My little one attended this preschool and we had an extremely negative experience. I sat through a…read morehalf day with my toddler and they seemed to not have enough staff support in the classroom. A teacher could not leave at any point without being out of ratio, which is very concerning given how young the kids are. (Example: a toddler who was already potty trained asked to go potty and was told they put a pull up on her so they didn't need to take her and put them out of ratio) The teacher for the 2 year olds seemed very dry and gave very little verbal praise during activities. Nothing about the instruction or preschool aspect of it seemed to be very stimulating. (no singing or excitement) In addition, the toys outside were mostly either very dirty or just broken, even right at the beginning of the day. Teachers didn't play games or interact with children unless it was for help or cry. Granted what they charge a week, this place is 100% not worth it.

Although this is one of the few here locally to send your kids I wouldn't bother. They have had few…read moredirectors the past year now, and the current one is horrible. I first hand experience the way she treats her employees, with frustration. For being a Christian community she is not one. She has one worker with 20+ kids and the other with maybe 5+ how fair is that for the kids not getting the attention they need or being able to FOCUS on one? My child has asked me multiple times to not take them because how mean she is not the children but those who work there. Needs to be serious action to be taken.

We absolutely love creative play as a mom of 3 boys! My nieces and nephews first went here years…read moreago so when it was time for my first son who is now 8 to go to preschool I felt comfortable knowing that he will be with loving teachers while learning. My son who started attending when he was 2 was prepared for kindergarten thanks to creative play. Now my second son is in tk at creative play and has also been since he was 2. My son had a speach delay and it was Julie (the owner) whom brought it to my attention in a caring way and guided us to the process of finding the right speach therapist and thanks to her our now 5 year old is flourishing. He loves school! His teacher even came to watch one of his soccer games. (It's that kinda school). My son has made numerous friends and walks in every day holding his little school bag with confidence and looks forward to his day. My youngest son will attend this summer when he turns 2 as the summer programs are amazing they offer water day, food crafts, sports which is perfect for us working moms. Creative play is my village! I appreciate the love, support, kindness and gentleness they have with my sons. Julie and her staff take the time to make you feel like family. A few amazing things that I appreciate is they understand working parents schedules and offer extended care when other places do not. They also have class parties, spirit week, pumpkin patch field trips and the most adorable Christmas program! If you're looking for a caring, reliable preschool/tk creative play is it!!!

Went there as a kid super kind staff!!!! Will definitely take my kids once the time comes.read more

My kid has been going to happy hearts preschool for almost 3 years now. It has been a great…read moreexperience so far. The owner has changed recently and things are more organized than earlier with an app to track check in and check out, cameras for surveillance, frequent communication on upcoming events via the app and they also send pictures of your kid at the school. The area is huge, yet well maintained and the management is constantly trying to improve their processes with ideas of bringing a computer learning room, sports classes for interested kids in pipeline. A big shoutout to the new owner Nikita and the wonderful teachers trying their best to take care of the kids , making them learn new things with fun activities. My kid loves eating the food there with his friends. They also offer school pick up's for some schools. Highly recommend !

If I could provide no stars I would. This daycare is absolutely deplorable. They are dishonest and…read morehave placed my child and other children in horrible situations. The owner lies repeatedly and discusses confidential information with other parents. My child has reported disturbing things to myself and my spouse that have happened here and, yes, it has been reported. The owner of this establishment has intimidated the staff into covering up issues, so to hell with them being mandated reporters, it is our responsibility as parents to speak up for what has happened. Please be sure to do your homework on investigating daycares before placing your child in their care. Be sure to look up complaints filed with the Department of Social Services, just because they are unsubstantiated does not mean they did not happen, they just could not prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. To the other parents who have pulled their children out for similar issues, please speak up, otherwise it will continue to happen!

We luckily found Mona's Small World (MSW) at the strong suggestion of a friend who had positive…read moreexperiences with her. Our child has been going to MSW for a few years now and it's been a great collaborative effort. Our child has additional needs and Mona has been great to work with to make sure that they receive the attention and care that they need. She cares greatly for the children and is firm when needed. My child has been thriving and very comfortable at daycare. There are lots of activities, toys and room to play in. When the weather is nice the kids play outside in a large well kept are with many more activities. MSW has been an integral part in my "village" that it takes to raise a child to the point they feel like family.

To bad you cannot give negative stars, otherwise I would…read more We gave Mona a non refundable $400.00 deposit guaranteeing my son a spot in her daycare. We secured a spot MONTHS in advanced and she gladly took our money. FOUR DAYS before my son was supposed to start daycare, she breached our contract and said she couldn't watch him anymore. She said the reason was because the state had new regulations and was not allowing her to let small infants have pacifier clips, sleep with blankets, or sleep in a car seat for for naps. She stated she would leave babies sleeping in car seats for long periods of time, and she is upset about this new rule. These are well known risk factors for SIDS/suffocation, which is why the state has the rules in place. She left us hanging without infant care 4 days before I was supposed to return to work. She is not trust worthy or reliable, and appears to have some unsafe practices in place.

This is a long review. If you don't have time to read the whole thing, then just know that Miss…read moreJanie is amazing! My son loves going to Noah's Ark and has blossomed under her care. I cannot say enough good things about her and highly recommend her if you are looking for exceptional child care. Keep reading for a more detailed review... I started taking my son to Noah's Ark almost a year ago. He was struggling at his previous daycare and we thought a facility with fewer children might be a better fit. When I first met with Janie, I could tell how much she loved what she did. I was immediately impressed by her setup, particularly that she had a permanent dedicated space for the children, rather than using baby gates to block off areas of her home. She's also taken great care to create a safe, functional and fun outdoor space for the kids. In our initial meeting, I was up front about some behavioral issues that we were seeing. She assured me that it wasn't a problem, that it was typical for the age and that she'd cared for children with similar behaviors before. Another thing we talked about was meals. My son has always been big for his age and eats accordingly. (He was 28 months old, 35" tall and weighed about 34 lbs at the time.) Like most people, he gets hangry when he's underfed and that was contributing to the problem behaviors. She told me that she would feed him breakfast, lunch and snacks and that food would be available if he was still hungry. She gave me an idea of the types of food that she serves and it all sounded healthy and child-friendly. I knew we'd found the right place within a few days. Janie (and her helpers, who are also wonderful!) were able to identify my son's triggers, anticipate what he was about to do, and redirect him before he did it. Within a month, my son was talking more and learning how to play with other children. Meals have not been an issue. Janie knows what the kids like, but also gets them involved in the meals by having them help or taking suggestions or requests from the kids. Janie has taken the time to learn what interests my son and used it to pique his interest in other things, inspire him and reward him. She encourages problem solving and independence, which fosters self-confidence. On the days my son doesn't want to go, Janie has a gentle way of coaxing him in. No matter how the morning started, when I pick him up he always tells me what a fun day he had. From the outset, my relationship with Janie has been a partnership. When I drop my son off, I'll let her know anything that will make the day smoother. (i.e. He slept poorly, he's really hungry, or I need to pick him up early) It's generally a quick exchange because it's easier for the kids to transition to daycare if the parents don't linger. When I pick him up, Janie lets me know how the day has gone, whether it was a good day or if there were any issues or odd behaviors. We celebrate his successes, work together to figure out ways to support one another and provide consistency between home and daycare. My son recently turned 3. He already speaks in sentences, knows his colors, letters and numbers. He's learned how to interact with other children and communicate his needs and feelings with words instead of actions (most of the time). Miss Janie has played a huge part in this. I could not have chosen a better person to care for and teach my son.

As parents you are always concerned and want what is best for your child. When we met Ms Janie she…read moremade us feel very comfortable and we were mentally assured that she is probably the best space for our child to learn and grow. Two days of us sending our daughter and few things that made us end our contact immediately were : 1. My child went to Noahs Ark for two days & all we heard was complaints about a two year old during pickup. Her complaints were that she never mixes up with other students, she just wants to grab food from their plates. She doesn't know how to sit on the table chair and she is running around while others say excuse me before getting up. Point here is my child has recently turned two and she doesn't clearly understand the table etiquettes. Yes she uses high chair still & that was made aware to Ms Janie prior to my child joining daycare. She is new to a school environment & other kids there were older and may have older siblings at home to learn share & care. Firstly you cannot compare kids. Every child is different and special. Secondly there is a way to put things forward to the parents such as we will work together in teaching her. First two days you just cannot expect a two year old and a new parent to come prepared to meet your expectations. The message that came across from this was probably Ms Janie is not willing to take kids that need little more grooming or are less independent than kids who are able to express themselves more independently and clearly. 2. Second day she had a bruise on her forehead. We were told that she lost her balance and ran into a wall. Sure we understand that she is a toddler and any child can run into accidents anywhere and anytime of the day. But what I could not understand was Ms Janie's statement. She said to be prepared for more accidents like these in future. Sorry as a parent, it would be pleasant & better to hear that in future we will be extra careful so she doesn't run into more accidents like these. 3. We were made to sign the contract and pay $350 for the first week. Due to unpleasant experience , we had to terminate the contract within two days. We were not given the remainder of the contract money even though her contract clearly states either party can terminate contract within first week as this falls under trial period. She refused to send contract copy even after several reminders. Had to go in person. 4. We understand managing so many kids is a challenge but we do not understand that there was no mode of communication except email & landline which she never responded to. We do not expect a busy teacher to message me every few minutes updating us but we do expect some form of communication sometime in the day just once at least to let us know if the child is ok during first week. It was extremely difficult to convey our message across at many occasions as we were interrupted during a conversation & were not let to finish off on the message. We were not allowed to stay for more than a minute apart during drop off & at the time of pick up the only communication we had for first two days were just complaints . 5. I was told not to send any food from home due to cross contamination. We ended up dropping a sealed store bought yogurt & coconut water as a backup. My child was fed only peanut butter & crackers for two days during her stay. We were told she did not eat yogurt or drink coconut water that we gave her. Apparently thats the only two things she would eat anytime of the day so it is difficult for us as parents to understand why the child refused. On the second day I told Ms Janie to not give her snacks in the evening as she was constipated. During pickup, to my surprise Ms Janie clearly ignored parent instructions as I saw my daughter eating crackers. We wanted to give more time before terminating our contract but when you are unable to communicate your message with the teacher, clearly express your thoughts or even make someone understand your concerns, instead were portrayed in a negative way on your parenting. Very disappointing.

We love The Circle! The classes for kids are so fun. The classes and groups for parents are so…read morehelpful. The staff is literally the best. I found a village at the circle that I am forever grateful for.

Allison (mother of two littles there) teaches a toddlers class and a moms class called Bump, Baby,…read moreand Beyond Monday evenings. She subs the yoga right after and makes Mondays at The Circle so amazing for families in the area. Or anywhere if they want to travel to Seacliff for the classes (they should- totally worth it and open to non-members).

Thankful for One World Kidz Preschool! It was really tough for us to decide which preschool to…read morechoose and trust for my daughter, we went to several preschools in the area but finally ended up choosing OneWorld because it suits our needs and schedule. Grateful to Miss Anna, she accomadated my daughter when we urgently needed childcare. She is also knowleadgeable and observant, made me comfortable as a mom who was anxious to let go of my daughter. My family felt the assurance that my daughter would be safe and in good hands while she is busy learning, playing while socializing. My daughter is always excited to go to school. In the future, we will choose this school again for my younger daughter.

One World Kidz Preschool is amazing! We kept looking for a preschool where the learning would be…read morefun and engaging. You find that here at One World. When I was looking into other schools, we would get rejections due to my daughter not being fully potty trained at the time. When I found One World, they were able to take her in. I made the best decision to bring her here. Everyone was so kind and generous. They had fun activities in the summer and celebrated each other's birthdays. I will never forget this school. One World will always hold a special place in my heart. For that, they deserve all the very best If you're ever looking for a school for your kids, I highly recommend One World. You will not regret it!

nestled among the redwoods, the school offers an education that is both intellectually rigorous and…read moredeeply humane. learning here is not just about absorbing information, but about cultivating attention, kindness, curiosity, and ethical relationship... to oneself, to others, and to the living world. the rhythm of the days feels intentional and spacious. mindfulness, compassion, and inquiry are embodied through routine, ritual, and relationship. children are supported in developing emotional literacy alongside academic skills, learning how to sit with difficulty, resolve conflict, and care for one another with sincerity and respect. the teachers are attentive, thoughtful, and deeply committed... not only to education, but to the inner lives of the students. there is a palpable sense that each child is seen as a whole person, with their own temperament, questions, and unfolding path. the connection to nature is not ornamental; the redwoods, trails, and open air are active participants in the learning process, grounding education in sensory experience and reverence for the natural world. i am grateful to have gone here and if i lived in santa cruz and i had children... they would absolutely go here.

Tara is a unique and magical educational experience in the redwood forests near Land of Medicine…read moreBuddha. Our daughters attend and are thriving in the elementary and preschool programs. The preschool program is located in the heart of Soquel. The teachers are terrific and the children and community wonderful. While in Soquel proper, they do make weekly trips up to the redwoods to play and explore. It's an excellent program filled with creative activities, traditional Montessori education, and play. The elementary program is located within the Land of Medicine Buddha, nestled amongst the redwoods, where the children hike, play in the stream, and count banana slugs while on their way to the playground. The class sizes are small which allow our daughter to receive more attention and tailored education than in a traditional public school. Montessori-style teaching meets the student at their current level of development for each subject, providing flexibility and ensuring a child is challenged and not left behind or left waiting for their classmates to catch up. The elementary school teachers are wonderful, highly experienced, and a positive influence on our daughter. Lastly, the school ethos of compassion, mindfulness, inclusion, and kindness instill important values in our children and foster a culture of like-minded parents and teachers who share these same values. PS - Refreshingly, there are no screens at Tara. The children learn through their senses and through physical objects, not by the glow of pixels and hum of electricity.