We had a negative experience at another neighborhood preschool and were so relieved to have our daughter thrive at Kangaroos. It was the start of the pandemic and we had some tough issues at home and yet she looked forward to coming to school every day. They are genuinely caring and nurturing at Kangaroos. It's the kind of relaxed and nurturing environment my daughter needed. read more

Awesome teachers and administration! Natella and Angelina are very caring and responsive to our family needs. This preschool is very well organized and transparent. The facility is very clean and spacious. My daughter was thriving there and felt at home from the very first day as she had a very smooth transition. She absolutely loves all her teachers and will miss them a lot. They did a lot of activities and art projects together and she also had a lot of fun during their outdoor time in their nice backyard. read more

I'm a semi-frequent reviewer of Yelp and can tell you that the above post is fake and written by someone that works for the school. And for some reason if Yelp is asked by the school to remove this post, they will jeopardize the safety of innocent kids that go to this pre-school. Do not believe anything that these people tell you. They've had two going on three teachers quit in the past 30 days and about 8 families take out their kids - me being one of them Basically the teachers quit because the school couldn't pay them their full salaries. They advertise themselves as a pre-school and only hold a child-care facility license last I checked. I still don't think they've installed a direct phone line into the facility which is a requirement by law. When you call the school, you actually get one of the two managers' cell phones. They'll pretend they're at the school but often they are offsite. They basically do not have enough toys, activities, or games for the kids. I've had the teachers tell me the little kids don't really have much to play with because bigger kids take the toys. My kid came home with a huge red mark on his face, and they told me he 'ran into a door' when another parent told me they thought some kind hit mine to get at a toy. And the lunches are the worst. My kid literally tells me the lunches are gross. And they are basically pizza rolls and frozen garbage. I mean, they say they meet state code for food, but the state food codes for schools are the lowest bar for food and not healthy at all. It's basically pancakes for bfast and pizza rolls for lunch. My kid, who eats his share of junk food, basically won't eat the garbage they serve. What's also disgusting is the back door dealings they do with parents. Basically if you complain they will just 'cut you a deal' and give you a discount on stuff to keep you quiet. So, run don't walk away from this place. Please do yourselves and your kids a favor and try to find something else. read more

My 2.5 year old has attended Kangaroos twice a week since March 2011. We looked at other schools, but after visiting Kangaroos, my husband and I just had the gut feeling it was the right fit for our family. They were really patient and encouraging as our little girl made the transition from being with me all the time to attending school twice a week from 8:30-3:30. Angelina is her teacher and I can't rave about her enough. My daughter absolutely adores her and I get the sense the feeling is mutual. And that is a great feeling for a parent when your child is in the care of someone else. All of the other teachers are very nurturing and kind as well. Our daughter is warmly greeted every morning. Natella and Magda have been responsive to issues and have implemented daily updates and other forms of communication to keep parents in the loop, such postings on a yahoo group. They seem more than willing to address any issues as this branch of the school is fairly new (opened February 2011). They pour their hearts into their schools and you can tell. We attended the annual school picnic in Golden Gate Park and it was a wonderful event. Our daughter loved the bounce house and Jamaroos (a group that comes to the school to teach music) was there. Our girl had a ball. They also offer monthly pajama parties. Our daughter has yet to attend (tomorrow will be her first time) but I think this is a great idea. Any time she has had a "bump or bruise" one of the teachers explained the instance when I picked her up that day. Kids are kids but I appreciated the heads up. You don't have to be potty trained to go to Kangaroos, which was very helpful for us. And recently, Angelina said she would start offering it to her. Our daughter has shown progress in that area and I appreciate the encouragement. Our daughter comes home happy. She loves to show us the artwork she makes and and sing the songs she has learned. We are very pleased with Kangaroos and have had nothing but a positive experience. read more

Writing an update as my original review isn't showing up. Not sure why.... My son has been at Kangaroos for almost a full year and we are still very, very happy there. We are increasing his days to full-time starting June 1 as he's getting so much out of the school. read more

My daughter has been here for almost 2 years. She completely loves the teachers and the kids plus she's learning a ton and will clearly be very ready for Kindergarten. The teachers are very caring and do very interesting programs and projects with the kids. It's a little bit "no frills" but that works for me. I didn't care for preschools with specialized philosophies like Montessori nor do I like the "preschools" that have a total of like 6 kids. Kangaroos has been awesome. Parking is tough, but that's not the school's fault. read more

I've been searching for a perfect preschool for my daughter for a while, but it wasn't until I found Kangaroos Preschool on Monterey Boulevard that I knew my search was over. Now my daughter has been going there since it first opened, and I couldn't be happier with my choice. The teachers are wonderful, patient, and always have a smile ready. They do art music and movement and dancing and cooking activities, nutritious snacks are provided for the kids (they even have a full kitchen!), and, my daughters favorite, the sensory play room where kids can play with and touch different textures and get messy with cornmeal. They also start preparing kids for kindergarten, from learning ABC to numbers and counting and pre reading skills. They are located in a very nice neighborhood, and there is a loading zone in front of the building reserved especially for the parents picking up and drop of. The building itself is a standout in the neighborhood - it is painted with bright happy colors (reds, blues, yellows) - you could tell right away that it was the place for children. read more

My daughter has been going here for almost 2 years. The teachers and the school director, Angelina are just wonderful. Everyone is professional creating a safe and creative space for your child. My daughter is doing so well there. I would highly recommend this place. read more

There were definitely some teething pains while the school got up and running but there has been a lot of parent feedback and I am seeing all of it gradually get acted upon. Some teachers did leave and my son still asks about one of them every day as he misses her. But he loves his teacher (Angelina) and as long as she is happy - we are happy. Rose was a great addition to the team and has made some great changes from the inside out too. My son has been going since March - he joined right around the time a new baby arrived in the family and they really helped him adjust and deal with that change. Every day he comes home with new words (constellation is this week's favorite) and is starting to read numbers and letters. He has also made great progress with potty training - it was great for us that the school didn't require potty training as we had not got very far with it before he went to Kangaroos. I can tell he is happy and safe there and those are the most important things to us. He loves the pajama parties, his music classes, the new fish and all the teachers. He is eating more foods than he ever did and learning some great social skills as well as his letters and numbers. Basically he never wants to go home and as a kid who was home with a nanny one on one for his first three years - that is a pretty strong testament to the school and staff. As more changes happen, I think it will get even better! read more

I only have good things to say about this preschool. The teachers are wonderful, and the staff is very professional. Thank you guys!!!

My kids have been going to Kangaroos since April '11. The fact that my kids are happy at the end of the day is what matters to me. They are in a safe environment, the teachers care about them and they have fun. To address the 1-star reviews: This preschool has gone through some growing pains since it opened, but Administration been extremely communicative. The other posts talk about teachers leaving... they have. However, the fact that teachers and families have left is not necessarily a sign *only* of the administration; if it's not a fit, it's not a fit. No need to spread the cancer. Move on and do what's best for you (both teachers and families). I would hope that only teachers who want to be there are there, wouldn't you? Do my kids feel safe? Yes. Do my kids have fun? Yes. Do the teachers care? Yes. Do the teachers communicate with me? Yes. Does Administration have an open door policy? Yes. Have I told them my concerns? Yes. Did they address them? Yes. Every parent must do what's comfortable for them and in line with his/her beliefs. Do your own research and follow your gut. My experience with Kangaroos has been a positive one and I do recommend them if they fit your needs. No need to bash them because they don't. (minus 1 star only because of the stairs) read more

The owners hired a manager for this location, and it has greatly improved as a result. It is still a little disorganized and there are some staff issues, but overall it is satisfactory. read more

My daughter, Matilda, attended Kangaroo last year, it was her first experience in a daycare setting and she absolutely loved it. They did so many fun arts and crafts activities, a lot of outdoor time in their cute backyard and music class once a week with a hired professional. Angelina who runs the school is absolutely lovely, she has a lot of patience and love for these children and we just loved our time at Kangaroo. I would highly recommend this place. read more

My 3 year old son attends Kangaroo school and has been there for a year now. Just a bit of history - he was home with me and then a nanny for the first two years of his life. Then at 18 months my other son was born and he was home for 6 months with his baby brother and the nanny. I realized that my son was bored at home and getting into a bunch of trouble because he wasn't being challenged enough. Still a great kid but spirited, like me, to say the least and really needed an engaging and challenging place to put him to task in order to grow. When we got to Kangaroo he LOVED it immediately! First off, teach Rose, the director of the school, allowed us to come by a couple of times prior to starting school so that this wasn't a totally new place when I dropped him off for the first time. He currently attends full day for 3 days per week (MWF). My nanny walks to school with my son every MWF and it's so incredibly convenient during pick up time as well. I can't say enough about his teacher, Julia. She is caring, smart, affectionate (my son is VERY affectionate), and is quite insightful when it comes to my son and his needs. She is a very hands on teach who likes to draw, paint and do arts and crafts. This is great because we're not a huge artsy household. His vocabulary has increased dramatically and he comes home saying the funniest and cutest things. The most important thing that I can say about this school is that they truly LOVE my son! When looking for a place where your child will spend 6-9 hours per day without you, it's important to know that they will love your child like their own; and I can truly say that they love him. And this goes for ALL the teachers in the school, not just Julia. Sandy, Rose, Angelina, Gabby, Christina - they love Nicholas and are very vested in his success at Kangaroo. We are really enjoying being a part of the Kangaroo community and can't say enough about what a positive experience this has been for our son and our family for a first preschool. read more

After 3+ years at another preschool, we placed our son here for his final year of pre-K. It was a great decision. Kangaroos Preschool was an absolutely wonderful experience. Our son loved going to school every day. The teachers were caring, friendly, and communicative, and our son "graduated" with excellent preparation for kindergarten. They also offer "pajama parties" every other Friday until 9pm, to give parents an opportunity for a quick date nite. We miss Kangaroos already! read more

It seems like an okay place. Kids are nice. Space is big. Teachers? Not sure? Didn't really meet them. Honestly, Administration needs to get their act together after reading one of the reviews. The nicest lady did the tour, but someone who is the owner of the establishment should be doing the tour. A tour isn't just let me show you around my "home." It should be about what your center means to you and the philosophy or what kind of teachers. I left feeling like what I did when coming in - questions not really answered yet. Sigh! I hope they get better. Must be a transition thing going on. read more

With the new principal in place the school is pretty great. Teachers are dedicated, caring and have common sense. The school has two outdoor playing areas and kids take frequent trips to nearby playground. read more

Our daughter has attended Kangaroos Preschool for 1 year. The teacher's are very nurturing. They treat all of the friends just as I would treat my daughter and her friends. Angelina does a fantastic job running the school very smoothly. The schedule is very reliable and well suited for working parents. Our daughter's friendships are really blossoming. The only time she is upset is when she can't stay late for pj party night every other Friday. Thank you! read more

I enrolled my 3 years daughter there and the school start process was very nice to her and truly for me too. Teacher Lea is great with kids and they love her. read more

im surprised im hearing negativity, my daughter started at kangaroos 5 months ago and i have had a pleasant experience so far. In terms of the food , i havent seen any problems! i sit and eat with my daughter during breakfast time,commonly and they always serve organic fresh fruit, organic milk and pancakes.;;etc... Big Deal,,, a few teachers left..life happens!! the school is still doing great! This sounds like unnecessary drama. And for the post who said their child got hit in the face by another child. if you dont want your children in a public setting with a group of other children... you probably wont get as many scratches and falls but thats the advantage and downside of being children and getting hurt....If you want perfection dont put your child in a school where they will get dirty, do art and jump around with a bunch of other kids enjoying themselves.....hire a nanny! read more

I can't actually speak to the quality of the care at Kangaroos, because my family never made it that far, but I did want to comment on their frustrating, misleading and confusing administration, website and new family application process. About a month ago I took a tour of this preschool because I was interested in applying for the twos program for my son. The person who gave the tour was very nice and the school seemed like a positive place - I wanted to apply. Both the website and this administrator told me there were openings for 2 or 3 days a week. I took an application to fill out and made an appointment to bring my child in. Right before the first day, and after I've filled out all the paperwork, I get a call from a different administrator telling me that the website and other lady were wrong, they only accept children who will joining 5 days a week. Thanks for wasting a huge amount of my time. If that is your policy, why not communicate it to your staff and put it on your website. So unprofessional. read more

We started sending my son to Kangaroos when he was just over 2 (unpotty trained) when I was about to have my 2nd baby. From the time I did the visit with them to check the school out to the time we started the school was very welcoming and the enrollment process was really easy (well, with the exception of all the paperwork and having to do a wellness check but any childcare enrollment process has it's "work" involved). The teachers are assigned to specific groups of kids by age (super cute names like Joeys, Koalas, etc.) but all the teachers and assistants are familiar with all the kids and their parents. You feel like a family when you drop your kid off - which is how you want to feel when you are leaving your child in an all day program for the first time. When it comes to childcare you have feel like "If I can't be there the next best thing needs to be there for my child" and the teachers and director really make you feel that way. Super convenient that they give the kids breakfast too so if your child refuses breakfast in the AM or you are running late (what working parents with little kids never run late, right?) you know the school has breakfast covered. They also send out the curriculum for each day early in the week so if you can get library books that follow the same theme or have a point of discussion with your child since it's tough to get anything out of them at this age! read more

Good quality preschool, wonderful facility with caring and nurturing staff. The school provides great deal of learning activities and fun for the kids. They have a full day program which is important as both my husband and I are working parents and to have an option of early drop of and a late pickup really helps. Another plus is the enrichment programs offered by the school in dance and music & movement. We are really happy with the school and are looking forward to next year. read more

There is no reason in the world my review should be filtered!! I have infinite proof that my child attended, experienced and graduated from this school exactly as stated. Very frustrating!!!!!! read more

My daughter has been at Kangaroos for over a year and a half now. I am so happy with the preschool. I have no doubt my daughter will be well-prepared for kindergarten next August. This preschool has been perfect. Wonderful teachers--Angelina and Sandy in our case--and the perfect mix of nurturing (which I think is very important for 3- and 4-year olds) and academics as well, to get the kids ready for Kinder. After a move only 20 months ago to the Bay, I feel incredibly lucky to have found this wonderful preschool. I have also been so happy with Rose, the director of our location. She's a joy to deal with--smart, funny, and very in tune with every kid enrolled--she's been easy to talk to, with great knowledge of the age group. I think she's fantastic. I trust her and the other teachers completely. I adore this preschool. read more

This is our third childcare situation. It's been a challenge finding a good fit in San Francisco, but at last we have. The space is nicely organized (divided into several classrooms, two outdoor spaces), and the teachers are very caring. They have a wonderful curriculum for the kids -- my child comes home with messy clothes and marvelous artwork every day. The academic piece is there but not overmuch for a preschool child -- about 30 minutes a day of reading/math skills and it's always presented in a fun way. The prek class does more kindergarten prep, which I'll be glad for when our child is that age (though I realize that's not everyone's philosophy so it's an important thing to know about this preschool). A healthy breakfast and lunch are also served. Once a month the teachers host a Friday night pajama & pizza party so parents can go out on a date night for a minimal per child fee -- and they allow older siblings to be dropped off too. The school is on the larger side (39 kids maximum) but the teacher/child ratio is about 7 to 1 in each classroom with a teacher and then also a floating teacher's aide helping out. Occasionally it can feel a little crazy at pickup and dropoff, but when I've been late in the morning or early in the evening, I've always found a very calm school with children actively engaged in whatever they're doing and everyone having a marvelous time. Finding a preschool is a personal choice, and like anything, this won't be the perfect fit for every family. But after a rocky road trying to find the right place for our child, we feel like we won the lottery with Kangaroos! read more