Wonderful daycare! Poonam and her team has taken care of our son since he was 4 months-old, and…read morewe're extremely thankful. The little ones can't be in better hands, they're cared and loved. They do a lot of activities, helping with the development at each stage while the kids have a lot of fun (Poonam sends daily pics and keeps the parents up to date). There is an outdoor area with a lot of toys and space to play. Highly recommended! Your kid will love Poonam and her team from day one.

My two sons attended APTG over the course of 5 years. During our first month there, we were told…read moreby the current director (who has since been let go) that a child was accidentally left at the park across the street during outdoor play. Apparently, no one at the center realized this mistake until a random town resident returned the child to the school. The mind boggles... Obviously, this was a long time ago (and we ended up keeping our children there), but I think parents reading reviews would want to know this. The school is housed in a plain gray building which is sort of depressing the first time you see it. Inside, however, is a very warm and caring environment, thanks mainly to the teachers, who are for the most part very good and attentive. Some of the teachers were not-so-great and were clearly just passing through on the way to greener pastures. The teacher turnover rate has always been relatively high, including a near-total turnover in the space of a few months at one point. Luckily, most of the teachers we interacted with were awesome and devoted to the children. Dropoff in the morning is a completely chaotic affair. Parents are rushing in and out, kids are screaming/arguing/crying, teachers are catching up with each other about their weekends, etc. Totally hectic and very rough on kids who require a smoother transition. Now that my youngest is in a different daycare environment, I can see what total madness this was. The daycare has a weird layout, mainly due to its small size. In fact, to get to one particular classroom, you have to walk through another classroom. The center's "office" is situated in a cramped room that's sandwiched directly between two classrooms. This means that if you have anything to discuss with the director (even confidential matters), you'll be subjected to other teachers, parents, kids, etc. wandering through to get to the other room. The center director runs the center well, from an organizational standpoint. However, she lacks the warmth that you would expect from someone who works with young children all day. I often got the impression that she'd be much happier with the job if it weren't for all of those pesky children. The founder of APTG is not around very often, but sometimes stops in for big events. There's no kind way to say this: she has an extremely condescending manner. She's clearly very smart and has a lot of experience with children, but I always felt like she was lecturing the parents rather than offering helpful/useful advice. The school makes a big todo about its "curriculum", but...there really isn't one. They cover a couple of cute themes and practice some words and letters, but this is not Montessori. I think it's perfectly adequate for what it does, but let's not get carried away overselling it. APTG organizes several really fun events throughout the year. This includes a picnic in the summer, apple picking in the fall, a stone soup meal, and lots of other special events. These are always a lot of fun and a good way to see your kids in action. The nutritionist APTG hired is fantastic. She overhauled their snack menu to make it much healtheier, which was appreciated. She sometimes offers workshops at the school. If you can attend one of these, I highly recommend it as she offers a lot of useful advice. Play time (and most of the day, really) is very geared toward girls. Lots of beadwork, coloring, dramatic play, etc. Of course, this is all fun stuff for boys too! But there is virtually no rough-and-tumble, sports, kicking balls, etc. If you have a spirited/active boy (or girl), he/she will soon grow bored with the lack of variety. I don't think APTG actually _wants_ spirited/active children, since they are more work and will buck against the rigid structure. The tuition is very expensive, but seems to be par for the course for Belmont and the surrounding area. From what I've gathered, the teachers are not paid very well, which probably explains the high turnover rate. APTG isn't amazing, it isn't terrible either. It's perfectly adequate and sometimes that's exactly good enough. But there are better alternatives out there, especially for older children.

Luckily, this place didn't have availability for our child. The director was not pleasant during…read morethe first inquiry call. She acted like a snob. Listening to her sounded like accommodating parents schedule is something no one ever heard of. Apparently this place is too "good" to work with parents. First impression is the one that stays. And this is what I will be remembering about this "carrying" place. I am glad the decision not to leave our child in this place didn't have to be agonizing one. Thank goodness, certain things just don't mean to happen.

It is impossible to say enough wonderful things about Waltham Childcare Center. For the past 5…read moreyears, I have seen nothing but a staff of loving caregivers and brilliant teachers who are genuinely invested in every child's growth and happiness. The classroom space is organized, positive and always stimulates and enriches their learning; from the interactive reading of CAPS where students got to practice balancing hats on their heads, to the excitement of playing in the 'big gym' at the Boys and Girls club and of course, the creative art projects that involve him painting his hands to make imprints or making homemade slime or experimenting with the fizzy properties of baking soda! The staff is always engaging with students, checking-in, and making them feel heard and seen. Waltham Childcare Center is also dedicated to preparing their students for Kindergarten. My son, who will be 5-years-old this October, has made tremendous gains in his social-emotional learning, counting, letter identification and speech. As a teacher myself, their curriculum and learning instruction are outstanding and I have no doubts that my son will enter Kindergarten hitting every benchmark and then some. In fact, they are often able visit the library which has enabled my son to develop a love for books. Waltham Childcare Center is a rare gem and I am so grateful that they have been able to provide an amazing childcare experience for both my children. I highly recommend them to any parent-you will not be disappointed and neither will your child.

My son has attended this childcare center for over a year, and the entire team provides a…read moresupportive environment with age-appropriate learning, an emphasis on manners, and guidance on how to be a good friend. They follow a consistent schedule, which has made coming to school a joy for him and has given me peace of mind as a parent going to work knowing he is in a safe, caring place.

Our daughter attended Burlington Daycare from infant to pre-k and it was the best choice we ever…read moremade. The entire staff is kind and caring. We always felt our daughter was safe there, even at the height of the pandemic. The Director Jacquie and the Assistant Director Renee are hands on and kept us informed and the everything running smooth. We know our daughter is smarter and more well rounded because she went there. She made friends that she will stay close with long after they went on to Kindergarten. We were so lucky to get our daughter in here, and we would highly recommend it!

I now have two children at BDC and still feel the same way. My kids love their teachers and receive…read morereally great care.

I know it is only our third day at the Northpoint location, but I'm already in love…read more How did we get so lucky? This preschool is by-the-books perfect and if our 13 month could talk, he'd say "DAH" which means "I'm so happy here!" POTA is a Jewish preschool, modeled on the Reggio Emillia philosophy of letting children explore and experience rather than passively learn. This has been great to witness, as my son was in a different daycare for two weeks and while I liked the arts component there, he was more often following along and watching than going after the things that intrigued him. POTA has so many sensory exploration stations, and quiet nooks, plus big windows, wooden furniture and floors and colorful art all around. There are currently 6 kids in his class and 3 teachers, though there is room for up to 9 students at a time. Every day is a different art module. Today I was able to sit in during music with Mr. Owen, which was a short, sweet session of songs, movement, shakers and a stuffed dinosaur. Afterwards, the kids were given permission to explore his guitar. The most comforting part of this experience so far, apart from the fact that my son doesn't cry when I pick him up (which is a new thing) but just smiles and seems excited to see me, is the STELLAR communication from the staff. We were able to FaceTime our tour even before we moved to the area. We have received prompt replies to all emails. We've been mailed fridge magnets with helpful dates for social activities - yes, community is also a strong value of this school, and not just for the children! - as well as a welcome card from the teachers. The daily reports are thoughtful and clearly reflect what my son has eaten, when he has slept and how it went, and how many times he's gone to the bathroom. It isn't a drop-down menu like similar apps that daycares use, so I feel like the teachers are really paying more attention to what they report. The directors are easily reached by text or phone and also so prompt in replying to every question I've had. Lastly, I appreciate that the kids are learning about Jewish Holidays and that the calendar aligns so that we can celebrate as a family and not have my son miss any school. The teachers are called "morah" which is the Hebrew word for "teacher", so there is a slight exposure to Hebrew which is great since that is my son's first language, so far as we can tell. That being said, I think students of any religious/cultural background would highly benefit from this warm, supportive, attention-to-detail, beautiful school. It is a treasure.

My son has been attending Cambridge Preschool of the Arts (POTA) for the last 2 years and my family…read moreis so grateful for the love, support, and attention he has been receiving from the Morahs (teachers) and friends (and their families) he made at POTA. POTA has a great art-based and Reggio-inspired core curriculum and the weekly programs help my son to have an idea what to expect each day of the week. At the same time, Morahs help my son to be able to participate in these activities at his own pace. If he doesn't want to join the class for a certain activity, he would be given a specified amount of time and separate space to focus on other things. Also, I like that those art activities are used as a means to learn essential skills, and children get to enjoy the process while not being pressured to produce a final product to bring home. In addition, POTA has a great environment to provide outdoor play opportunities for children who love outdoor activities like my son. It's conveniently located right across from the North Point Park and Charles river and my son enjoys outdoor playtime almost every day and weekly class to learn about nature. I also love how easy it is to communicate with the school. I get updates from school with photos/videos of my son enjoying school and also details on meals/potty, etc. through a phone app. I can easily send/receive messages to/from Morahs throughout the day. I remember how pleasantly surprised I was after receiving my son's very detailed progress report prepared by his Morahs and in fact, I learned new things about my child from the report such as how he behaves differently when in school or in a group setting and it helped me understand my son and his personality better! POTA has helped my son grow so much in every aspect and I'm so happy and grateful to have found this school for my son.

We sent our younger kiddo to Bigelow after moving to the neighborhood and have had a wonderful…read moreexperience. She's in the preschool classroom, and her teachers are incredibly creative and engaged. Bigelow is Reggio Emilia inspired, and focuses on child-led learning, so when the teachers noticed our kid and several others were interested in writing letters, they incorporated opportunities into everyday activities. Boom, our 4 year old is writing! The facilities are also lovely, and include a large shared space for gross motor play even when the weather is yucky. Most of all, we have really appreciated the community of other families, many of whom have become friends.

My 7yo son went to Bigelow from when he was 3yo to 5yo and now my daughter is in her 2nd year…read morethere. It is a cooperative so parents head the various committees and get to set the various policies but there is a director and teachers so nit parent run. The teachers are wonderful, creative, loving, I cant say enough good things really. They create many opportunities for children to explore and discover. Also, parents can volunteer to spend time in the classroom which is super fun. The classrooms are spacious and inviting with lots of windows and there is a giant playroom in the center of school for those days that outside play isn't an option. The school has a very large fenced yard that has trees, giant sand pit with water pump, track for biking/scooting/push alongs, and garden. It is truly a gem.

I can't say enough about the quality of the teachers, especially Miss Annie, who runs such a caring…read moreand professional school. we are a former school family, and we still join the school on outside activities like Apple picking, we were fortunate to have Miss Annie for the 3. years we did , my kids still talk about her to this day.

Our family has had a great experience at Waverley Square Daycare - Belmont. Ms. Annie and all the…read moreteachers have been so welcoming and our daughter is excited to walk in every day! We've been in both the toddler and preschool rooms and have enjoyed seeing the progression of activities and learning for the children. The Waverley team is very responsive and easy to communicate with, and even organizes fun family activities throughout the year where we can spend more time with the teachers and the other families. Would highly recommend to other parents looking to find the right spot for childcare!

This review isn't based on how they run their programs because our child never got the chance to be…read moreoffered an enrollment. We took a tour at the beginning of the year and were told that a few part time positions were available for our child. The following days, we applied with a $50 deposit and was told nothing was available now. It's end of June now and still no calls or updates on availability. We can't wait anymore and found another place that didn't give us the run around. We want our money back. Live and Learn from Launch and Learn.

The stuff was Friendly. They Fix arcade machines fast if they are acting up. The manager named ,…read moreJake was nice and let me stay by my sons side for lazer tag so my son would not be scared. The manager is thoughtful and kind.