Dana Point Montessori

(10 reviews)

Locally owned & operated

Certified professionals

Our son started at LTM when he was 6 months old. He's been there for a year and has enjoyed every…read moreaspect of the school. The teachers are patient and kind and Miss Lily plans tons of activities each week. Our son has blossomed just by engaging in peer-to-peer programs. They are great about providing daily feedback on food, mood, and any challenges. Also, the schools hours are so accommodating for our dual-working parent household. He's transitioned to the next room so smoothly: ie. Group lunch and naps. The playground and garden are some of his favorite places to frequent. Even their holiday programs are so wonderful. It's a great community of teachers and families. We feel so lucky to be a part of the LTM family!

Thank you Little Thinker's Montessori! My daughter loves her teachers and being at school. Miss…read moreLily the director and all of the teachers are so warm, inviting and communicative. My three year old has grown and learned so much since we enrolled her almost a year ago. LTM offers a nurturing, safe, and loving space for little ones to learn and grow. Highly recommend.

Flower Arrangements

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Community Seedlings Preschool

4.2

(5 reviews)

2.2 mi

Unbelievable care and attention for each child, always new things to discover and experience…read moreeveryday. They really support friendships and socialization, communicate very well with parents. Kids are consistently so happy here. Couldn't imagine a better place for my kid to begin her school adventures!

I would caution parents to be aware this is not the environment for all children. We are scarred…read morefrom our experience at this school and hopeful they have realized that all children deserve a pre- school education. Our child was given the gift of getting out before they were able to permanently alter his sense of self. We are happy to see him thrive in another environment and have worked hard to minimize the damage Community Seedlings did to our family. I do hope they get help.

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"Come Grow With Us"

Nobis Preschool

4.5

(28 reviews)

1.1 mi

I have been so happy with Nobis for my two boys ages 1 & 3…read more My 3 year old son is very shy and was nervous about starting school. His teacher and the director have gone above and beyond to make him feel comfortable and get him involved. He adjusted quickly to the new environment and is excited daily to tell me about the many experiences that he had. Some of the experiences include working in the garden, painting, vehicles, singing, dancing, and much more. The teachers are so kind and patient causing his anxiety about the transition to school to vanish. One of my favorite moments of the day is going to pick up my youngest son from the infant room. The babies are always so happy and engaged. The teachers in the infant room are always actively playing with the babies and keep a very clean environment. They joyfully receive the babies in the morning and have a wealth of information about how the day went. He has flourished in his language development and has started using sign language at home. I highly recommend Nobis preschool.

we absolutely love Nobis. My son has been going here for a year. He is a new little person, his…read moreacademic development sky rocketed & we are so thankful for that. His Preschool teachers Ms. Steffi & Ms. Adriana are the sweetest. THANK YOU NOBIS.

Main entrance to Nobis

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Preschool yard

Sandy Toes Nature Preschool

(3 reviews)

1.6 mi

my 3 year old grandson attended Sandy Toes Nature Preschool and he loved it!!…read more He woke up each day excited about it and asking to go! Mia is kind and creative, she engages with the kids and makes everything so fun. My grandson loved finding rocks on the daily beach walks, playing in the sand and learning all about shapes and colors. I highly recommend Sandy Toes for your preschooler! They will love it!

We did a week of Ms. Mia's summer camp beach preschool. I shared it with all my friends because I…read morewas so impressed with Ms. Mia. She is kind and attentive to the children. She is thoughtful and thorough in her preparations and "invitations" she plans. She's organized and had a great outdoor set-up even including a private little outdoor potty. She genuinely loves being in nature herself and shared the awe and wonder of mother nature's creations with the kids as they discovered and noticed things each day. She's responsive to the kids needs and interests and shifted their daily rhythm if the kids were particularly engaged in something. Her experience in early childhood education is evident. I'd recommend Sandy Toes Nature Preschool to anyone who values quality early childhood education and recognizes the importance of being outdoors.

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The Gratitude Garden Preschool

My daughter has been here since she was 2.5 and will graduate from TK this year at 5 years old. My…read moreson will start at 24 months. I love everyone and everything about GRATITUDE. Expect kindness, community, and friendships from the staff and expect your child to grow and learn in more ways that you think. I love this school!

We love this school! From the initial call, tour, to the first day of school, the director and…read morestaff have been incredibly sweet, professional, and very caring. Also love the curriculum. It's play based but really cool ways to learn. It's very hands on, and I love it. Our three year old loves his teacher, Ms. Canepa . She is so attentive, always says hello to my son as soon as he walks in the classroom , and truly cares for him. She is also very attentive and creates such fun learning activities! What we really love about the school is how it's outside play learning which works so well for my son. He enjoys outside time and it's so great that they do this for a good amount of time. I also love how they communicate via sending photos and videos through an app which makes it nice to see what my son is doing each day at school. It's a great school, and has been a good fit for our family.

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Prodigy Montessori School

4.8

(18 reviews)

We've had such a wonderful experience at Prodigy Montessori School. From day one, we were welcomed…read moreinto the warmest, most supportive community. It truly feels like a second home, not just for our daughter, but for us as parents as well. The school is led by Priya. She is incredibly approachable, deeply caring, and always has the best interests of the children at heart. You can feel how much love and intention goes into every aspect of the school. We've seen our daughter grow in her communication, independence, and curiosity since starting here. She genuinely loves going to school, and we feel so lucky to have found a place that supports our daughter's growth. Prodigy has been such a blessing and we couldn't be happier to have had this experience for our child.

My older son started TK at R.H. Dana this year. He had previously attended a preschool that was…read morewonderful when he first started but showed signs of a steady decline. My two year old was attending the same school and we decided to transition him to Prodigy Montessori - for a better experience for him, and for a more convenient double drop off for me. Prodigy came highly recommended from our neighbor, whose son attends the school. In fact, she mentioned not only did they enjoy the school, but he was thriving. We have now been at Prodigy for two months and are so impressed with our son's development. Ms. Priya is lovely and so caring with the children. My son looks forward to seeing her and the other teachers and students, and gives Priya a BIG hug every morning. She is the owner but also onsite and devoted to the children. This is SO comforting knowing our son is in good hands. Our old preschool owner couldnt name one child at her school. Two is a challenging age, and Priya has been so helpful in including us in her teaching strategies and techniques. Every week there are new projects on display showing the children are constantly busy and developing. We are so pleased with our decision to transfer schools and highly recommend Prodigy.

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St. Edward the Confessor Parish School Alumni

3.8

(6 reviews)

0.4 mi

Beautiful campus. Breathtaking chapel. Ocean view. Warm community of parents. Happy kids…read more Administration and faculty that are very qualified for their positions. You'll be feeling welcome here and your children will become the best versions of themselves here. The one and only best catholic private school in all the area. Look no further!

The school is way to crowded. Classroom sizes are equal to public school sizes. Teacher assistants…read moreare always out of the classroom doing tasks and the advertised ratio of 13:1 is not what is happening which is a direct reflection in their star scores (which they don't publish for obvious reasons). There are way too many families here for the wrong reasons (fled public school after the pandemic who have no respect for the Catholic religion) complaining constantly about wearing a uniform or having to go to mass more than one day a week during holy days of obligation. Overall just disappointing and there's no way to really fix the issues unless they reduce how big the school is.

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Gloria Dei Lutheran Preschool

(2 reviews)

0.3 mi

This is the BEST preschool in town, with the most loving, creative, and thoughtful teachers. They…read moreare professional and compassionate. We feel so blessed to be a part of this school. I recommend it to any parent!!!!!

I'm a child development major and completed a portion of my internship at this preschool. The…read moreDirector is professional and highly dedicated to providing an excellent learning environment. She ensures that her teachers are credentialed and proactive in the latest early childhood development concepts. The staff is energetic and constantly communicating with parents. They enjoy educating children and do so in a loving learning environment. I have studied several preschools in South Orange County and found this school to be exceptional.

Marina View Preschool & Kindergarten

4.9

(73 reviews)

3.2 mi

Women-owned & operated

Available by appointment

Marina View School has been an amazing experience for our family. Ms. Reshma is an outstanding…read moreowner and leader who has built a truly special program with an incredible team of teachers and staff. The level of care, communication, structure, and positivity throughout the school is exceptional. The teachers are patient, attentive, and passionate about what they do, and the overall environment feels welcoming, safe, and supportive. It is clear that a lot of thought and heart goes into every part of the program. We highly recommend Marina View School to any parents looking for a place where their child will be encouraged, cared for, and thrive. Five stars!

We had such a wonderful experience with Marina View Preschool. My son attended for about 2.5 years,…read moreand leaving was genuinely emotional for our family when we moved away. From the very beginning, the staff created a warm, nurturing environment where he felt safe, supported, and excited to learn. He truly loved going to school every day which, as a parent, says everything. The program is thoughtfully structured with engaging activities that promote both learning and social development, and we consistently saw him grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity. The teachers clearly care deeply about the children and go above and beyond to create meaningful experiences. Communication was always strong, and we felt like true partners in our child's development. If we hadn't moved, we would have absolutely stayed. I highly recommend Marina View to any family looking for a caring, enriching preschool environment.

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Farm School OC

(1 review)

2.0 mi

I could not say enough good things about Farm School! Brooke is so patient, kind, fun and…read moreinformative and my daughter looks forward to going to Farm School all week long! They somehow manage to learn about and care for the animals, do arts and crafts, sing songs, play games, read books and even cook/prep food in just 3 hours! We feel so grateful to have found something so fun and educational that our daughter loves so much :)

From the owner: What is Farm School OC? Farm School is a one-of-a-kind…read moreexperience for children ages 3-6 at Zoomar’s Petting Zoo. Animals and farming are the heart of our program. Our curriculum includes kindergarten readiness activities in the areas of literacy, math, science, art and music. Farm School includes your daily admission into Zoomars, animal feed, daily animal interactions, hands on learning centered around animals and farming and so much more! We also offer camps during spring, summer and winter breaks. Come follow us on Instagram for more details about our programs.

Hello to our farm friends!

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Saying hello to our farm friends. We have daily animal interactions

Girl In The Curl Surf Shop

Mary, who owns the shop, is the most kind and generous person. She will bend over backwards to help…read moreyou get just the right set-up for your surfing needs.. I have purchased wetsuits, surf leashes, wax, and my latest custom surfboard through her! It also makes you feel great to support LOCAL (women-owned) businesses!!

An over priced surf shop with a somewhat good selection. The staff including the owner are very…read morenice. They have wetsuits, sure leashes and lots of surfboards to choose from. It's a small store in Dana Point.

Full service Surf Van Surfing Lessons and Surfboard Rentals

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Aloha Swimming In Capo Beach

4.3

(41 reviews)

We've been coming here for years and I don't know how I never left a review. Here's a short and…read moresweet one. We first discovered Aloha Swim a little over 4 years ago with our now 7 year old son. We have our 4 year old who started a year ago. Both my boys are now comfortable swimmers and have grown so much since being taught by Amy & Joy. They're both wonderful swim coaches.

UPDATE RESPONSE: I'm not surprised you are denying this ever happened. This is NOT a lie but you…read moreprobably don't remember as you treat children terribly all the time. Lots of unhappy parents to remember all their names. I have all the emails and proof we were at your school in 2023, his name is Ezekiel or "Zeke" and you scarred him for life. You are a horrible human being Joy. This review is long overdue- it's actually been 4 years since we were here but my child is STILL scarred from his experiences with Joy. We were swimming today in a pool and he said, "remember when Miss Joy made me get out of the pool and stand there in front of everyone." It reminded me how terrible she was and I thought I should help people out with a review. If I could give this place 0 stars, I would. Joy should not be anywhere near children, let alone teaching them. RUN, don't walk away from here with your kids. She lacks patience, kindness, and professionalism. She is skilled at swim instruction, I'll give her that- but NOT with children. She should be an adult instructor only. We had swim instruction with her for several weeks and she was VERY rude and harsh with the kids. We finally had the last straw when My son who was 4 years old at the time, (a Covid baby) and still learning to swim had a moment he has never forgotten. Joy YELLED at him and called him a "brat" when he made too big of a splash getting In the water, she made him get out of the water in front of his peers and stand there cold and crying while she made "an example" out of him. She told the other kids, "see if you misbehave like this boy, you don't get to swim." Thank God my husband stood up to her and told her how he felt as she just let my child cry on the steps. We never went back and didn't even bother asking for a refund as I knew we wouldn't get it.

Practice makes perfect :)

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San Juan Montessori

4.8

(34 reviews)

1.7 mi

Locally owned & operated

21 years in business

Grateful to have found this Montessori. Child attended a daycare before and now that he's in this…read moreMontessori I can see how his learning has advanced and he is learning different things besides regular ABCs. More life skills and understandings of culture which really excites me as a parent. Owner also worked with our family in a very difficult time and took us in as practically family and we are ever grateful. Cannot say enough good things about this school.

Darling Montessori preschool that fosters a self-directed, child-centered learning environment…read morewhere children explore and learn at their own pace, using carefully designed materials and guided by trained teachers. The school emphasizes independence, respect for the child, and a prepared environment that allows for free movement and a rich, stimulating atmosphere. Our grandson loves it!

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Prodigy Montessori School

4.8

(18 reviews)

We've had such a wonderful experience at Prodigy Montessori School. From day one, we were welcomed…read moreinto the warmest, most supportive community. It truly feels like a second home, not just for our daughter, but for us as parents as well. The school is led by Priya. She is incredibly approachable, deeply caring, and always has the best interests of the children at heart. You can feel how much love and intention goes into every aspect of the school. We've seen our daughter grow in her communication, independence, and curiosity since starting here. She genuinely loves going to school, and we feel so lucky to have found a place that supports our daughter's growth. Prodigy has been such a blessing and we couldn't be happier to have had this experience for our child.

My older son started TK at R.H. Dana this year. He had previously attended a preschool that was…read morewonderful when he first started but showed signs of a steady decline. My two year old was attending the same school and we decided to transition him to Prodigy Montessori - for a better experience for him, and for a more convenient double drop off for me. Prodigy came highly recommended from our neighbor, whose son attends the school. In fact, she mentioned not only did they enjoy the school, but he was thriving. We have now been at Prodigy for two months and are so impressed with our son's development. Ms. Priya is lovely and so caring with the children. My son looks forward to seeing her and the other teachers and students, and gives Priya a BIG hug every morning. She is the owner but also onsite and devoted to the children. This is SO comforting knowing our son is in good hands. Our old preschool owner couldnt name one child at her school. Two is a challenging age, and Priya has been so helpful in including us in her teaching strategies and techniques. Every week there are new projects on display showing the children are constantly busy and developing. We are so pleased with our decision to transfer schools and highly recommend Prodigy.