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!

Our toddler started at SolBe on day one of the school opening. We had very high hopes after our…read moreinterview, despite the cost being much higher than the alternatives. For the added expense, we were promised minute by minute updates, a two-to-one ratio of teachers to students, and a focus on education that could be overlooked elsewhere. Unfortunately, despite an excellent experience with the Director and our son's first teacher, a significant change was made after a few months. The Director, along with many more staff members, were replaced, and the focus seemed to shift notably towards higher profits and cost cutting measures. Our son was moved into a much larger room where there were often two teachers for eight babies, even after they showed up late. The stress put on the staff still making an effort meant that the "minute-by-minute" updates through the app were ignored until the afternoon when they played catch up while all the kids were napping. Often, we wouldn't find out if our son had eaten or had a diaper change until hours after he'd been picked up. The high ratio also contributed to clothes being lost or ruined with art materials unsuitable for infants, diaper changes being skipped, brusies and scrapes, and a near weekly changeover of staff who were clearly frustrated with the experience as well. Our son's class shared a changing room with another, and it was very common to hear the teachers there, unaware they were being observed, repeatedly screaming at the toddlers "everyone come here" and "be quiet". Another thing for prospective families to consider is that SolBe considers themselves a school first and a daycare second. On the average month, SolBe closes around three working days for holidays, conferences, and "teacher enrichment", meaning that working parents will suddenly have a child to account for (not even to mention the frequency that they contact you and ask you to bring your child home early because they "seem like they're not feeling so well', with no other symptoms than a low fever and a lack of energy; a very common experience for young kids). Obviously, the monthly cost is the same regardless of how many days they actually care for your child. Ultimately, we found another center that is offering 5 nine-hour days a week for the same price that SolBe was charging for 3 seven-hour visits. The new school doesn't have a fancy app or gourmet lunches, but we feel our child is a lot more than just an income source in their eyes, and we're much happier. (FYI- This review refers to the new location on Sherman Road, which doesn't have its own listing as of this date.)

Our family is extremely fortunate and blessed that our son's first social experience was at Solbe…read more He started school when he was just one year old, and was greeted with unparalleled love every day by his class teacher, all the other teachers, the director, and the chef. Now, he runs out the door and into his classroom. This 2 years old ability to love others and accept himself is on full display not only at Solbe, but also at the park, the supermarket, and on trips, where he greets everyone with a smile and a "Hello!" As parents, I am most grateful for : Solbe's nutrition system, the best in the US. Three meals a day, chefs prepare fresh, nutritious, and varied menus, allowing our young children to experience a wide variety of foods and get the most nutrition. So I can forgive myself when I serve him just chicken nuggets at dinner :) Furthermore, from such a young age, the teachers provide new art experiences every day. My son loves drawing, talking, singing, dancing, and running around--all of these activities are spontaneous and active. Thanks to Solbe, his brain, mind, and motor skills have developed remarkably, and most importantly, he seems very happy. So I can forgive myself when I let him watch TV before dinner time :) I am grateful to the teachers and staff who provide the world's best early education, nutrition, with a big love spirit and we truly appreciate their professionalism.

I highly recommend Barbaras daycare. My daughter loved being there, especially the large selection…read moreof books. Her outdoor space is shaded and she has a great screened in porch. Barbara cooked homemade meals that my daughter loved.

Kathy and Shannon are wonderful caretakers and extremely kind people! They love what they do and…read morehave been wonderful in caring for our toddler. They provide meals and lots of fun games and have a great outdoor area for when the weather is nice!

Kathy and Shannon are incredible! I was hesitant about returning to work as a first time mother and…read moreafter visiting with them, I felt such a relief at the wonderful environment they create. Not only does my child have a consistent nap and feeding schedule, but Kathy and Shannon make the effort to provide helpful suggestions as you navigate all of the changes a baby goes through from clothing sizes, diaper sizes, feeding, teething, etc. Also, they take the children outside each day and share photo updates so you can see what they are learning! The personal touches and socializing for both children and parents is unparalleled. Our child has created new friendships, my husband and I have met other new parents to hang out with. Our child truly enjoys each day at Tiny Tots and is thriving. Thanks again Kathy and Shannon for all that you do!

We enrolled our then 1.2 year old daughter at Panda after touring atleast 3 different daycares in…read morethat area and we couldn't have been happier with our decision. Clearly the standards at Panda are high - be it hygiene, the rich interactions between the teachers and students , the curriculum designed to encourage individual play as well as peer learning, the involvement of the staff and the attention to parents feedback by the management. My now 4.5 year old confident, happy and creative child blossomed in this daycare and all the kind teachers will forever be a part of her memories. I would recommend Panda to all my family and friends in a heartbeat! Thank you Panda for being an important part of shaping my daughter and preparing her for the real world.

From the owner: Panda Bilingual Daycare is a bilingual Mandarin- English early educational childcare center…read morecombining the Montessori educational philosophy with Chinese and American language and culture. Our center's mission is to offer the highest quality care and education for children from three months to kindergarten entry. The Panda Bilingual Daycare curriculum is inspired by many of the tenets of Maria Montessori's educational theory and practice, along with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and our own unique features. The core of the Montessori curriculum is divided into four main areas: sensory, practical life, language, and mathematics. Many of the materials and methods we use are derived from her work. The children will also explore cultural, scientific and historical subjects such as geography, geology, zoology and botany at levels appropriate to their development.

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.

I love this daycare! My son has been going here since he was 1 he's 4 now and graduating preschool…read more My son has learned so much while being here. Great staff amazing teachers and divorce! I'll be sad when he graduates into kindergarten.

An absolutely great daycare. My daughter has been at KB since she was three months old (she is now…read morealmost 2). For anyone contemplating that first drop off after maternity leave, you know its not easy! The staff at KB couldn't have eased my transition back to work anymore, they were kind, flexible and caring. The teachers in the infant room are truly passionate about the care they provide their babies and as the babies grow, it is clear they love their teachers too. Its not unusual to find several older babies hugging one of the teachers there. The infant room teachers do a great job keeping parents involved in their kids' milestone development and help in the transition from bottles to solid food. They truly feel like a part of your family and help to trouble shoot any issue your baby may be having. After they infant room our daughter transitioned to the first toddler room and they made sure that transition was as smooth as possible. They recognize that little kids have a hard time with change but they make it very easy on them and gradually have them spend more time in their new rooms. Our daughter absolutely loves the toddler room- not only is it such a fun indoor space with a huge play area but she also loves her teachers and friends (and talks about them at home often). The teachers are creative in all their activities with and it is clear that the kids just love being there. It is not unusual for us to go pick our daughter up and have to wait a while for her to finish showing us all the things she's playing with. Sometimes we're sure she doesn't want to come back home so soon! Another great thing about KB is that the kids love it but also they learn a lot. Finally, the center is great with parents. They understand that if a child is at daycare it means parents likely work and have busy schedules. The center director is approachable, understanding and flexible. I am about to have my second baby (who will definitely be in the infant room later this year) and they are great about not just guaranteeing that baby #2 will enroll but also in saving my older daughter's spot since she'll likely be out while I'm on maternity leave. I simply don't have enough good things to say about the staff and the space at KB. I highly recommend this center.

They don't follow guidelines. They also understaff. I was shocked to find a door out to the parking…read morelot with no lock or child safety lock either. Avoid at all costs. Owner is more interested in their fleet of cars than child enrichment. Or even safety

Our son is very fortunate to have grown up with the Scalliwags class and be exposed to so many…read morelearning experiences.