My child attended DIG from age 2 years 10 months to 3 years 11 months and we were both completely…read morehappy with this decision. She had never been in the care of anyone besides her parents or two grandmothers until DIG. I was so worried about how my child would be treated somewhere, and this was the place I trusted to drop my child off for the first time. The teachers treat the children with respect and give them freedom while keeping them safe. The (real dirt) yard is one of the best. It is indoor/outdoor free-flowing, and surprise surprise, my child chose to spend most of her day outside. She loved being barefoot all day - shoes are optional. It feels tranquil and is fully shaded, I never put sunscreen on her. There is a pet bunny rabbit and a raised garden bed, slide, outdoor "kitchen," tricycles, trucks, dinosaurs, a water table, and DIG even spent a full week or two replacing the yard ground completely after the Palisades fires, which I deeply appreciated. There is also a tinkering room, pillow room, and light room. This is play-based and not an academic program, which is exactly what a 2 or 3 year old needs. My child did not attend for 4+ years old so I can't speak to that. After her time at DIG, my child went straight into TK at SMMUSD and is doing great there too. Take a tour - the day I took a tour I felt good and that tells you everything. ~ Edited to add: How could I not have mentioned the parent support group offered for free with a certified social worker who is aligned in philosophy! This a wonderful benefit! And, your child can play on the yard while you attend! DIG might not be ideal for you if your child still naps. It is possible to do, but there will probably be only 1 or 2 children who do (there is a room with bed where they can do that) but there is not a "class nap" culture. My child had already dropped her nap when we started, so I was specifically looking for a school who wouldn't try to force her to nap or force her to stay quiet and still while others napped, and so DIG was perfect for us in this regard.

We feel incredibly grateful to have found DIG Childhood Center. From the very beginning, the…read moreenvironment has been warm, nurturing, and thoughtfully designed for young children to truly thrive. The teachers are exceptional -- attentive, patient, and genuinely invested in each child's development. It's clear they take the time to understand every child's personality, helping them grow. My son looks forward to going every day, which says everything. What stands out most is the balance between structure and creativity. The program encourages curiosity, independence, and confidence, while still providing a safe and consistent routine. The communication with parents is also excellent -- I always feel informed, included, and reassured. The space itself is beautiful, clean, and intentionally set up to inspire learning through play. You can tell there is a strong philosophy behind everything they do. If you're looking for a preschool that truly cares and goes above and beyond, DIG Childhood Center is an absolute gem. We couldn't be happier with our experience.

Couldn't be more pleased with our choice in preschool for my second son. We were lucky to be…read moreintroduced to April through a friend and learned about the school prior to it opening. We were amongst some of the first to attend. After meeting April and hearing about her 15 years as a preschool teacher at First Presbyterian, we were excited to try out her school. Once we signed up, she came for a home visit. I was immediately impressed at how she diffused my 2 year old son's frustrations and even more impressed when she diffused a fight between my 2 & 4 year old. After the home visit, I felt very confident leaving my son with her on the first day, and he felt very comfortable too. She provides thoughtful journals of their days at school and shows the intention behind all the activities that they do. My son still naps and he sleeps way better at school than he does at home. I could go on and on about how much we love The Local Preschool, if you're considering it, I urge you to go meet April and take a tour. It's an awesome place!

I had been looking for a pre-school like 'The Local Preschool' for months, until a friend…read morerecommended I'd go to check it out. I was immediately impressed by the school's mission when April showed us around, and when we also met Michelle, it was clear that they both have a deep passion for children and teaching. They both came to our house to create an opportunity for my son to feeling more comfortable around them and although he has been going only since the Fall, he counts the days until it is another school day and he always so happy to go. I love that 'The Local Preschool' is a Reggio inspired school. We receive beautiful newsletters with updates about what the children did, or said or discovered and I truly treasure each of them. If you are looking for a nurturing program where your children will thrive, you'll love this school and it's down to earth yet extremely loving program. We recently had our parent-teacher conference and I was so impressed to find out how in few weeks both Michelle and April have gotten to know my son so well. They have offered support in dynamics we may struggle at home with and I feel extremely lucky that I can reach out to these amazing two ladies who have the same passion for my child as I do. They have been the village every mother should be able to count on when raising a child.

My daughter has been attending MVM for several months now and really loves it. The staff and…read moreteachers there truly care about her and the other children. In just the few months she has been there, I have seen her grow as a little person in how she interacts with other children. The classroom space is clean and large, which I like, it allows for her to explore. It gives me peace of mind that she is in a safe space during the day with people I can trust. I highly recommend it.

This little school is such a life saver . It is a safe place to send your little ones . My 2 year…read moreold loved her teachers and so did I . We had the most positive experience. This was back in 2015 now I am sending my 3 year old and staff continues to go above and beyond to accommodate and eases any concerns I had. I really love the indoor playground and all the equipment they have for the kids. They also have an outdoor playground too. All the classrooms are decorated in themes and super cute. The school is big enough where all the children have enough space to run around and socially distant themselves if need be its well ventilated too which is super important during these times.

We are forever grateful to New School West. The teachers, administrators, and community are the…read moremost caring, whole-child-centered group of people you could hope to find. Even though it wasn't our closest preschool option, we happily drove the distance because the NSW community and the Reggio Emilia philosophy resonated with our family and continues to guide us today. Every day our son was met with love, patience, and respect, and we as parents felt fully supported as part of the community. NSW sees each child as an individual with their own voice and way of learning. It's a truly thoughtful, enriching, and loving preschool that has left a lasting imprint on our family.

We honestly can't believe how fortunate we are to have had our daughter attend New School-West and…read moreto become a part of this special community. She is now thriving in elementary school, largely due to the foundation she was given with teachers who truly care and see each child for who they are. They encourage a learning style that fosters kindness, respect, and curiosity, and the children learn how to express their needs and problem solve collaboratively. We're forever grateful to NSW.

Finding this school was truly a blessing. The teachers love the kids and facilities and outdoor…read morespace are wonderful. The outdoor yard is big and grassy (real grass) so the kids can just run, run, run. It makes a difference that the teachers and aides see the children as a blessing from God rather than just a job that pays the bills. My 3 year old talks about how nice Mrs. Ambrose and Mrs. Gabb are. During the week off of school, she started to ask when school was coming back. My little girl knows how to pray and they go to a 10 minute chapel service every Wednesday. It's all so wonderful and adorable. We, like you I'm sure, had toured many schools. We looked at Young Minds, New World Montessori, St Johns, Bright Horizons, and others. Of all the schools we looked at we had a pro and cons list. For Building Blocks, it was all Pro's!

My daughter has been at BBCA for two years and I can't say enough positive things about it…read more I toured a lot of preschools within the area and ultimately decided to send my daughter here because the environment is warm and welcoming, the outdoor space is colorful with a large grassy area, the classroom is clean, organized, and filled with colorful artwork. The teachers are engaged with the kids, they really know each child, and they are so creative with their lesson plans. The school is play based, but my daughter is starting to read, she's writing and spelling words, she's understanding math concepts (counting, adding, patterns, comparison), and her social-emotional development is supported in a nurturing way. The school is great at organizing small events for holidays and for the community. One of our favorites was the snow day where they brought in a snow truck and filled the grassy area for kids to play in. Highly recommend touring the school!

My daughter loves Venice Gardens so much! She can't wait to go everyday and tells me stories of her…read moreday filled with wonder, exploration, and magic. I feel so lucky to have such incredible teachers/humans, setting an example, nurturing her discovery of self, supporting her independence, building character and personal expression all while dancing, singing, cooking and playing all day long.

Sheryl and Tamara are such incredibly caring and loving people. I have sent my oldest child to…read moreVenice Garden and now am sending my 2 year old daughter and both love it. All the teachers there, Kelly, Allie and Miranda are so wonderful and truly care for the kids. I feel so lucky to have found this place and give my kids the magicsl childhood I always dreamed of. Danielle

This preschool is spectacular. Virginia her director is kind and very patient with children and Ms…read moreVeronica, Ms Maria, Ms Imeldie and Ms Ruth are incredible, my daughter is so happy there and they have a beautiful place with all the things that children need to learn and enjoy their time at preschool. I love the way that their respect the process of eating and potty training of each child. This preschool is the best recommendation that I can give to someone that is looking for a place for their child.

The teachers are really kind people. When we're on long…read moreweekends or on trips, our daughter says she misses her teachers. She's really picked up her language and social skills since starting and makes friends easily. Is it as good as Redwood? that's the question you're asking. Redwood has a larger facility, but more kids, and a really cool outdoor area, and the curriculum sounds aspirational, but it's hard to imagine the teachers are as kind as they are here.

My son started here when he was about 5 months old. Picking out a child care for our son was a hard…read moreprocess. We look at nannies and a few daycares in the area. Nothing felt right. Some of the daycares made me want to swear off daycares all together. But as maternity leave was drawing to a close, we needed to find childcare. When looking at Maple Tree online, I was nervous that it would feel too big and impersonal because they have a few locations in LA. But when we visited the Venice campus, it just felt so welcoming and I felt so comfortable with the idea of sending my son there. Everyday when I drop my son off at daycare, I know he is being loved and cared for by the teachers. They are all so intentional about the activities they plan to foster my son's development. Everyday I get reports on their app which includes his schedule (naps, diapers, food, bottles, etc.) and activities. My son is always so excited to his teachers in the morning. I am so grateful that we found a place that cares so much for our son.

We love MTA Venice! So much, that we drive 40+ minutes each way to bring our 1 year old here…read more At drop off he is always so excited to see his teachers, he leaps into their arms. They have different group curriculum every day, and share a recap of their activities in an app. I was unsure about starting solid foods in a daycare setting but it proved to be the best thing! They work with him on self feeding, drinking out of his straw cup, etc. Sometimes he surprises us by coming home from school with new skills Not only is he is safe, happy and loved when he is at school, he's getting a level of enrichment that's hard to replicate at home. Quality daycare is a big expense and comes with its pros and cons for every family, but for us it is well worth the cost (and drive).

Don't loose your time with tour and enrollment if you don't have an army of contacts that can…read morerecommend you. Absolutely not fair selection made. It's not first arrived, first served as they will proudly announce during the tour. Not fair for young expat families so not very multicultural.

We feel SO lucky that we found Redwood for our toddler. He absolutely loves his time there and the…read moremanagement team run an incredible center. The teachers are excellent and the activities really prepare him for big kid school. Cannot recommend this place enough!

This is a special place. Irreplaceable. Our child started in the toddler program where we attended…read morewith her. We enjoyed the experience and bonded with her peer parents and the teachers. We were hooked. The operator, Patricia, created a beautiful environment that feels both intimate and aspirational. The staff is immersed in the Reggio Emilia pedagogy, which makes the school feels less "schooled" and not like a daycare where they're just "watching" children. Every space presents an opportunity for learning, engagement and growth. Every teacher engages with your child. There are no "worksheets." The children learn through projects and individual study. We loved the annual camping trips and nature hikes. Over time, the school and families became a safe haven for our family, changing our perspectives of what a school should be. It should be an extension of community. I can't say enough about how amazing this place is. I literally can't find anything that compares.

Our child has continued on the Branches journey, first at summer camp, and now in the preschool…read moreprogram. This school, the administration and teachers are truly the best and we feel so grateful to be here. Additionally, the parent community is absolutely fantastic. Highly recommend.