My daughter has been attending Patience Montessori for over a year and a half now…read more My wife and I looked at a variety of local schools and chose Patience because we loved the diversity among teachers and the convenient logistics. Colorado isn't a particularly diverse state so having several ethnicities and cultures represented at school is important to us. Our daughter has been taught to love learning and be independent there. She's been shown a tremendous amount of love and has grown out of her shy, quiet demeanor into a social, confident personality. The fact that Patience is open from 7:30am to 5:45pm has been an unexpectedly important part of our happiness with the school. As a two income family having the flexibility to drop off early and pick up without having to leave the office in the middle of the afternoon has taken a lot of stress out of our lives. I highly recommend that you look at Patience - we have been incredibly happy with the education, care, and love for our daughter.

Our Experience at Patience Montessori: A Cautionary Account…read more Our time at Patience Montessori was unfortunately marked by significant concerns regarding the care of our child and the overall environment of the daycare. What should have been a nurturing, supportive partnership turned into a stressful and unhealthy experience for our entire family. Mismanagement and Poor Communication From the beginning, I had concerns about the center's management. When I approached the director to discuss issues such as classroom transitions, choking hazards, teacher turnover, and the handling of pumped breast milk, I was met with a dismissive and defensive attitude. Instead of engaging in a constructive dialogue, the director consistently deflected responsibility and placed blame on parents or staff. Communication at this daycare was a recurring problem. Any concerns raised were typically ignored or met with hostility. Over time, it became clear that the director only engaged with me to point out what she believed I was doing wrong as a parent--including breastfeeding choices, carrying my child, or even my child removing her shoes at school. This level of intrusion into parenting decisions felt entirely inappropriate and overreaching. High Staff Turnover and Questionable Hiring In just six months, my child had six different teachers in the toddler room. This high turnover created instability and was never proactively communicated to parents. After the sixth teacher, my child--previously happy to attend--began crying at drop-off and describing the new teacher as "mean" and "scary." I later learned that this teacher refused to offer milk based on a personal belief that another child might mistakenly drink it. Shockingly, she had cycled through twelve different daycare centers before arriving at this one. Concerning Treatment of Children and Staff More alarming were the reports I heard directly from staff members, who confided in me about the director's behavior. They expressed discomfort with being sworn at in front of children, being pressured to operate over legal child-to-adult ratios, and being given questionable directions, including how to minimize parent-teacher interactions during drop-off. On multiple occasions, the director interrupted private conversations I was having with my child's teachers under the pretense of needing to "talk privately" with them. This left me feeling that transparency with parents was being intentionally avoided. Emotional Wellbeing and Child Development One of my deepest concerns was the director's approach to emotional development. Patience's philosophy, as described to me, discouraged staff from comforting children in distress. Staff were reportedly told not to hold, soothe, or validate a crying child's emotions. "She needs to be on her own," they were instructed. This rigid interpretation of the Montessori philosophy felt, to me, like emotional neglect rather than encouragement of independence. Montessori education values independence, yes--but not at the cost of compassion and emotional support. Children deserve comfort and guidance as they learn to regulate their feelings. What I witnessed and heard about at Patience Montessori deeply contradicted those values. Final Thoughts What I hoped for was a nurturing and professional childcare environment--one that would support my child and work with me as a parent. Instead, I encountered a toxic culture, a lack of professionalism, and a director who was more interested in control than care. Ultimately, we had to find a new daycare where our child could feel safe, supported, and understood. I share our experience to help other families make informed decisions and to advocate for higher standards in early childhood care.

The teachers at Little Lyceum are amazing, they absolutely love each kid as if they were their own…read more We really love the Montessori method as well, compared to other kids the same age, we feel our child is a lot more independent and responsible. We feel really comfortable leaving our child with little Lyceum and our 2 yr old absolutely loves going to daycare.

My son is 3.5 and he's been going here since he was 18 months. We both absolutely love this school…read more The teachers are wonderful and the owner, Gorden, is extremely passionate about Montessori education. I learn something new every time I talk to him. They have parent education nights which are so much fun, pet goats (in their own fence) on the playground, a cute little hobbit garden for summer time play, weekly yoga time for the kiddos, and an awesome playground. I love how independent and confident this place has helped my son become!

As a 3rd grader, Niwot Elementary did a fantastic job at suspending me for sexual harassment…read morebecause I was hogging a basketball and not passing it to the girls. 10/10 would get suspended again.

Niwot Elementary is an outstanding school! Students are held to high standards, the parents are…read moretotally involved in their children's education, and the teachers are excellent! After school programs are great and run well by Jen. Fundraising projects are a constant, and Mrs. PItz is an outstanding principal! My son attends this school, and we couldn't be happier!

This school has been an incredible experience for our family. It was the very first time our…read moredaughter was outside of our home, and we couldn't have asked for a better environment. Our family has been connected to this school for over 30 years, and every experience has been wonderful. The classrooms are bright and welcoming, and the teachers and assistants are truly loving and attentive. Our daughter even learned to speak English here, which was such a milestone for us. We also love the family events and summer camps. This place is a haven for kids, and we highly recommend it to any family looking for a nurturing, enriching environment. We will be sending our second daughter here when the time comes.

We've had a truly wonderful experience at Mapleton Montessori. The smaller school environment is a…read morehuge asset; it allows our child to develop strong relationships with all the teachers, students, and the director. Our child absolutely loves their teachers and friends and genuinely looks forward to school each day. We really appreciate the updates on her progress, which helps us feel connected to her learning journey. Mapleton also does a great job of creating opportunities for parents to engage with the community and observe their child's activities

We love Montview!! This is our third year at MCPK, and we couldn't be happier. The teachers are…read moreamazing. They do a beautiful job meeting each child where they're at, and tailoring the preschool experience to each student's needs and interests. Every time I am there, I see classrooms full of joy, imagination and creativity. It really is a magical place! Our family has also really enjoyed the co-op model, where parents are an active part of the school community. We have built strong relationships with other families and school staff in a way that just doesn't happen at other schools.

One of the very few schools that not only understands what it takes to create a successful and…read morepositive early childhood education experience, but demonstrates it in everything that they do here. My 4 year old is THRIVING here. He WANTS to go to school, even on days that he doesn't have school. (This was not the case last year at a different preschool.) As an educator, experienced in early childhood and elementary schools, I have been impressed with this school from the moment I first read about their philosophy on their website, to touring the school and seeing it in-person, to now having my child go to this school and seeing the positive impact that it is making on him and nurturing his love for learning and play. Not only have I been an educator for over 12 years, but I also wrote my Master's degree thesis on the importance of play. For those that want to learn more about why play is so important for children, check out the books: Einstein Never Used Flash Cards and Last Child in the Woods. To then have a child 4 years after writing my thesis and 4 years after that, find a school that actually understands, embraces, and models this essential part of childhood is so gratifying. My son especially loves when it is our "helping day" in the classroom and I love it too. I get to be a part of his learning, curiosity, and observe how he interacts with others and the world around him... this is so important to his growth and development in knowing how to best support and guide my child at home. "Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity." ~Kay Redfield Jamison

We were nervous finding the right preschool, especially with our daughter's speech and learning…read moreneeds. This place has been everything we hoped for and more. The integration of language, executive functioning, and play is unmatched. Her confidence has skyrocketed. She now talks to peers, participates in circle time, and loves showing us the "brain-building games" they do each day. The communication from teachers is fantastic, and it genuinely feels like a partnership.

My son enrolled at Science of Learning Preschool in September 2025 shortly after turning three. The…read moreprogram appealed to us because of its focus on speech therapy and early learning support. Mrs. Alexis shared that she previously worked as a preschool teacher in a public school district and opened this program to provide more individualized attention with a smaller student-to-teacher ratio. At the time of enrollment, my son had recently aged out of Early Intervention services and did not qualify for special education through St. Vrain Valley Schools. Based on a recommendation from our speech therapist, we decided to enroll him. During our tour, the school appeared welcoming, and we were told my son would be the youngest student. Since it was a new program, we understood there would be some initial organization still in progress. My son attended two half days a week from September through November. During that time, however, I did not receive any communication from the speech therapist--no updates, progress reports, emails, or conference opportunities. I was told speech sessions took place upstairs, but I was never offered a tour of that space or the opportunity to meet the therapist, which felt like a lack of transparency. My son was still potty training and had occasional accidents. After accidents, he was typically placed in a pull-up rather than being supported in transitioning back to underwear. As a very active child who had never attended daycare before, he did have a few minor incidents with peers. Since transferring to a new preschool, he has had none, which suggests this environment may not have been the right fit for him. In November, after tuition had already been withdrawn, Mrs. Alexis scheduled a conference. I expected a discussion about my son's progress, but instead was told she believed he would do better in a public preschool program and suggested Child Find. This was discouraging, as we had already completed that process and he did not qualify. It was also disappointing that this conversation occurred mid-year, without earlier communication or an attempt to create a support plan. During the meeting, I was asked about occupational therapy despite that information being clearly included in my paperwork. Comments such as "he can't hold a pencil" made me feel that instead of helping him develop skills, the program had decided he wasn't a good fit. I also noticed most students appeared significantly older, closer to kindergarten age, which may have contributed to the challenges. When I asked if my son should return, I was told, "We want him here as long as you want him here," but it did not feel reassuring. Ultimately, I chose to withdraw him and find another program. Finding a new preschool in November was stressful, but thankfully we did. My son is now thriving--he loves school, has had no behavioral incidents, no potty accidents, and receives warm, consistent support. The difference has been significant. While Science of Learning Preschool may work well for some children, it was not the right fit for our younger, high-energy child. I hope the program improves communication with parents and strengthens individualized support, especially given that these are key aspects the school promotes.

Both of my children have grown with the Tiny Minders North family and we couldn't be happier with…read morethe care and developmental skills they have received. My oldest is in Kindergarten now and still misses her teachers and the staff. My son is still there and is so excited to go every morning that he grabs his coat and bag and drags it around the house waiting for me to get out. Andrea and Diana have always been a great support network and I can't imagine my life without them and the TNM crew!

My daughter went to Tinyminders North for two years, and it's been GREAT! As a first-time working…read moremom, my concerns were about her welfare, time spent on developmental activities, and her socialization. The staff at Tinyminders did not disappoint. They were attentive, kind, generous, caring, friendly and reassuring. Especially to a nervous wreck like me! The rates were excellent, and the curriculum was centered around fostering a loving, caring environment. My child learned so much. I agree with the other reviewer here that the teachers may not have all been certified teachers, but their love and dedication to children was more important in my eyes. Especially for my daughter, who started so young. I would glad recommend this daycare to anyone who is looking for a small, close, attentive, individualized, breast-friendly and affordable facility close to their workplace in Boulder. Top notch.

Sunset Academy has a great UPK program. The teachers are highly qualified and passionate about…read moreteaching! I love their morning reading time!

When our son was brought into Sunset Academy for a tour we set the expectation that he might be…read morebehind socially, as well as a bit bolder or more assertive than other kids due to his size. He would also have trouble with eating on his own and naptime, especially in a new place. The director told us not to worry and helping our son along with all of this was their job, they were the experts with college degrees and training in child development. He did have trouble sleeping, but within a handful of times spent at the center he knew to go to his cot and be quieter, he was learning to model after the other children. However when he awoke crying for mommy and daddy, a common occurrence, they sent him out into the hall alone, then called for his mother to pick him up. This taught him that crying would result in getting what he wants and this was ok, also that nobody at the center would be there for him. The center (on their website when we had signed up) had indicated that we could be part time for the first 2 months our son was in daycare. It was brought up multiple times to the owner during the tour as well as the office Manager Nina that this was the case. our son's first week at the center, the owner and Nina approached our son's mother and indicated that they weren't aware he was only part time. She made it very clear they'd stated that and the owner agreed verbally to allow 2 months to be part time. At the end of May, the owner approached Crystal and indicated that he never said "two months" his policy was "one month" which had at that point changed on the website as well. He told her that she could start June 7th as full time and we adhered to that and started him full time on June 7th. That day, we showed up as planned on Monday and after 1 hour, our son was sent home because they were "understaffed" and unaware that he had been switched to full time (despite the owner being the one who insisted on it, we did not). This was the same monday of the week he was kicked out on Wednesday. Two days before our son being kicked out of Sunset Academy (the day after the above incident), our son's mother was sent home in the morning with a series of 'Incident Reports' from Sunset about our son's trouble sleeping, eating at the appropriate times, and not "interacting" with other children. This is a clear violation of the "Parent's Handbook" that is provided on the Sunset Academy website that indicates they will make every effort to work with the child and their family before forcibly removing them. Two days is not a reasonable amount of time, especially since there were no real details or plans for how we could help improve, just problems we were aware of now. The only thing that was offered was that our son should have his occupational therapist come into the building, which we immediately (that day) arranged with the occupational therapist to find the best day that would work for all parties. In addition, these "incident reports" were handed to us all at once and there was only one with a date on it, which was from a previous week. We were suddenly expected to solve all of these problems in 2 days (with literally only that amount of notice). To be clear, these were not brought up in any official capacity prior to this situation (our son's teacher had indicated he had problems sleeping and adapting but they were working on it, they had reached out asking for some ideas, and we provided them and it seemed to be improving, the teacher even said as such). Before we get into the date he was kicked out, we're like to provide additional incite into the center and how they treated our son during the time he was there. Our son was sent home early from Sunset 2 out of the 3 days he was enrolled . There were a variety of reasons that they provided to us: they had meetings to conduct during our paid time, our son did something they didn't like, or they had some staffing issue. One time in particular one of their faculty was sent in while already injured and they asked for volunteers to come pick up their children-- which we complied with despite it causing us additional stress and our son having had little time in the center. Often when our son came home after being at Sunset, he would be extremely hungry and thirsty. When we would watch on the video, they would place him in front of his food, he would wander off, and occasionally they'd put him back but in most cases that we saw, they did not... More here... https://bit.ly/3y0nBVG