We've had such a wonderful experience at Palo Alto Montessori. Our son has been incredibly happy…read morehere, and as he gets ready to transition to Transitional Kindergarten, we're genuinely sad to leave. What makes this school especially special is how warm, stable, and family-like it feels. Dinesh, the owner, is wonderful and genuinely cares about the children and families. Tony and the entire team have always made our son feel loved, comfortable, and at home. One thing I've particularly appreciated as a parent is the continuity of the teachers. The children get to know their teachers over time and form genuine bonds with them. Having experienced preschools where teachers changed more frequently, I've come to really value how much that consistency matters, especially for young children. Most importantly, our son absolutely loves going to school. When we started talking to him about moving to TK, he literally told us he didn't want to go anywhere except Montessori! He comes home excited to tell us about gardening, cooking, painting, drawing, and everything else he has done that day. I love that the children get so many hands-on experiences while also simply having a really happy childhood. It has been incredibly reassuring to know that he spends his days somewhere he feels happy, secure, and cared for. Palo Alto Montessori has been a very special part of his early childhood, and we'll miss this community tremendously. Highly recommend!

My son attended PAMS from age 2 to 3.5, and we had a truly wonderful experience there…read more He came home every week excited to show us all kinds of handmade projects like paper cows and snakes, drawings, shapes, and even letters he practiced writing. It was very special to watch his creativity and confidence grow over time. PAMS also organizes many fun events throughout the year, especially during the summer. Some of my son's favorites were the cooking classes, gymnastics, dance activities, and visits from fire trucks and police cars. The campus itself is warm, cheerful, and filled with things young kid naturally like, e.g sand boxes What stood out most to us was the kindness and care from the staff and teachers. They are incredibly warm and attentive with the children. Whenever we traveled for more than a couple of weeks, by the second week my son would start saying he missed his school, friends, and teachers. While PAMS is not the type of school that sends daily photo updates, they do keep thoughtful photo albums from school events and activities. Some of those photos are very meaningful to us, especially from when my son first joined the school. I still remember seeing a picture of his teacher holding his hand during a police car visit while he was adjusting to a much larger class than his previous daycare. Moments like that gave us a lot of reassurance as parents. We ultimately left only because we applied to the early learning center of an elementary school we were interested in, and to our surprise, our son was accepted. During that transition, Dinesh was also incredibly supportive and kindly helped by writing evaluation letters for us, which we truly appreciated. Otherwise, we likely would have stayed at PAMS through the kindergarten years. We are very grateful for the care, warmth, and joyful early childhood memories they gave our son.

I cannot say more wonderful things about this bright horizons location! We had an amazing…read moreexperience here with back up care, the staff are incredibly caring and it shows. On our first day we felt immediately warmly welcomed, the staff are attentive and thoughtful - and that is reflected in all the details and extras write ups they provide everyday. The educators here are true professionals, they make sure the kids have a fun, educational, and safe learning experience, allowing them to explore their interests.

Employer has backup and emergency care benefits. Bright Horizon here has been easy to schedule…read morethrough the employer. The place is clean and great for kids. They are very secure and safe so you can have a peace of mind when you drop off your kids. My kid definitely enjoyed the times they come here and will definitely be back next time we need!

If you are looking for a home-based daycare in the Menlo Park area, I don't think you'll find a…read moremore loving, sweet place than Teddy Bears. We sent our toddler daughter and son here each for a year before they started preschool. We knew we could trust Gizela and her team whole-heartedly, since so many of our friends have also sent their children to Teddy Bears, and had rave reviews. The children's days are very well-structured, with plenty of time for outdoor play, reading, crafts, and music to name a few activities. We loved how much our children, both a bit shy, grew more confident socially and made friends. They even picked up a little bit of Spanish from their time at Teddy Bears. If there were any behavioral or health issues, or schedule changes, Gizela was quick to communicate that to us parents. We always felt like we were informed and in the loop. What we loved most about Teddy Bears is how much like a family it feels. Gizela works hard to create that family-like feeling, and I think you'd be hard-pressed to find such a loving daycare elsewhere. Our children adore Gizela and her team, always giving big hugs to say hello and good-bye. Now that we are moving on, we are sad to be saying good-bye, but are so grateful to have had two such wonderful years in daycare for our children.

I never imagined having such peace of mind dropping my baby off for the day as a first time parent…read more Our kiddo started with Gizela and the crew at 8 months old, and she's now a thriving 3-yr-old who is surrounded by friends and laughter every day. Gizela and her teachers effortlessly foster each child's individual needs and milestones (potty training, for one!). This is not simply childcare. This is a loving, friendly environment with activities and fun nonstop! They go above and beyond to make sure your child is loved and included. I'll never forget our daughter's first Halloween, and how guilty I felt for not dressing her up and taking pictures of her first thing in the morning before dropping her off. Not to worry, because we received several pictures throughout the day of her in several different costumes! It was exactly what *this* (gestures wildly) new mom needed to feel better after a hectic morning and busy workday. They had my back and I'll always appreciate them. Preschool is right around the corner and our daughter is well prepared. She's articulate, socialized, and she loves learning (in both English and Español). We never could have prepared her this well without Teddy Bears. We will always sing their praises! Thank you TBLC!

So grateful we found Tikiland during our daycare search. Mrs. Pily & team are warm, caring,…read moreattentive, kind and supportive. Leaving your LO isn't easy, but TL feels safe comforting welcoming and full of heart. Here are some selling points- Why we Tikiland: *A+ comms w/ parents, super responsive to Qs. The teachers were BORN for this! *Big shaded yard w/ fun play structures (cars, playhouse, giant playground) for exploration and play *Curriculum is well rounded which helps Kids thrive socially & academically. *Bilingual program to help kids become multilingual *Fun holiday celebrations (VDay, may5, MDay, etc.) *Welcoming family community-never cliquey * The drop-in program has been a lifesaver, giving us time to reset/recharge. Very flexible-start w/ a few drop-in hrs & add more as needed TL is 5/5 quality child care program top to bottom TY for taking such good care of the kiddos! (Sharing a quick snap of one of my LOs--a tiny peek into how special this place is.)

Coming from a bilingual Spanish/English-speaking household, finding Tikiland was the perfect fit…read morefor my family. From the 1st moment I pulled up, the lush greenery set the tone for a welcoming, enriching space, where kids create/explore/thrive. The teachers are attentive/nurturing/trustworthy and truly invested in each child--you see it in the way they eagerly walk up each morning! Here are some of my kids' fave activities: - Story-based Arts & Crafts - Themed storytime w/ hands-on projects connected to what they read (one day, animal masks; another, a paper-plate whale reinforcing Spanish/English vocab; another, a decorated bear mask blending literacy & creativity). -STEM + hands-on discovery - Learning feels like play as they build, experiment w/ circuits, & explore STEM concepts ("We made it light up!" my son said about their snap circuit activity--so cool!!). - Outdoor exploration - Nature walks introduce plants/flowers/birds/ environmental awareness. - Gardening activities - Outdoor spaces turn into classrooms, where kids observe/engage/teach ("You have to be gentle, or the plants won't grow," my son reminds me--wise kiddo tbh). -Imaginative play + role-playing - The playhouse kitchen turns into a full-on restaurant (my daughter proudly declared herself both chef/boss when she runs the pretend lunch service @ TL), while the dollhouse encourages creative storytelling (she reenacts her gentle parenting skills back @ home lol). - Music & Movement - Days include dance/rhythm games/interactive songs (hand-clapping in Span/Eng performances of Los Pollitos Dicen & De Colores, & the highly competitive freeze dance which according to my son, demands absolute focus -don't interrupt when the music stops!!). W/ dedicated teachers/engaging activities/a vibrant outdoor setting- TL is where kids develop curiosity/confidence/love for learning in a nurturing bilingual environment. If you're looking for a place that truly understands childhood where education is joyful/immersive/hands-on Tikiland is IT!!

We love Whistle Stop and have both of our children attending. The teachers are fantastic; they are…read morecaring, very engaged, offer great advice, tailor their teaching based on each child, and most importantly, they do a great job ensuring the kids learn manners and how to become good people. Lastly, the teachers pack each day with tons of activities: art, crafting, sensory play, reading, etc. The director, Val, is also amazing. She is very thoughtful about when children are transitioning between grades by making sure well before they do, they get exposure/play time with the new class. In addition, kids are transitioned in groups so they have familiar faces in their new class. Another great benefit are class sizes; the teacher to child ratio is very low. Whistle Stop really helped raise our children and shape them to be wonderful people.

From the owner: We are proud to offer exceptional childcare services for families with Infants aged 6 weeks thru…read morePreschool age 5.9. Our Center has 6 classrooms divided by age and / or developmental level, with a play-based curriculum that places an emphasis on academics. Our goal is to provide a solid foundation for emotional, social and academic school life while providing parents with peace of mind that their children are being cared for in a safe and loving environment. Over half of our staff have been employed at The Whistle Stop for over 10 years, where we embrace our teachers with a professional support system that encourages a healthy work-life balance and ongoing growth opportunities. At The Whistle Stop, we work to build a community with our families, both current and alumni. It is not uncommon for school-aged children as well as high school and college graduates to return to the Center to visit with familiar faces and reminisce on their school beginnings.

Our 2-year old son is with Johana's Little Duck's Home Day Care since last 6 months. When we were…read morelooking for a day care for our then 18-month old son, we found Little Duck's through Yelp, we called Johana and luckily she had a spot for us. Johana was very accommodating, warm and welcoming to our son (who had stranger anxiety). Johana also provided regular updates in the first few weeks on how our son is coping in the new environment and with new people. She still sends out pictures and videos of any fun activity kids are doing in the day care. She is always reachable via text or phone. Johana's helpers - Evelyn and Gladys are also very nice, helpful and welcoming. Our son loves all 3 of his teachers. He usually gives them a hug when he reaches the daycare every morning. Given that his terrible 2s have already started, Johana and her helpers talk to my son on a daily basis to alleviate his tantrums and behave properly. When our son was sick, the teachers checked his temperature regularly and informed us about his health. We really like the way the day care is setup - a huge play room with lots of toys and activities, a dining room for all the kids to dine together and a big backyard equipped with outdoor activity stuff. The entire place is clean and baby proof. Kids have a free play time and circle time in the morning. In the circle time, kids create art & craft projects and sing & dance with teachers, recite rhymes, alphabets and numbers (in English and Spanish). We are truly amazed by the art projects that our son makes and the poems he recites on his own. For a 2 year old, he is definitely learning a lot. Breakfast, Lunch and evening snacks are provided in the day care and kids learn to eat on their own. In the evenings, when we go to pick our son, the kids are usually having their snacks and it is good to see how kids share the same table and eat from their own plate. Parents need to provide the sippy cup, 3 set of clothes, blanket, diapers and wipes on the first day of their kid's day care. The Little Duck's team is very good at notifying beforehand if they are going out of diapers or wipes for your kid. Overall, we really like Little Duck's Day Care. And most importantly, our son loves it. There is nothing as comforting and assuring to parents as to see their little ones growing in a safe, caring and loving place; and Little Duck's is that place for us. Thank you Johana, Evelyn and Gladys for your exceptional care. We truly appreciate your service!

Johana's home daycare was the home away from home for my son. He started at Johana's when he was…read moreonly 4 months old. Johana provided such a warm, loving, and of course safe environment for the kids. At drop off, my son was always so excited to see Johana and play. He also napped and ate very well at daycare. Johana is also great at communicating with parents and addressing my son's needs. He had eczema and sensitive skin, and Johana made sure he was taken care of. I highly recommend Little Ducks. I am so grateful that we found Johana to care for my son!

Both my kids were lucky enough to spend Pre-K @ EHS. It was really important to us to find a…read morepreschool that did lots of play based learning, art and outside time. All the EHS teachers were so good with the kids and offered such a solid foundation for their first learning environment. I should mention my kids are so different and the staff was so good at listening and supporting their unique personalities and querkz I have heard both my kids reference EHS and Ms. Janessa to their friends over the years.

Edgewood House Preschool is a special place that any child would be lucky to attend. Our child has…read morebeen there for the past year, and we couldn't have asked for a better environment for him to grow, learn, explore the world, and feel loved. We've had experience with four other preschools in the area, and while they were all wonderful, Edgewood stands out. It offers the perfect combination of a small, nurturing preschool and a highly experienced, dedicated teaching team. Many of the teachers have been with the school for years, and two of the teachers are also the owners. Their passion and excitement for early childhood education are evident every day. The children benefit from a wonderful blend of educational approaches while also receiving individual attention and care. Every child is truly seen, known, and loved by all of the teachers, creating a warm and supportive community that feels like an extension of home. One thing we especially appreciated was how open the teachers were to partnering with parents and evolving the program to meet the needs of the children, particularly those in the Pre-K/TK age group. They thoughtfully introduced early reading and writing activities to help prepare children for kindergarten while keeping learning fun and age-appropriate. They also organized several field trips throughout the year, providing enriching hands-on experiences that complemented classroom learning. We are incredibly grateful for our time at Edgewood and would highly recommend it to any family looking for a warm, nurturing, and engaging preschool experience.

My daughter had such a wonderful experience at Downtown Palo Alto KinderCare. She was in the infant…read moreroom during her time there. All the teachers and staff genuinely cared about her and went above and beyond each day to help her grow and learn. They took the time to get to know her and our family. The teachers discussed how her days went and worked with us to adjust things as needed. I particularly enjoyed following her day through photos and videos they sent through their app. The only downside, if there is any, is that the infant wait list can be very long. I wouldn't hesitate to sign up as soon as you know you'll need care!

A long overdue review! When our son started in the baby classroom at Downtown Kindercare in August,…read more2018, we were nervous about the less than stellar online reviews. Fortunately, we've had nothing but positive experiences, especially when director Nancy took over a short time after we started. We sent our daughter there in Fall 2020, and for over six years, Kindercare was like our family away from home. We made lasting friendships and are incredibly grateful to the teachers and staff for the safe and fun learning environment that they provided to our two kids. We will always hold Kindercare fondly in our memories. It was an emotional day when the kids graduated!