What a special spot. We get to know the kiddos here and the parents know our kiddos. I trust…read moreeveryone here with caring for them and a co-op is a unique experience. Hard work and lots of love go into it. Gentle parenting with a dope group of peeps? Sign me up!

This a a we're-trying-too-hard-to-be-hippies and reminds you of the snobbery & exclusionary BS of…read moremiddle school. Oh joy. The good points include the kids are exclusively outside (until it rains, which it does in LA), the variety of toys & the fact that parents, while working there, get to know each other. The bad is unfortunately pretty far-reaching: (1) they don't believe in saying sorry or having the kids say sorry for intentionally or unintentionally hurting another child. It's great to correct the action, but you should also back it up with an apology--this is meaningful to most people, just saying. (2) They don't administer sunscreen to kids, which wears off after 1-2 hrs, so you have to worry that your child is getting harmful UV-A & B exposure early on in life, and whole preschool is outdoors. (3)***They discriminate against any child that's a little different (our first child was shy) , which is cruel & horrid--the ADULT TEACHERS do this. Not everyone Is born a raging extrovert. Imagine what kind of modeling this does--the discrimination of others at such a young age-- to the children. The modeling of cruel behavior. Horrible. (4) They have no structure--they try so hard to be "yes people" & hippie-whatever at the expense of giving young souls the much needed structure they crave. Kids need a balance of both unadulterated freedom at this tender age, and structure. There is very little to no structure at the garden. (5) there's no where for the kids to go inside during inclement weather. Guess they didn't think about that... because of course it never rains in LA (facepalm) (6) the owner's whack. Just saying (7) there is ZERO parking for parents on their work day A wonderful Preschool we found, while a little pricier, is sooo worth it--La Cañada Preschool. Phenomenal. Incredible, dedicated staff, the most wonderful head of school ever, Debbie Ficarra, the preschool is a converted, welcoming home with a joyful backyard for play... my 3 kids have LOVED this school!!!

A Lifesaver and a Treasure…read more Chandler's Preschool quite literally rescued our family. We suddenly lost our nanny and were scrambling for care when the school had just opened--and we were lucky enough to be one of their very first families. From day one, we felt embraced, supported, and cared for in a way that exceeded all expectations. Our son just graduated from Chandler's and is heading into kindergarten not only confident and excited, but already reading. He was accepted into an excellent private school, and I have no doubt that Chandler's nurturing environment and thoughtfully designed curriculum played a huge role in preparing him. The teachers are warm, engaging, and truly see every child. The director runs the school with such intentionality--making sure the meals are always fresh, organic, and nutritious. The facility itself is immaculately clean and beautifully maintained. You can tell that everything, from the schedule to the classroom setup, is created with early childhood development philosophies in mind. Our younger daughter still attends, and I'm always blown away by the care and quality of education. She has weekly science lessons, cooking projects, and physical activities all seamlessly woven into her day. So much of the learning is hands-on and joyful--my kids often don't want to leave when I come to pick them up! We are endlessly grateful for Chandler's Preschool. It's been a home, a school, and a community for our family--and we can't recommend it highly enough.

*TLDR: Unless you are into Authoritarianism, do not send your children here*…read more Enough time has passed that I am ready to tell my family's story, to spare future families from heartbreak and drama. We spent 7 months of relative peace at Chandler's. There were definitely some pinkish to red flags that I ignored, but childcare in LA can be very difficult to find, so I dismissed my gut feelings. Our family required a preschool that accepted children at 18 months old, and they could accommodate that. I will lead with some brief positive aspects of Chandler's: availability of long hours, homemade and healthy breakfast/ lunch served, and some fairly decent teachers. Here's the ugly: The owner of the school, Carolina Garzzia, leads with an iron fist. Our first meetings with her led me to see someone not to be crossed, and her communication style has always felt very chaotic, non-cohesive, and cold. As an example, she has strong opinions about how long mothers should breastfeed--we found out as someone who took the tour with us and signed her child up ended up backing out at the last minute (losing her deposit) because Ms. Garzzia told her flat-out to stop breastfeeding. While this is not a religious school, the undertones are there (AI Jesus and the babies in heaven on their Instagram have been spotted), and the 2024 Christmas factor was on overdrive. I have talked to families (that practice different faiths) about how when they pushed back on the repeated request for their children to bring a Christmas ornament, Ms. Garzzia reacted with an astonished "In my 30 years of teaching, I have never!..."--well, maybe that is because you have created an environment in which people are uncomfortable talking to you, or you have traditionally surrounded yourself with the same kinds of people as yourself. About 5 months in, fellow parents at the school told us of a very upsetting event in which they saw a strange man taking photos of the gate and walking up the driveway, which is not supposed to be open during business hours. When questioned, this man became incredibly aggressive. The parent walked up to relay this information to the administration immediately and make sure they knew he was present. Chandler's admin were at first 1) nowhere to be found, and when they did show up, 2) sharply dismissed and told parent they were "taking care of it" without explanation. This is how this school meets any questioning, over a major SAFETY CONCERN... without curiosity, without sympathy. It's their way or the highway. This is where we met our own proverbial highway. This story is so stupid that it sounds unreal. In February of 2025, parents in the Chandler's school-run WhatsApp chat decided to create some sub-groups for the classrooms. Privately, a few parents and I had talked about how we thought it would be good for these to be parent-only, without Administration. An incredibly normal thing that most schools have--to plan teacher gifts, make weekend playdates, and yes, to talk it out when something unsettling happens. I was the one who denied entry of the administrators to our Caterpillar subgroup. For the sake of receipts, I have uploaded the exchange with redacted names except for the business owner. What happened after that was quite shocking. On Monday morning, I dropped off my child at their classroom and was called into the office by Ms. Garzzia, who locked the door behind me when I entered. She was not interested in hearing my perspective, and that this act of "rudeness" was seen as a challenge to their absolute power and their ability to control all narratives about the workings of Chandlers. I asked what the next steps could be, and Carolina replied sharply, "Oh I think we are done here. How can you trust us to take care of your child if you cannot trust us?" A very fair point. I asked for a check for the rest of the month's tuition, and to my surprise, this check was already cut, and a letter of dismissal was sealed in an envelope. I had to return to the classroom and take our sweet child out. Our family is horrified that the administration thought it was perfectly appropriate to retaliate against an innocent child and pluck him away from his friends and routine--all because of a perceived slight from a parent. This is their capacity for emotional intelligence and empathy. The administration was also aware that my parents had lost their home in Altadena to the Eaton Fire weeks before, and that my step-dad was still in the hospital after severe smoke inhalation. We were in terrible need of childcare, and they didn't care. I fully expect a response to this review that will be full of lies. That is their style. The bottom line is that parents deserve to be able to present concerns and questions without feeling dismissed or bullied.

Absolutely cannot recommend this school enough!! Our kiddo went there for 2.5 years, and we would…read morehave stayed forever if we could! The amount of care each teacher gives the children is unbelievable, and they really foster such an incredible community. Our child would come home every day with new skills and interests, and I am so grateful to each teacher there for contributing. We love you guys and miss you!!

We had the most lovely experience sending our daughter to both the Little Nest and The Nest on…read moreYork. The teachers are so caring and kind and really see each individual child. The space is beautiful and thoughtfully designed and the community is very sweet. Highly recommend checking out this special school!

This review is long overdue! I am so grateful and lucky that i was able to have my toddler at…read morePequeñas Semillas Wonderschool. Only reason he is not there is because we have moved to Stockholm, Sweden. Her care for the children is in a beautiful home in Eagle Rock, Ca. There could not be a better environment than feeling safe in a home, in a small group of kids with the care that Maria and her staff give, it feels like family. They get healthy home cooked snacks and lunch! If you search around LA, its impossible to find schools that serve food. For a busy parent that is a game changer. She really plans ahead for the activities and themes she has for the week, that is dedication and passion. We get updates of what they did through out the day, from the time they went potty, nap time, stories and songs of the day! I can go on and on, just sharing a few of the pics where you can see they joy the kids have, which is the most important. She has limited space so highly recommend to plan ahead. Probably only one of the very few Spanish immersion daycares in LA. We love you Pequeñas Semillas & miss you!

We are so happy with the decision to take our daughter to Pequenas Semillas. The environment is…read morewarm, loving, educational, and clean. We can tell the children have fun every day and they are also learning so much. Our daughter (almost 2) wakes up talking about all her friends every morning, it makes me so happy, not to mention she is already picking up some Spanish (and refreshing her parents Spanish vocabulary as well). The other families are also warm and friendly, creating a true community fir our children. Maria is great with kids and parents. She gives updates on our child's day and eases any fears we have. I would highly recommend this daycare to anyone.

At Water Park Center is a hidden gem for families seeking a nurturing child care.While it isn't a…read moreflashy, modern facility, it also isn't old or run-down--it's simply just right. The setting inside the church adds a comforting, community feel that you don't get at many child care centers. The real highlight and value is the incredible staff. They are some of the most caring, compassionate, and loving people I've ever encountered in childcare. They pay attention to each child's needs, they communicate well with parents, and you can tell they are genuinely invested in the kids' happiness and development. The playground area is a great bonus and gives the children a safe and fun place to play. My child has grown so much socially and emotionally since attending, and I'm grateful for the stable, loving environment they provide. I highly recommend At Water Park Center for any parent who wants their child in a safe place with staff who truly care.

We absolutely loved Atwater Park Center! Our daughter was there from ages 2-4, and we always felt…read moreshe was in wonderful, caring hands. The teachers were incredible--so attentive, thoughtful, and genuinely invested in the kids. Her room at home is covered with drawings her teachers made with her The class sizes were fairly small, which meant she got plenty of focused attention, and the kids really formed close bonds with one another both in and out of class. We had lots of weekend bday parties with classmates One thing I especially appreciated was that each class had only about a one-year age range, so she was always with peers at a similar stage--never much older or much younger. So there were similar developmental and social skills among her classmates. She learned so much both from her teachers and from the other kids. Anytime challenges came up (whether with our daughter or with classmates), the teachers handled it with such care, patience, and attention. We always felt supported and trusted their approach completely. Bertha & America (the administrators) were very involved with all the classrooms, and responsive to any questions or concerns. We're so grateful for the community here--our daughter adored her teachers and friends, and we couldn't have asked for a better early school experience!

Jessie, the founder and lead teacher at Growing Gardens, is one of the rarest kinds of humans that…read morehas a way of making every single kid in her school feel seen, loved, and valued. She forms a tight knit, collaborate and small community in her school, through dedicated attention to each child's needs and strengths. I can list countless things that she taught my daughter while she was there, from strong academic skills, to language skills, to self care and social skills, but most importantly to us, she made my daughter feel like her best self--like she was safe, valued, and cared for. Some of her closest friends have come out of her time at Growing Gardens (as have some of our closest parent friends), and she always talks about the school and her beloved teacher Jessie with love and wonder. The best decision we made when picking a preschool was choosing Growing Gardens.

Our son started here at 2.5yrs after being born right at start of Covid and never having been cared…read morefor outside of the house. It was a hard transition for us all but Jessie and Mia Mia helped him get through the tough drop offs and he always says he misses them when we go on trips. They go above and beyond on nurturing these kids minds and bodies. They eat well balanced, real food and even help in the meal prep, which we do at home and I LOVE that he gets to continue and learn so many life skills every day. They've become part of his routine and mean so much to us and our boy. He's learned a lot, sings us songs in Spanish, and randomly says things we know we didn't teach him. So it's been an amazing year so far! I wish he could stay here forever. We will be sending his little sister here as soon as we can ;)

If I could give Bright Montessori a thousand stars, I would. Our youngest (of three kids) started…read moreat Bright at barely age 2 when our full-time nanny unexpectedly had to take medical leave. When I arrived for my visit, the director, Sakina, was hoisting a palate of strawberries from her car that she had bought from the farmers market for the kids' snack. From day one, our family felt welcomed and supported by Sakina and her colleagues and the parents at the school. Our daughter is thriving and we see every day how this loving community has contributed to her growth and development. The school has two beautiful classrooms with large glass windows/doors and a serene courtyard. One parent on Yelp commented about uneven pavement and I'm not sure I understand that. The space is perfectly safe (as well as clean and beautiful) for children to run around--I certainly wouldn't have sent my 2-year-old daughter to the school if I had any concerns. The teachers are extremely engaged and loving and I've watched them on a daily basis help kids to learn how to communicate and resolve conflict. Overall, the school is an absolute gem and I am so glad that we became part of this wonderful community. Our family is forever grateful for the marvelous work by Sakina, Vanessa, Michelle, and Romaline.

If I could give Bright Montessori a thousand stars, I would. Our youngest (of three kids) started…read moreat Bright at barely age 2 when our full-time nanny unexpectedly had to take medical leave. When I arrived for my visit, the director, Sakina, was hoisting a palate of strawberries from her car that she had bought from the farmers market for the kids' snack. From day one, our family felt welcomed and supported by Sakina and her colleagues and the parents at the school. Our daughter is thriving and we see every day how this loving community has contributed to her growth and development. The school has two beautiful classrooms with large glass windows/doors and a serene courtyard. One parent on Yelp commented about uneven pavement and I'm not sure I understand that. The space is perfectly safe (as well as clean and beautiful) for children to run around--I certainly wouldn't have sent my 2-year-old daughter to the school if I had any concerns. The teachers are extremely engaged and loving and I've watched them on a daily basis help kids to learn how to communicate and resolve conflict. Overall, the school is an absolute gem and I am so glad that we became part of this wonderful community. Our family is forever grateful for the amazing work by Sakina, Vanessa, Michelle, and Romaline.

We enrolled our 1-year-old son in two sessions of Toddler and Me at Segray, and it was such a…read morepositive experience for our family. The program is thoughtfully organized with a great mix of free exploration and structured activities, all designed with toddlers' development in mind. Each week had new, well-curated stations and age-appropriate toys that kept things engaging and fun. Our son especially loved the music portion, including a session with a guitarist singing songs with the children. Angela, the program director, and her team were incredibly welcoming, warm, and communicative throughout the program. They did a wonderful job making the space feel inviting and safe for both toddlers and their caregivers, whether parents, grandparents, or nannies. That was especially meaningful for little ones who may not have had prior school experience yet. The staff was fantastic with the children and clearly cared deeply about creating a nurturing environment. You can really see the love and thought they put into everything, from the classroom setup to the outdoor play areas. Overall, Toddler and Me was a great value and wonderful exposure for our son. I would highly recommend it to any parent or caregiver looking for a warm, enriching program for their toddler.

I feel so incredibly lucky to have found Segray -- and for my son to get to experience the care,…read moresupport and joy that this school offers the children and families who are part of their community. My experience with the school was unique in that my son had been enrolled at another preschool for several years prior to me deciding to move him to Segray. Unfortunately, his prior school was suffering from administrative and staffing challenges that were significantly affecting my son, leaving me no choice but to seek out a new school for him at the end of his pre-K year and just two months before he was set to begin Kindergarten. A friend referred me to Segray and suggested I reach out to Annette and Abby about enrolling. I was very upfront with both of them about the challenges we'd experienced and the effect it was having on my son. They could not have been more welcoming, understanding and supportive - things I was in desperate need of after feeling a lack of support at the prior school. They welcomed my son into the classroom and worked very closely with us to calm my nerves and ensure my son felt supported and welcome in his new school. As you'll see immediately upon touring the school, it's a very inspired and beautiful environment. What you may not get to see during a short tour is how warm and happy the staff and teachers are, and as a result - how happy the kids are. In just two short months at Segray my son overcame the social challenges he'd experienced at his previous school, and most importantly he rediscovered his love of school. I will forever be grateful for Segray's ability to offer our family a more joyous and peaceful last couple of months of preschool and for the care, attention and compassion they offered our family during every interaction.