Little Llama isn't just a daycare but a second home. The…read morecare, warmth, and intention they pour into every child is exceptional. Our toddler is not only hitting developmental milestones with ease, but is also thriving in a multicultural environment that nurtures curiosity and confidence. Trust, love, and growth is all in one place. Thank you all! We appreciate all your efforts!

We tried several models of daycare in the Belmont / Watertown area for our two children, before…read morefinding Little Llama when our youngest was entering preschool at 2.9 years. We have had an amazing experience at Little Llama and simply did not think that a childcare / preschool provider could be this wonderful. The curriculum is creative and engaging, including music, exercise, and hands-on activities every day. The children also go outside every day, often several times a day, for fresh air, walks, and play in every season. The space is sunlit, bright, and spotlessly clean. What especially stands out to us is how communicative the owner, Evgenia, has been from day one, and how communicative the teachers are throughout our son's day. We get updates, photos, and daily summarizes about his experience and any time we send a message to teachers, they respond immediately. The preschool teachers are so wonderful, treating the children with kindness, respect, and enthusiasm. And as bonuses: a healthy (!) lunch is provided every day, drop off and pick up are easy with ample side street space to pull up to, and there is a very secure safety system installed in the building. Our son is thriving and loves going to school every day. We truly cannot recommend Little Llama enough; we only wish we had found this wonderful childcare and preschool earlier in our parenting journeys.

I can not say enough great things about CHBS. First, a great group of teachers. Second, wonderful…read moreenrichment experience in language, arts, music, and more. Prior to CHBS, my child was in other typical American preschool/k, and no one knew if the kids had BM, or a nap, no daily report, nothing. CHBS gives you a daily report of your children's day- about the nap, bathroom use, noticeable events, growth, etc. I have many books of our daily correspondence between us and CHBS which will be a treasure for me for years to come. I would highly recommend CHBS. Of note- I am from Japan and I can say with confidence they are so kichin to shiteru.

With my Japanese background, I always wanted my kids to grow up learning Japanese. With that said,…read moreit was very difficult for me to speak to my kids solely in Japanese when their dad doesn't speak the language. Enter Cedar Hill Bilingual School (CHBS). Once my kids started at CHBS, their Japanese language skill sky rocketed. My 4 year old went from somewhat understanding what I was saying to him in Japanese, to being able to speak to me in Japanese 100%. He also learned to read and write during his time there. I also have to say the quality of the teachers and program are top notch. You cannot find a better daycare than this one.

Our daughter started here when she was of age for the preschool classroom after leaving a…read moretumultuous situation at our prior daycare. She was barely 3 and instantly comfortable, and we never looked back. Ms. Annie and the teachers here are incredibly caring and create a supportive environment for the kids to learn. I recall that these kids really helped each other work through things to problem solve leading up to kindergarten. The school is not just a school or daycare, but a little community. We are still friends with families we crossed paths with until this day. And in fact, we still go back to visit because my daughter had such a positive experience in her 3 years here! Community-wise, Annie really creates that for the families. Every year, there's an annual apple picking event for all the families. There are also family playdates after the day is over, and I recall we even went to the zoo one year. We miss our time here, but I'm forever grateful to have found WSDC. I never doubted for a second that our daughter was in safe hands.

We absolutely love Waverley Square Daycare! Our daughter has been attending since she was in the…read moretoddler room, and it has been wonderful to watch her grow and see how much love and care she has received from her teachers along the way. Every day, we know she is safe, well cared for, and having the time of her life! The teachers are incredibly patient, kind, and thoughtful, and they are always coming up with new crafts, activities, and creative curricular themes for the kids. We also really appreciate that the daycare is very affordable for the area, and the extended-hours options have been especially convenient for our family. We couldn't be happier with our experience!

TLDR: This is the best decision you will make for your…read morechild. Don't look anywhere else. Stepping Stones is amazing. The people are amazing. Longer version: First thing I want to say is I am bummed I've ever given a 5 star rating, or that there isn't a 6 star option for places that are just way above and beyond. Stepping Stones is honestly in a separate class. We brought our daughter here when she was 4 months old. We did a ton of research before she was even born because we wanted to make sure we were choosing the right place for our future kid, and for us. The transition process was much tougher on us than it was on her. She got into a groove so quickly. Stepping Stones is a collection of amazing, talented, caring people. I would like to name a couple of the teachers we worked most closely with, but honestly everyone we met we interacted with a number of times (either pick up, drop off, or when a teacher was on vacation)... and everyone was awesome. Elizabeth is available whenever you need her. Everyone, honestly. Stepping Stones felt (actually, still feels!) completely like an extension of our family. Unfortunately we had to leave after covid hit because we moved this summer. We considered trying to make it work despite being 45 minutes away, in the wrong direction, but just couldn't with our schedules. If we could have we absolutely would. Our daughter enjoyed going every day. They are amazing at keeping families in the loop. The small "class" sizes were great, and I never felt like there was ever a time my kid wasn't being paid attention to. She seemed to really be growing a lot while she was there. The other kids were great. We had her on a special diet for most of the time she was there (cow's milk allergy) and it was not an issue. It was a really secure feeling. They respond to any question you have, and proactively give you ideas for what to do with them during a pandemic. There aren't many businesses where you feel like you get everything you could have wanted.. but honestly feels like Stepping Stones was the best decision we've ever made. Thank you guys so much!!

I had to come back and rate Stepping Stone again. We moved in July from Watertown and transferred…read moreour son to another daycare. It was a nightmare. It wasn't a good fit. I was frustrated and confused because my son had such a wonderful experience at Stepping Stone. I reached out to the Administrator, Elizabeth to ask for help, suggestions, feedback, etc. I was at a loss. She not only helped me understand more about the work she taught at her establishment but helped me find a new daycare for my son. She offered to speak with new teachers even come and observe. She went above and beyond. I mean WAY above and beyond for me and my family. If you are lucky enough to get a spot at Stepping Stone, take it.

My two sons attended APTG over the course of 5 years. During our first month there, we were told…read moreby the current director (who has since been let go) that a child was accidentally left at the park across the street during outdoor play. Apparently, no one at the center realized this mistake until a random town resident returned the child to the school. The mind boggles... Obviously, this was a long time ago (and we ended up keeping our children there), but I think parents reading reviews would want to know this. The school is housed in a plain gray building which is sort of depressing the first time you see it. Inside, however, is a very warm and caring environment, thanks mainly to the teachers, who are for the most part very good and attentive. Some of the teachers were not-so-great and were clearly just passing through on the way to greener pastures. The teacher turnover rate has always been relatively high, including a near-total turnover in the space of a few months at one point. Luckily, most of the teachers we interacted with were awesome and devoted to the children. Dropoff in the morning is a completely chaotic affair. Parents are rushing in and out, kids are screaming/arguing/crying, teachers are catching up with each other about their weekends, etc. Totally hectic and very rough on kids who require a smoother transition. Now that my youngest is in a different daycare environment, I can see what total madness this was. The daycare has a weird layout, mainly due to its small size. In fact, to get to one particular classroom, you have to walk through another classroom. The center's "office" is situated in a cramped room that's sandwiched directly between two classrooms. This means that if you have anything to discuss with the director (even confidential matters), you'll be subjected to other teachers, parents, kids, etc. wandering through to get to the other room. The center director runs the center well, from an organizational standpoint. However, she lacks the warmth that you would expect from someone who works with young children all day. I often got the impression that she'd be much happier with the job if it weren't for all of those pesky children. The founder of APTG is not around very often, but sometimes stops in for big events. There's no kind way to say this: she has an extremely condescending manner. She's clearly very smart and has a lot of experience with children, but I always felt like she was lecturing the parents rather than offering helpful/useful advice. The school makes a big todo about its "curriculum", but...there really isn't one. They cover a couple of cute themes and practice some words and letters, but this is not Montessori. I think it's perfectly adequate for what it does, but let's not get carried away overselling it. APTG organizes several really fun events throughout the year. This includes a picnic in the summer, apple picking in the fall, a stone soup meal, and lots of other special events. These are always a lot of fun and a good way to see your kids in action. The nutritionist APTG hired is fantastic. She overhauled their snack menu to make it much healtheier, which was appreciated. She sometimes offers workshops at the school. If you can attend one of these, I highly recommend it as she offers a lot of useful advice. Play time (and most of the day, really) is very geared toward girls. Lots of beadwork, coloring, dramatic play, etc. Of course, this is all fun stuff for boys too! But there is virtually no rough-and-tumble, sports, kicking balls, etc. If you have a spirited/active boy (or girl), he/she will soon grow bored with the lack of variety. I don't think APTG actually _wants_ spirited/active children, since they are more work and will buck against the rigid structure. The tuition is very expensive, but seems to be par for the course for Belmont and the surrounding area. From what I've gathered, the teachers are not paid very well, which probably explains the high turnover rate. APTG isn't amazing, it isn't terrible either. It's perfectly adequate and sometimes that's exactly good enough. But there are better alternatives out there, especially for older children.

Luckily, this place didn't have availability for our child. The director was not pleasant during…read morethe first inquiry call. She acted like a snob. Listening to her sounded like accommodating parents schedule is something no one ever heard of. Apparently this place is too "good" to work with parents. First impression is the one that stays. And this is what I will be remembering about this "carrying" place. I am glad the decision not to leave our child in this place didn't have to be agonizing one. Thank goodness, certain things just don't mean to happen.

Words alone cannot express how I feel about Children's Connection. I am just so grateful that I was…read moreable to find this program for my son. He is 3years old and has been going to CC for a year now. He is thriving. He looks forward to going everyday and is so eager to talk about his adventures of the day with his friends at school. He is so happy at CC. Thank you Titia, Ms. Peggy, Ms. Eneida, and Ms. CiCi and George for all your hard work and natural talent making CC what it is. Everyone here is like one big family.

Our son attended Children's Connection for four years and we truly could not be happier with the…read moreexperience he had there. This place is more than a daycare, it is a family. Luciane and Peggy provide a sense of structure that all children need, while also allowing for creative play and exploration throughout the day. The mixed age group allows the younger kids to learn from the older kids and it allows the older kids to have a sense of leadership and develop empathy and compassion for others. Children's Connection really has it all: from the daily trips to Beaver Brook Park (not to play on the playground, but to run in the fields, hike the trails, climb the trees, explore near the stream, and even go sledding or play in the spray park when the conditions are right), to the daily catered lunches by My Other Kitchen, to the weekly email rundown of the previous week's events supplemented with pictures (Luciane took more than 5,000 this year alone!), to the yearly Carnival celebration and end of year slideshow for parents. Most of all, we cannot thank Luciane and Peggy enough for all the love, patience, and ability to foster a love of learning that they have given to our son. This is a truly special place and sending our son here is one of the best decisions we have made for him as parents.

We started at Bright Horizons on the Charles when our daughter was 16 weeks old. Our experience…read morethere completely exceeded our expectations (and they were high). As first time parents, we needed a lot of reassurance and they went above and beyond to provide it. They offered so much time and advice as we were navigating the various stages of early parenthood, and our teachers were accessible through weekly zoom calls for questions and information on our daughter's development. Their encouragement meant everything to us. Their facility is one of a kind- you will not find outdoor play space like they have, or a center with so many movement and play options inside their facility. Every teacher has been wonderful, and the administration at this facility is phenomenal. Not just great at running their entire operation but at being kind humans to parents during a pandemic. Our family has made wonderful memories and lasting friendships from Bright Horizons and we are so grateful for everything they have done for us.

FYI - The jackass below has no clue and has falsely lowered the star score. Idiot.read more

Our son started attending BCJ at just 5 months old and is now nearly 3.5 and absolutely thriving!…read moreDomitila has been a wonderful partner to us raising our son and supporting his development over the past 3 years, she has truly become a part of our family. The intimate setting of BCJ allowed our son to develop close, deep friendships while also receiving the care and attention he'd receive from a family member. I highly recommend BCJ for any family looking for care for their child.

Our 3.5 year old son has been at BCJ since he was 4 mo old. It is a warm yet very structured…read moreenvironment, has great hours, provides meals and has a wonderful big backyard. My child adores his teachers and loves going to school. He has required EI services for years and they were incredibly compassionate and willing to help him grow in any way they could. BCJ is a part of our family and we are so thankful we found them.

Recently became a parent at GNS via the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP)…read more I had many reasons to be nervous about my kiddo starting preschool - pretty big aversion to playing with other children, having essentially no daycare/nanny experience, loud "no school!" when the idea was brought up periodically in attempts to make it less foreign, being a picky eater, etc. True story - when we did a classroom visit, where families can come and see the school, be in the classrooms, and meet the teachers, my kiddo said "why do I like school?" 5 minutes into it and the rest is history (currently in the making). The thought "oh, I can leave my kiddo here" came to me pretty unexpectedly and clearly during that visit, and I legit got pretty emotional. The other reviews ring true. If GNS interests you even a little bit, I highly recommend that you check it out for yourself.

Our daughter is in her second year at Garden Nursery School and it has been such a wonderful and…read moresupportive first school experience for her. We love that it is play-based and emphasizes socio-emotional learning, and the community that is created through the cooperative structure. It is such a welcoming environment with teachers and a director that truly appreciate the uniqueness of each child. Being new to the area, we have appreciated the chance to get to know the other families beyond a hello at dropoff. Our daughter has so much fun with all the art projects, and being able to run around with her friends in the garden, and as parents, it has been the perfect opportunity to have a part in sharing the experience with her. We love GNS!

Russell Cooperative Preschool is such a lovely school for young minds to grow and wonder! We love…read morethe themed organic snack days prepared by the children, the "all-weather" outdoor play and the storytelling. The sunny and beautifully decorated classrooms immediately fostered our daughter's imagination. Our daughters growth and development has been gently supported and encouraged by all of the teachers. Russell has also provided us with a sense of community and parent involvement that we were seeking. Our daughter has bloomed into such a thoughtful and creative child! I strongly recommend to go and check it out and be pleasantly surprised as we were!

It was one of the best decisions that we made for our daughter who was in russell between September…read more2018 and June 2019. Right when you enter the school, both you and your child feels welcomed and relaxed. Very friendly and caring teachers. Kids to teacher ration is 1/4 or 1/5, so there is an enormous amoung of attention and care per a child enrolled to this score. I wish that there would also be an afternoon option as the school runs from 845-1:45 (or 1230 if you want your kid to take a longer nap at home) But in case you can timewise afford a half-day school, I honestly believe that Russell is by far the best among all preschools in the Greater Boston area.