I wanted to take a moment to express my immense gratitude for Hayley, Erin and Sarah and the exceptional care they've provided at It Takes A Village. As a working parent, finding a daycare that feels like an extension of our family was a top priority, and I can confidently say that we hit the jackpot. From the beginning, Hayley and her team established a sense of trust and comfort. Their genuine care for my kids is evident in every interaction. It's more than just supervision - it's a nurturing environment where my children feel safe, engaged, and valued. There have been weekends where my kids have cried because they want to go to school! The curriculum and activities have been spot on. I've watched my kids grow, learn, and develop new skills under Hayley's guidance. Her ability to strike a balance between structured learning and creative play is commendable. Communication is always smooth and transparent. The teachers keep us informed about our kids' daily experiences, making us feel involved and connected. This level of engagement is truly appreciated and sets It Takes A Village apart. There have been times where I have just texted Hayley that I miss my kids and she would send me a string of pictures and videos of them asap! When your kid is away from you all day, sometimes it takes one checkin and one picture to make your day! For any parent seeking a daycare where their children will thrive, I wholeheartedly recommend It Takes A Village. Hayley and her team's dedication and care are second to none, and we're grateful to have them as a part of our "village"! read more

Hayley is truly the best ever! My son Leo & I absolutely love her. She really helped me out when I needed a supportive daycare when I worked in San Mateo. My son attended from age 3 until kindergarten and to this day he still misses & talks about Hayley. She also gave me advice that led me to getting my son on an IEP early and she is honestly an Angel. read more

It Takes a Village - Preschools Near Me

From my last review, love and recommendation has gotten stronger for "It takes a Village" (formerly a wise choice). Since then, my older daughter has graduated and my younger one is thriving under the care of Hayley, Erin and Sarah. This feels like extended family for us. The other kids and families are also part of the village. Hayley being the owner, establishes a great community for her families and becomes a part of the family even after kids graduate (attending birthday parties, soccer games, science fairs). This is gold for us because we live far away from our families and it feels so wholesome to know the effort taken for our babies read more

It Takes a Village - My younger daughter - Preschools Near Me

If you're lucky enough to snag a spot at ITAV, take it! We loved our time with Hayley at ITAV! Over the course of five years, we've sent our two boys daily (and starting at three months) to be look after and loved by Hayley and her team. The care and attention Hayley and her team gave to each of our boys was incredible, and we were so comforted knowing they were in her care. Hayley offers a thoughtful curriculum that is engaging, advanced and inclusive. As a new mom leaving her small babies, this was invaluable. Hayley goes above and beyond a childcare facility, creating a community between families in her program and assists with building lasting connections. We've made many lifelong friends through ITAV, where it is a real family environment. I wish there were more stars to award, ITAV is the best! read more

Can't say enough good things about ITAV daycare and preschool! Our family has been sending our kids to Hayley's for over a decade (my nephew and niece both attended and are now 13 and 9 respectively). My husband and I have so much peace of mind knowing both our kids have a safe and nurturing place to learn and play while we're at work. Hayley and her staff are all wonderful and attentive caregivers. She's worked with us through some tough transitions for my son (e.g. new sibling, big feelings, acting out), is currently helping us reinforce potty training, and even holds regular parent-teacher conferences to talk through developmental milestones (imagine my initial surprise when we were having a parent-teacher conference for a 1.5 year old!) There are simply a lot of things we don't know as first-time parents and Hayley is a wonderful guide as we grow in our parenting journey. Aside from the amazing care and education they provide, ITAV also provides a balanced breakfast, lunch and snack daily (included in tuition). I love the diversity and inclusion that is built into the curriculum for our kids. Selfishly, I also think they have one of the earliest drop-offs (8am) and latest pickups (5:30pm) that I've heard of locally, which is great for managing work on top of kids. Some weekends they also offer Parents Night Out, where for $50 they'll babysit the kids from 4-9pm, provide dinner and get them dressed for bed. Honestly, every time I tell my friends about Parents Night Out they are in awe! As other parents have mentioned, I too will echo that sending our kids to ITAV also comes with a pretty tight-knit community. Over time you get to know all the other families and we support each other through happy and tough times. I don't know of many other daycare providers that go so far above and beyond and really make sure you're joining a village and not just dropping the kids off for the day. read more

We've been going to ITaV for a year now , and feeling blessed for making the cut . My son came from a daycare to this preschool, as one of the older kids , and after day 1 we noticed a significance difference in his development. We went into the Uber and just introduced himself . We never saw that . At ItAV , they have learning and lesson plans . The children do yoga , participate in baking or making smoothies , garden and water play during the summer . They have the older children take on responsibilities and help the younger children . My son loves going there . On the weekends he'll ask to "teacher Hayley's " . When I asked him in the car who his favorite person was , he said "teacher hAyley." (I got moded as I expected him to say me or my daughter haha) Knowing that your child goes to safe and loving environment, removes one less worry . The other teachers Erin and Sarah provide love and care as well. There wasn't space for us when he was a baby, but I'm glad they had availability when he was older . Also, the parents are just as warm and caring - we all look out for one another . We are blessed to be apart of itav ! read more

My three kids have grown up with Hayley and her team for nearly 8 years now, and we love her. The facility now has a completely redone backyard with a very large yard, interactive play spaces, shade areas, and she also has indoor playrooms and learning centers. The teachers are always enthusiastic and patient, and my high-energy kids are able to focus in on the art, reading, sharing and other times because they make them so interesting. I'm a high school administrator myself, and I see that Hayley applies her extensive experience with a range of learning types and behavior background. She is amazing, and kids feel like family. If you're looking for a fun program that applies developmentally appropriate curriculum for preschoolers, this is the place! My second son attended as an infant, as well, and Hayley happily allowed cloth diapering, and prepared great meals for baby/toddler stages. read more

We started with Hayley when our oldest was six months old. She is now seven and we are still going to her house every day dropping off her 2 year old younger brother. 7 years and three kids with her and we love her all the more for it. Our kids are excited to get there in the morning and I leave for work without any concern knowing my children are in cared for in her loving hands. The two older children stayed there until the week before kindergarten allowing me to drop off my 4 year old and 2 year old in the same place. Then a year later, we were doing the same for our middle child and youngest. She has a great method of giving more responsibility to the older children, while holding and loving the babies. Our two oldest had enough curriculum and pre-school education they were ready for kindergarten. By the time our third child finishes with her we will have visited her every weekday for ten years. We love her so much and she has been like a third parent to our children. read more

I don't know what we would do without Hayley. We have been with her since our oldest was 9 months old and we were so lucky to get in when she had an opening. Hayley is like our family at this point. She is so patient, understanding and supportive while also giving the children opportunities to grow and take on more responsibility. My kids are always happy to get to Hayley's and play with their friends. All of the parents know each other and we all do birthday parties together like one big family. It is everything we ever wanted and more. read more

My son Alexander started at A Wise Choice Child Care when he was 3 months old. He loved his teacher Hayley and helper Bertie. He often got one on one attention. His first few weeks Hayley would text me photos letting me know he was doing just great. It was fabulous. She was very flexible and really put the children first. We ended up moving out of the area and now my son attends another preschool, but if we ever were back I would hesitate to put him back in the care of Hayley and A Wise Choice Child Care. read more

Wants place where you feel like family?! Hayley has created just that at AWC. When our son first started there she above and beyond to make sure I (a new mom) knew that baby boy was safe. She sent pics and updates through the day for the 1st couple weeks to a month. Every day we get a quick run down of the day (poops, sleep patterns) and she'll offer suggestions on how to address issues that you spot (ie baby not sleeping well at night, not eating well...). She and the team are big on manners with the kids and she has a robust curriculum to learn about different cultures, nature, reading, etc. read more

My daughter has been there since 2008 and she absolutely loves teacher Hayley! On her first day my daughter didn't even cry jumped right in and participated in all of the activities. I thought it was too good to be true but she continued the entire week in the same manner. Activities are age appropriate, they are able to walk to the park and the library, 2 snacks and breakfast are all provided. I would highly recommend it. Please reach out to me if you would like further details! The pre-school curriculum just kicked off in September and with my little one turning 4 that's a huge bonus! read more

Before visiting Hayley's daycare, we had already decided in our mind to go ahead with another daycare for our daughter. And we visited Hayley's with no intention to choose it, but, just to make sure that we are looking at all the available options and also to validate our previous daycare choice. At that time, Hayley's daycare was getting renovated and not everything was perfect, but, something magical happened during our visit. Hayley is such a wonderful and kind person that we couldn't help falling in love with her. We could feel the love that she has for children and her passion to help them grow into kind, responsible and successful human beings. After that, we didn't want anything else for our little one. This was almost 2 years ago and this daycare has improved so much infrastructure-wise. Hayley and all the teachers have put in a lot of effort in making it look so beautiful now. A few key things why we love this daycare/preschool so much: - In the earlier days, Hayley used to keep us informed of how she is adjusting in the daycare by sending pics and everyday discussions. - Their curriculum is amazing. We get a timetable every month for daily activities. She is learning so much that we don't feel the need to send our daughter to pre-school. - At the daycare, they celebrate and do activities for all the major festivals from every culture that children belong to which makes them naturally inclusive and appreciative of different cultures/ethnicities and respect them. - They conduct Parent-Teacher meetings regularly for us to know more about strengths of our children and what more can we do to make her successful. - Hayley goes out of her way to help not just children but their parents too in any matter related to our child and otherwise. - The teachers who are part of this daycare: Bertie, Sara, Molly are amazing caregivers and we love them all so much. Hayley is family to us. This daycare/pre-school is one of the best decisions that we have taken for our daughter. If I could give her 10 out of 5, I'd do that. read more

Professionally, Hayley is an experienced and caring child care provider. My children thrive in her care. She teaches with magical classroom management skill, providing age-appropriate structure simultaneously across age groups. Her kids are well prepared for the next step academically. Personally, Hayley is an additional adult in our children's support system. Leaving my kids with her feels like leaving them with a member of the family. She hugs them when they cry, calls them out when they need it, and offers unconditional support. read more

We were happy with our first son's daycare when I had to first return to work. When she retired, we were so stressed and nervous about finding someone new. I knew as soon as we visited Hayley that we had found the perfect place. Hayley quickly became part of our family and was soon caring for both our boys. She taught them both to be independent, confident, empathetic, and caring. She provides an environment where the kids can learn, try new things, act like kids and thrive! We ended up moving out of state and would have loved to take Hayley with us! We still keep in touch and visit when we're back in town. Our boys' childhoods (and our sanity!) wouldn't have been the same without Hayley. I would highly recommend her and her team to anyone looking for childcare. read more

My daughter loves going to A Wise Choice daycare. She started when she was 9 months and is now 2.5 years. I absolutely trust Hayley and know my child is safe, well cared for, and loved. I like how they do crafts and are always entertained. I can tell Hayley loves each and every child and I like how I am given a verbal report of the going ons for the day. I highly recommend. Another note - If you are a few minutes late picking up your child, there are no complaints or extra charges like some other places I had looked into. As long as you don't abuse it, there haven't been any problems. read more

Both of our children having been going to A Wise Choice since they were 3 months old. They are happy to go everyday and are well cared for. Hayley made the transition from home to day care very easy for the kids and for us parents giving us regular updates. Hayley makes us feel like we are part of the family. She truly loves children, teaching them, and is very patient as we have a spirited one. It's nice that our toddler has learned manners at A Wise Choice saying please and thank you frequently. Hayley has a great curriculum where the children are constantly learning and taking on new responsibilities. In the SF Bay Area, good affordable child care is hard to secure. We feel like we won the child care lottery with Hayley! read more

My son is now 4.5. When he turned 4, I thought about moving him to pre-school but ended up staying because her pre/school curriculum was equally good. Or even better with individual attention. Last month theme was Space. He told me all the planets in the solar system, in the right order! He is now curious about constellations and I plan on taking him to planetarium soon. He is now a curious smart boy and I know he is ready for kindergarten this year. I'm actually very sad about leaving... read more

I feel so lucky to have found Hayley and that she happened to have a slot when I was looking for care for my 12 month old. I have worked with children with special needs in many daycare and preschool settings so I know the way she interacts with and teaches the children is similar to some of the best preschool programs I have seen. In addition, she gives them and their families endless amounts of love. My daughter was especially "spirited" and she and her staff took it all in stride with patience and humor. She feeds them healthy meals and is part of the nutrition program. She also encourages a loving community among the parents so you really feel as if you are entering a village when your child enters her care. We have been there almost a year and I would not be leaving had work circumstances not forced my hand. She has a slot for a child over 2 and temporary slots for some babies until September so I recommend snapping them up quick as most families end up staying until they start school!!! read more

I LOVE A Wise Choice Daycare! My son first started at A Wise Choice 2 1/2 years ago when he was only 3 months old. The owner, Hayley, truly has become part of our family. She treats all of her "children" with love, kindness, patience and respect. Because she has been working with children for so long, she knows how to teach her children to help them to be respectful, compassionate, and eager to learn, laugh and play. Most daycare centers and preschools can talk about their meal plan, learning curriculum, and play activities and at A Wise Choice they offer all of this. However, the greatest strength of A Wise Choice is that Hayley will truly love your child as her own and you can trust that she is helping you to raise your children to be the best possible little people that they can be. It's hard to be a working mom and entrust a stranger to spend so much time with your child, but I have peace of mind that my son loves Hayley like a second mom and she will be a part of our life always. read more

I cannot say enough good things about A Wise Choice, Hayley and Bertie. When we moved here from CT a year ago I had to quickly find care for my then 18 month old daughter. I contacted Hayley but she unfortunately didn't have any openings then so I put Sara in another home daycare. It was run much more like a babysitting operation and I wasn't very happy with it, even though Sara seemed to like it. When Sara turned 2 I contacted Hayley again and she was able to take her. We are so lucky! Hayley runs the operation like a preschool, with structure and curriculum, so I know Sara is not only being well cared for and loved, but she's learning the things she needs to learn to start school eventually. I love the age range of kids (from infant to almost 5) and the fact that they are able to go to the park next door, take field trips to the library and grocery store, and that she's getting such personal attention (she had a nanny before we moved here so this was important to me). We're moving again in a month and I'm so sad to say goodbye to Hayley. Sara loves it there and asks to go on the days she has off, which says a lot. read more