I can't express in words just how invaluable Marilee and her team at ECDA have been to me and for our family. I've had two kids graduate from her toddler program over the last few years and I can't wait to enroll my third child when the time comes. ECDA is a wonderful preschool prep program and support group for parents and care givers alike. While the children learned and played in one room, the parents stayed close by to participate in group discussions each week. It was a great way to check in and have the opportunity to ask questions and talk about what worked and wasn't working for everyone. It really helped me navigate parenthood and all the challenging times that arise during those first few crucial years of parenting and raising children. The class notes that get emailed to everyone ahead of each class have been so fabulous to use as a reference point on numerous occasions. I don't know what I would have done without Marilee and all of her wisdom. My children still talk about her and her classes and especially love to look back at photos and videos of their time spent there. The support, knowledge and friendships formed by attending these classes have been simply priceless! read more

I started sending my daughter here when she was 15 months old. Twice a week, our nanny would bring her for two-hour sessions filled with music, story time, crafts, sensory play and imaginative play. But the programming isn't just for the kids. Every week, there's also a new parenting topic that caregivers discuss in a circle as the children do their activities in a different room, supervised by fun and caring teachers. I can honestly say that reading the handouts every week, learning from my nanny about her takeaways, and occasionally dropping in on the classes has made me a better parent this past year. I am more compassionate and empathetic to my child, I have better social and psychological tools to create consistent boundaries, and I know that I have somewhere to turn whenever the latest crazy stage of toddlerhood hits our household (tantrums, potty training, picky eating, poor sleep, aggression). I never felt judged or lectured. I always felt supported and uplifted. And on a personal note, Marilee was able to identify mild sensory issues (sight, touch and hearing) in my toddler. Marilee taught her (and us!) simple coping skills to avoid becoming overwhelmed by her fears and emotions. Without these insights, there's no doubt that I would be treating these sensory issues as "disobedience" and trying to punish her for them, which is frustrating and hurtful for the kid and ultimately counter-productive for the family. I wish every parent had access to a group like ECDA. read more

My daughter loved this class so much. Her development was wonderful transferring into preschool as well. Merilee provided us with parenting skills and answered all our questions with care. Met some lifelong friends with the class as well. Couldn't have been happier. read more

As a new parent, I didn't have the time or energy to read parenting books, let alone leave the house with my child. For this reason, I took a parent and me class with Marilee when my baby was three months old and continued with Marilee for 15 more months. This was, hands down, the best money that my husband and I spent on my child. Every week, myself, my baby and other mothers and babies (Born within a few months of each other), would get together and talk about what we and our babies were going through. Marilee would also provide topics that were relevant for our baby's development. This was not just a "mommy meet up group." It was a "mommy meet up group" led by a licensed child and family therapist and NICU RN in a nice environment. Marilee wouldn't tell us what to do. She would provide us with tailored information, specific to our issues, so that we could make informed decisions on how to raise our babies. I looked forward to going to class every week to learn about how my child was developing and to ask Marilee "Is it normal if..." or "How can I handle..." questions. When my baby grew older, the Toddler and Me class was so much fun. It was a nice balance of play and information. We would first have music time with the toddlers. Then the children would play in the next room with Marilee's teachers while the parents would talk in another room. It was so nice to be able to completely focus on the parent discussions, knowing that my child was exploring toys, doing art activities and learning social skills in the next room. Plus, it was fun to peek in the playroom and see what the kids were up to every once in a while. Marilee's class helped me and my husband become confident, informed parents. We learned how to talk to our child, how to feed nutritious food at different stages and how to generally care for our child. In addition, because of ECDA, we know how to handle random parent anxieties like how to deal with conflicts with other children at the playground, how to get your baby to not take a toy out of another baby's hand, and how to handle toddler tantrums. With the overwhelming amount of parenting information in the world-in blogs, websites, books, and word of mouth, it is easy to be led in many directions because parenting decisions are not black and white. So it was nice to have a proven professional, like Marilee, to curate the information for us in such a nice setting. I wish everyone could take parent and me classes at ECDA. read more

If you get the chance to attend these classes with your child, you are lucky! My daughter loved the music and play and I loved having a space to ask all my nagging parenting questions. Marilee is a wise, patient, and caring teacher. read more

This is an incredible agency that offers several different services for parents and children alike, including exceptional parent and me classes, social skills classes, pre school prep classes, parent discussion groups, school shadowing, assessments, and individual play therapy for children. Marilee Hartling is an experienced and dedicated child development and parenting specialist who is an asset to the community. read more

We highly recommend Marilee's preschool prep class!! Marilee and her "dream team" created a program that honors each child, and encourages them to play and learn at their own level. For months my son played and learned about the seasons, holidays, and began to see what it's like to play alongside his peers. At the close of the program, they honored the children with a graduation party, complete with hats, certificates, and treats. The staff made elaborate books for each child, with photos of their projects and of them playing in class. We as parents were astounded by how much thought was put into every aspect of this program. As a parent, this program taught us patience as our son learns about the world around him, and it was fascinating to watch his progression. As his language bloomed, he began to repeat the songs we sang in class, talk about the specific teachers who helped him with his projects, and his new favorite book, "The Wheels On the Bus" that Marilee read at the close of each class. We began the program as an activity to fill our week, but we are really grateful to have this perspective as we move toward preschool. Marilee and her team love and respect all the children who come to the ECDA, and we are so so happy we found this program. Ps I wrote a longer review on google if you're curious about finer details of our experience... read more

I'd quickly like to address an earlier review before giving my own: I'm a mandated reporter myself, so I completely understand why Marilee would have notified DCFS in the case of a parent driving their child without a car seat. It's illegal and dangerous and not reporting it would have been irresponsible. Every therapist, teacher, doctor is bound by this oath. They are required to protect the child, not make the parents' lives convenient. If DCFS decided to investigate or took action, it's because they felt it was necessary. It's understandable that a parent would be upset, but Marilee handled it how she should have. That being said, my daughter is finishing up her preschool prep class at ECDA and it has been amazing. She went from being quietly attached to my leg at all times to playing with her friends, speaking out in class, and has become quite a social butterfly. Her dad and I are thrilled! Marilee has given us advice that has made us better parents. She promotes patience, honesty, and kindness with our children and with ourselves. She listens and never judges, all the while encouraging growth, openness and trust with our children. She's helped us find the perfect preschool, helped our daughter feel comfortable and confident in her own skin, and she feels like a trusted friend even though we only see her twice a week in class. I couldn't recommend Marilee and ECDA more highly. Her wisdom and guidance will change your life and your child's life for the better! read more

My daughter attends the weekly social skills group class and it has helped her immensely! She has always struggled socially and having real time intervention by the many therapists in the room is invaluable! The therapist to kid ratio is amazing. While the kids have their play group the parents/care givers have the option to join their own group discussion which is also great. Sharing with other parents who have similar experiences is always so helpful and reassuring. read more

There are not enough words in express how our time at ECDA has positively impacted our lives. My oldest and I attended a Parent and Me class when he was 6 months old. ECDA quickly became our "village" and the most valuable class for both of us. We transitioned into Preschool Prep which I looked forward to as much as, maybe more than, my child. I learned so much and believe that I am a better parent, even a better person, for our time there. My oldest is in preschool now, and I miss the community at ECDA. I can't wait to enroll my youngest when the time is right. read more

We have been attending preschool prep program at ECDA for three weeks now and I already see the progress in my son coping with his separation anxiety. After an unsuccessful experience with preschool and my child not being ready to be separated from me, we were desperately looking for a place where he can overcome his anxiety and thrive in a social setting and ECDA is exactly what we were looking for. It's a safe environment for kids and the adults to be able to get comfortable with being separated and for kids to be able to transition to a semi-structured educational setting. All the teachers and the directors are super sweet and helpful. I'm looking forward to the future classes and seeing my son thrive even more. read more

I went to see Marilee for help. I wanted to know what my child was feeling about the re-entry of his father into his life. I opened up to her about the issues we had previously experienced and my concerns as a parent. I told her about an isolated issue with the father not having access to a car seat. There was an unexpected emergency where he needed to pick my 4.5 year old son from school. Something that regular families go through. Marilee turned me into child protective services for being a neglectful parent because I let my son see his father again after that situation. I was at work an hour away with the car seat where my shoot was going into overtime and couldn't get to school. She told me I needed to plan better. I pleaded with this woman to help me and work with my family as CPSS was not going to help my son. She did it anyway. This is a an awful person who is not interested in helping families and children who are looking to be their best. I am only interested in giving my son the best love and care possible. I went to her, which was a mistake. I can't believe I paid for that. Ironically one of my friends had an issue with Marilee at a Pump Station class. WARNING - do not let her see your children. read more

Some of the best memories of when my kids were young occurred at the mommy and me class with Marilee. It was truly such an affirming, positive experience that I cannot speak highly enough about it. Marilee and her assistants are so helpful and non-judgmental which I really appreciated as a first-time mom and then again as a second-time mom. It is also gratifying to get to know other parents going through the same ups and downs of parenting young children. The kids also benefit from being around each other in a supportive environment and they enjoy the singing and toy-playing. This place is a gem in the heart of L.A. Thank you Marilee! read more

I started bringing my twin boys to Marilee's Mommy & Me group when they were about 16 months old. We then went on to join ECDA's Preschool Prep program, which they attended until they turned 3, graduating a couple months before they began preschool. We loved the whole experience. My boys, who are now 5, still remember and talk about it. At ECDA, they learned and were able to practice so many skills that are important in early childhood and also for success in preschool. For my outgoing one, sitting still during circle time and snack time, paying attention to directions, taking turns, sharing and delayed gratification was all key. My shy guy benefited from all these things as well, but also got a year to get comfortable being one room away from me, with teachers and other kids, before we had to make the big transition to preschool. In addition to that, all the activities and projects the kids get to do at ECDA are wonderfully fun learning experiences - music, story time, pretend play, painting, collages, other mixed media art, all kinds of sensory play, celebrating holidays like Halloween and Chinese New Year and Valentines Day, planting seeds and seeing them sprout and grow, watching caterpillars become butterflies and setting them free into the world - these are just some of the things that stand out. The other thing that I really appreciated at ECDA was that it gave me a chance to spend time with the other parents so we could not only commiserate but learn from each other and from Marilee. Marilee has decades of experience in early childhood development and is very knowledgeable. Not only can she help guide parents through the issues that commonly arise with toddlers and young children, she also really helped to guide us through the process of finding the right preschools for our kids. She educated me on what is important to look for in a preschool, what children that age really need from the preschool environment and she even gave her opinion on which schools in the L.A. area fit that bill and which ones don't. Two, three years later as my kids (and all of their close friends) are now graduating from preschool, I can tell you from experience that she was spot on with her recommendations. Our time at ECDA was not only worthwhile, but also very special to us. I'll always look back on it fondly. read more

This is by far the most incredible place you could ever find for your child! We have been in classes here for a year now and absolutely love the caring, supportive, creative, gentle, playful and inspiring environment created here. This is the only place you need! Take your child here from birth until Pre-school! It's really special and very helpful for both parents and the child. You won't want to ever leave once you start classes. read more