In 2022, my son was going to a traditional play-based preschool that wasn't quite the right fit for…read morehim. He is an intelligent, loving child who marches to the beat of his own drum. When his current preschool told us at the end of the school year that he wasn't ready to move up to the next room because there would be a lot of seated table work they felt he wasn't ready for, I put a ton of research into alternative teaching methods. Montessori sounded like the best fit because it encourages exploring a child's curiosity, empowers them to make choices for themselves, and builds their confidence to learn by doing. Many preschools tout themselves as Montessori-based or Montessori-inspired, but Glen Oaks Montessori was listed on the American Montessori Society website as a locally accredited Montessori program. I reached out to them in July of that year for enrollment in September, and we were so lucky that they had space for our son. From the moment I spoke with one of the co-directors, Ms. Phia, I had a good feeling. When we toured the school, I felt this was precisely the environment our son needed. And after he did a trial run one afternoon, we were sold. Two years later, we could not be more proud of our son's growth and progress, and we have SO much to thank Glen Oaks and its staff and teachers for. Their communication is top-notch. Their administration and educators are some of the most patient, kind, and loving people in childcare that I've interacted with. There are monthly newsletters that keep you informed of all the new curricula they offer and events with the school, parent-teacher conferences twice a year, and opportunities for parents to participate in the children's learning. Through what they've shared with us, we learned so much about how our son behaves and learns outside of our home. The staff has always gone above and beyond to meet our concerns and needs. Last year, we were worried about him not knowing the alphabet very well because he gravitated towards numbers, but through encouragement from Glen Oaks teachers and his own hard work, he's finishing the year already knowing how to read. This year, when we were making the decision on which school to start our son in Kindergarten, Ms. Megan spent the time to sit down with us and go into each option in depth. Her insight helped us feel confident that the next school we chose was an environment in which our son would do well. Tomorrow, our son will graduate from Glen Oaks. It will be a bittersweet occasion, for as excited we are for him to grow and move on to Kindergarten, we will also be saying goodbye to a school that embraced him exactly as he was and provided him with a loving, supportive environment that allowed him to flourish. If you are considering Glen Oaks, I cannot say enough about what a great decision it will be. Every penny of your tuition will be worth it, as your child(ren) will be in the best hands, in the best environment. We love Glen Oaks Montessori!

i came with some friends to play baseball on the field, and for a saturday, the day was chill and…read moreclear for a nice sports day

My daughter went to Building Kidz for one year before moving on to TK. She loved it so much she…read morestill talks about the teachers and her friends. The teachers at Building Kidz show so much compassion, patience, and kindness to the kids. They provide snacks and lunch for the kids, plan fun art activities, teach numbers and letters, and send updates on their app. My daughter loved the music classes. There were 2 school wide performances that were so cute. They even had an adorable graduation ceremony! I was shocked to see a negative review, but it made sense when I saw it was written by someone who probably never enrolled a student at Building Kidz. Our yard shares a fence with the school and all I ever hear is kids having fun playing outside. My daughter said they go out to play once in the morning and once in the afternoon, on top of eating snacks and lunch outside if weather is nice. The teachers even help the kids put on sunblock! We recommend Building Kidz to everyone we know and cannot wait for our littlest one to attend in the future.

So so grateful for this school and all the teachers! They…read moreare all so welcoming and warm. As a teacher and a parent, trying to find a school that was safe, nurturing but was also was able to challenge and engage my little one was extremely important. Building Kidz of Millbrae has met my expectations in just a few weeks. My little one is so happy to be there, he shares with me that his teachers love him and how much fun he is having. I am extremely grateful to them for taking care of him so well.

Since pulling my son from Happy Halls, he shortly thereafter attended Stratford in San Bruno. This…read morewas THE best decision for him, as well as our family. My youngest son now is extremely happy to attend school, he has learned so much while there, the teachers are extremely genuine and caring, and I receive lots of updates (Happy Halls couldn't do). I today continue to receive lots of pictures (compared to the 3 that I received in 5 weeks at Happy Halls). I simply trust the school he attends now. My experience at Stratford is so different. At Happy Halls, leadership (Rachel) managed to proceed to tell me we simply will not provide more updates / pics of your son. Back then, he wasn't even 3 years old. How unsettling can this be for a parent! Comparing now to back then (over 2 year ago now), I'm so happy we switched out. Based on my experience with the teachers and the leadership team, I CANNOT recommend Happy Halls to any family. Please do your research before sending your child here.

First off, any 1 star reviews you see are from unrealistic parents. Happy Halls is a great school…read morewith a great staff. My kid has thrived since joining Happy Halls. He is happy, learns in a warm environment and makes great friends.

I highly recommend this preschool and the BALA after school program too. I always feel confident…read morethat my children are safe and well cared for. My youngest tells me that the teachers love her, which is very sweet. The curriculum is excellent and my children have enjoyed the program very much.

this preschool is was closed please the new preschool is community care preschool, same location…read more450 chadbourne ave., millbrae, ca it has new owners."

What a perfect place for kids of all ages to learn and play! During the work week, Play Towne…read moreoffers part-time preschool programs for kids ages 2-5, a learning center for kids 2-10, and extended care services. My clients just moved into the area and they are excited to enroll their son there. Need a place to throw your kids next bash?!? Play Towne is a great place to party! The whole establishment is super clean, cheerful, and ideal for kids to burn some energy. I'm so glad Play Town has come to town!

We went to celebrate a friend's birthday party and we were impressed by the faculties and the…read moreplayground area. The staff were so kind and professional too. The manager (I think) was attentive and professional. The only thing is that my daughter fell twice even when wearing socks with grip, I guess the floor was a bit slippery but other than that, this is a great place.

Looking for a great preschool? Check out this new addition to the schools on the Peninsula. There…read moreare great teachers with fabulous credentials that work extremely hard with each student. Take a tour, your family will be very happy! The really cute little boy on the schedule page is mine!

This is a very special little school. Teachers Shannon and Erin and Asst. Teacher Vivianna are…read moremagic workers. The day is organized and structured for the kids but doesn't feel overly monitored or rigid. Teacher Shannon is highly educated and just as intuitive. I look forward to the daily report/assessments of my son. Her feedback whether it be positive or negative is constructive. We came from a co-op which felt too loosey-goosey and I felt like the Pre-K fundamentals weren't being taught. I hadn't realized that both play and learning could be taught together. I had thought it was either all learning or all play based. Nurture and Nature embraces both beautifully. Get your application in early as they do fill up. You don't want to miss out on this school for your kids. I feel so good about this decision. Love Nurture and Nature!

We've taken gymnastics classes and hosted a birthday party at The Little Gym, and we've been very…read morehappy with our experiences here. The gymnastics classes are organized, fun, and engaging. I especially appreciate that the instructors provide hands-on guidance to help kids through each activity instead of just letting them wander and explore on their own. For toddlers and preschoolers, I personally preferred The Little Gym over some nearby gymnastics programs that seem geared more toward older kids. It's also reassuring that some instructors appear to have been there for years, which feels like a good sign. The birthday parties were easy and low-stress. We dropped off food and decorations ahead of time, and the staff handled setup, led the kids through activities, and served food very efficiently. Pricing also felt reasonable compared to some other party venues. Having Mountain Mike's Pizza right next door was an added bonus for party food and convenience. The main downside is that weekend preschool morning classes can be difficult to get into because they fill up quickly. Otherwise, we've really loved our experiences at The Little Gym!

Good: - Love the activities…read more- well structured - good adult guidance (for the older toddlers) - variety of things to do - engaging - parents can rest (though one side of seating is preferred because the glass doesn't have a glare there) - I signed up my son after the intro class but on his 2nd day he hated it. I had a newborn at the time so did not want to push him since I could be at home instead of having him sit in my lap and watch the rest of the class. I ended up cancelling the membership and getting a refund for most of my money but was still charged for the 2nd day even though he didn't participate at all which ... I guess they need to hold that position or something but I thought it was tasteless on top of the high intro class fee. Bad: - price. The fee just to try out a class is steep and when you get a membership you pay an initial fee? I can't quite recall but I was surprised by how expensive it was and felt like they could have been more accommodating. - smell. Takes a bit to adjust. My first visit here was for a party and I was in my third trimester. I almost threw up and couldn't stand the feet smell. Post pregnancy, I got used to the smell but.. yea. Pretty strong. Overall, if my son would have liked it I would have paid for it because it is fun and active, but it wasn't worth having to wait for him to adjust and I thought they could have been more understanding.

This is a wonderful Chinese school with excellent staff and facility…read more My son (7) and daughter (4 1/2) attended the summer camp - which offers many topics - including Chinese, Chinese culture activities, Math, English and Science, etc. It was one of the best camps. Everyday, both kids would come home talking about all the cool things they did and learned (or ate :) ), and showing off their various worksheets. The teachers are passionate about what they do. They are nice but yet strict about good behavior and using the Chinese language during Chinese classes. Ms Tong was wonderful to kids and work closely with parents to understand the kids' need and progress. I can't say enough good things about this school and its teachers.

Nice after school program here. My daughter seems to learn a good deal of Chinese in the after…read moreschool program and the teachers are nice and caring. They not only teach Mandarin but also teach some cultural stuff such as calligraphy, painting...etc. The teacher to student ratio seems to be a bit large though.

We feel so lucky to have found FSM Montessori. Both of our children attended FSM for preschool and…read morehave absolutely thrived. They not only learned so much academically but also grew socially, emotionally, and independently thanks to the nurturing and thoughtful environment. Mrs. Rehmane and Ms. Carla are exceptional educators. Their kindness, patience, and genuine love for the children shine through every day. They really see and respect each child as an individual, and it shows in the confidence and joy our kids brought home from school. The school itself is always clean, safe, and calm, and it's clear that FSM follows a true Montessori approach--encouraging independence, curiosity, and hands-on learning. The quality of education is simply outstanding, and we couldn't have asked for a better foundation for our children. FSM Montessori has been such a gift to our family. We're so grateful for the experience and can't recommend it highly enough to other families in the area.

Mrs. Rehmane and her team are outstanding educators and communicators. Both kids and parents adore…read morethem. FSM's location is Mrs. Rehmane's home in the Burlingame Hills and is very organized. She uses the best Montessori educational materials in her school, which teaches up to 12 students between the ages of 3-6. Her calm, warm demeanor makes everyone feel at ease, including our youngest daughter who has been attending FSM for the last 2 years. Mrs. Rehmane has been an educator for many years and has built a great team around her, including Ms. Carla and Ms. Sandy, who comes twice a week for 1 hour of Spanish and/or music class. We recently completed an in-school observation while all the children were there, and it was really adorable (and amazing) how quiet and concentrated they all were with the various "jobs" that Montessori students take on during the day. We have the option to move our child to the local public school for TK, but we will keep her at FSM for another year as we believe Mrs. Rehmane will help accelerate her learning across reading, writing, and math, as well as geography, science, etc. Also, FSM offers extended hours care, which has been very helpful to us and other parents. 5 stars isn't enough here -- we'd give her 10! :)

Our son was a student at A Place to Learn for a couple of years. Alicia and Miguel are awesome…read more They open their home up to kids so they can feel loved and be able to express themselves. Our son was a pandemic baby and was shy and reserved outside of our nuclear family, so we finally bit the bullet and started daycare here and it worked wonders. They are very nurturing and make your children feel like one of the family. They taught our child how to express himself and he learned all kinds of songs and lessons. They also helped some of the children potty train, along with reinforcement at home, so the transition goes smoothly. They feed your child breakfast, a morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack. The meals are healthy and delicious. But be warned, our child started requesting "Miguel's lentils" at home and we didn't have the recipe! Their home is air conditioned to keep your child cool in the summer and heater to keep them warm in the winter. I would highly recommend this place for your daycare needs.

Alicia and Miguel are amazing! My daughter attended their in-home daycare between the age of 1-3…read moreand it was one of the best decisions we've made for her. They are incredibly caring and patient with the kids and teach the kids to be independent, gentle and kind. Alicia is incredibly thoughtful and creative and prepares the cutest activities and art projects that decorate our living room walls. There's a nice outdoor space in their backyard for the kids to play on the play set, bike, run around or just play in nature, which they do twice a day (weather permitting). We've been thrilled with them and wanted to take the time to share our amazing experience with them. If you search any of the local parent groups you'll see a slew of rave reviews from past families. Thank you Alicia and Miguel!