I was referred by a friend to this daycare. This was my son's second daycare and he absolutely…read moreloved it. Maria is amazing we are absolutely grateful for her and her caring staff. Kids get to be kids and just be happy in a safe environment. My son no longer there, but he still talks about Ms. Maria and Dobbs. .

I am about to graduate with a Masters degree. Started my education here and I could not be more…read moreproud! Thanks to the staff! Love you all!

My family and I love that both the school and church let us easily be involved in both church and…read moreschool activities. My two daughters have never had an opportunity like this, where they are learning in smaller groups, and are seen not only as a student but an individual. As a mother, what else can I ask for. My daughters would have gone to 1/2 day programs less than 5 days a week had I registered them in the local public school, would have not received faith based education and I still would have to pay additional full price day care for afterschool care. With a family on a tight budget, saving on expenses was very important to us. I've not only managed to put my daughters in a great school, with HOT LUNCH YEAH!, but also with before and aftercare for a fraction of the cost at any public school. I see the Academy as a long term investement in my children's education development. The staff is great at communicating with parents, coming to you with solutions not problems, are energetic, creative and most of all truly treat my children like their own. I highly recommend our school!

I graduated here in 1985 and now my daughter is there in 6th grade. I checked other schools in the…read morearea and was not interested in overcrowded, outdated technology (if any at all) that other schools offered. Realized tuition was less than half of daycare! The curriculum is by far the best in the area with Spanish classes, computer classes where each child has their own computer to work on, Promethean boards to assist our teachers, and advanced math in junior high.The core curriculum is tailored for excellence not to test taking. Before and after care are offered and private music lessons. The teacher to student ratio is perfect. No chance my daughter will slip through the cracks. This school is an anchor in our community and our children leave here getting scholarships to area private high schools because they are so well prepared! I highly recommend St. Francis Borgia!!!

If you're catholic- I love this church! Very pretty, Priests are wise and write good sermons. Amen.read more

My son has been with Picket Fence for a little over 2 years. From the moment he started at this…read morecenter it has become a home away from home for him. The teachers and staff are great and really love all the kiddos. My son has learned so much and the ceremony for his pre k graduation was so special. We are sad to be leaving since my son will be starting kindergarden next month. Thank you to all the teachers and staff for being so great to my boy.

I'm a researcher by nature and looked at numerous day care centers throughout the city for our 3…read moreyear old son. Our son did not have a great experience in the first pre-school he attended, so we came armed to Picket Fence with a list of questions determined to not make the same mistake again. Our priority list included: a safe and nurturing environment, an educational and stimulating curriculum that did not only consist of play time, a creative environment that would optimize his development and last but not least, a committed, caring staff. We visited both Picket Fence locations (Elmwood Park and River Grove), and met Ms. Toni and her team of educators who were all very warm and open to answering any questions we had. They shared their curriculum with us which included arts, music, reading and dramatic play. We loved that there was a weekly communication plan in place which informed each child's parent about what their child learned that week and how they were progressing in their development. There was even a section that asked parents to communicate back to the school what the child did over the weekend or any concerns the parents thought the school should be aware of. We knew as soon as we left the school that this was the right school for our son. Fast forward to today - Placing our son in to Picket Fence was THE best decision we could have ever made for our son. He is excited to go to school, loves his teachers and is learning new things every day. Ms. Toni is not only one of the teachers at the school, but an on-site and hands-on owner who is completely immersed in the well-being of the children and the daily activities of the school. We are able to speak with Ms. Toni and the teachers any time in-person or by phone and have even corresponded by email with responses returned very promptly. I wanted to hug Ms. Nicole when she asked me if we would bring a tooth brush for our son so he could brush his teeth after meals!! We also love that the school accepts special needs children as we know this will help foster our goal of raising a son who is compassionate and caring for others who may be different from him. For those parents who want to be more involved, the school offers the opportunity to attend parent committee meetings which allow you to be part of the planning and decision making process for policies, and other school events. We couldn't be happier with our choice and know that Picket Fence and its teachers will have a positive impact on our son's success in school and more importantly in his personal development now and in the years to come.

This is the best kindergarten. With the best educators and teachers. The director is very open and…read moreresponsive to all parents and children. My child cried because she had to finish kindergarten and go to school. They care about the safety and culture of children here. If you want to give your child a good, sincere and correct upbringing, then this is the kindergarten. My son has always been safe, well-fed, clean, and developed. This is my sincere recommendation for all parents who are faced with the choice of a kindergarten.

Absolutely the best daycare. I wish my son could stay through college but they always tell me he…read morecan't. They have helped raise and mold my child into the smart, loving, and caring child he is today. He speaks 2 languages which is amazing. He loves his teachers. He loves his friends. He goes in happy and is always sad to leave. It speaks volumes when your child enjoys going to day care. The meal plan is amazing. The activity. The shows. This school puts 120% into everything they do. They are very clean and always doing upgrades to provide a great environment. My child is rarely sick because they make sure they take great care of those who are sick to make sure to keep contamination low. The last 3 years have flown by so fast and we will be so sad to be leaving one day.

All 4 of my boys have gone here/still attending here. I love all of the teachers and the…read moreadministrative staff they are all so nice and caring. This daycare is clean and they are organized. I would definitely recommend to anyone with small children.

*specific location being reviewed: Elmwood Park*…read more Wonderful childcare center! Picket Fence owner, Ms. Toni, genuinely cares about the children enrolled at her facility; she even addresses /knows each child by name! Kind teachers/staff all around. The children enjoyed being there /being involved w/ classroom activities...happy, smiling children =always a good sign(: I was also impressed by the fact that numerous Picket Fence teachers have been at this Elmwood Park location since it opened, which I believe (if I can remember correctly) was 1994! Now that's dedication!

This is a long-overdue review for Bright Start, as they have been an incredibly supportive, safe,…read moreand loving place to send our son (and soon to be our newborn daughter). As two full-time working professionals (and an educator myself), Bright Start has given us peace of mind that our children will be nurtured academically, socially, and emotionally. They are truly our village and partners in helping our children thrive--and in this season of life, that kind of partnership is invaluable. We began the process of finding daycare for our son when I was still pregnant with him. From the get-go, it was clear that Bright Start was head-and-shoulders above every daycare we visited in the area. We loved that it struck a balance between being a small, intimate center, while still providing structure and intentionality to the day--even for the infants. It's a place that feels like home, while still offering the routines and enrichment of a high-quality early childhood program. Ms. Nikki eased my concerns as a new mom through the entire registration and waitlist process, giving me a thorough tour of the facility and patiently answering all my (many!) questions about what daily life at BSLC looks like. She didn't just sell the center--she made me feel confident that my child would be seen, known, and cared for. We were so thrilled when we secured a spot and began sending our son when he was 6 months old. My son started in the infant room, and has since grown into the toddler room, and now the twos room. Every teacher we have interacted with has been professional, kind, and deeply attuned to my son's personality and needs. It's clear they prioritize relationships and connection just as much as they do routines and curriculum. Through every major early childhood milestone--introducing solids, sleep regressions, potty training, social-emotional growth--the teachers have gone above and beyond to partner with us and meet our son where he's at. It feels collaborative in the best way. The communication with families is top-tier. Caregivers are kept in the loop through newsletters, memos, and daily updates. The Procare app is a fantastic tool--they update it in real time with info about meals, naps, bathroom trips, and even share adorable pictures of your child throughout the day. It's the kind of thoughtful touch that goes a long way when you're juggling work and parenting and just want to feel connected to your little one's world while you're apart. Most importantly, our son is thriving. He's happy every time we drop him off and even more excited to tell us stories when we pick him up. His language has exploded, he's developed empathy and problem-solving skills, and he's constantly curious. We know that a huge part of that growth is thanks to the intentional, caring environment BSLC provides. If you're a parent searching for a place where your child will be loved, supported, and encouraged to grow in all the right ways--look no further. Bright Start is not just a daycare, it's a community. And we're endlessly grateful to be a part of it.

We absolutely loved our time at Bright Start Learning Center (BSLC). Our son was here for 3 years,…read morejoining when he was still in diapers. We felt that he was well cared for and that all of the teachers were passionate about caring for the children and providing them an excellent experience. We just began Kindergarten and he is incredibly well prepared for it. The policies and communication are very clear - we had explored other daycares that were not organized at this same level.

The best preschool in the area. My 3 children went here from 2006 thru 2011. Very warm and…read moreinviting. Teachers are nurturing, you cannot find that at many places. Their curriculum is great. I remember my daughter marching around my dining room and counting in French. She was learning this from preschool! They have so many cute programs. Was always sad when Mother's Day tea comes--because it meant it was the end of the year. All 3 of my kids were well prepared academically and socially for kindergarten. They have a waiting list---so inquire early.

Love this preschool! We moved from Utah where my son had attended a fancy academy since age 2 that…read morehad Chinese, yoga, martial arts, etc. We took a chance on this school since he was 4 and needed one final year of preK and this was down the block. So glad we did. It is the perfect preschool. It is play based and the kids had so much fun. The teachers truly care and it is obvious in every interaction you have with them. The classroom is clean and very large. They have a great outdoor play area as well. My son literally loved it since day one. Can't wait for my younger two to attend!