My daughter has spent 3 years at Genius Learning since she was 2 years old. We even kept her here…read morefor 1 more year instead of entering TK because we have been extremely happy with the care and education my daughter has received. She is happy to go to preschool everyday and comes home telling us all about her friends and teachers. The teachers are very warm and nurturing. I don't worry about her when she is in school. I am impressed with my daughter's growth of knowledge. She is now fluent in Mandarin even though we do not speak Mandarin at home. She recites many songs and poems. She also knows some basic math. She does well socially with other kids. They encouraged and helped with potty training even before I was ready to start. I feel she is well prepared to enter kindergarten in the fall because of her experience at Genius Learning. The school celebrates holidays with class events which my daughter will miss! The hours are great for working parents. There are not that many days the school is closed. It includes snacks and hot lunch which is one less thing for me to think about. The director Heidi is very responsive to concerns and is easy to communicate with. I would highly recommend this school to my family members and friends.

My daughter has attended Genius Learning since February 2024, and from the very beginning, Heidi…read morehas been incredibly responsive to our family's needs and concerns. I truly appreciate the structure and care this preschool provides, starting with a thoughtful tour and orientation for parents. One of the things I value most is their gentle transition process. When my daughter first started, she attended half-days to help ease her in before progressing to full days. This made a world of difference in helping her feel comfortable and secure. I also admire their teaching approach, especially their emphasis on emotional development and expression. My daughter has come home singing in Mandarin and even used the word "Meiyou!" during potty training to say "none"--a moment that made us smile since we primarily speak English at home. It's clear she has learned so much in just a short time. It is with sadness that we'll be transitioning to another preschool after being on a 3.5-year waitlist. This move will support her long-term path, giving her priority in the afterschool program at her future elementary school--a decision that was not easy to make. I cannot recommend Genius Learning enough. The entire staff has been wonderful, caring, and attentive to my daughter. We are so grateful for the foundation they've helped build during this precious time.

Both of my kids attended Parkside Day School, one being there for 1 year and the other being there…read morefor 2.5 years. We recently decided to make a switch in schools as this place was no longer the right fit for our needs, but overall, had a generally positive experience with the school during our tenure here. Positives: * Ms. Tina from the toddler class is amazing. There is no better Head Teacher to work with kids that are entering preschool for the first time, dealing with separation anxiety and lots of big emotions, and also having to learn how to potty train at the same time. Both of my kids loved her and you can tell that she genuinely cares about the children. * The classrooms here are big and well maintained. * The playground is big with lots of equipment for the kids to interact with. * There are plenty of organized parent volunteer events or offsite field trips. * All meals/snacks are included as part of tuition. * You get tons of pictures throughout the day of your little ones. Cons: * The teachers speak little to no English. If you don't speak Mandarin or Cantonese, you have to rely solely on the Assistant Director to translate for you. And things get lost in translation when you are not communicating directly with the teachers that are the ones watching your kids ever day. * As the staff are all Chinese, the cultural philosophies of how kids are cared for lean very much toward an Eastern approach. Many of the kids that attend the school are also from a Chinese background so in general, this can be a good match, but if you identify more with a Western philosophy, as we do, then the values and philosophies don't always align. * There were many teacher changes during our time there, especially in the Rainbow Class, with new teachers and new faces showing up with no communication from the school in who these people were. * Price - you are paying an arm and a leg to send your kid(s) here, especially when you consider the amount of holidays/school closure days there are and having to drop off later than 8:30 and pick up before 4 (unless you pay extra for extended care hours). * Class size - they advertise the class ratios as 1:8, which is reasonable and normal. However, there are actually 4 teachers assigned to each class, meaning you can have up to 32 kids in a class. Having 32 3-5 year olds together at once can be very overwhelming. The reason we pulled our kids out is a mixture of the cons above, but primarily, there was a severe drop in the ball from the staff in communicating some important information about our son to us in a timely manner. This was already unacceptable on its own, but in addition, by the time we were notified of what had been going on, changes in our son's school plan were already being actioned without our input or consent. This led to us losing faith that this school was the best fit for our child's needs. While this was our unfortunate experience, others may very well have a positive experience here, so take my review with a grain of salt. But I do think that the ability to speak the language and/or have an alignment with the Eastern philosophy of how to raise kids will be a major determining factor in the type of experience you have here. We were fortunate to find another academic institution that is much better aligned with our values and philosophies and have a more nurturing environment that meets both of our kids' needs. Our kids are currently thriving in their new school and while I wish our experience at Parkside could have ended differently, I'm grateful for the time that we spent there and for the good times that we did have.

My daughter Nora attended the toddler class here in 2025, and it has been a truly wonderful…read moreexperience. She absolutely loved her classmates and teachers -- especially Miss Tina, who is incredibly thoughtful and treats every child with so much care and love. The teacher-to-student ratio is excellent, which gave us great peace of mind. We received tons of photos showing the kids enjoying circle time, making crafts, and learning letters. They host fun events like pajama night, and the facilities are among the best we've seen in South San Francisco. The classrooms are bright, spacious, and even larger than some entire daycares we toured -- both Chinese immersion and English-speaking ones. As we say goodbye, I just want to share our experience and give this school the review it deserves.

--With a half-eaten chicken nugget in one tiny palm and a fistful of buttered pasta squeezed into…read morethe other, our then three-year-old turned to us mid-meal and said, in the sweetest, most innocent little voice: "Mommy... Daddy... I think I really love my school." () That was the moment we knew, meeting with Ms. Simin and enrolling our child at Mills Montessori was the right decision. From day one, Mills felt like a place filled with genuine warmth and care. Over the 2.5 years our child attended, we experienced a close-knit, family-like environment that helped shape the foundation of his social, emotional, and academic growth. It's a school we've confidently recommended to family, friends, and coworkers looking for a loving first school experience for their children. His final year at Mills was especially impactful and played a big role in how prepared and confident he was starting his new school. Ms. Jen and Ms. Kaytlin provided incredible attention, nurturing, and encouragement, leaving a lasting impression we know he'll always carry. Ms. Helen is truly a gem--her dedication to phonics and early literacy made a huge difference in his reading and penmanship, and we credit her greatly for his progress. We also loved the variety of extracurricular programs offered. Our child participated in soccer, ceramics, art, dance, Spanish, and piano, all of which he genuinely enjoyed. One standout experience was the Messy Hands sensory class led by Ms. Ineca. We were amazed at how much he loved it and how quickly we saw growth in his sensory confidence and cognitive development--major shoutout to Messy Hands. The teachers, the playground, the programs, and most of all, the warmth and care make Mills Montessori truly special. We're so grateful we walked in for that first tour, and after our experience, we couldn't agree more with our son's words. We really love this school too. -Bryan

I can't tell you what it's like for when your children are in this school, but I can tell you that…read morebased on how they present themselves, I don't think they would be doing a good job at that. To start with, you're asked to message them on their website or email. Cool. And then they'll tell you over email to call and make appointment to tour the facility....why can't you just tell me over email? I took a tour and I wasn't sure about it, so I wanted to arrange another time to come back with my wife. So I called them again, and guess what they told me? "Call back in January." No explanation. Why would you give me a tour just two days ago in September, and then say that I can't have another one until the next year? "That's when the waiting list opens"....got it. I was promptly hung up on. So now it comes time to tour again. We come back and make an appointment over the phone. The school is a school but...the people just don't seem like they care at all. The tour was so lackluster. It took all but like 15 minutes. I've spent more time looking through a grocery store. I don't think they're paid enough to give tours, let alone look after your kids. I've seen high schoolers give better tours at the children's museums. I could have been guided around with a lifeless robot. Hell, if robots could critically think, then they would be like, "...Damn. You're making me look bad." The ratio is 7-8:1, at the toddler age. It's ideally supposed to be 5-6:1. I guess the school is affordable, but it seems too good to be true. It's too affordable for something that's supposed to be Montessori, so I'm suspicious. RESPONSE: "...genuinely wonder if your review may have been intended for a different school." Does your version of Montessori teach children to deflect and gaslight to protect a narcissistic ego?

My wife and I originally planned to start at another daycare last year for our 8 month old…read more However, we learned last minute that daycare was not going to have a spot for us for three more months than planned. This led to us searching for a bridge care solution until our spot in line was called. Insert Buiding Kidz. With only a few weeks until my paternity leave was ending, I reached out to Jackie to see if they would have an opening for him in January. Over those few weeks, we were able to tour the facility and enroll, with Building Kidz fully aware that he would only be there for three months. During those three months, I couldn't have asked for an easier transition to daycare as a new parent. Ms. Rosanna, her team in the Infant room, and any staff we interacted with showed so much love, care, and attention to our son. We loved that we would receive updates on their app, including feedings and how much he ate, diaper changes, and photos and videos of him playing and learning. There is also a messaging system to chat with the teachers during the day. We have even received some art that he created, creating precious memories for our family. Even when he bumped his head one time, we were immediately notified, sent a picture of the injury, and was updated through the day. The pick-up deadline is later than our new daycare, which is nice, although the parking situation outside can become difficult during peak times. This great experience made leaving after the scheduled three months that much harder. We had intended reasons to switch daycares, and it had nothing to do with how Building Kidz cared for our son. If, for whatever reason, things didn't work out at his new daycare, we planned to bring him back.

I sent my child here through care.com's backup care program…read more The day of the first drop off, they took my paperwork and child and basically had no interaction with me other than where to write my son's name on the log. They didn't ask about my child's specific needs or any tips for his care. I doubt his teacher read his large stack of paperwork before they started his care. My son usually is quick to tell us about all of his meals and when we asked him what he ate at school he said "nothing" and was ravenous when he came home. We were concerned and when we picked him up the next day and asked how he was and how he ate, the lady at the door shrugged and said he was not in her class. We tried calling the office to see how he was and never got past a voicemail. My son seemed to be fine and doesn't appear injured in any way, but I would never know if there was an incident because THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION other than hello and goodbye at the door.

My little girl has been here since 8 months old and has now been attending for about a year…read more Overall, we've had a very positive experience. The teachers are patient and caring, and our baby is happy here. The children get plenty of outdoor playtime as well as indoor activities and interactions every day, which keeps them engaged and active. They provide brunch, lunch, and snacks, which is very convenient for parents. We also appreciate the daily photo and video updates on Brightwheel -- it's nice to see what the kids are doing during the day. The staff is helpful with everyday care, including changing dirty clothes when needed. We feel comfortable leaving our child here. When the children get upset or have conflicts over toys, the teachers are patient and guide them gently through the situation, which we really appreciate. We appreciate the care and attention the teachers give the children.

Our family loves You and Me Children Center. My daughter's been here since 15 month old and she's…read morebeen loving coming here everyday. They send us many photos and updates per day via their Brightwheel app and in every photo, she and all the other kids are always smiling and having fun. She eats so well here with breakfast warm lunches and snacks. The teachers are so attentive and caring and notify us of any minor things like start of a diaper rash or even a minor scratch. I love how there's a weekly curriculum so I know what my daughter has been learning and every week is a new theme. The kids learn to do some cooking classes, science experiments, books and music. My daughter came home learning to count 1-10 in mandarin! We are so happy to see the kids thriving here and would highly recommend.

My sister-in-law referred me to this preschool after talking about wanting to place my daughter in…read morea school before she head's out to Kindergarten. I sent an email inquiring if there was any availability, and I received a call a few days later inviting me to see the school and to bring my daughter with me to see if she would like it. I met with Joanne and she was very nice and answered all of my questions. It was nice to see how the school is operated during the day and what curricular they do with each age. My daughter said she loved it and wanted to attend right away. All the teachers are so personable and so nice and I receive that sense that they care about my kid. There was a time when my daughter informed me that she was upset during their snack break one day, that she drew a picture expressing how she feels. She showed it to all the teachers the next day and I received a call from Joanne to talk more about what my daughter was feeling and what may be the cause of it. Several hours later, she calls me back and told me that they may have found out the reason why my daughter was upset. It felt reassuring that they cared about her and how she feels and what they can do to assist to ensure that my daughter felt seen and heard. I love how they provide snacks and lunches (if full time) to the kids. I also love how when I pick up my daughter, I get a daily report about her disposition, when she napped, how much lunch she ate, and what she worked on that day. It gives me an insight to her day and it allows me to talk to my daughter about her school day. I'm so glad that my daughter attends The Early Years Preschool - one of the best decisions I've made.

My son has been with The Early Years since he was 2 years old. I am glad we decided to enroll him…read morehere. Compared to other schools they have different rooms and the kids are not stuck in their classroom all day. I have seen other schools and kids have all their materials and toys just in one room. Sometimes eat lunch in their classroom. No separate lunch room. There set up is similar to kindergarten. My son doesn't even want to graduate and leave. The teachers are great and have been in the school for a long time.

The staff are extremely caring and my niece had so much fun in school every day. She learned to…read morecount and sing some songs. I would highly recommend Intelligent learning preschool because we want my niece to learn some basic Chinese. I know it's hard to teach little kids to recognize Chinese characters, but all the staffs are patiently teaching my niece. She's so happy to learn new words and will show me when she get home. All the while building her confidence and socializing with kids her age. She's become a talkative, assertive little kid and I thank Intelligent learning preschool for providing the secure, loving environment for her development.

Very good bilingual school! The activities prepared by the teachers are amazing. My daughter has…read morebeen in panda class for three months. She recites the Three Character Classic and many ancient Chinese poems every day. Barrier-free communication with Chinese grandparents! We are so happy!

We love Happy Hall! We have seen wonderful improvements since they took over Temporary Tending…read moreTots. Gemma and I were delighted that they kept the teachers! Snacks are provided , which is great and the teachers are wonderful. They truly enjoy their job. Gemma frequently talks about her teachers and friends when she comes home. She looks forward to going to school everyday and enjoys their curriculum! We are so lucky that they are less than 2 blocks from our house!! The tuition is also reasonable.

From the owner: We offer programs that cultivate emotional, social, physical, and intellectual independence. Our…read morewhole-child development approach embraces all areas of learning and character development. Call to tour and enroll today!