This is our second daycare with our child and we are extremely happy with Caring Connection. We left our old daycare because of what we felt was chronic mismanagement by the executive team which we felt led to instability. Caring Connection has an amazing team and a environment. Our daughter has learned so much in the last 8 months and loves all her teachers. The kids get a lot of play time outside as well as time to explore developmentally appropriate art and sensory play. The value is also one of the best around and all of the meals for the day are included. read more

Our daughter, now 4.5, has been at Caring Connection since she was 2 years old, and it's been a great experience for all of us. The initial transition was tough -- lots of tears and separation anxiety -- and the staff did a great job of helping make our daughter feel comfortable and easing our parental anxiety. In the time since then, our daughter has had a great experience. We love that she gets to spend lots of time outdoors playing freely, getting messy, and learning about different themes every week. Also, it deserves a mention that CC provides ALL meals and snacks, including breakfast, which is so nice as busy working parents. read more

This daycare is great. My kid comes home dirty from playing outside and covered in (water-soluble) paint from doing arts and crafts inside. She eats well and is always happy and excited to tell me about her day. The teachers are great and have a level of patience far beyond my abilities, and they seem genuinely happy to see my daughter in the morning. I'm sure some parents want their child catered to and hovered over like some aristocratic courtier, but building independence, resilience, curiosity, and empathy seem far better for a child's development. My child is well-taken care of here, and I have no concerns about safety or cleanliness. She has made wonderful friends and generated countless pieces of ... art? I guess it's art, I don't know, I'm not a critic. But regardless, she brings a lot of it home and is quite proud of the work. read more

Our 2 yo has been attending Caring Connections for about 6 months now and we are very impressed. Their art room is great. We love their philosophy on "family style" eating at mealtimes. Their curriculum allows the toddlers to explore a lot of sensor throughout the day without things being overengineered. They also run a very safe operation which is appreciated. I highly recommend, especially for the 18 mo-36 mo toddler room. read more

If the safety of your child is a priority, then stay far away from Caring Connection (also called Enlightened Play preschool). They do not prioritize safety. Caring Connection's philosophy on childcare is SAFE, KIND, and CLEAN, but in practice they are none of those things. Let me explain why: SAFE - We ultimately pulled our child out because of severe face/mouth injuries. Our child got facial injuries on 2 consecutive days, and they were bad enough that I needed to leave work to come pick her up. She ended up with a punctured lip, 3 chipped teeth, 2 front teeth knocked loose, a hematoma on her gum, and cuts on her face. They try to explain away injuries by saying that their philosophy is to encourage kids to take risks. The reality is that they simply do not prioritize safety or creating a safe space for children. They also constantly have issues with the gate to the play yard, and on occasion it would be left completely open, with direct access to busy J Street and also open to the vagrants that frequent the area. KIND - Some of the teachers are not kind. Kyleigh in particular would regularly withhold food from our child in the mornings, even though we arrived in time for breakfast. I'm not sure what kind of person looks at a hungry child sitting at a table and denies them food simply because they're ready to clean up. Breakfast hours are breakfast hours. We brought it up with the director, but the staff member continued to do the same thing. The staff will also regularly let your child sit in wet clothing, socks, and shoes during the cold/rainy months. I would pick my child up and her socks would be so wet I could wring water out of them, and her feet looked like prunes. Brought this up with the director as well, but the problem continued. There is no "kindness" in that kind of treatment. CLEAN - I'm not sure why this is even part of their philosophy. They will tell you up front that your child will go home filthy because it's a nature play school and they spend so much time outside. In the summer, the children will be covered in dust and dirt. During the winter, they go home in sopping wet, muddy clothes. The classrooms are clean, but your child sure won't be. I'd rather the staff help the children to be clean rather than prioritize classroom cleaning. Why are children sitting around in dirty, wet, uncomfortable clothing while you're mopping the floors? Makes no sense. The longer my child was at this school (which was about 6 months), the more I realized that this school just doesn't have enough staff to adequately care for the high number of children in attendance. As a result, children get neglected. If you want proof, look at the number of citations they've received on their California Dept of Social Services webpage. Facility number: 343617412. Please do the right thing for your child and stay away from this place. read more

I can't say enough about our past two years at Caring Connection. Our son just loved every minute of it. As parents we loved that there was an app where teachers sent pictures of him playing throughout the day and the weekly newsletter was a very nice touch. He is now moving on to transitional kindergarten and we feel grateful for the foundation he got over the last two years. Thank you to the amazing teachers and staff that took time and interest in our little one. You all will be missed! read more

This place is all about taking your money...after taking ours for over a year at $1600 a month. They had to down size and close their downtown location and all kids were moved to west sac one. 1 month after the move, they decide to tell us that, "they felt their daycare was not the right place for our sons needs." ...WTF..? You take our money for over a year, over $20,000 , and now it's not the right place for him.? But we were ready to pull him out anyways after a parent literally stopped us one day to tell us that kyleigh, one of the staff members, physically grabbed our son by the arm and yanked him hard to the side but then realized a parent had walked in...this place is also a kids pig pin as they feel it's easier to let the kids get filthy so the don't have to clean up after them..not to mention how many times we picked up our son and he was in a dirty, #2, diaper...this place is definitely not worth what they charge...dont be fooled by the "snacks" they say they give the kids ...for what they charge the kids should be getting more than just a small cop of raisons...this place is a waste of your money.. read more

I'll try to keep this fairly short and simple (though there is so much more I could say). My son did not like being there. He's never had separation anxiety a day in his life until I brought him to Caring Connection. He was fine at his school before, and he's been fine at his present school. I had high hopes because I thought a play-based preschool was what he needed. Clearly, it wasn't. They get 2 stars from me for teaching the kids a bunch of fun songs (that was my son's favorite part) and for their lovely outdoor play area. They terminated my son from their program - which is not why I'm upset. When Ms. Jenkins-Sathe said, "I just don't think we're the right place for him", I appreciated her honesty. However, when she continued on to say that my son lacks empathy at age 3 1/2, and that I should have him evaluated for Asperger's and/or ADHD, I was dumbfounded. She told me that the teachers had been telling her "for weeks" about my son's behaviors. She said that the "other kids don't even like playing with him." Ouch. In my shock, I simply asked how much notice she was giving us. She gave us one week. My husband and I found him a new preschool in 3 days because we refused to send him back there. To be clear, doling out diagnoses when you are not qualified to do so is utterly irresponsible and unprofessional. After my son met with a psychologist, Asperger's was completely ruled out, and she noted he showed signs of giftedness. (The kid, now 4 years old, insists he wants to be an astrophysicist when he grows up!) He was TOO YOUNG for a diagnosis of ADHD. Please, Ms. Jenkins-Sathe, be mindful of the weight of the words you speak to parents, and please know your own limitations in understanding atypical children. Not all kids are ADHD or on the Autism Spectrum just because they seem different. As a side note, I hear stories from my son's current school about how he comforts other kids when they're feeling sad, how he helps his teachers clean up, etc. So, Ms. Jenkins-Sathe was actually right about one thing: Caring Connection was not at all the right place for him. read more

The best daycare/ preschool facility in Sacramento hands down! My daughter loves this school and has flourished there. The staff truly cares about every child and they have a wonderful philosophy (Kind, Clean Safe) which as a first time parent was so helpful even at home! The play area is amazing, the food is so healthy, and I just can't say enough great things! Thank you for providing such a safe, fun space for our family! read more

My experience with Caring Connections has been great since the beginning. My daughter was not a happy camper when we first moved here (we moved from Colorado, the only home she knew) and it was a big adjustment. Although she never had a problem at school, she "turned on" her bad behavior with me. The teachers were so great in helping me deal with it, even meeting me for coffee to discuss tactics (Thanks Rose - the behavior chart is still working!). She loves going to school and loves her teachers, classmates and me now - lol. I have really appreciated the community here since we were new to the area and would recommend this preschool for anyone looking for a nurturing, play-based environment. read more

Originally we chose Caring Connection as a bridge when we left a home daycare to get us through to "real preschool" after our son turned 3. We only intended to stay about 5 months, but we've now decided we'll likely stay til kindergarten. We have a very active, strong willed, independent 3 year old who often drives us nuts, but the CC staff just seems to take it in stride. If you are interested in content-driven preschool where you'll see lots of finished worksheets coming home and view children sitting quietly listening to a teacher talk, this place is not for you. This center is built for preschoolers to act like preschoolers. There are sensory activities (hands in paint, water play, etc), movement and plenty of teaching through doing. This is not a quiet place- you can hear the fun all over. My son has learned dozens of song in the 6 months we've been here, somehow learned to recognize his name and most of the alphabet (without even one worksheet), adores his teachers and spends his days listening to books, learning (slowly :)) to be compassionate and caring, building, creating, running and talking. He comes home dirty and exhausted every day- exactly the way a 3 year old should. The outdoor play is spectacular- the natural play scape contains river rocks, a mud kitchen, sandbox, a play structure room to RUN and is constantly changing. Every week I see something new, moved or used in a different way. While kids are running around and playing, I routinely see a teacher with a child on her hip, carrying on a conversation with a child and/or playing games with kids. These are not bored childcare workers watching kids. They genuinely like what they do. They frequently share stories and pictures from my child's day with me. Let's talk food for a moment- the food is prepared hot, mostly from scratch and I cannot believe what my mac n cheese & hotdogs kid will consume at school. The kids serve themselves family style and are really encouraged to try a little of everything. I wish I ate this well- lots of fresh fruits and veggies, fruit-infused water, soups and all kinds of main dishes. We see the owner, Julie all the time and I'm consistently impressed with her positive responses to any issues that might arise. She's great about encouraging a school community of parents who know each other and puts time and effort into training teachers in the Safe, Kind & Clean philosophy. She really strives to keep great teachers and is quick to replace anyone who is not up to standard. In addition, this is not a school that tosses out a kid because they're having a problem. They are willing to work with behavioral and potty training issues and really, truly understand what is typical toddler/preschooler behavior and what is worrisome. They're very communicative, but handle discipline (in the form of natural consequences, i.e. you hurt someone = you stop playing and help them until they feel better) during the day, as it happens. I feel very lucky to have found this childcare center. I know my son is well loved, cared for and, best of all, learning to be a compassionate person while here. If this is what you're looking for, get on the waiting list now- it's in high demand. read more

We love Caring Connections. And so does our daughter. The philosophy that focuses on play, nature, and exploration fits us well. Our child comes home covered in paint and dirt and a huge smile. We know she's engaged, encouraged, and well cared for. It's a great school. read more

I just wanted to take a moment to compliment Caring Connection. We recently moved my 4 year old son here and so far we are all absolutely thrilled with the experience!! I was saddened when our in home childcare provider was closing because he'd been with her for years and we loved her. We were referred to Caring Connection and I am so glad for the referral. My son loves it (so much so he asks to go on the weekends) and all the teachers are amazing!! Everyone's extremely sweet and I can tell that he's happy and fulfilled there. Thank you so much for taking such great care of my wee one. Highly recommend! read more

This is the first daycare/preschool my son has gone to when we first moved here in Sacramento. I got nothing bad to say about the staff, teachers and most especially the Director, Julie. They are very helpful, caring, accommodating and really treat my son as one of theirs. I have never encountered major issues or concerns on how they give their services. If their are issues, it is resolved quickly, professionally and very proactive. My son is 5 and he really loves it here! Next year he will be in kindergarten and I am sure he will be sad to leave them. But, I also have another little one on the way and yes, I will surely enroll him/her at Caring Connections when the time comes. read more

I would like to take the time to thank Caring Connection for their patience in nurturing my daughter and building her self-esteem. We've seen a huge improvement in her growth and development since she started in August. She was at the Elk Grove center, which closed down in November. There were not enough students to make it viable. I was very surprised and saddened. It was hands down one of the best schools in the Elk Grove district. However, the location was secluded, so no one knew it existed. We were fortunate to stumble upon it one day on our hunt for a school for my two-year-old daughter. A lot of care and love went into the design of the school and you can feel it immediately when you walk in. My daughter was there for only four months, but her development was astounding. She literally blossomed overnight thanks to her wonderful teachers Nancy, Brooke, Najia and Rose. I've searched for another school for my daughter but nothing was comparable. So when an opportunity to enroll my daughter at Caring Connection in midtown opened up I did not hesitate, even though the commute is horrible. Special thanks goes to Nancy who was the director of CC in Elk Grove. I learned a lot by observing her interactions with the children. I will never forget the time Nancy poured my daughter a cup of milk. My daughter immediately poured it onto the table. At home her grandpa would have screamed at her, "No! Don't do that!" But not at Caring Connection. One of the four year said, "Oh, noooo!" And Nancy just smiled and said, "That's okay. She's only two. She's still learning. Remember how you were like when you were two? Next time we know just to give her only a little bit." Any child who has the good fortune of being taught by Nancy is extremely lucky. She is like the "horse whisperer" except with children. She's taught me a lot about my daughter. I always ask her for advice regarding my daughter who is the epitome of a two year old. Nancy said something I will never forget, "Be careful what you say when she is around, because she listens and understands." My daughter still cries and has tantrums, because that's part of being a two year old. But she is a much more well-mannered and well behaved two-year-old, thanks to her teachers. Instead of demanding, "More!" She says, "More please!" A couple of days ago her grandpa locked her in the bathroom with her grandma, so she can give her a bath. She screamed, "Let me out please!" It shocked us because she rarely speaks. The school has taught her to be self reliant and independent. She cleans up after she eats. She sits quietly through dinner and feeds herself instead of squirming out of her chair. I am amazed every time she hangs up her backpack before she enters the classroom. Recently she sings in the car the songs taught at the school. I appreciate how the school teaches children the importance of kindness. One time another child bit my daughter on the nose because they were fighting over a toy. Thankfully it was only a bruise. But Nancy explained to me what happened afterwards and I was amazed. The child that caused the injury made amends by attending to the wound and putting ice on it and sat with my daughter to comfort her until she felt better. Empathy and caring for each other are very difficult concepts to teach, so I was very impressed. Any child can learn to read or write, and add or subtract. It's acquiring the social skills and self-discipline taught so effortlessly at Caring Connection, that builds the foundation for future success. I'm thankful that Julie Jenkins the founder and director of Caring Connection designed such an amazing program for children. I highly recommend reading her book. read more

We have been at Caring Connection for two years and could not have found a better fit for our family. The entire staff is fully engaged with their work. My son comes home exhausted from having his body exercised and his mind stimulated by the creative activities and outdoor play. I agree what matters in the preschool/toddler years and how to correct behavior. Thank you! read more

Please do not send your children here. I promise there will be a better school for them. My child was at a caring connection location and he hated going to school. It was so bad that when I told him he was going to start at a new school he cried because he was so anxious. When he started, he LOVED it. Now he tells me to leave so he can play. The owner does not care about the kids, she cares about your money. Employees are not listened to and do not actually have paid sick days, so be prepared for your child to catch something. There are multiple people contacting licensing for violations, so please save yourself the time from a parent who had to go through this. The only positive would have to be the friends my son made and he learned how to deal with a bully since the director refused to have the teachers do anything about the child, even though there's a high chance anyone else's kid would be asked to leave for no reason other than they don't want to deal with a child they feel isn't easy to handle (since children don't push boundaries at all and that isn't normal. Total sarcasm.) read more

My two sons love it here. I have a 4yo and a 2yo -- and we signed up in September because their in-home daycare closed. Since the price difference between in home care and a daycare center was going to be big, I wanted to make sure we made the right choice. We did! After looking at a few centers in the midtown area, I was immediately impressed by Caring Connection. The first thing you see is a beautifully designed outdoor play area, with a padded area for a play structure, a home-made teepee for fun times, a little garden and a grassy hill for mud fun, a rock stream, picnic tables, a bunny hutch! Their day is divided into little sessions, some spent outdoors playing, some spent indoors for circle time, story time, learning time, crafts, lunch and snacks. There are two separate spaces for two groups of kids -- diapered and potty trained. The older kids work on more focused activities and lessons -- they learn about the days of the week, nocturnal creatures, planets. My older son is full of information when he gets back. The younger kids play with toys and do crafts, sing songs that my little one will hum during dinner. And the menu is delicious -- seriously. I envy that food -- chicken cacciatore (i'm not kidding), meat loaf, rice and beans, fresh vegetables and fruit with every meal. A lot of time and thought goes into their menu plans. It took my kids maybe two days to get used to being there. The teachers and owner really love the kids and comfort them when they're sad. My boys honestly love being there. They may come home tired, but they don't come home grumpy -- as if they'd been holding in their real feelings all day. I'm very happy with Caring Connection. I really love it! read more

I just recently started my daughter at Caring Connection a couple of days a week and she really loves it. I really loved the idea of learning through play in a safe, nurturing environment and that's just what she does on the days she is there. The teachers are wonderful., caring and attentive and I'm so glad I chose Caring Connection as my daughters pre-school. read more

As a stay at home mother for two years, I was beyond apprehensive about enrolling my first and only son into preschool. After extensive research and endless tours of large-hotel-for-kid-type schools, I was ready to give up my search. Then I found Caring Connection Children's Center. I knew the second I walked in and met the owner, Julie, that I had found the right place! My son LOVES his days at preschool and is learning and developing quickly, right before my eyes (thanks to all the photos I receive, documenting my child's day). The safe, kind and clean philosophy (no time outs, natural and logical consequence) line up exactly with how I strive to parent at home. I love the playground, and the natural elements that engage the children in such a deep way. I am thrilled by the teacher implemented and child guided lesson plans, the floor books, the take home art, the elements of nature integrated into all aspects of learning, the singing... always someone is singing, I just love everything! I love that my son is taught to clean up but first allowed to make a huge mess... he is allowed to be a kid! The nutritious family style meals, the diapers provided, the parent involvement and recognition, and the obvious love for the children that the staff exudes is just the cherry on top! I would highly recommend Caring Connection Children's Center for any family looking for a high quality, safe, and happy environment to learn and grow! read more

This is regarding the West Sacramento facility: I have been sending my son to this school for the last 2 years. The teachers are amazing, especially Chandell. Unfortunately, the great teachers that make the school amazing are leaving. They have lost at least 3 preschool teachers and at least 2 infant/toddler teacher in the last few months. The school can't seem to keep the teachers and every time one leaves, the kids are sad and it is destructive. They need something constant at school. I have the distinct impression that the owner believes that the teachers are replaceable. If that were the case, I wouldn't still have him there when there is another school that costs significantly less. If the teachers keep leaving, I'll have to take my son somewhere else. I don't like that as soon as my son gets used to and likes a teacher, they are either fired or leave to find a job where they are appreciated because if the owner thinks, incorrectly, I might add, that the teachers are replaceable, then they clearly aren't appreciated and that is a shame as teachers are so important. The turnover used to be minimal, but I don't even know the new teachers as some many have come and gone. read more