Looks like I am the first review of El Sobrante Kindercare in 2019 and it's mid-September! I'm…read moreusing the same review I put on Google and just re-posting... ================================ I sent my son here because the daycare center near my house closed down right before I went back to work from maternity leave, and I had to scramble to find a new one. I saw the reviews online about the center and I was definitely a little uncertain. But I told myself that we'll start him at Kindercare El Sobrante and see how it goes... and we have been pleasantly surprised. 1) I didn't realize that with their Kindercare app I get photos (and sometimes videos) of my baby throughout the day! It's sooo nice! I prefer it to having full-day video access because I would be too busy to log on to see the video stream on a regular basis, but getting a few photos throughout the day is just enough to know how my son is doing 2) In addition to me getting photos and videos, I can add members of my family and friend circle to get the photos and videos too -- and everytime I talk to family they comment on how happy my son looks, and how he is doing something new that he hadn't before (like standing on his own). If I didn't have the Kindercare app I'd have to manually send photos to my countless family members across the world 3) My son truly is happy at the center. I know people question me and ask me how I really know, but I see how he interacts with the staff, and how they interact with him, and he gives them these great big smiles. He doesn't do that unless he really likes someone. And the staff all love to play with him! 4) The center managers (Wanda and assistant manager Sara) know my name when I walk in the door, and they say "Hi Krupa." The staff all know which baby I am the mom to and they will tell me something about where he is (if he is in a different room than normal) or how he was that day. It tells me that they are paying attention 5) When I first started him at daycare I was so worried about the amount of time I would have to take off from my son getting sick from daycare. 3.5 months in he finally got his first sickness! Everyone else I spoke to (who sends their kid to other daycare centers) said their kid was getting sick at least once per month. I could add more but these are definitely the highlights of why this is a good daycare center

Love the daily updates I receive throughout the day of my kids ... everyone is very friendlyread more

To the entire staff -- Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!…read more I just want to say thank you for all the love, patience, and hard work you pour into the children every single day. As a parent, it truly means so much to watch my son grow and improve more and more because of the care and dedication you all give him. Every day I notice progress in his learning, communication, mobility skills, confidence, and independence. He is excited to explore the world around him. It's clear that the staff genuinely cares about the children and creates a safe, loving, and positive environment for them to thrive in. Thank you all for the role you play in helping shape these little minds and hearts. Your work does not go unnoticed, and our family appreciates each and every one of you more than words can explain.

My daughter attended this day care for a few months, I never got around to writing a review, but…read moredecided I should finally do so, especially after finding an amazing center that truly cares. My daughter enjoyed this school until her main teacher left, after that she would scream at drop offs. The updates on the app started to get less and less and I noticed there was not any learning or activities going on in the class anymore. They were only playing. One day, she came home in the same diaper I sent her in, and I know this because they use a different brand at the school than what we use at home. Diaper was full of pee and there was stool as well. One day they also checked her out of class when no one picked her up, and when I called the school the director stated I think I saw her I'll let you know. After 30 min and no phone call back and I attempted to call many times, I left work to go to the school. The director was no where to be found but my daughter was mysteriously checked back into class. I pulled her that day. I don't recommend this school. Their ratios are trash and it doesn't seem like they truly care.

A little word Montessori School is the place if anybody wants to send a Child and be happy knowing…read morethat your child is in a safe and learning environment. My coworkers son is going to this school for the last two years, pretty much every day my coworker has to brag about something new his child learn. He said something about Child learn or some artwork or something amazing that the child did at school. He also tells the school director is amazing loving and caring so do the teaching staff very informative with what's going on in the school. Even though I do not send a child to this school, I feel like I know what's going on at this Montessori for last two years because I'm hearing it from my coworker pretty much every day how happy he is because he knows his child is safe, happy, and Learning every single day. So I would highly recommend for you to go and have a tour of the school and find out for yourself..

I wanted to write this review because when I was looking up daycares for my daughter and I came…read moreacross this school there were a bit of negative reviews that almost discouraged me to consider this school. Fortunately I went and checked out the school, met with Mrs. Samundra and I fell in love with it. I ended up signing up my daughter and she loved it as well. She wakes up every morning excited to go to school. She loves the staff , they are extremely caring and encouraging. I go to work every day knowing she is ok and well taken care of. Any incident or accident that happens, which is rare, they always let me know no matter how minimal it is. I want anyone reading this review to not be discouraged by the negative comments, take the time to go and check out the school and see how warm and welcoming every one is. They says children are the best judge of character, they can always tell/ sense when a person is genuine and my daughter absolutely loves everyone there. You can tell Mrs. Samundra really enjoys her job and working with kids. I love the fact that the staff is always giving us updates sending pictures and itineraries on what the kids will be learning every month along with videos of them working on all their crafts and projects. A little world Montessori is an amazing school. I hope this reviews helps anyone trying to decide on this daycare.

My now 11yr old son attended Pinole Montessori from ages 2-5. I currently have a 2yr old enjoying…read moregoing to class every single day! She dashes to get into the car to go to school. Ms. Sidhu is phenomenal and potty trained both of my children when they barely turned 2! All of the teachers are kind, professional and very hard working. They make sure the children are happy and well taken care of. Holiday activities are awesome, and the kids have tons of fun during the Halloween parade and Xmas concert. Also, since lunch is provided, it's less stress the mornings for me! The staff treat you like family, and really get to know your child individually. The Director, Ms. Angela is wonderful and very prompt in her responses to any concerns. We love Pinole Montessori!

My son has been here for two years and he's loved it from the start. Everyone is extremely patient…read morewith my child's development as he grows, and I definitely saw that as my son progressed with this school. I'm very thankful for the staff as well that they always inform me on a day-to-day on things that I needed to be aware of. Their hours are very accommodating to my work schedule which is also a huge plus for me.

I was someone who was very nervous about sending my kids to daycare because of all the bad things…read moreyou see in the news and social media. I'm not someone who trusts my kids with just anyone. They had only ever been watched by family. After finally letting go of that fear, I tried this school. I in no way regret it. The children are great and friendly. The teachers are caring. The director is so sweet and addresses any concerns or questions I have. I'm very grateful to them for giving my kids a warm and welcoming environment to go to. They keep me informed of anything I may need to know, and I don't have to sit around worried. I don't usually write reviews, but I know if anyone is like me, they are trying to read reviews of where they are trying to entrust their children. I didn't see many while looking at this school, so it made me wonder why. I honestly almost passed it up, but something was urging me to find out more. This place deserves more praise and more recognition. I'm sure everyone has their own situations, but mine have been nothing but positive. So I'm hoping I can provide even the tiniest bit of comfort and encouragement to reach out and see for yourselves.

Pride and Joy was a very disappointing experience. I gave notice after 2 months of attending, but…read moreneeded to stick around for 2 months more due to P&J's rigid contract. What a long 2 months they were! P&J is run less as a student-centered preschool than a manager/owner centered business. Moilan is a nice lady, and I believe that she cares about the kids, yet to her own convenience. I don't get the sense that she does any kind of research on current trends in early childhood education, pedagogy, nutrition, or the benefit of building a parent community to support student social and emotional learning. Here were my main concerns: 1.) When I asked Moilan for the phone numbers of parents of kids who my son connected with, she totally blanked me and didn't give me that information. I get the sense that she doesn't want parents talking amongst themselves about their experience at P&J. 2.) I'm an educator with a PhD, and am a former professional dancer and stage performer. I offered to come and read stories to the kids, conduct dance and theatre classes, do some storytelling workshops, and so on. She clearly let me know that they have a strict schedule, and can't really accommodate parent participation. There is no parent network, no parent list, etc. available to parents. 3.) She provides kids lunch every day which is great, but it's pretty cheap food from Costco. She feeds them non-organic milk, non-organic meat (chicken nuggets), non-organic fruit and veg that is on the EWG's dirty dozen, and so on. I started sending lunch with my son, but he wouldn't eat it because he wanted to eat the low-quality food that other kids were eating. 4.) When my son came home smelling like perfume every day, I was concerned. The perfume would stay in his hair and on his skin for days afterward even after bathing him daily. I sent her 4 different peer-reviewed articles published by the National Institute of Health that had been cited over 400 times about the connections between perfume, fragrance and endocrine disruption. She didn't want to budge on the issue because she said, "I don't want to violate my staff by telling them that they can't wear perfume." Moilan also wears heavy amounts of perfume, and because she likes wearing it, I get the sense that she likes smelling nice even though her odor can potentially affect the health of the kids. On another note, Pride and Joy is clean, tidy, and the kids seem pretty happy, but I have no sense of what happens once I dropped my kid off. I didn't have a relationship with a single teacher. And, it was very clear that parent involvement in P&J is not welcome. If you're the type of parent who likes to drop their kid off and leave, doesn't mind that your kid is eating food that's chock full of pesticides and hormones, that your kid comes home smelling like perfume practically everyday, and have no time or interest in being part of a community nurtured and fostered by the preschool, then this place would be great for you!

My daughter has been attending Kids Corner Learning Center for about two months now, and our…read moreexperience has been amazing. Every teacher has been kind, caring, and supportive. My daughter is on the autism spectrum, and we were turned away by several other daycares before finding Kids Corner Learning Center. I will always be grateful to Pujan and her incredible team for welcoming us with open arms. Since starting here, my daughter has made so much progress and shown incredible growth. It means the world to see how patient, understanding, and compassionate everyone has been with her unique needs. Their dedication and genuine care have made such a positive difference in our lives. I can't say enough wonderful things about Kids Corner Learning Center. It has a warm, welcoming atmosphere with truly caring teachers. I highly recommend it to any family looking for a supportive and nurturing environment for their child.

We've been attending for a little over 4 months now, and it has been such a great, welcoming…read moreexperience. As a mother of a 2 year old girl it can be a bit nerve wracking to leave her in a daycare. But with the constant support and constant communication throughout the day it has been such a warming transition. I receive MULTIPLE updates with pictures and curricular schedule throughout the day. She is always so excited and eager to go to "school!" Grateful for every single teacher that participates and the children are always happy and cheerful at pick up and drop offs!

10/10 would recommend!! Miss June is amazing! She teaches them independence. She teaches the kids…read morewhat they would learn in kindergarten! And has the perfect balance of learning and playing outside. She also teaches the kids to problems solve and resolve things amongst themselves, which I love. My son was under her care for a year and a half and he learned so much! He is in kindergarten now and I feel like everything he learned the first 6 months of kindergarten, he already learned with Miss June. Miss June also cooks breakfast & lunch for the kids which is a huge plus! Miss June is an amazing teacher & very patient. You will be happy your child went here.

Smart Start Daycare and Preschool has been an absolute blessing for our family. From the moment we…read morewalked through the doors, we knew this was more than just a daycare--it's a deeply nurturing, thoughtful, and safe environment where children are truly seen, heard, and loved!!!! Ms. June and her incredible team of teachers are nothing short of amazing. They are caring, attentive, compassionate, and deeply committed to each child's well-being and development. You can feel the love and dedication in everything they do. They genuinely pour their hearts, energy, and expertise into every aspect of the program. One of the things that sets SmartStart apart is their commitment to providing home-cooked nutritious meals for the children. Every day, breakfast, lunch, and snacks are freshly prepared with care which is something that's rare and so appreciated in today's fast-paced world. What's even more impressive is their focus on their emotional intelligence starting as early as age 2. Ms. June and her team guide the children through understanding their feelings, learning empathy, and building the foundation for respectful, inclusive interactions. It's a beautiful way to raise emotionally aware and kind future adults, and it shows in the way the children treat each other. They also keep parents incredibly connected and informed through an app, where they share regular updates and photos throughout the day. It's such a joy to see the children engaged in creative projects, hands-on lessons, and meaningful play. Most importantly, Smart Start is a place you can completely trust. The safety and well-being of the children is clearly the top priority, and the environment is both warm and secure. As a parent, there's nothing more comforting than knowing your child is in such capable and loving hands!!!! You can truly see the blood, sweat, and tears that go into making Smart Start the wonderful place it is. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!

We have so many good things to say about Skytown and its staff. Our daughter attended from age 18…read moremonths, in the Toddler Room. We were initially drawn to Skytown for the ratios (3:1 in Toddler Room), the transparency that comes from parent participation in the classroom, the respect for children that's at the core of their philosophy. We also appreciated the level of involvement that parents get in the preschool's day-to-day, without being a pure parent cooperative (the teachers/director are employees of the school with formal training in the education space). As we spent more time there, we really came to admire the staff, Allison, Nancy, and Bex who really embody the values of the school and do an incredible job at sharing their expertise with the parent community. Our toddler is highly verbal, intense, and energetic. We were reluctant to have her in school so early, but she thrived at Sktytown and learned social skills there that we/nanny wouldn't have been able to provide on our own. We were impressed with Skytown's commitment to using positive language to guide children's behavior, respecting children's autonomy, making each child feel heard and understood, and treating even the youngest toddlers as highly capable individuals with as much autonomy as they could safely have. The 3:1 ratio and small class size allowed even the youngest toddlers to be given with a high degree of autonomy in a way that wouldn't be as feasible in typical classroom. It is a great school for families who are happy to have their child come home with paint on their clothes or food from their snack still on their face because the child was given the opportunity to clean up after themselves. Skytown's commitment to making it a truly child-centric space shows in everything from the way the classrooms are structured and equipped to the way staff talk to the children. It was a joy to see the children be able to play with water, paint, wash hands on their own, visit sensory or pretend play areas, and transition from indoor/outdoor playspaces on their own accord. We have not seen anything else like it. The staff does an exceptional job at helping children learn how to problem solve on their own, and address interpersonal conflict while respecting all the children involved. Even in the toddler room, teachers and parents help the youngest children use age-appropriate methods of communicating through conflict, and use positive language to address unsafe behavior (running indoors, hitting, throwing things, etc) in a way that allows children to learn while still feeling respected and able to express themselves safely. As parents of a daughter, we are aware of when adults might be unintentionally interacting with girls differently than their boy counterparts, but this was never a problem at Skytown with staff or parents. We also noticed the staff and parent community were attuned to racial and gender inclusivity, didn't sweep things under the rug, and were proactive about diversity and inclusivity in all aspects of the school from the materials chosen to the way they communicated with one another.

Take a tour! Our family loves being at Skytown. This was our first experience having our son away…read morefrom us (no sitter, daycare, school) and this gave me the option to finally gain some freedom, but also still be a part of his learning experience through the co-op. It's been comforting to know he is safe and supported at Skytown by child development experts with a strong philosophy, and a community of parents and families with strong values. The care and concern for his food allergies by everyone has also contributed to our sense of safety having him away from us. Beyond all this, my son genuinely looks forward to school and his favorite people now are his teacher, the parents, and his friends! Skytown has become our village - we participate in the classroom together, we play outside of school together, we work on school initiatives together. It's really a unique and special experience and I'm so glad we had this option available to us. Skytown offers the only co-op toddler program (starts at 18mo) in Contra Costa County and is 1 of 2 in the entire East Bay. Like I said there's nothing like it around!