Little Endeavors

MCC is simply the best. We have taken our two children there for seven years as have had nothing…read morebut an incredible experience. MCC is like family to us! It's so wonderful having a place we completely trust and are thankful to send our kids to. I love the Montessori philosophy and inquiry based learning methods. They do such a great job supporting children's natural curiosity while also teaching independence, responsibility and important life skills. I've been so impressed with how's much my kids have learned and how's much fun they have! They love their teachers, they do so many fun activities and never seem to get bored. I'm also impressed with how often the activities in the room change, and all the cool arts projects they bring home! The owner and all the teachers are truly the best people; kind, nurturing, patient with a solid sense of humor. We're so lucky to have MCC in our lives!

Overall I like this daycare. I've taken my son here since he turned 2 and plan on continuing until…read morehe has to enter Kindergarten. While, they're not as strict as other Montessori daycares, I find that a good approach. Children are meant to be children and they discover with play. Applying strict rules to everything restricts kids imagination but that doesn't mean that they are not given structure. As far as I've seen, they keep the kids active during the summer, and whenever weather permits during the winter. I like that they don't have TV and their playground is great. They are right across from a park so they go there during the summer sometimes. The only thing Im not too happy about is when I've called to let them know about something, I feel like i'm always rushed by the person at the other end.

Ankeny Family YMCA

4.2

This YMCA is attached to the old Ankeny high school which is now Northview middle school. The…read morefacility doesn't have a lot of square footage but it does pack a lot into what it has. They have an exercise area and weight room. The exercise area has treadmills, ellipticals, and plenty of other exercise machines that have TVs. Also on the main floor the Y has a one basketball court size gym, three racquetball courts, and an aerobics room. On the second floor they have a karate room, swimming pool, and locker rooms. The swimming pool is decent sized and has a lot of lanes. The locker rooms have showers and a sauna.

Sauna temp is great but it is too small I am finding out. Treadmills are plentiful but some are…read moreneeding constant attention.

Tree House Growing & Learning Center

(1 review)

We've been at Treehouse for almost a year and couldn't be happier! The owners and staff truly care…read moreabout the children, and work hard to provide an educational and nurturing environment. Our children will be well prepared for kindergarten.

Ankeny Lil Tots

2.4

(9 reviews)

I have worked in childcare for over 35 years and have come to see the best, good and the ugly. This…read moredaycare looks great from the outside, but very unprofessional, I understand ratio's but, don't except a child and then tell a parent the last working day (Friday) before the child is to start that you can't except the child. know your numbers before you tell a parent yes!

I arrived for my tour of the facility in hopes to enroll my two kids for daycare and rang The…read moredoorbell to get in. No one came to the door but a staff member must have been getting back from her lunch and let me in.. without asking for an ID or who I was or who I was there to see. This teacher left me up at the front desk with no staff and went back to a classroom. Two more staff arrived from break and walked past me back to classrooms with still no staff present at the front desk. I was mortified that they would just let anyone inside and left unattended. There was even a debit card laying on the desk in plain sight. Needless to say I left.

Generation Next Child Development Center and Preschool

2.7

(3 reviews)

Their Urbandale location is terrible when it comes to hiring, I was lied to about pay and hours,…read morewas hired when they were no longer supposed to hiring anyone so therefore I only got to work 2 hours a day. They told me when they hired me that I would be a full time employee and that was not the case, no adult can live off of $200 biweekly. As for the center itself it's not managed well, kids are out of control and they even let a child that was formally kicked out for endangering her classmates, come back to the center because they "felt bad for him" it's unacceptable. Children are not corrected enough for their bad behavior so it continues to happen, their are children constantly being bitten, scratched, and kicked by others and most of the time parents are even informed when their child misbehaves so therefore nothing changes, as far as center cleanliness goes that is one thing they actually do a good job with, the entire center is cleaned and sanitized each night, all and all I wouldn't recommend working at this center or Johnson due to the fact that majority of Urbandale employees originally came from Johnson's center.

One of the most unprofessional and awful experiences I've ever had. I had my son enrolled here for…read morejust shy of two years. Since then, he has experienced personal growth due to some of the teachers there, but his current teachers have no place being around any children. My child has been bullied and provoked on multiple occasions by other children, even mentioning to me that he has shared this with the teachers. When confronted about it, management was unaware, either pretending or communication between classrooms is really that poor. I'm aware that my child can, at times, be stubborn, as four year olds are. He doesn't always follow directions when given at the daycare (I refuse to use the word Preschool, since there is no actual teaching). However, the staff is ill-equipped to handle any kind of disobedience he had, which only made his behavior worse. We know this, because we can compare his behavior and experience to the public daycare he attends most days, where he receives shining reviews for his amazing behavior. When confronted with the above issues, management was either blissfully unaware or refused to change due to lack of staffing to watch children, citing that the law only requires that they have 12 children to one teacher. The owners were extremely rude in the chain when they finally did butt in, saying they didn't have to change anything. Management recommendation from the beginning was that we find a new daycare for our child from the start. In summation, please PLEASE enrolling your child here. Especially if they are in the 3-5 age. They may be treated as poorly as our son was.

Childserve Childcare Center

4.0

Stopped in to check on something with staff. Greeted and ID'd immediately which is always nice to…read moresee when you trust the security of your children to this place. Escorted to staff and we had a nice conversation. The inside is crowded but I think they are at max capacity. They could easily expand but it doesn't look like they are wanting to do that. Private lot.

I have had three of my children enrolled at ChildServe's Childcare Center in Johnston. The…read moreteachers have been so attentive, caring and personable with my family and children. They followed a care plan for my daughter that was delayed in gross motor skills and she's catching up to where she should be. All three of my children LOVE to come to school and thrive on the consistency of a schedule, activities and consistent teachers. The teachers love the children and are so pleasant, positive and accommodating to my children's needs and interests.

Primrose School of Ankeny at Prairie Trail

3.0

My first born started at 12 weeks old and is now about to graduate the pre-K class. When we had our…read moresecond, there was no second guessing, we wanted her enrolled here too. We have loved Primrose since the beginning. The owner, staff, and teachers have always had the best interest of the kids at heart. We, as parents, have full faith in the care our children receive during the day. This gives us the peace we need to focus on our careers. Any "issues" we have had along the way, have been professionally handled by all. Our kids love their teachers and the teachers have so much care and love for our babies. I recommend this childcare facility to any parents who want a safe and quality space for their child.

It is way to loud and we should have less primrose time the teachers are strict on the kids I am…read moreadding on to this review and this place should be re-made

TNT Landscaping and Nursery

3.9

(14 reviews)

Completed a last minute landscaping project thanks to TNT Landscaping…read more They were open on Saturday, answered the phone right away at 8am, had lots of 2 inch river rock in stock, easy check out process, with very helpful and seasoned staff. Of note also had a great selection and quality of plants and grasses. Highly recommend!

Well it started off great, we stopped by to get landscape ideas and Zeb was awesome with some…read morerecommendations and offered to have a designer come out. Even after we accepted the estimate The designer/project manager has ghosted us ever since. After calls and unfulfilled promises, not sure I can trust this team

Absolut Dry Cleaners

4.2

(12 reviews)

•$$

I was in town for a wedding and needed to get suits cleaned. I called to ask about the price, which…read morewas $18 per suit, and how quickly they could be done. I was pleased that someone answered the call. The staff was very friendly, and I received the suits in less than 24 hours. The offer drive thru service which was very convenient too.

My jacket looked great. Turn around 24 hours! Pleased with service. Will return when needed.read more

PC Print Center

(9 reviews)

Great service with diligently considering what I was wanting and trying to request. He was…read moreextremely kind and considerate of what I was asking for and was efficient with the order being fulfilled within an hour of submitting it. On top of all the great experience, the quote was quite literally half that of staples. Excellent printing center. I will be coming back if I need to mass print again!

So fast and easy! We ordered a foam board for our company and it turned out perfect with a quick…read moreturnaround!

AE Outdoor Power

4.5

(8 reviews)

Ordered a Cub Cadet 60 Ultima 2 zero turn from A and E online. I called a couple times to get…read moreinformation about the product and shipping. Both times the person on the phone was polite, friendly and very helpful. Ordering was a breeze- A and E followed up to verify the shipping address and it was on the way! It got here super fast. Delivery was in a crate and the driver was very helpful in getting to the entrance of my garage. Set- up was a snap! Hardest part was taking a part the wood crate it came in. I found the battery was dead and faulty and called customer service - Alexandra. She said I could purchase a new one and they would reimburse me or they could send a new one. I picked the getting one right now and sent the receipt so I could get it up and running. Alexandra is a super star -great at taking care of everything - the customer service was Outstanding. It was the kind service you could want from Alexandra and everyone there - (everyone was super nice and helpful). The mower I purchased had a great price as well! It works great and I would definitely recommend A and E to everyone. You can trust A and E - they have Great products, customer service and value. 5 stars !!

I bought my new zero turn mower from them 3 years ago. Their staff has been friendly and…read moreknowledgeable when I have gone back to get supplies to change oil and maintenance of it.

Two Mops & A Bucket

(3 reviews)

We remodeled part of our home about a year ago and on the anniversary of the remodel I hired two…read moremops and a bucket to come out and ensure that we are maintaining our new space at the highest level! She was absolutely amazing. This is the first time out of a number of different home cleaning services we've used over the years that we felt like she paid more attention to the details than we ever could! She was efficient and thorough and just generally an awesome person to work with! Highly recommend!

Albana did an amazing job on cleaning my home that I was getting ready to put on the market to…read moresell. She made an appointment to come see the home and gave me a great price compared to my other estimates. She showed up on time and really DEEP CLEANED the home. I've hired numerous cleaning companies in the past, but have never been truly impressed with the end result. This was not the case, all of the walls, trim, floors, appliances, well EVERYTHING. When she was done everything smelled and looked great! I'm sure it helped tremendously in the sale as I had 3 dogs and not the best at keeping my house clean. Thank you so much Albana!

Highline Storage

(3 reviews)

Parked my Motorhome in a garage. Clean and safe area. Easy accessible from NE 14th. The…read moremanagement is very friendly & helpful!

What a terrific facility!! Have had units here for quite…read moresome time. Perfect for boats, RV's or lots of furniture Very clean and secure, a great place to store your treasures. Very helpful staff, who were great and flexible during our move-in.

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1 review that is not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Gavin J.

19

1

0

7 years ago

horrible to the kids and saras even worse to the staff. everybody's tense and fake smiles at the end of the day. a female teacher told a persons daughter she was the devil and should seek therapy. never take your kids here! read more

Little Endeavors - childcare - Updated July 2026

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Cadence Academy Preschool

4.4

(7 reviews)

I've sent both of my children to this daycare and preschool starting from the age of 3-months to 5…read moreyears! This means that I've been been working with the Director and Asst. Director at Cadence for the past 13 years! They are 2 professionals that know their business and do a great job with the kids, teachers, and parents! That leadership tenure is so important- and they both do a great job. There are also a good amount of teachers that have been at this daycare for 5, 10, 15, and 20+ years...which is serious retention! That tells me that these teachers want to be there! Things are organized and ran very well. It's always been a great feeling to be able to walk down the hall and the teachers know me and my kids, and all of the teachers and leaders are conversational and happy! I've been very pleased with the school's curriculum! They offer centers for rotation and variety and cover the important development areas of: gross motor skills, socialization, independence, counting- math, speech, reading, writing, shapes, colors, interactive/imaginative play, outdoor play, working with others/team work, music, arts and crafts, and more! I've never had to worry about my children getting bored- and they have fun...they want to go to school everyday! Finally, the food they offer for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack is quality and very healthy! I've appreciated the great variety that they put into their menu, which promotes the kids to always be trying new things and to eat what you get! This daycare and preschool has remained my #1 choice for 13 years! I highly recommend this school to anyone who wants their kids to have fun and variety, in an excellent educational environment, with strong teachers who are positive and loving! I wouldn't send my kids anywhere else!

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Heartland Cadence Academy! Our three children are lucky…read moreto attend a daycare that goes above and beyond when it comes to providing a safe, fun learning environment. The staff are very caring and attentive to their needs which makes leaving your kids in their care easy. Not only is there and emphasize on education but also on teaching kids to be kind and caring. I highly recommend Cadence Academy!

A Child's World at Jordan Creek

3.6

They have loved our kids like their own! Safety, professionalism, care. Thankful for all of the…read moreteachers!

Fantastic, absolutely wonderful. The teachers are the best part. The personal connections they make…read morewith the kids are what you are really paying for. Our two daughters entered when they were 6 months and 4 years old and left when they were 2.5 and 5 years old.

Childtime of Des Moines

4.5

(4 reviews)

This is the best daycare we have been too we love the staff everyone is absolutely amazingread more

Since the new management stepped in this spring, the daycare has improved so much. April (the new…read moredirector) and Kylie (the AD) are wonderful--great communication, lots of fun activities, and my daughter truly loves her teachers. The facility is clean, with live cameras (sensitive areas blurred), and we get regular updates and photos. It's play-based but also encourages learning, teamwork, and responsibility. I feel confident my daughter is safe, happy, and cared for every day.

Montessori Children's Center

4.8

MCC is simply the best. We have taken our two children there for seven years as have had nothing…read morebut an incredible experience. MCC is like family to us! It's so wonderful having a place we completely trust and are thankful to send our kids to. I love the Montessori philosophy and inquiry based learning methods. They do such a great job supporting children's natural curiosity while also teaching independence, responsibility and important life skills. I've been so impressed with how's much my kids have learned and how's much fun they have! They love their teachers, they do so many fun activities and never seem to get bored. I'm also impressed with how often the activities in the room change, and all the cool arts projects they bring home! The owner and all the teachers are truly the best people; kind, nurturing, patient with a solid sense of humor. We're so lucky to have MCC in our lives!

Overall I like this daycare. I've taken my son here since he turned 2 and plan on continuing until…read morehe has to enter Kindergarten. While, they're not as strict as other Montessori daycares, I find that a good approach. Children are meant to be children and they discover with play. Applying strict rules to everything restricts kids imagination but that doesn't mean that they are not given structure. As far as I've seen, they keep the kids active during the summer, and whenever weather permits during the winter. I like that they don't have TV and their playground is great. They are right across from a park so they go there during the summer sometimes. The only thing Im not too happy about is when I've called to let them know about something, I feel like i'm always rushed by the person at the other end.

West Side Kids Daycare

3.7

(7 reviews)

I've had three kiddos go through this center and out all other daycares and centers they've…read moreattended, this is by far their favorite. The teachers are great with my girls, my daughter did pre school here and when finished, now shes exceeding expectations for kindergarten and knows everything their just starting to go over, and putting words together and math problems. Very grateful for Ms. Racheal, and how good she is with the kids. My son looks forward to coming here before and after school, never any issues. My baby can be a little spit fire but oh my goodness, her teachers at so good with her, and she just loves them all, and the crafts and play time. Management is very friendly and all family, and they treat all the kiddos like they treat their own, they're always around, and willing to help. Gladly recommend this place over several others my family has visited and used in the past.

My son has been going here since he was 6 weeks old, now 4.5. We've had a great experience! I feel…read morehe's excelling in many areas (numbers, learning Spanish, shapes, independence, friendships). Would recommend!

Yellow Brick Road Creekview

(1 review)

My boys and I have had such a great experience. They love going here. Staff is great my boys look…read moreforward to seeing their teacher Ms.Bia and Ms. Janet. I can honestly say they care about my children and the staff is very welcoming and experienced.

Yellow Brick Road West Des Moines

3.0

worst daycare ever. they don't support enough way to many kids in the classrooms, building looks…read morelike it's falling apart and smells horrible they have been through so many staff its wild. I've see roaches and actual poop on the walls of the bathroom in the lobby. rather leave my child with a stranger then ever trust this place again

My daughter loves going to "castle school." Miss Livy & Miss Ricki have been amazing in working…read morewith her education & preparing her for kindergarten!

Cadence Academy Preschool

4.8

My family absolutely loves this school. Yes, the cost is on the higher end, but our children's…read moresafety, well being, and enrichment is worth every penny and so much more. Our oldest comes home each day excited to tell me what she did each day. The teachers and staff have become apart of our kid's extended family.

What our family found most appealing at first about Cadence was they offered a part time program…read morefor our daughter at a part time rate. We had no idea how hard it would be to find a program that didn't charge full time fees for a part time schedule. Cadence was the only location that seemed to truly understand the need for this type of programming for families. In addition to a program that fit our family schedule we were impressed with the dedication and commitment of the director, Ms. Theresa. She is one of the hardest working and most pleasant people we have come across since moving to Des Moines. Our daughters primary teacher is Ms. Nina who has loyally and cheerfully served Cadence for 11 years. 11! She handles our daughter so well- is patient, caring and takes time to talk to us about her classroom development nearly everyday. Ms. Megan's classroom occassionally teams up with Ms.Nina's and her Efforts with her classroom are noticible. She is creative, playful and intentional- both women are. I Admire their profession so much and my family is deeply grateful for the role they are playing in shaping our three year old Girl. She's blossoming in ways we have long hoped for and it's in large part due to the Cadence community. Thank you!

La Petite Academy of Des Moines

4.2

I have been taking my younger three there since July and they all love it! Love the safety they…read moregive to my kids! The teachers are all great and communicate well throughout the day! I love the live feed I use it everyday! 10/10 recommend for a great childcare center on the Southside!!!

I have two boys, 11 and 9, who have been attending La Petite on SW 9th since Pre- K. They are now…read moreonly a few weeks away from graduating the School Age room. The teachers here are great and genuinely love your kids and best of all my kids enjoy being there! They are able to transport to and from elementary school which is so helpful if you are a parent who works past 2:40pm. I am sad that my boys have now out grown being here because it's all we have known for a long time. I love La Petite and I will always recommend this daycare to others! Thank you for taking care of the boys!

Kid's Company

3.5