My 4 year old started stepping stone in March of 2024 when I decided to return to work. It was the…read moreonly daycare with availability I felt comfortable sending him to in the area. When I came to make the initial payment and the director asked if I wanted to meet his teacher I of course said yes. We went outside where the kids played and I was excited to see who he'd be with all day. Mind you, this was to be his first time ever being away from me. His teacher was young, and looked super uninterested in talking. She said hi with what I couldn't even consider a smile, and didn't say much to my son. At drop off his first day the morning teacher didn't say much either. She didn't really offer any assistance when I was trying to leave and my son was visibly scared and upset. This went on for the weeks he was there. I did not like the staff member who hung out with the kids until his teacher showed up. She said good morning and that's about it. Towards the end I think she could tell I was irritated and offered my son things to keep him occupied while I left. My overall feel was these "teachers" don't like being there. I did not like this environment. When The lighthouse opened we made the switch and it was night and day! My son was SO EXCITED for daycare because the staff is AMAZING! I got constant updates, I don't have to ask for his meals to be updated through the day, he was engaged, the teachers are engaged and happier. I would never suggest Stepping stone to anyone.

ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL! We toured several daycares before making our decision and once we toured…read morethis establishment, we knew it was the best one in several ways. Each team member was so polite and knowledgeable. Ms Alice is the sweetest most kind hearted individual. You can truly tell she cares about each and every child there. As a first time mother, she immediately gave the reassurance that I needed to feel comfortable and confident with leaving my baby there. My baby started at just 8 weeks. The gigabyte classroom and all their teachers including Ms Dorthy, Ms Jackie, Ms Kiana, and more, showed so much love toward Jackson immediately. They surprised us with crafts and daily photos. Every day, pick up and drop off was efficient and welcoming. The monthly cost is truly worth it for the value and time that each team member bring day after day. I cannot recommend this place enough. I know Jackson is still growing and may not remember these days but, as his parents, this place and staff will hold a deep place in our heart.

A month ago Percy W. Wrote exactly what I'm going to touch base on. I've been on this waitlist for…read morea year and 3 months. They told me I was 3rd after following up 3 months after. I put a deposit and everything. I still get $0 balance invoices. I'm pretty sure they are scamming people. Taking payments that are non refundable and never returning calls. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DEPOSIT UNLESS YOUR KID IS FOR SURE IN.

We toured the facility in July and were told the wait was up to 3 months, that current teachers had…read moretheir kids there and that they had priority on the waitlist (understandable). However, they would all be moving up soon and therefore there would be openings in all the classes. We submitted a non-refundable waitlist fee of $150 (for 2 kids) on July 9th because we would be moving to Kyle in Jan. Since they never followed up I emailed them on December 8th and was told my younger child was 3rd on the list. I followed up again on Jan 12th and was told that he was now at the top of the list. I called twice in February and once again 2 weeks ago. We had to put the kids in other daycares. I called today and was told that the waitlist is longer than what I was quoted and there were people that have been on the list for 2 years. Overall not a good experience, the building is dated, and the yard is dry and bleak. The (residential) front doors can hardly be considered secure. When you enter the first thing you see is a glass wall with sun beat baby toys. If you want a daycare that will follow up and update you on the waitlist, or even return phone calls, just know it is not their policy to do so unless you are at the point of enrollment.

My biggest regret as a parent is enrolling my 2 year old daughter at Stepping Stone. I still feel…read moreguilty that I did not find another option. My daughter was at another daycare for two years that we loved! No issues and no incident reports. The 7 months she was at Stepping Stone were awful. Coming home with massive bruises from bites that staff did not notice. I repeatedly emailed but she kept being bitten by multiple children. We kept waiting for Children's Lighthouse to finish being built but it was hard as an educator who provides other people's children with a safe learning environment not to have a safe place to send my toddler. The last straw was her reporting to us a teacher hit her. Pulled her immediately. Ms. Brittany did not seem surprised when we told her of our concern.

Love! The teachers have been limited due to Covid but they make it work! My husband and I are happy…read morewith our decision to move our daughter here

Our experience at La Casa has been an absolute blessing! From the moment our first daughter started…read moreat 18 months we knew we had a joined a family, not just a community. Our oldest daughter, now 4, has always had nothing but amazing things to say about her time at school and loves all the teachers! We have seen her grow into an independent, kind, compassionate child and I know that in part, it is due to the loving education she receives from the teachers at La Casa. I trust the teachers so much that as soon as our now 18 month old was old enough that we needed to pull her from her daycare and put her at La Casa to get the same love and education that our oldest daughter has been experiencing. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend La Casa to anyone looking for a structured, loving, caring, and amazing Montessori experience for their child.

THE ABSOLUTE WORST MONTESSORI i have ever dealt with. This is a bonified daycare with the…read moreMontessori name. Kids are outside majority of the day ( outside time is needed but work and instruction time is also needed)- sleep for 3h. School do not follow Montessori protocol. Owner- yells and accuse kids. You don't have a voice as a parent. If you dare communicate something to the school that your child communicated with you- you will be told well " my staff and i didn't see it; so it didn't happen". Owner utilize fear to gain compliance even in parents. If you dare try different - you're done. Multiple sexual abuse/ aggravation accusations/ allegations made. STEER CLEAR. If you try to ask for funds that you paid; cops will be called on you and the location will be made a criminal trespassing ground. The owner claims she been working with kids for 30 years and she knows best but advise you to spank your kids. Scientifically proven that hitting your kids have long lasting effects. She is an older person, that acts like a child but demand respect from all. She only sees things her way and no other way. You're wrong if you disagree with her, your wrong if she feels threatened. You're wrong if you breath wrong. The co owners. God bless his heart. He is a good man and seems to care for the kids. Workers are great- they are all scared to speak their mind and will blindly agree to anything she says to avoid being in trouble. Now i am a single mother of twins. No where in this encounter was i perfect. I've had my flaws but communicating what my kids said to me- is not one of them.

After 2.5 years at Ladybird Montessori, it's clear that the "perfect" farm image hides a chaotic…read morereality. The school prioritizes enrollment numbers over child safety and quality education. We experienced extreme instability, with at least 10 teacher turnovers in our classroom alone. Without lead teachers, the environment lacked structure, leading to incidents of teacher's yelling and writing up excessive incident reports. Major Safety & Management Red Flags: * Severe Negligence: My child was left outside alone and was banging on the door to come back in (documented with the state) and was left in a bathroom with an unauthorized adult without staff realizing she had left her group. * Unstructured Aftercare: Most incidents occurred during the 60-kid aftercare "nightmare," which lacks any meaningful supervision. * Financial Gatekeeping: The school often holds children back in YCC (Toddler) longer than necessary just to collect higher fees, regardless of whether the child has mastered the curriculum. * Exclusionary Practices: Extracurriculars like soccer are restricted by age (4+), effectively excluding half of the mixed-age Children's House (2.5-6) classrooms. * Retaliation: Be prepared for your child's hours to be cut to half-days as a way to slowly push you out. Communication is a "secret" here; I never received enough communication or updates on my child's progress. Enough was enough. If you raise any concerns, the director deflects blame onto the child. Please check the state's licensing website for their violation history. Your child deserves a safe, attentive environment--not just to be a number in a crowded room. Disabling Google reviews to limit transparency is a clear indicator of the issues present here.

I am sharing our experience to alert parents who choose Ladybird Montessori School (LMS)…read morespecifically for its AMS "Verified" status and its promise of a high-fidelity Montessori environment. The school markets itself as a development partner. However, our experience revealed a systemic failure. They did not follow basic Montessori principles when faced with a child's natural developmental whirlwind. 1. Interaction with Administration: A Failure to Lead. My interactions with the administration were consistently dismissive and lacked the pedagogical depth one expects from a Montessori leader. The Director utilized administrative pressure to silence concerns. pick-up incidents occurred, I was met with visible frustration rather than a collaborative, "connected" approach. It became clear that the administration prioritizes its own convenience and "harmonious" image over the actual hard work of supporting a child. 2. Inability to Handle High-Energy Children. This school is fundamentally equipped only for children who are "perfect" or passive. If your child has high energy, curiosity, or a "whirlwind" personality, LMS will likely label them a safety liability rather than a student. Despite Montessori literature stating that high-energy toddlers often need "heavy work" or movement outlets to regulate, this school treated my son's natural physical drive as a critical safety "impasse". They simply do not have the patience or the staffing expertise to handle children who don't fit into a quiet, compliant box. For parents considering any Montessori program, I strongly recommend taking a close look at how the school accommodates children with different temperaments. During a tour, observe whether classrooms offer movement opportunities or "heavy work" materials for children who benefit from physical activity. Ask staff how they support children who are active or struggle to remain still, and what strategies are in place for channeling high energy in a positive direction. Look for evidence of patience, flexibility, and an individualized approach, not just for compliance or calm. By being proactive in your questions, you can determine whether the environment will truly support your child's natural development. 3. Lack of Developmental Expertise The school consistently mislabeled age-appropriate milestones as behavioral "red flags." Most notably, my three-year-old son's natural development of oral-motor skills--commonly known as "raspberrying"--was documented as "spitting" in multiple incident reports. It was only after we clarified this developmental milestone that the school's documentation began to shift. Discouraging a child during a peak phase of speech development is a direct contradiction of the principle of "following the child". 4. Non-Montessori Disciplinary Practices Despite claiming to follow the AMS 5 Core Components, the school used interventions that are fundamentally non-Montessori. My son was removed to an administrative office to "sit and take breaths" while being lectured. This practice ignores Montessori guidance on toddler development. Authentic practice requires classroom-based "Grace and Courtesy" lessons and a prepared environment with "heavy work" for high-energy children. LMS chose administrative isolation over pedagogical support. 5. Dismissal Instead of Partnership When we formally requested the school realign its practices with AMS standards, the Director responded by immediately terminating our enrollment. This pattern of "quick dismissal" is echoed by other parents who report their children being asked to leave for behaviors like separation anxiety, without any attempt at modification. 6. Concerns Regarding Qualifications Public testimony from former staff members suggests that the "Lead Guides" at this school may not all hold the years of in-person training and practicum required for high-fidelity Montessori, with reports of "hiring off the street" and relying on online courses. This would explain the staff's inability to differentiate between developmental milestones and behavioral issues. How to Verify These Patterns: I encourage any parent considering this school to read the employee reviews on Glassdoor and Indeed, as well as the 1-star parent reviews on Yelp. You will see a consistent pattern of administrative dismissal and allegations of unqualified staff that mirrors our experience exactly. Furthermore, parents should check the Kyle/Buda community boards on Facebook, where numerous other families have expressed similar concerns about LMS. Finally, you can verify on the AMS School Locator (amshq.org) that while they are a "Verified" member, they have NOT attained full Accreditation. Conclusion: If your child is "perfect" or already accustomed to a school setting, LMS may suffice. However, if your child exhibits the "tricky behaviors" typical of a three-year-old such as darting, physical play, or vocal exploration, thi

We've been taking our son here for 5 months now and couldn't be happier! It was like a night and…read moreday difference from the last daycare we were at as far as the quality of attention our son receives from not only his teachers but the staff as well. We absolutely LOVE his teachers, Ms. Hailey and Ms. Storm, and the way they love on my little guy. They pay attention to the little things and it's a blessing to not have to sit at work and worry if your kid is in good hands. My son started here when he was 13 months and then we moved to the Kid Ranch's San Marcos location when he was 18 months. I love how clean they keep the building and the classrooms, how they pray with my child before meals, the artwork they do each day and best of all the app they use to keep us parents in the communication loop. It makes my day to get a picture of my son over the app during my work day, watching him play during splash days. The teachers here are happy and strong role models for the kids. The administrative staff is always available for questions from me and my husband, both at drop off and pick up. We're going to deeply miss the Kyle location as we move to San Marcos but we're confident that whatever the future holds for Kid Ranch in Kyle, it will be a good one.

I was told by the director's assistant that one of the school aged girls went up to one of her…read moreclassmates, wrapped her blanket around the classmate's neck and squeezed it as right as possible until the classmate's face turned purple. Worst part was that the directing assistant only told the parent about this in passing. The child should have been removed from the daycare but when the director herself was addressing the notion of this child being removed from the daycare, I was told that she would have no where to go. While the gentle, loving gesture of not removing the child was a nice sentiment, a child keeping another child from breathing is DANGEROUS. THE CLASSMATE WAS NOT BREATHING. The problem was not addressed appropriately and that is why I would not suggest this daycare to anyone

As my daughter's momma and Grandmother to TLE's recent graduate, Waverly my heart continues to be…read morewarmed by the love and care you've always shown us. The Learning Experience Buda stood by our family through the most devastating chapter of our lives--My daughter's heartbreaking brain cancer journey, which ended a year ago. My daughter's greatest concern was always her little Waverly. She was the BEST MOMMA! TLE wrapped Waverly in love, stability, and unwavering support, helping her feel safe, cherished, and encouraged every step of the way. I have never encountered a school community that radiates such deep compassion, professionalism, and wholehearted dedication to every single child. Waverly has truly flourished because of your nurturing care. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being there for our family. We will miss you as Waverly continues her journey in Kindergarten--confident, joyful, and well prepared for whatever comes next. With extreme Gratitude and Love to a special school TLE Buda.

Thanks to The Learning Experience Staff in Buda for providing excellent care…read more They were extremely warm, responsive, and welcoming us with an empathy They have a curriculum that is followed and emailed. You can check on your kid via phone application which comes super handy, and it is always great to see them smiling. Healthy breakfasts and healthy lunches are provided each day, along with snacks in between. They have a nice playground that the kids love playing on when it is nice outside. Along with the day-to-day activities, they are always doing special things like his first day was a reptile show :) Wednesdays are splash days. Pick-up/Drop-Off is extremely easy I never waited more than a minute. This is especially amazing when you compare it with public schools Pick-up/Drop-Off process We were sad to leave The Learning Experience Buda, but it will be always a great memory. As every parent will want the best for their kid, don't think twice. This is your spot. Tina, Leo, Ms Deleasha , Ms Paris, Ms Hilda, Ms Maddie , Ms Renee , and the names I could not remember;I sincerely thank you all.

Our son has attended Giggle and grow from 2-4 years old. After touring "preschools" in the area I…read morefell in love with their curriculum. Knowing exactly what my child would be doing throughout the day put my mind at ease. What they do here WORKS. Their strict guidelines had my son potty trained in one weekend before he turned three. They show these children love, and respect. My son loves going to their preschool class. What he's learning amazes me every day. From sign language, to Spanish - things I wouldn't even think to be teaching him he comes home boasting with pride on what he learned. We couldn't be happier with decision to send our son here.

There is a revolving door of teachers and you will not be informed when new teachers are showing up…read moreyour watch your kids. This has had an impact for my kid.

We have loved the move to Sunshine Cottage from our previous daycare!…read more Our daughter is in Ms Lia's class and is so well-cared for -- she gets just the right amount of independence while still being able to socialize with other kids. We are so impressed by the updates we get (the app this school uses updates in real time instead of getting a report at the end of the day like our last place); it has made all the difference in our night routines knowing that she had a tough time taking a nap at 2 instead of figuring it out at home at 630. We also have enjoyed the extras that are at Sunshine Cottage -- huge playgrounds with age appropriate equipment, bikes/trikes to work on motor skills, dress up bins and play areas in the classroom, and (our latest exciting update) a dance class from an outside studio that is sooo affordable!

The poorest quality of care, curriculum, cleanliness and the owners lack of support for staff is…read moresad! These folks do not do trainings but they sign off anyway. These folks owner constantly changes staff hours to not pay them the time they work. The children are fed very unhealthy foods, no milk on their menu for over 3 years. The program does not adhere to state standards and is constantly reported and cited. I'd never recommend leaving children here of any age....EVER!

This school mostly has teacher that are in it for the summer breaks and the paycheck. They are not…read morein it for the kids.