GeoKids will always hold a special place in our hearts. From the moment we joined, it was clear…read morethat this wasn't just a preschool -- it was a warm, thoughtful community built around respect, curiosity, and real joy in learning. Their approach is so intentional and so child-centered. Everything is hands-on, play-based, and rooted in letting kids explore the world in their own meaningful ways. You can feel how much care went into creating that environment. The teachers are truly exceptional. They're kind, patient, reflective, and endlessly creative. They know how to support each child as an individual, and they build such trusting relationships with the kids. It's the kind of care you never forget. And the parent involvement makes it feel like one big extended family -- everyone invested, everyone connected. We truly enjoyed every hour we were able to spend in the classroom, watch Teddy with his friends and learn from the teachers. We also loved how thoughtful the curriculum was. Learning through play, open-ended art, social-emotional growth, conversations about identity and fairness -- it all felt so natural and so right. GeoKids somehow manages to be both cozy and incredibly intentional at the same time. It's been years since we moved on, and honestly, we still miss it -- the teachers, the families, the whole community. GeoKids gave our family a foundation we're still grateful for every single day. We will forever be grateful for our time there and for all the love and learning that shaped our child's earliest years. GeoKids is a rare gem, and everyone that gets a spot there, will feel blessed.

Best preschool EVER. Both our kids loved it, didn't want to leave at the end of day. They learned a…read moreton about emotions, behaviors, socializing, collaborating, sharing meals together, interacting, creativity, curiosity and physically challenging themselves, all in a play-based setting. GeoKids started reading chapter books to them around age 4. This kicked off us doing the same at home and they loved it. I'm still marveling over how jaw-droppingly amazing their time was at GeoKids.

We couldn't be happier with the Building Kidz preschool in Menlo Park. We tried another preschool…read morein the area but our daughter didn't like it. Now, she wakes up every morning excited to go to school. The team are so caring, well organized the amenities are fantastic and the activities very engaging. And the kids there are just lovely. Shoutout to Sylvia and team for doing such a great job! We love BKMP and highly recommend it.

Love this school and teacher Has been the best decision for…read moremy little one They are thriving

Before we started here I mentioned to a parent I met at a playground where we were starting…read morepreschool. We were in southern CA at the time. He immediately knew the school and said it was the best preschool in California. Turns out he does education certification for the state and analyzes preschool effectiveness for students and communities. He had visited the MACooP on several occasions. This place is wonderful! Our child's teacher is incredible, super knowledgeable, up to date with best practices, so talented and very experienced. The amount they do with these kids every day is amazing, there is always something new to explore. Very glad we gave this a try even though I was very nervous about the time commitment for parents with all the extra meetings. It is intense for sure but that intensity also comes we a deep cultural value of taking care of each other. Everyday I see parents helping each other make it through, and not just the parents who are besties or belong to the same economic bracket. Everyone helps everyone.

The Co-Op is a magical place! We started looking at and applying to preschools before our son was…read moreeven born. I went on many tours and applied to many schools, but after a lot of debate, we chose the Co-Op. It was the best decision we could have made. Our son loves going to school! While many schools call themselves play-based, the Co-Op truly is. The kids get to come in and play for 2.5 hours, choosing their own adventure from a wide variety of options. They can choose to play indoors or outdoors, no matter what the weather. The teachers are incredibly caring and really value letting kids be kids for as long as possible. The director, Teacher Kristy, does such an incredible job of advocating for the kids and staying true to the principles of a play-based philosophy. While I had concerns about the level of parental commitment, it has been one of my favorite parts of the school. Getting to watch my son in the classroom and form a close-knit community with other parents has been such a gift. Now, I can't imaging going to a school where that wouldn't be part of the routine. The parental education classes have also been so helpful. You come together with with other parents to learn from each other and support each other in the journey of parenting.

All these glowing Yelp reviews are 100% true! They really do capture how amazing the school,…read moreteachers, and whole environment are for the kids. For a little backstory: my son has been at Safari Kid for about 8 months now, and he absolutely loves everything about it. Last year, he was at another "popular" school in Menlo Park where we had a pretty terrible experience, so we decided it was time for a change. I ended up touring almost every school in Menlo Park and Palo Alto, from tiny local spots and fancy corporate schools to super structured programs and pure play-based ones. It felt almost impossible to find that sweet spot between good academics and fun, play-based learning. Then we found Safari Kid, and I've been so grateful ever since! They've helped my son really blossom and gain so much confidence, both socially and academically. His current teacher Bev has so much experience and is an absolute gem. Whenever we're working on specific skills or behaviors at home, she jumps right in and partners with us to meet his unique needs. Sandhya is also super responsive and doesn't miss a beat when it comes to the kids. As a parent, you truly feel like they care about your child as much as you do and that you're all on the same team. The daily routine is so well structured. Every week has a fun new theme; like earth week, sea animals, or baking week, and the kids do tons of hands-on activities and art projects. Plus, the teachers upload daily photos and updates to their app, which I love checking during the day. They even teach basic Spanish! I had no idea until my son randomly came home one day counting and naming colors and animals in Spanish. Also, their outdoor space is easily one of the best I've seen around here. Safari Kid has tons of toys and the staff rotates them out regularly to match whatever theme they're learning that week. All of that is great, but honestly, the absolute best part is how much love the kids get from the teachers and the staff. That's what matters most to me. If you're sitting there scrolling through these reviews like I was last year :) to be totally honest, I remember reading all the 5-star feedback and thinking, "There's no way a school is this good, some of these must be fake!" But now that we're here, I get it :) I completely understand why parents love this school and the staff so much!

We've had a wonderful experience at Safari Kid Menlo Park. Our daughter has truly blossomed into a…read morehappy, confident child during her time here. Sandhya has always been responsive and helpful with any questions we've had. Teachers Stephanie and Bev are caring, attentive, and consistently engage the children with a variety of fun and educational STEAM activities. We especially appreciate how Teacher Stephanie shares thoughtful updates about our daughter's behavior and offers practical suggestions to support her growth at home as well.

We are so lucky to have found Playschool! It was Feb 2021, after visiting many other preschools…read morethis one was recommended by our pediatrician. The moment I saw the happy, joyful children playing outside I knew this was the right place for us. My 3-year-old was a late talker and needed help coming out of his shell at school and lots of patience in separating and transitioning. He needed help building independence, learning to wear a mask (we were still in covid), speaking up when he needed something, answering questions, making friends, cleaning up, taking turns, the list goes on. If all of this came easily for your little one - you are lucky!! It did not for us. But we got the help and support we so desperately needed from Ms. Rose, Ms. Shawnta, Ms. Maria Elena, Ms. Cristina, Ms. Ferneyn and Ms. Susan!! They have each been instrumental in helping him love school, not just critical academic skills but tons of new experiences he wouldn't have had otherwise (see pictures :). In the beginning, my son was the child who wandered around during circle time, not participating and not listening. We started off with a behavioral therapist in the classroom always with the goal of no longer needing the aide. Everyone at Playschool was so supportive and caring throughout this whole journey and their feedback was key in adjusting as needed. I'm so happy and proud to say he doesn't have an aide in the classroom anymore, even doing two short presentations to class (that's HUGE for him!) and we have his nurturing teachers to thank for that. Lastly, the best part is you get a weekly newsletter loaded with fun pictures and a summary of what the kids did that week. We're excited to be graduating to kindergarten in the fall, but we're just a little sad to be leaving Playschool.

Our family loves Playschool! My oldest went there for 3 years until kindergarten (he was so…read moreready!), my middle son is there now, and my youngest will start this fall in the parent and me class. All the teachers are wonderful, the classrooms and play yard are great, and the park setting is so so nice. Can't recommend it enough!

Our family joined All Five when my son was just under 3 years old as part of their preschool…read moreprogram. Since then, he has "stepped up" and my two younger children are now part of their infant/toddler program. I have experienced all three programs and can say I love each and every one of them. They all have a different vibe, each fitting for the age group they serve but they all consistently have staff who cares and loves all the children. Because of the mixed age groups in the preschool class, I got to see my son first be taken under the wing of older, more experienced children then in turn become that mentor himself as he became one of the older children. The overall program is an open-play, emergent curriculum that really does foster independence and self sufficiency but most importantly, social-emotional development and growth. They focus on emotional resiliency and regulation. You can see the push as they age out of the toddler program to the preschool program and all the teachers are so collaborative if you have certain skill sets that you are trying to work with your child on. I've been so happy with All Five and the community they built. It is such a lovely campus and strong mission.

Moving into the Belle Haven neighborhood felt magical from the start, largely because of the warm…read moreand welcoming community at AllFive. Our family's journey with the school began when our oldest daughter enrolled as a painfully shy toddler who was hesitant to speak. But in no time, she blossomed into a confident, playful, and free-spirited child who easily makes friends and connections wherever she goes. The strong foundation she built at AllFive helped her thrive in her first year of elementary school, especially in the areas of social and emotional learning. Now, our youngest is a proud AllFive student who has been through all the school's programs, starting at KHIT. Currently in preschool, she wakes up excited for school each day and she loves to show off her classroom to anyone willing to listen. Her joy and sense of belonging speaks volumes about the nurturing environment created by the AllFive team. Throughout our journey at AllFive, the faculty and staff have consistently fostered a strong sense of community. I am an active member of the Parent Teacher Council and I am entering my second year of engagement with the school. Staff and faculty host monthly events after school and on weekends, encourage parent participation, and stay actively engaged with families during drop-off and pick-up times. Teachers maintain open lines of communication, providing daily classroom and individual updates about the children's activities and growth. No matter when you pass by the school, you'll likely see staff or faculty warmly interacting with parents. Even the school board is deeply involved, playing an active role in supporting family engagement and school life. Thanks to the thoughtful curriculum and dedicated faculty, both of our children have developed a deep sense of confidence, curiosity, connection. Most importantly, we have all built lasting friendships. Although the school has undergone some changes in recent years, its mission and heart have remained constant. We truly love AllFive and are deeply grateful that it is our family's first school.

Lack of responses for on any feedback from parents. Often have unreasonable rules and promises…read moreimprovements that never happens. There are some experienced teachers. But there are also a lot of new teachers who seemingly have no experience with childcare and don't take feedback.

The good: Location…read morein Burgess Park. Kids are regularly taken out to play in the park, or to the library for story time. Buildings are new and in good condition. Teachers are excellent and really care about kids. Reduced rates for Menlo Park residents (although this may be stopped owing to city budget constraints). The not-so-good. Because of space constraints, 3-5 year olds are all put together in one classroom. This holds back the pre-kindergarten children and stops the program from being a better preparation for kindergarten. When my 4-year-old went to another preschool she was given a much more challenging and age-appropriate curriculum. The school should try to give parents more advance notice of closures etc.

Reached out to possibly join a class, owner felt very dismissive. No people skills through e-mail…read more Turned me off right away. Shared this with a mom group and they shared that they had stopped going because it was very catered to a certain demographic. Ok, no thanks. Dodged a bullet. Going to look elsewhere.

I had gone through the Mandarin Immersion programs with both of my sons when they were 2-3 years…read moreold. I would definitely recommend Tiny Treks to any parent who wants to take their kids outdoors and learn about nature in a safe and social environment. My kids loved learning about the different bugs, trees, and seasons. It's a good way to exercise and bond with the little ones. Storytime was always entertaining with Teacher Hsi. The founder of the program is also very organized and responsive -- she definitely listens to feedback and recommendations. My kids have now outgrown the program, but they still talk about the fond memories of their Tiny Trek journey.

Every time I park in Alpha Kids parking lot and my 2.5 years old daughter shrieks in excitement and…read moreruns to the door; eager to greet her teachers and go in her classroom--- I know I have made the best choice. It's my daughter's first daycare/preschool experience and initially her separation anxiety was overwhelming but only in a matter of days, she stopped crying and started loving the school, all thanks to her very caring and supportive teachers, who gave her one-to-one attention and individualized care. Besides the emotional development, I noticed a lot of social and cognitive development in my child too. Initially she didn't speak a lot of words but only in a couple of weeks of starting school, she started communicating well and her vocabulary increased exponentially. She also started engaging with other kids. Teachers here, especially Ms. June, Ms. Daniela and Ms. Sylvia are so nice, professional and creative. They have weekly agendas and interactive activities to keep the kids engaged and entertained. They are so caring that they even volunteered to help me potty train my child. Special thanks to Ms. Natella, who has been so patient, supportive and accommodating with me throughout. She is so professional and promptly caters to my requests and resolves any queries or concerns. After meeting her, you can tell she knows what she is doing and can leave your child under her care without any care in the world. So grateful for Alpha Kids- Menlo Park!

Do not mistake no documented issues or citations on the state website as no issues with this staff…read more Same staff with a new location and all the accusations and citations have disappeared from the record. I'll provide one of the cited issues that is no longer visible. Restraining children of all ages in chairs as both convenience or as punishment.