There are 5-star preschools, and then there is Nature's Gift, which is honestly on a whole…read moredifferent level. When we started our search, we actually did the deep dive research and found that there is no other preschool in the Bay Area that maintains a perfect 5-star reputation on Yelp. So, why is Nature's Gift so exceptional? Having watched our daughter grow there over the last two years, here is why: 1. Heart Over Everything: Ms. YinYin, the school director, emphasizes quality and love over everything else. Unlike the big preschool chains where it often feels like the focus is on revenues or rapid expansion over the actual kids, Nature's Gift stays true to its mission. In those corporate settings, you often see teachers just snapping pictures to please parents instead of actually taking the time to work with the children and show genuine care, not Nature's Gift. 2. A Genuine Community: The teachers are all incredibly loving and truly care about the kids--as a parent, you can literally feel that warmth the moment you walk in. Our daughter's experience was so positive that she would even ask to go to school on the weekends. That's the highest praise a kid can give. 3. Authenticity Over "Shiny" Facilities: To be fair, the facility is small; it isn't some brand-new, "shining" building like the chains. But we quickly learned that the environment is built on substance and love, not just aesthetics. Looking back, my wife and I both agree that sending our daughter to Nature's Gift is the single best decision we've made as young parents. If you want a place where your child is truly loved and not just a number, this is it.

A Truly Exceptional Preschool Experience…read more I originally wrote this review a year ago when my oldest daughter graduated from Nature's Gift. Now that we've moved to a different city for her continued education, I find myself reflecting on the invaluable experiences and friendships we had there. Comparing her current school with Nature's Gift only reaffirms how truly special this preschool is. My previous review still holds, and I hope this updated one helps other families considering preschools in the Fremont area. Our Experience We feel incredibly fortunate that our daughter attended Nature's Gift for two wonderful years, starting at age 3. As she prepared to graduate at 5, we were filled with gratitude for the exceptional foundation this school provided. From day one, Nature's Gift nurtured a warm, caring environment where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow. The teachers are not only patient and dedicated but also deeply passionate about working with young learners. Their guidance allowed our daughter to thrive academically, creatively, and socially. She developed a strong academic foundation, created impressive artwork, and built friendships that we cherish to this day. One of the school's greatest strengths is its emphasis on instilling good habits and manners--life skills that will serve her well beyond the classroom. Thanks to the well-rounded education she received, she successfully passed the admission exam for Stratford and seamlessly transitioned into Kindergarten. What Stood Out to Us As two working parents, we initially had concerns about aspects like the longer summer vacation, early pick-up times, and lunch preparation. However, these concerns quickly faded as we saw the tremendous benefits our daughter gained from her time at Nature's Gift. The school's low teacher-to-student ratio, focus on personalized attention, and high hygiene standards ensured she was rarely sick--an improvement from her time in centralized daycare. Ms. Yinyin and the entire teaching staff go above and beyond to provide quality education and individualized guidance to each child. The peace of mind we had, knowing our daughter was in such capable and loving hands, was truly invaluable. Looking Ahead Nature's Gift recently announced the opening of a Kindergarten class, and we highly encourage interested parents to consider this outstanding school. The dedication, care, and high standards they uphold make it a remarkable place for early childhood education. A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Yinyin, Ms. Pratheeba, Ms. Megha, Ms. Krishna, Ms. Lily, and all the wonderful teachers who make Nature's Gift such a special place. We are forever grateful to be part of the Nature's Gift community!

The Peralta location was a great choice to place our 3 year old son for daycare. Previously he was…read moreattending the Washington location, the staff was great but found that the teachers had a high turn around so he kept getting a new teacher every few months. The transition from one location to the other went smoothly. We love the fact that the classroom size is small so their seems to be more attention to the kids. He has learned a lot and can trace letters/numbers and color within the lines of pictures. At home, he has learned to clean up after himself in regards to putting toys away, its not all the time. If he plays in his bedroom, he will clean up the toys before he goes to bed. Our son loves going to school, he's one of the earlier drop offs and the teachers welcome him with warm greetings in the morning and have him assist with morning tasks. His main teacher is Ms Poonam and he adores her, she has been a great teacher to him and has helped him become fully potty trained! My son was ready to be potty trained and when I asked the staff they would provide me a daily report and eventually were able to get him fully potty trained. It's a big help to have the school support when we were implementing potty training at home.

We have been a part of the LAPMS family for over 5 years as both our kids have attended the school…read more We couldn't be happier with the Dusterberry location. It's newly remodeled and clean, with a good size play yard that also gets plenty of shade. Most of all we love the teachers, both Ms. Sana and Ms. Poonam. Ms. Sana has provided such a loving and nurturing environment for our child, we are eternally grateful. She is gentle and firm when needed. She also successfully identified our kid was ready for potty training and we were done with diapers within a week because of her incredible work at school! (We don't take any credit for that haha). The school is masterfully orchestrated by Ms. Shawnnen. She was the first familiar face we met when transferring to this location from Irvington and were so glad to see her. She is very supportive and a great communicator. I couldn't recommend the school more. Our kid loves attending this school. She is singing songs, counting and knows many of her letters. She is also mastering a lot of basic life skills, like dressing herself, using utensils and developing her independence, and I know that she is in great hands every single day with her Dusterberry family.

We have watched our little one grow in this school. I wanted to find something play based for our…read morekiddo since he's very active and learns through doing. Its through this school that he's learn to be brave, kind, and a leader. Of course he's learned some interesting subjects and brought home LOTS of art pieces. To start off, the parents are wonderful and I've made lifetime friends with a few of them. My son has also made friends that are so impactful, we schedule play dates to ensure their friendships continue to grow. The teachers are kind, patient, and knows how to motivate the kids to be their absolute best selves. My son calls me by his teacher's name all the time since he loves her so much! The teachers are all personable and hilarious and they naturally get to know every student AND parent on an individual level. Daycare is tough for parents since we entrust individuals with our kids and we don't know what they're doing all day. our kids may not know how to communicate (or just forget). Brightwheel is the app for all parent/teacher communication and they're very active in uploading photos, calendar events, reminders, and direct messages. There's always so many photos and synopsis of their projects, it's nice to be able to ask our kids on the details on what they did that day. Despite the open lines of communication, teachers and Ms. Kim always make the effort to talk to parents if issues arise or just to say some perceptive comments about our kids. They say it takes a village to raise a child and I truly see this childcare center as a community! The Newark city department workers are involved with events ( i.e. fourth of July parade, Santa visit, etc) and parents volunteer their gifts if they feel inclined. I've had only one other experience with a daycare and Ive felt that this daycare is established and dialed in. In comparison, i've never had my child complain about being bored or even cry during drop off. The teachers are collaborative and response and ensure we, as parents, are informed of our kids progress. You won't regret visiting this center!

Newark Community Center is one of the best preschools and daycares in the area! The teachers are…read morewarm, caring, and truly dedicated to each child's growth and happiness. The environment feels safe, welcoming, and wonderfully diverse -- kids get to learn and play alongside friends from many different backgrounds. My child has shown amazing academic and social development since joining. The center also offers great value for the quality of care and education they provide. It's hard to find a place that balances affordability with such high standards, but Newark Community Center really does. My experience here has been nothing but positive, and I'm so grateful for the amazing staff who make every day special for the kids. If you're looking for a nurturing, inclusive, and well-run preschool or daycare, this is definitely the place to go!

We have had a wonderful experience with Learn and Play Montessori (Maple campus), and choosing this…read moredaycare for our child has been among the most meaningful and impactful decisions we have made as parents. We have had the opportunity to interact with most of the teachers over time, and every single one of them has been extremely caring, soft, gentle, and patient with the kids -- while also being firm and consistent in teaching good habits, manners, structure, and discipline. That balance is incredibly important, and they do it beautifully. Our child started here at just 2 years old and almost instantly formed a strong bond with Miss Nasreen and Miss Yaimara, which made the transition so much easier for us as parents. As our child grew, Miss Ellah and Miss Ishita became the primary teachers in the following year, and our child bonded just as well with them -- we could clearly see their warmth, dedication, and positive influence. We are especially grateful to Radhika (Director), along with the wonderful teachers Miss Carmen and Miss Stephanie, who have all contributed meaningfully to our child's journey. The school does an excellent job of tracking progress and sharing regular feedback -- both positive and constructive. Even when kids are being a little mischievous (as all kids do!), the teachers handle it with so much patience, care, and professionalism, always turning it into a learning opportunity rather than a negative experience. Over time, we have seen significant development in our child -- socially, emotionally, academically, and in good manners and behavior. The progress from when we first enrolled to where our child is today has been incredibly reassuring and rewarding to witness. They have sufficient parking, and drop-off and pick-up are easy to handle. The entry and exit are well monitored, with a front desk assistant always present and strong CCTV coverage, which gives us great peace of mind around safety. Most importantly, our child is happy, confident, and excited to go to school every day, and comes home with new skills, stories, and a smile. As parents, that sense of trust and comfort is everything. We feel extremely fortunate to be part of this community and are deeply grateful to the entire team for the love, structure, and care they provide. Very highly recommended for any family looking for a safe, nurturing, and growth-focused environment for their child.

We've had our child at Learn and Play Maple Campus for over two years now and it honestly has been…read moreone of the best decisions we've made as parents. Our kiddo is in kindergarten and watching her grow, both academically and socially has been really something. Let's start with the curriculum because it genuinely surprised us. It goes well beyond the basics. Kids get exposure to STEM topics, Spanish and even yoga, and there's still plenty of time carved out for outdoor play every day. It doesn't feel rushed or overly structured. The balance is just right for this age group. The food situation is also worth mentioning because not every school gets this right. Maple has a no microwave, no fridge policy, which sounds strict at first but it actually encourages parents to send fresh, healthy food. The school also provides healthy snacks. And if you're a working parent who doesn't always have time to prep a lunch, Ms. Radhika launched a fresh hot lunch program. You enroll at the start of the month and your child gets a freshly made hot lunch each day. The price is very reasonable (around $5 per meal), and even though we haven't personally used the service, we think it's a fantastic option for busy families. Another thing Ms. Radhika introduced is a partnership with Amazing Athletes, a dedicated sports program that comes in once a week. The idea is to introduce kids to a variety of sports so they can figure out what they actually enjoy, rather than being pushed into one thing early. It's a great way to get them moving and curious about athletics. The program runs about $80 a month and is totally worth it. On the practical side, parking is never a headache here. There's a dedicated lot with plenty of space, so you're never circling the block or rushing to a street spot at drop-off. Our kiddo and her friends sometimes hang out in the parking area after pickup for a little impromptu snack party, which tells you something about how comfortable and unhurried the whole vibe is there. The campus itself is really well set up. The playground area is nicely shaded, surrounded by trees and has a solid fence so kids can run around freely without you worrying. With only six classrooms, this is a smaller campus compared to some of the bigger Learn and Play locations, and that's honestly a plus. The staff knows every child, the class sizes stay manageable, and your kid doesn't get lost in the shuffle. For staying connected, they use the BrightPath Connect app, which sends you updates throughout the day so you always know what's going on. As a working parent, that kind of visibility is really reassuring. And then there's Ms. Radhika. She has been the heartbeat of this campus. She knows every child personally, is always available when parents have questions or concerns, and has built something that genuinely feels like a community. The warmth starts with her and flows through the whole staff. I can go on and on. In summary, if you're a working parent looking for a school where your child will be challenged, cared for, and truly happy, Maple Campus is absolutely worth checking out. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

We are incredibly grateful to all the wonderful teachers who have been a part of our son's early…read morelearning journey. He started at the school in preschool, and from the very beginning, his teachers made him feel loved, safe, and supported. Miss Sipra, Miss Poonam, and Miss Vaishali were incredibly loving and kind during his preschool years. They showered him with affection and care, making every transition smooth and comfortable for him. What stood out most was how personally invested they were in his growth -- they truly understood his individual needs and helped him develop with patience, encouragement, and warmth. As he moved into Pre-K, we were equally fortunate to have Miss Sandhya and Miss Keiani guiding him. They created a nurturing environment while also helping him learn the importance of boundaries, structure, and kindness. Under their guidance, we saw our son grow leaps and bounds -- academically, emotionally, and socially. Miss Sandhya's knowledge, patience, and years of experience truly shine through in the way she teaches and connects with children. Along with Miss Keiani's warmth and encouragement, they made a wonderful team that helped our son feel confident, supported, and excited to learn every day. We will always be thankful for the positive impact these amazing teachers had on our son's early years. Their dedication, compassion, and care mean so much to our family, and we highly recommend them to any parent looking for a nurturing and supportive environment for their child.

We've had a wonderful experience with the preschool program at Stratford, especially in Room 3. Ms…read more Sipra and Ms. Vaishali are incredibly caring, patient, and attentive teachers who create such a warm and nurturing environment for the kids. Our child has grown so much socially, emotionally, and academically since joining their class. The teachers do a great job balancing learning with fun activities, and it's clear they genuinely care about each child's development and happiness. Room 3 has been such a positive and enriching experience for our family, and we're truly grateful to Ms. Sipra and Ms. Vaishali for all their dedication and hard work!

We absolutely love King's Kids! Our son started at the beginning of 2026. This was his first time…read moregoing to a preschool and he adapted so well thanks to the caring staff! He is currently in the Panda Bear class with Mrs. Margaret & Miss Yoselin. They are both extremely kind, loving, and communicative. He always says he has the best day when he gets in the car! When we were looking for preschools, a playground was a must. Theirs is hands down the best in the area. If you have a youngster who likes to run and needs some outdoor time, KKP is the perfect place! They also send frequent pictures so I can see the various activities my son is doing throughout the day. Always fun to see! The entire staff (Jesenia, Miss Abbie, and all the other teachers) are extremely kind and welcoming. We are very happy with our decision to send our son to KKP!

King's Kids preschool is definitely a gem in our neighborhood in Newark. I sent my two girls there…read moreand now my third one is currently attending in panda bear class with Mrs. Margaret. She's very patient and she always communicates with me. The way she speaks to kids is very soft and gentle, just like Miss Abby and Ms. Hailey. My favorite part of KKP is that they have a very big playground with swings and slides, a climbing dome, pretend to play kitchens, sand boxes and a huge grass area for kids to run around and do many different activities like parachute time, bubbles and picnic. I am glad we get to know most of staffs through out these years and I know my daughter is always in good hands with them.

Lovely teachers, spacious playground, close to home and great program. Especially loved how easy it…read morewas to communicate with them through the app. As a first time mom, putting your child into a childcare can be so nerve racking, but they assured my daughter and MYSELF along the way. And with time, patience and kindness we fell into a routine and my daughter loved attending school. We're so sad to have moved on TK, but they will forever be in our hearts.

Overall, regret sending my son to Smart Start. The teachers aren't as experienced and professional…read moreas I'd hoped. They definitely put my son in a category, and I've come to the conclusion that he was not getting the right attention there. I've waited about two months to write this review in order to focus on the facts. When he started there he never hit nor spit nor was aggressive, but after starting there he began exhibiting those behaviors at home. We thought the behaviors would pass, but it wasn't until we pulled him out of Smart Start, had him home a couple of weeks and then started him at Montessori in Newark when he completely stopped the aggressiveness. Also, they blamed these behaviors on my son and threw around words like "spectrum" and "ADHD" very casually in an in person meeting they called after I complained about hearing a teacher yelling at the children during pickup one day. In the meeting they called, I implored them to elaborate on the "spectrum" and "ADHD" diagnoses they threw around and they outright said they don't see the red flags but just mentioned them casually. There were multiple teachers who left and were replaced with new teachers during our three months there. I feel like the newer teachers especially didn't understand early childhood development, and I caught myself explaining to them things that are in normal range for a two - three year old boy. That was disappointing. Pros: Playground was nice. They were pretty organized. They communicated often on Brightwheel and shared photos frequently. They were understanding about our decision to withdraw our son and generously refunded the amount remaining for the month.

Ever since my children began school, my husband and I have always had Fremont Christian in the back…read moreof our minds as we love that the school teaches the bible, which is very important to us. Additionally, we know how great of a school FCS is since my husband is a FCS Alumni and I was a substitute Teacher at the school for a year a while back. We thought that we would give public school a try, to save some money, and if we didn't like it or it didn't work out for our kids, we would re-evaluate our options.  This year when schools transitioned to distanced learning, due to COVID, our worlds were turned upside down, along with the rest of the world.  Our kids were struggling not being in the classroom and not being able to socialize with children their age, so when we heard that FCS was bringing back kids safely on campus we jumped on the opportunity to transfer them and have never once regretted that decision!  The Teachers, Principal and Staff at FCS have been AMAZING to say the least.  When we drove on campus to drop the kids off to school on their "first day" we immediately felt that our kids would be well taken care of, which was not a confident feeling for us at our previous school. The organization, care and seamless process to get the kids safely on and off of campus puts our minds at ease.  The Teachers do a wonderful job with communication and my kids immediately loved their new school and look forward to Chapel every week, which was also not an option at our previous school.  We appreciate and love our new FCS home and are so glad we transferred our kids to this school when we did. Thank you FCS!

As a former student of Fremont Christian, I had a mixed experience during my time there. I attended…read morethe school from Pre-K through 8th grade and was present when we transitioned to online learning. To start with the positives, I had great teachers throughout elementary school. They were kind, supportive, and genuinely cared about their students. I also made many good friends, some of whom I still keep in contact with today. Additionally, the school is a gated campus, which provides an added sense of security. As I got older, though, I started noticing more problems. My parents sent both me and my older brother to Fremont Christian. He attended the high school while I was in junior high, so we had similar experiences since the two campuses are connected. My brother and I are mixed-race (Caucasian and Asian), although we both look more Caucasian than Asian. Because of this, we received several racially insensitive comments from multiple teachers. I never spoke up because my brother once politely corrected a teacher, and it was interpreted as disrespect. As a result, he received detention. Another issue was the number of qualified teachers leaving the school. Many teachers either were let go or accepted better opportunities elsewhere. Because salaries were not competitive, the school struggled to attract and retain experienced educators. As a result, some positions were filled by parents whose children attended the school. While some were capable educators, others lacked the qualifications necessary to teach effectively. Teacher shortages also forced staff members to teach subjects outside their areas of expertise. I had teachers who appeared unfamiliar with the material they were teaching, sometimes learning alongside the class or teaching concepts incorrectly. Additionally, many AP, honors, and foreign language courses were offered through online programs rather than being taught by dedicated teachers because there were not enough qualified instructors available. I also experienced several issues with the athletics program. I participated in sports throughout my three years of junior high, and my brother participated in athletics during both junior high and high school. We both felt that the athletic program was significantly underdeveloped. In junior high, there were four sports available: softball/baseball, basketball, volleyball, and soccer. Participation was already limited due to the school's small student population, but it often seemed that boys' teams received more recognition and funding than girls' teams, with volleyball being the primary exception. Another frustrating issue involved the girls' locker room. Student-athletes were expected to change there, but it was often locked. As a result, many of us changed in the restrooms because there was nowhere else to go. However, we would then be lectured or disciplined for using the restrooms instead. When students explained that the locker room was almost always locked, the vice principal said it would be left unlocked more often, but the situation never improved. Lastly, I would like to address the school administration. During my time there, it often felt like certain students were treated differently than others. Some students received detentions frequently, while others avoided consequences for the exact same behavior. There was also a student whose behavior was repeatedly reported by students and teachers, including myself. Despite numerous complaints, the administration did little beyond speaking with the student until the student was eventually expelled. When my parents decided to enroll me in a different high school, I needed letters of recommendation from several teachers. After I explained why I needed them, I noticed a change in how some teachers treated me. I felt like some teachers looked at me differently after they found out I was leaving. Near the end of my 8th-grade year, the vice principal unexpectedly began criticizing the high school I planned to attend. They claimed the classes were much harder and that former Fremont Christian students had been unable to earn varsity spots in sports there. I responded by pointing out that the school was much larger and naturally had more competition. I also explained that I enjoyed challenging myself academically and athletically. I was accepted into the high school I applied to, received a scholarship based on my placement test scores, and earned a varsity position in my sport as a freshman. Fremont Christian did prepare me for high school academically, but from my perspective, the overall quality of education declined during the years I attended. While I had some great experiences and met wonderful teachers and friends, I also experienced issues that I feel are important to share. To respect people's privacy, I've chosen to keep everyone anonymous in this review.

Our daughter has been attending this Montessori since she was 2.5 years old, and we've been very…read morehappy with her experience so far (over a year now). Miss Thiru, her teacher in the Lilac class, has been absolutely incredible -- a perfect blend of warmth and discipline. She is both loving and firm, which is exactly what young children need to grow, learn, and thrive. We feel truly lucky our daughter had her as a teacher this past year. The daily schedule is thoughtfully balanced with Montessori activities, worksheets, and play. The worksheets have been especially helpful in building her number and letter recognition, as well as her logical thinking skills -- all while keeping her excited and engaged. The outdoor playground is spacious, and the kids love their time there. The only suggestion I'd make is to add some shaded areas, as the summer heat can get intense during the 2-hour outdoor window. Our daughter often comes home visibly tired from the sun. Overall, we really love the school and the nurturing environment it provides. Grateful for the foundation it's building for our daughter's learning journey!

Our child started at Little Flowers Montessori from when he was 3.5yrs old and he stayed there all…read morethe way till he graduated and our experience has been nothing short of exceptional. Ms.Yolanda and all the teachers at LFM had ensured that he had a smooth transition into the new environment, helping him grow his social and learning skills in the most caring & nurturing manner - getting him geared up for Kinder in every way possible. One thing that truly stands out is that all the teachers are extremely loving & it shows when the kids want to be around them even when they are playing in the yard. The facilities in the school inside the classrooms, library, gym & outside in the yard are always maintained extremely well - giving kids the best of the infrastructure at all times. What stands out is the indoor gym at LFM where kids get to play if the weather outside is not suitable for their outdoor play - and they enjoy the gym as much as they do the yard! The amount of work that is put in to appreciate every single season of the year, festival of various cultures is incredible & huge kudos to Ms.Yolanda & Ms.Archana and all of LFM's staff on being thorough & meticulous every single time. LFM Birch has been like an extended family where we knew our child was given the best care & environment to grow! We are very grateful for our child to have been a part of the LFM Birch family :)

This is such a special, sweet little school. It is truly child led free play here. Your child will…read moregrow socially and emotionally in ways that is immeasurable, creating a solid foundation for academics later on down the road. Great community and teacher support, this school and their philosophy of learning through play is worth checking out.

The only school in Fremont where you can go WITH your child multiple days during the week! My 2…read moreyear old has been attending with me since summer of 2023. I love that parents, friends or family members can attend together with the child. This meant no crying or heartbreaking drop offs. You CAN attend everyday or just help out 1x a week. This is a great place for your kiddo to paint on the slides, get wet, dirty, and do fun projects imperative to their development that we dread having to clean up after at our home. The pre-school teachers (teacher Khavita and teacher Stacy) as well as the director (Jessica) are on point with what they teach and provide in this enrichment/pre-school program. They think of the most fun and creative projects for the kids that I would never have thought of. ALL parents are super supportive of each other as well as staff and genuinely care about the children AND parents. No child is forced to sit still or do anything that they don't want to. They can eat snack whenever, can play with whatever, and are taught how to do things independently. Parents and their situations are very supported, so call Jessica and book your free day tour. My toddler immediately got on the bikes and loved it since we booked our day. He wakes up every morning asking if we are going to pre-school and for Thanksgiving he said he was thankful for pre-school. Now that is how you know it is at least worth a shot! We love it here!