My son (age 2) has been enrolled in Little Builders since he was 18 months and we continue to have…read morea positive experience at the school! It is a happy, safe place he loves to go to every day. All the teachers and staff are friendly and great with the kids. Highlights of the school include: Small teacher to student ratio; also the students form a tight bond with the small class. Great outdoor play space, lunch and snacks are provided and included with tuition. I'm also impressed with what my son has learned at age 2 has learned Spanish and knows all his colors and and animals and starting to learn numbers and letters in both English and Spanish.

We feel so lucky to have found Little Builders Daycare. Our daughter has been attending since she…read morewas 18 months old, and over the past 10 months, we've seen her grow and thrive in so many ways. Andy, Amy, Katelyn and Andrew do such a thoughtful job creating age-appropriate activities that keep the kids engaged, learning, and having fun. We're always impressed by the creativity they bring to each day (all of the art projects, sensory play, storytime and lots of music) . We love getting the daily photo updates. It's clear she feels safe, happy, and loved there, and we're so grateful to have this nurturing little gem in our neighborhood.

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.

My son started at PAMS when he was 3.5, and we elected to keep him there until he started…read morekindergarten. PAMS is not the school for you if you want daily photo updates, lots of field trips, fancy holiday events or rote learning. Instead, it has an unpretentious emphasis on seeing each child for who they are and helping them grow. I believe this is largely due to the Director, Dinesh, who is one of those magical beings capable of getting small humans to listen to him without ever raising his voice. I can attest to the fact that the feedback he gives during parent teacher conferences is unique to each child, and that he genuinely has a good grasp of their personalities and needs. He also believes firmly in letting little kids be little kids, meaning lots of play and not too much anxiety or hovering. The children are encouraged but not forced to explore academically, meaning that some kids will be doing multiplication, spelling words and counting into the thousands, but only if they seem inclined and interested. There IS an emphasis on social interaction, which was perfect for my pandemic child. He really grew in his social confidence over his 2+ years at PAMS, and I must say, as a parent, I adore the families we met here. My second is still too young for PAMS but will be heading there once he is qualified! I know that just like his brother, he will be in good hands.

We are so grateful for the incredible care our baby, received at Building Kidz Palo Alto. From day…read moreone, the infant teachers welcomed us with warmth, patience, and genuine love. They truly made us feel at ease and supported every step of the way. The team went above and beyond--providing daily updates, celebrating every little milestone, and treating my baby with so much care and attention. It was clear they saw him as more than just a baby in daycare--they treated him like family. My son has developed so much during his time here, and it's bittersweet to be saying goodbye as we prepare to move. We will always remember the loving foundation Building Kidz provided during such a special stage in his life. Thank you to the amazing infant room team for everything--you've left a lasting mark on our hearts.

We moved to Palo Alto for 2 months last spring and enrolled our 13m and 3.5y old sons at Building…read moreKidz. My 3.5 y old has been very happy in the school, since the very first day. He did tell us often that it was his favorite school. The teachers and staff are dedicated, warm and caring. They were always available to comunicate with us; and also worked hard to help our sons integrate with the classmates, despite our short stay. Both sons bonded well with the teachers; it has been hard to say good bye! When we left we got a card signed by all the teachers, the director and the assistant director. We are grateful to everyone for the wonderful care that our sons received, despite the short stay.

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!

Toddle is truly such a special preschool that sees and nurtures the whole child. Our son attended…read moreToddle for two years, and every single morning he walked into the classroom, he would absolutely beam - both from excitement to play with his teachers and friends, and also with pride knowing he was seen as an important part of the community. The school is intentionally small to maintain an amazing student teacher ratio, and the entire little school is thoughtfully designed for independent, creative, collaborative, open-ended play - with a beautiful outdoor space as well. Very Montessori in feel. The curriculum at Toddle is student-inspired, evolving based on the children's' interests (from anatomy to forests to outer space), and hands on. The lessons are creative and engaging - My son has brought home handmade treehouses, a paper model of the lungs (complete with straws to inflate), a miniature planet diagram, just to name a few. When the students were learning about forests, the teachers introduced this idea that the kids could earn a paper leaf for doing an act of kindness -- by the end of the quarter the ceiling was covered in leaves. It not only transformed the classroom into a beautiful forest to match the curriculum, but the students had a physical reminder of all the kindness they had showed to one another. Most importantly, to me, is how Toddle has bolstered my son's confidence through the respect, independence, healthy challenges, sense of community, and belonging the school offers. He is greeted with such warmth from the teachers each morning, the students are respectful to one other because that is the clear expectation, and my son takes pride in his daily jobs and responsibilities-- it's all added up to giving him an incredible baseline for his schooling for years to come. I can't say enough positive things about the Toddle ethos and approach to preschool education.

I can't say enough good things about Toddle. Both of my children have attended from the time they…read morewere 2 all the way until they graduated to TK/Kindergarten, and honestly, leaving this school feels like leaving family. It is definitely not your "standard" daycare setup--it's a deeply nurturing preschool that is 100% invested in making sure kids are emotionally and academically ready for the big transition to elementary school. What really sets them apart: - The Head Teacher is a "Child Whisperer": She is essentially a child psychologist in disguise. She has this amazing ability to understand each child's unique personality and meet them exactly where they are. - Incredible Hands-on Projects: They do the coolest activities I've ever seen. My favorites were when the kids made actual paper from wood chips and a project where every child picked their favorite food and the whole class learned how to cook it. - STEM & Music: They do a ton of anatomy lessons through play, and they even have a dedicated music teacher who comes in weekly. - Deep Parent Involvement: They hold regular family conferences to discuss how your child is doing both at school and at home. You never feel out of the loop. - The Community: Between the parent meet-and-greets and the sweet student gift exchanges at Christmas, we've made real friends here. If you are looking for a place that treats your child as an individual and makes learning feel like an adventure, Toddles is it. We're going to miss them so much!

I wish I had better things to say. Unfortunately we have been here for about a year and it's been…read morefar from ideal. As mentioned in a previous post there has been a ton of turnover of teachers and administrative staff at Stock Farm. We were initially excited to get a spot and felt confident because it was associated with Stanford. However in reality they are run totally separately. A lot has been falling through the cracks since ICRI took over this daycare location. We have seen over 15 teachers in all class rooms leave (infants, toddlers, etc). The same goes for administrative staff. Initially it was under the guise of "better opportunities". However as we stayed longer we learned there's just no support from the administration and the organization is awful. The teachers are honestly all great but the reality is they are being spread too thin without any support. They are barely getting through their days. Forget building any type of sustainable curriculum. Shelley and Debbie are supposedly in charge but there is no communication between them and the teachers. The worse part is that there is no sense of responsibility or ownership of their roles. They aren't honest or transparent at all about the direction of the daycare. Parents voice their concerns and set up meetings but NOTHING ACTUALLY CHANGES. Teachers are leaving left and right but the hiring has been really slow. Unfortunately this isn't readily apparent to new parents. We truly wish in retrospect that we had gone to a different day care. Any other current parents out there feel differently? We'd love to hear how others are dealing with the high amount of turn over and over all sense of chaos at Stock Farm.

It is the worst quality childcare I have ever seen/experienced bordering abuse/neglect of the…read morechildren. We pulled our kids out after an infant with a sever breastmilk allergy was fed breastmilk from another child and had blood on their stool and had to be rushed to the hospital. On multiple occasions our son returns home with bruises and once a chipped tooth and the daycare workers said they didn't know what had Happened. This center should be closed down. I'd pursue any alternative option.

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 are so grateful for the care Reyna has provided for our son. From the very beginning, she…read moretreated him like her own--with so much love, patience, and genuine attention. It made such a difference knowing he was in such a safe and supportive environment every day. One thing we especially appreciated was how she kept us constantly updated with pictures and texts throughout the day. It gave us so much peace of mind and made us feel connected even when we were apart from him. Now that our son is starting preschool, we won't be sending him to daycare anymore :-( but we will truly miss Reyna and the wonderful care she provided to our son. She has played such an important role in his early years, and we're so thankful for everything she's done for our family. We will definitely miss her and can not thank you enough. We highly recommend her to any parent looking for a trustworthy, warm, and dedicated caregiver. She is flexible as well and your kid will love it. Thank you Miss Reyna, from the Shah Family.

We are incredibly lucky to have found Reyna! Reyna took care of first my son, and then my daughter…read moreover a period of 4.5 years, so she cared for them from the infant stage to ages three and four when they went to preschool. We found her when we first moved to the area and quickly needed to find daycare to start new jobs, and she quickly became an important anchor for us in this community. Reyna feeds the kids home-cooked meals and really helped our picky eater to try and like new foods. (Also, not having to pack a lunch and snacks for the kids every day saves you so much time!) She does a range of arts and crafts projects with the kids, workbooks for the older kids, story time, and trips to the park/playground (interior to her complex) twice a day. She taught our kids the alphabet and their numbers (in English and Spanish) before we thought to, and potty-trained both kids (a HUGE help). Especially as first-time parents, she helped us navigate a lot of "firsts." She is very flexible and speaks to the kids in English and/or Spanish (whichever the parents prefer). Our kids made great friends at her daycare, and were well-prepared when they transitioned to preschool. Most importantly, she really knows and loves the kids, and tailors her care to their needs and interests. Our kids adore her (and often asked to go to her house even on weekends). I'm very sad not to see her every day anymore, but will still be bringing my kids to her house on school breaks and luckily will still have her in our lives.