I am writing this review as a parent who has been part of the Montessori Five Canyons community…read moresince 2023. My oldest child started here at age 3 and is proudly graduating Kindergarten this year, while my second child started at 18 months in 2025 and is now thriving at age 3 and will be staying here for another three years. We specifically sought out this school because it is a true Montessori-accredited school. Many places use the "Montessori" name, but obtaining and maintaining actual accreditation requires an immense amount of time, money, and resources. While this makes tuition slightly higher than that of a standard daycare, you are paying for a high-quality educational environment, not just babysitting. My children have thrived here emotionally and academically. I trust Ms. Martha and her team implicitly. I cannot recommend this school enough to parents who want a traditional, high-standard Montessori education. If you are considering enrolling and want a real, honest conversation from a long-term parent, please feel free to DM me. It is disheartening to see "hit piece" reviews that don't reflect the daily reality of the happy, engaged children I see every time I am on campus. Many of these complaints sound like a misunderstanding of the Montessori philosophy. During the initial tours, the Director, Ms. Martha, is incredibly transparent about how the school runs. If you look closely at the complaints, most people actually admit they like the teachers and the Director, Ms. Martha. It seems the real issues stem from financial disagreements or a lack of understanding of the Montessori method. As a business owner myself, I know that an organization cannot simply "turn off" its own reviews. If Google restricts reviews, it is because they have identified that the school is being targeted by unauthentic or coordinated "smear" reviews. To me, that speaks volumes about the validity of the recent negativity.

Ms. Martha is amazing!! She remembers all the kids and parents. Ms. Krystina is so sweet to the…read morekids. Ms. Karen has made the biggest difference in my daughter's life. She wants to be just like Ms. Karen! My child loves to go here!!

I thought now that my daughter has gone through her initial assessment and received her first…read morereport card in kindergarten, it would be a good idea to give others an idea of just how far ahead Miss Helen's Preschool is looking into your child's future. My little girl started at Miss Helen's at the age of 3 and stayed for two years. Thanks to the preschool's early focus on math and reading, my daughter had already met or 95% of her requirements at her assessment by October, two months into the school year. Her kindergarten teacher was so impressed she asked for the preschool's address and contact info so she could check it out herself for her own son. Now we're in Spring and my daughter is still flourishing and exceeding all expectations for the Common Core curriculum, and I know a lot of it is thanks to her foundation she built in preschool. Going beyond just the educational requirements, my daughter loved the preschool, her teachers, her classmates, and all the activities. The school is very clean and organized, and the children are taught to maintain that. All the students are guided not just in learning their basic manners with "please" and "thank you", but also just showing kindness and acceptance for all. The schedule is well-structured for kids, and even separated for a period for the kids preparing for kindergarten. My daughter still asks to visit Miss Helen's on days off, and pulls out the little photo album Miss Helen made of her and her friends, a little gift Miss Helen was so kind enough to make for every graduating student.

My daughter just finish been in preschool with Miss Helen, and I have to say that within the few…read moreweeks of her starting she learn how to spell her name and started to identify the shapes and etc and also been more interactive with her classmates as she was shy at first because of the language barrier but everything worked out amazing she even learn more English and she felt more confident. Miss Helen's prioritizes safety of the children and manages classroom dynamics. She truly cares about the students and works hard to make sure everyone is happy and is learning. I am beyond happy from all that she learn been with Miss Helen since 2021-2023. As now that she is in kindergarten her teachers are very happy on how she strives.

This is a review given our short time at Montessori for the first half off the year…read more My 3 year old attends 3 hours. In her time here, she has advanced in her penmanship and phonics. She has come home with surprises such as telling me the days of the week in Spanish and talking about rules. Most importantly she enjoys her days here and talks positively about how Ms. Estela chases her on the playground or helps her with tasks. Ms. Estela gives good feedback and works on my daughter's weak points to help her become a more well rounded person/ student. She is very accommodating and even take time out of her schedule to meet our schedule needs, which we truly appreciate Though we just started our time here, we've had a positive experience, and I'm confident in the care and education Ms. Estela and I'm sure the other teachers provide. The mom friends we made also speak highly of Ms.Guadalupe. The kids follow rules, my daughter reiterates the fact that the teachers including Ms.Karina don't allow sugary snacks as the kids will go crazy, and encourage healthy eating and orderly conduct. I honestly need a place for like this for my unruly daughter and I'm glad it's a good balance for her!

After visiting several Montessori schools in our area, we chose this one and have been very happy…read morewith our decision. The environment is welcoming, well-organized, and it's clear the children are genuinely cared for. Our son started at age two, and Ms. Noemi was incredibly patient and supportive during his transition into his first school setting. When he moved into the 3-year-old class, we continued to experience the same level of care and attention with Ms. Estela. We especially appreciate the Montessori curriculum, which encourages independence and exploration. We've seen those skills carry over into our home life and couldn't be happier with our experience.

I've had a wonderful experience with Little Sunshine over the last two years. My four-year-old son…read morerecently graduated and started transitional kindergarten, and my two-year-old has just begun attending. The school provides a nurturing environment where my son developed strong social skills, learned to play respectfully with other kids, and gained confidence and independence. The teachers, along with the Director, Ms. Amy, helped reinforce the discipline and respect he already learned at home. Every teacher is kind, welcoming, and respectful, and the kids couldn't be in better hands under their careful supervision.

My daughter loves going here! We really want our daughter to be bilingual in Cantonese and this is…read morethe only school around east bay that has teachers to interact with her in Cantonese. They also speak Spanish and Mandarin and tailor to individual family's needs and wants. So even though circle time is held mostly in English, they would talk to my daughter in Cantonese during play because we requested it (she picked up some Spanish too!). They sang her happy birthday twice. Once in English and once in Cantonese. They give us updates during pick ups and post photo updates on Cluster app from time to time. Highly recommend this school!

I admit, we came to Pilgrim Learning Academy out of desperation having been waited listed at…read moredifferent non-home childcare settings but boy was it such a blessing! PLA has been so great for my son's development not just socially but also academically. His teachers are the best and really get to know the kids and tailors their approach based on their needs. Ms. Mary was so instrumental in potty training our son! She was so patient and really took the time to take him to the potty after we started the process at home. Ms. Lauren is my son's teacher now and she is equally amazing! She's so patient and just has a great attitude. Pilgrim Learning Academy is a definitely a great gem for childcare in the area!

I've trusted PLA with both of my children for the past two years, and it has been such a wonderful…read moreexperience. The teachers truly treat students and parents like family, creating such a welcoming environment. Communication is excellent; the staff always keeps us in the loop and handles any issues with care. I also love the large play area where the kids can really burn off energy! With their affordable rates and recently upgraded security within the church building, I have total peace of mind knowing my kids are safe and happy. I can't recommend them enough!

My family absolutely adores this school and the loving teachers who care for and educate my son…read more The director Ms. Neeru is full of joy and keeps everything organized. The communication through the app is wonderful and prompt. The teachers have a perfect balance of warmth and structure. The activities at school celebrate different cultures and provide super fun experiences. My son attended for 2 years and my only regret is that he didn't start earlier!

Growing Years Preschool has been a second home for our family. Our son spent two wonderful years…read morehere--starting in Maples, growing in Redwoods, and graduating to kindergarten at age five--while our daughter moved from the Tots (Willows) class to the Toddler (Maples) class with confidence and smiles. Watching both kids thrive in the same loving community has been the best endorsement we could ask for. What sets Growing Years apart is the people. The teachers in Willows, Maples, and Redwoods are incredibly attentive and nurturing--they notice the small things, follow the children's curiosity, and turn everyday moments into learning. Thank you to the entire teaching team for inspiring imagination, kindness, and independence. And a very special thank-you to Miss Neeru and the admin staff for running such a thoughtful, organized, and welcoming preschool. Their communication is clear, transitions between classrooms are handled with care, and families always feel included. The program blends play-based fun with real kindergarten readiness. Our kids come home talking about letters and numbers, new stories and songs, art projects they're proud of, and the games they played outside. We love the "Star of the Week" tradition that helps each child shine and build confidence. Family gatherings, Christmas celebrations, and multicultural events make it feel like a true community where every culture and family is welcomed and celebrated. If you're looking for a caring, well-run preschool/toddler program with dedicated teachers, meaningful curriculum, and a genuine sense of community, we highly recommend Growing Years Preschool. Our children have felt safe, encouraged, and excited to learn here--and that peace of mind for parents is priceless. Thank you, Miss Neeru and team, for giving our family such a positive start to early education!

We are extremely and forever grateful for Ms. Lesia, Ms. Schlonda and Ms. Pam. They are wonderful…read moreand patient. They contributed to our son's success in academics! Sharing his School Year 2024-25 assessment for Kindergarten below after attending/graduating from preschool at Seeds of Tomorrow: Name writing: He has a very strong pencil grip and formation of letters. He can move on to writing his last name too if you'd like! Our end of year "name goal" is writing first and last name in the lines with correct letter formation. Letter names: 52/52 (above standard for this time of year) Letter sounds: 29/30 (26 sounds were the typical sounds from A-Z and the extra 4 sounds were digraphs. He know 3/4 digraphs! So awesome! He just didn't know "ck"). He is above standards for this time of year in sounds. Phonemic Awareness: 18/22. I went further with him on this assessment than I did with anyone else so far. His sense of language is very strong. Phonemic awareness is hearing sounds in words. He was able to identify beginning sounds, ending sounds, he could blend words together (verbally), and also break them apart. He is further along in this area than a lot of his peers. He is above this standard for this time of year for phonemic awareness. Irregular words (sight words): 22/22 (a lot of kids come in knowing 0-3 words, he is above this standard too!) Identifying numbers 0-20: 21/21 (above standard for this time of year) Identifying 2D Shapes: 5/5 (meeting standards) Counting by 1's to 100: 100/100 (above standards for this time of year) His scores reflect that he is VERY prepared for kindergarten. He also has been doing really well in the classroom producing neat work, kind energy, and follows directions well. Well done, K*****!

We're so happy that we chose to put our daughter into this preschool. Ms. Lesia, Ms. Schlonda & Ms…read more Pam are great teachers, kind and wonderful people. They care a lot about their students. They take really good care of them. Our daughter blossomed a lot since going there. She's learned so much. She knows all her alphabets and knows how to write her name. She loves going to school. It's a wonderful and safe environment. I would recommend this preschool to everyone.

My son Harvey has been with Little Explorer by Yasmin for almost a year since he was 3yo. I had to…read moreswitch my son from a montessori daycare to Little Explorer after 3 months because I noticed my son did not fit well with Montessori program. He is someone who is very active and loves playing outdoors. I researched the difference between Reggio Emilia vs Montessori, and I feel that my son will fit better with Reggio Emilia philosophy. I have toured many schools before (kindercare, le petit academy, ABS french preschool, Strafford school and many others montessori schools...) in Hayward, Castro valley, San Leandro, Oakland, Fremont and Dublin/Pleasanton. Then i found Little explorer and Yasmin daycare is exactly what I need. Her house has a very big backyard that has full set up of sensory areas : - Sand pit, Mud kitchen, little fridge, cooking tools; - Water area- rainbow splash water play, tubes, cups, bowls. -Slides/Bikes/play house/paint area; -Outdoor tables/chairs, -Sink for hand wash. As for inside of the house, Yasmin sets up based on reggio emilia philosophy and her theme change all the time. My son has the best time at Yasmin place. On Fridays, Yasmin does cooking with the kids (fresh banana bread, milk bread, cupcakes, muffins, pizza..). On the kids birthday, Yasmin also celebrated each kid bday and have them play in bouncy house and foam bubbles party. My son really loves going there, he learns through play (STEM, science, water, sensory) and he can enjoy so much freedom and independence. Kids 18mon-5yo should be enjoy themselves and learn through play interaction. I sincerely appreciated Yasmin for her amazing care and an excellent Reggio Emilia teacher. I also sent my older daughter when she is off school and summer to Yasmin as well. Both of my kids love Little explorer. Highly recommended Little Explorer for future toddlers and parents!

After my cousin developed some health issues and was unable to help with my 2 year old, I was…read morereally stressed about finding a nurturing and safe environment for my son. I was so relieved to find Little Explorers, and I couldn't be happier! Although this is a new preschool, Yasmin (the owner) has many years of experience as a early childhood educator and it shows. She has an incredible amount of patience and is very nurturing to every child in her care. I also LOVE her curriculum because it's nature and play-based which is so important because a lot of child development research shows that little kids learn best through play. She has a wonderful indoor AND outdoor play area that is full of toys and activities that promote creativity, fine motor skills, gross motor skills and problem-solving skills. My son is always excited to explore all the different play areas and many times he'll keep on playing even after I've arrived! The other thing that I love is how much literacy is an important part of the Little Explorers curriculum. My son loves books and reading, so I was thrilled to find a program that includes a lot of story time and access to a wide variety of books. Because her home-based preschool is located in the Hayward Hills, the kids get to see wild turkeys, deer, a variety of birds, and other wildlife on a daily basis! I also love that it's located on a cul-de-sac so it's a very safe and quiet area. And if that weren't enough, Yasmin updates me on my son's meals, nap times and diaper changes on a daily basis using an app called BrightWheel. I'm honestly so grateful that I found Little Explorers! Thank you Teacher Yasmin!