loving way. Each child's individual spirit is celebrated and nurtured. The curriculum reflects the natural rhythms of life. We are very grateful to have found this school after a long search.

Yelp criteria for five stars is "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" Our son has been attending for 8…read moremonths now, ever since he was eligible (at four months) and our experience with GP is very much "as good as it gets!" GP runs on the idea that kids are investigating the world and the teachers there are the ones that facilitate their interests. In practice, that translates into highly motivated teachers, kids who learn and grow, and an atmosphere that is more like a school rather than a place to plop your kid off for eight hours while you work. Nothing hectic, not a TV or battery-powered toy in sight, and plenty of time and space to explore their natural surroundings. Yes, appointments are difficult and the waiting pool is nerve-wracking for any parent. But that is the nature of the beast really, not GP itself. The administration is top-notch, the teachers are professionals in the truest sense, and the community is wonderful. GP really is "as good as it gets!"

My son has been at the Growing Place Marine Park campus for 4 years and it has been a wonderful…read moreexperience. The school is based on the Reggio Emilia philosophy and provides a very high level and thoughtful curriculum for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. The curriculum is focused on the interests of the children and they emphasize a lot of peer to peer learning and child-led learning, which allows children to learn collaboration, negotiation, and problem solving as well as building the foundation for them to be critical thinkers as opposed to passive learners. The teachers for the most part are trained in this philosophy and are extremely competent. They see themselves more as facilitators to encourage active learning rather than instructors that need to fill children with specific knowledge. The program is almost entirely play-based, recognizing the fact that children at this age learn best through play! My son has experienced everything from manipulating clay and watercolor as an infant, to cooking, gardening (they have a thriving vegetable garden in the preschool that the kids tend themselves), woodworking, sewing, story telling, painting and much much more. They emphasize natural materials and the children often build projects from "raw" materials rather than using a lot of ready-made or battery operated toys. There is a very active parent community as well and it feels more like a family than a school. It will be a hard place to leave!