Great school, great teachers My daughter has the sweetest…read morememories from this preschool

I really cannot say enough about this preschool. If you aren't familiar with the Montessori Method,…read moreyou truly are doing your child a disservice. It is the only way to go for the Pre-K years. My daughter went here for three years before entering a traditional elementary school, and it was truly a wonderful experience; we felt she was loved by the teachers and encouraged to use her voice and interests to grow and develop her own little self. The Montessori Method is the only way to go for pre-school, and this school embraced the method fully. My daughter's confidence, academics and social skills blossomed while attending. I loved that there is a parent observation room (with a mirror so students can't see you), and parents are welcome to observe any time. Whereas other preschools have rigid rules and policies, children at this preschool aren't punished or shamed for wanting snack when they are hungry; wanting to master a certain art project; and/or take responsibility for their actions. They encourage kids to be independent and master their interests before moving on to the next thing. I loved that the teachers are all parents themselves, and have been with the school for years and years. My child is now in Kindergarten and is excelling in academics and socially as well. Her Kinder teacher tells us she is focused, is beyond proficient in her reading, writing and math, and is known to all as a kind friend. I know much of that has to do with parenting, but also some of it is the fact that she attended the Montessori School. Thank you CMCH for three great years of pre-school!

This preschool is such a jewel! Fantastic teachers, great facilities & fun projects & field trips…read morefor the children. It is also a bilingual school, which was important to me. And they do alot of music & dance which I think is great! The school has a good sized outside playarea with everything from a large sandbox to a play structure & even a garden. The inside of the school is always warm & comforting & with lots of fun things for the kids to do. Mi Escuelita Maya is truly such a wonderful school! I'm so happy that I discovered this little place. All the teachers have been amazing & are great with the kids. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a preschool for their child.

Mi Escuelita Maya is a well oiled machine! The owner and the school are exceptionally well…read moreorganized. More importantly, the staff seem to be very nurturing and caring of the children. My wife and I love that the school is predominantly in Spanish and the projects are multicultural. There seems to be a right balance between structure and play.

This has been my children's daycare for years. My son went here for about 7 years and now my…read moredaughter goes here. I like the staff and they are great with kids. Good location and services. Would highly recommend.

After some false starts with some of the Chico area preschools, I have to say King's Christian is…read moreby far the best choice. My son is excited to go to school everyday, and loves all the teachers there. His skills have grown both socially and educationally! This school is the whole package!

Both of my kids have gone to Kinder Kids for years, and I couldn't be happier with our experience…read more They are a caring, family-owned business that has been part of the community for over 30 years. The staff has remained consistent over the years, and my children love them like family. The facility is always clean, and the kids are happy, engaged, constantly learning, and well prepared for kindergarten. Their prices are very reasonable for the value they provide. We also love the yearly class photos, Mother's Day and Father's Day events, and annual holiday party. I highly recommend Kinder Kids to any family looking for a loving, dependable daycare and preschool.

Just thought I would update, my son went to this school for a year after I did the walk through…read more. He LOVED it, loved the teachers and I was happy with the stuff he would bring home... They do crafts everyday and learning worksheets... My son never wants to leave and he made a lot of new friends. I went on a few field trips with my son books family farm, a pumpkin patch in Chico, the museum of science in Chico.. I think there are a few more I'm forgetting.. But my son loved it. I will probably enroll my other son who is 3 at kinder kids as well starting august. My other son is now 5 and starting kindergarten!

About me: I am the antithesis of the PTA mom. I'm pretty much a hot mess most days. I have two…read morewonderful boys (20 mos and 3 mos) that run my life and keep my busy beyond belief. I sought daycare, not because I needed someone to watch my children (thanks grammy!) but because I wanted my children to be socialized, learn some structure, and HAVE FUN! I'm extremely protective and highly opinionated mom, but I will be the first to admit that I kinda suck at this mom gig. So! Any help I can get, I'm game. SO, I shopped around at a few daycares in town and was surprised by the massive variety of variables in care, prices, and personalities. My first impression, just from visiting Little Discoveries: I love it! I just enrolled my 20-month-old son three days a week. Here's why: The moment I stepped into the safety-gated front door, I was greeted with a smile. It felt genuine. Not desperate or lackluster. I was also THAT mom who called and literally asked 68 questions in a mini interview before even stepping foot in the doors and the owner was kind enough to answer EVERY question in detail. I was surprised to not have any concerns when I got off the phone with her. I had heard from MANY friends, especially THOSE moms who everyone wants to be like, that Little Discoveries was the place to go. True to my rebellious nature, I decided it'd be the last place I checked out. I am SO glad I did. I felt something missing from so many other daycares. Something I think is more important than just about anything else: LOVE! I want to know that when I drop my little guy off, he will be held and cuddled and adored as much as humanly possible for those who've not birthed him. I was stoked to see many hugs and snuggles given the moment I walked into the infant area. I heard soft, pleasant voices cooing at babies, saying "please" and "thank you." It was peaceful enough that I wanted to lie down and rest listening to the staff's sweet voices. I witnessed positive structure. The kind where back pats and hugs happen when something goes right. The kind where safety is first, but kindness isn't far behind. I saw SMILES! I had no idea how much of a difference this would make to me, but it was huge! Too many other places in town have structure without smiles. That just feels so wrong. Here, everyone was smiling. The kids, the staff. It's lovely! I saw tons of age-appropriate toys, a well-fenced backyard for play, and all kinds of active, devoted staff. The place is not immaculately clean, but it's cleaner than my home. I found daycares that were too clean and it bugged me. How can kids have fun if they don't get a little paint on their hands? How do I know they've eaten if there aren't yummy little crumbs on their clothes? I think a healthy level of cleanliness is important to observe. Part of it being healthy is having room for brain-growing messes. Little Discoveries had exactly that. I LOVE that they feed the kids. I didn't know how off-putting it'd be to have to think about making lunches and meals for kids, but it literally made me disinterested in another daycare. Being able to drop my little guy off knowing they are well stocked on healthy food and feed kids throughout the day so I don't have to worry about a thing is GREAT! The pricing is reasonable and better than a few other places in town. For the value, it's the best by far. You can do part time, full time, or drop-in if you're registered already. They adhere to the state ratio laws and seem overstaffed at times (which I think is a bonus). Little Discoveries has a few citations on the licensing board site BUT! If you look at those citations, there are far fewer than any other places and their license is one of the oldest in town. Also, one of the citations is for a staff member playing with kids and accidentally falling. If there's gunna be a hazard for my kid, I HOPE it's while he's having tons of fun doing something engaging. At least that's my take. There are definitely places I didn't even check out based on the citations I read alone. Feel free to check the website and see what I mean... Finally, I like their electronic check in and camera systems. The first thing anyone hears about, when daycare shopping, is the cameras. There's something about knowing you can peek in on your kiddo anytime that soothes the soul. Also, who's gunna do wrong when they know they're on camera? Not many folks... I'm BEYOND happy to have a place like Little Discoveries in Chico. They have two other locations as well and it sounds like they're very flexible with parents and their scheduling needs. Based off of first impressions alone, obviously, I'm sold. I shall update more as our experience deepens. Wishing all the other parents shopping for this most important service luck! It's terrifying and wonderful. Trust your gut! There are definitely worse places to take your kiddos. For now, I highly recommend Little Discoveries. :)

All three of my children at one time or another have gone here. Now, my two year old attends during…read moreschool hours mon-fri. Every morning the staff greet him so kindly and respectfully; me too of course. I'm so appreciative of how much he loves going to "school" like his big brother and sister. It's a clear reflection of the diligence and love Rhonda and her staff put into making the place so welcoming and warm; so that my son can get down to the hard work of being two!

We couldn't be happier with our experience at Smart Start! From the moment I called to schedule a…read moretour as a panicked first time mom leaving her child somewhere for the first time, it was clear that this place is special. The staff is incredibly warm, attentive, and truly passionate about the children and the parents honestly. My daughter flourished here as the learning is fun and educational, with plenty of hands-on activities and lots of things to take home as memories. By the age of 3, she knew all of her ABCs, could point out any letter, numbers and started learning how to write her name. I loved the daily updates and photos I got. The teachers also took the time to understand my childs needs and interests, and if any changes happened at home, they ensured to help with them at school the best they could. I couldn't have asked for a safer, better school to help keep my baby safe and get her a jump start on school.

If you were looking for the best preschool in Chico, CA, look no further!! We've had our daughter…read moregoing there since she was an infant and can't say enough good things about Smart Start!! They're about "the whole child" and not of the philosophy of simply a "day-care"; but truly invest in the learning, social skills and overall best well being of all of their children. Their staff is amazing and give each and every child the individual attention that we, as parents, hope that our children get. Their facility is consistently clean, and their classrooms are large and spacious. If you've done your research and looked into other pre-schools (as we did...and quite extensively), you'll know exactly what I'm referring to. Bravo Teacher Ann, and her loving staff for investing in OUR next generation and future!!

We have been with Chico Christian for the past 6 years. Our second child is in her last year with…read moreChico Christian and our first daughter graduated two years ago and still talks about how much she loved going there...she especially misses the teachers. Chico Christian excels on many levels, but one of the most important to us was their communication across the board. Every employee there is truly special and if we had a third child they would be attending Chico Christian as well. Thank you to all of their staff. My wife and I both highly recommend sending your child to Chico Christian if you're looking for a great and safe daycare.

We've been part of this daycare since my son was about 14 months old, and we can't say enough good…read morethings about the staff and teachers! As a first-time mom, I was nervous about leaving my baby in someone else's care, but they went above and beyond to ease my worries. Everyone here genuinely loves what they do -- they care for the kids as if they were their own, showing real warmth, attentiveness, and dedication to their safety. Updates through the app are so great! They often send pictures and even videos, too. We definitely recommend Chico Christian.

My son has really enjoyed his 3 years at Sherwood. His teacher, Sheng (same for 3 years) has been…read morewonderful. It's a small, caring, community and my son looks forward to school each day. Traditional school models are not a good fit for him, and he enjoys the work at your own pace Montessori method. He is able to quickly do his work then earn free time and help others.

Wonderful learning environment and community. So greatful my son has this experience!read more

My daughter has been at Castles since she was 5 months old, she is 3 now. The teachers at Castles…read moreare amazing! Good communication, and great learning environment. Also, one of the few (maybe the only) that has a good range to hours - 6:30am-6pm. There are so many Castles families where the kids have been there for years. We love Castles and Castles staff!

My son attended Castles in the School Age program, but created relationships that feel like he will…read morecarry with him forever.. Not only with fellow kids, but with multiple teachers. The atmosphere feels more like a family than a preschool and even though he no longer attends he still gets so excited to reconnect with teachers who in turn continue to support his success even as he has aged out and moved on

Great place for hourly chidcare drop off. My kids love it. They don't know they are being babysat…read more They think it's a treat

First, Kidspark is a vendor for Far Norther kids with disabilities. My three-year-old has autism…read moreand the program sounded like a great option for a spontaneous date night here. I assumed Far Northern would only fund quality places. Just to preface this tale. Second, for those short on time: let me just say Kidspark works great for my friends' kids who are not on the spectrum or disabled (hence the two stars, not one). If your kids are older, used to childcare, and can TELL YOU what happens to them, I wouldn't see Kidspark being a problem. For my non-verbal kids (one on the spectrum, one neurotypical) it is NOT a safe or reliable source of childcare. Do with that what you will... Third, the long of it: the first time my kids came home STARVING, with dry lips, and parched. They both drank FULL cups of water when they got home. I was shocked. They also scarfed down foods they usually don't eat because they were so hungry. I was charged for two meals each (lunch and dinner). The meals were different than those listed because they ran out. Okay. Whatever. It's all just food. But I wonder what happens when kids have allergies and parents trust the meal plan. Not an issue for my kids, so whatever. My kids being hungry WAS an issue. Staff said "they didn't feel like eating." No attempt to help them eat. None of the ENTIRE BACKPACK of snacks I took for them was touched. Nothing. When I picked them up (the middle of dinner time) my boys were both away from the table with their full plates of food doing nothing. Trusting all of the Far Northern services we've received, I figured it had to be a bad day for staff or some fluke. So, I took them back for round two. SAME EXPERIENCE the second time. My kids were starving and dry as a bone. Both times my kids weren't allowed to nap. When my baby started to fall asleep, I was told they just laid him in the TV room and kids played around him. No tenderness. No quiet area. No attempt at following his needs. Nothing. Let's talk about safety: the ratios here are terrifying. My kids get hurt every time they go there. The place looks like everything would be sticky to the touch. My kids come home covered in dirt and with soiled diapers. The two times I've taken my kids there, I find my two-year-old off in a corner unattended by staff. It's a mess. Financially, I'm disturbed by the fact that Kidspark double dips Far Northern and charges two single child prices for a family. Instead of charging Far Northern less or me less for the second kiddo, they max out the costs for both. They use diapers for one family on another family (I've taken a pack for a full day and it's been completely used in two hours - a pack of 30 diapers... how the heck?!) I'm sure they love the kids... except... not really. I fully admit this job has got to be one of the most stressful jobs around but it doesn't need to be so obvious. It literally seems like they hate kids. I never see a smile when I walk in. The kids are tagged like cattle and turn into numbers to round up and pushed through the gate to "go play." As I drove by for lunch one day, I saw a beautiful child with Down's Syndrome through the glass rocking in the corner behind the counter. Nobody was near him. Other kids were standing away staring. I've had friends with kids on the spectrum cry to me about their children being bullied and bitten and hungry and ignored. Still more have had to pick up their kids early because the staff is so overwhelmed they can't handle meltdowns or misbehavior. Why in the world would a special needs service operate in a place where they have no extra training or support for kids with special needs? Respite? What. A. Joke. I 100% believe this is an unsafe, unhygienic, unfriendly place for kids with special needs. While neurotypical kids may enjoy the independence and play time with friends, I worry for my non-verbal sweethearts' safety. I will be asking Far Northern to take a serious look at who they fund as this place is not only difficult and stressful, it's DANGEROUS. Never again.