My son started at Kiddie Academy of Mission Viejo in January when he was just under 18 months old,…read moreand choosing this daycare has been one of the best decisions we've made as parents. Like most toddlers, separation wasn't easy at first--but what stood out immediately was that my son never cried here. The teachers, especially Ms. Lana and Ms. Delmy, made sure he always felt safe, comforted, and cared for. Their warmth and attentiveness truly set the tone for the entire school. Safety is clearly a top priority. From the secure entry system that requires a code to the constant supervision, I felt confident every day leaving my child here. Walking into the academy, you're welcomed by happy, colorful energy--it genuinely feels like a place designed for kids to thrive. The teachers do an amazing job creating an environment that is safe, playful, and joyful. Communication with parents is another huge strength. We receive detailed daily reports that include activities, meals (what and how much they ate), nap times, diaper changes--everything. The teachers are also very open and honest about what went well and what a child may be struggling with. For example, my son initially didn't know how to eat with his hands, and Ms. Joana and Ms. Katherine patiently helped him and made sure he was always well-fed and supported. After a couple of months, my son transitioned to a new class, and once again, we were so impressed. Ms. Liz and Ms. Tiana are incredibly caring and fun, and my son absolutely loves being with them. Every day, we get to see sweet moments captured from his day, and for those who choose it, there's even live camera access to the classroom and playground. The academy organizes so many engaging activities, and we're especially excited for the upcoming summer camp--it will be our first, and we can't wait. Another standout feature is that they have an on-site chef Mr. Miguel preparing fresh meals, which gives us so much peace of mind. He deeply loves and care for the children. The biggest sign of all? My son now dances to the songs he learns at school, and when we pick him up, he runs to us with the biggest smile--happy, confident, and clearly loved. What I also appreciate deeply is that feedback is always welcomed. If you have concerns or suggestions, they are received positively, and you truly feel heard. If you're looking for a daycare that offers fun, learning, kindness, structure, activities, love, and genuine care--this place truly has it all. I'm incredibly grateful for the team at Kiddie Academy of Mission Viejo and would recommend them without hesitation.

I can't say enough wonderful things about Kiddie Academy! As a parent, it means everything to know…read moreyour child is not only safe, but genuinely cared for and encouraged to grow--and that's exactly what we've experienced here. From the moment we walk in, Valeria, Delmy, and Lana always make us feel welcome with their kindness and professionalism. Miguel, the chef, does an amazing job making sure the kids are well-fed with meals my daughter actually enjoys, which is such a relief. Her teachers--Monique, Kamia, Liz, Kathryn, and Keily--are truly exceptional. They are patient, attentive, and so intentional about helping each child develop both academically and socially. I've seen such positive growth in my daughter's confidence, communication, and curiosity since she started here. What stands out most is how much they genuinely care. My daughter is always excited to go, and she comes home happy, talking about everything she's learned and the fun she's had. I'm beyond grateful for the entire team at Kiddie Academy. They treat my daughter like family, and that kind of peace of mind is priceless. Highly recommend to any parent looking for a nurturing and enriching environment for their child!

My daughter completed her first year at pillars academy and we are blown away at how much her…read moreArabic and knowledge of Islam has grown and improved. Aside from Islamic studies, they also offer the traditional math, science and English - all NAEYC accredited meaning they have met rigorous standards essentially meaning Pillars provides a high quality early learning experience for children. The teachers and staff are wonderful. They greet and walk each child to class and you can really see how much they care for your children especially with the big hugs hello or goodbye. Overall we've really enjoyed our experience here. My daughter is now back in session for kindergarten and we have nothing but good things to report back. Thanks Pillars for providing such a loving, nurturing and educational Pre-k/Kindergarten experience!

READ THIS BEFORE YOU ENROLL!!!…read more When I first found this school, I was happy that my 3.5-year-old son would not only attend preschool, but also learn Islamic studies. He is very social and has been attending childcare since he was 1.5 years old. After moving to a new state, he missed being around other children and was very excited to start. However, from the very beginning, our experience was disappointing. Staff were not welcoming during drop-offs and pick-ups. Initially, they complained about his uniform (which we purchased immediately), and later about his shoes. I explained that my son has sensory issues and only feels comfortable wearing Crocs. Despite this, they insisted we follow their strict policy. After much effort, my son eventually agreed to wear sneakers. In a very short time, three serious incidents happened: He fell and injured his arm -- at least this was reported properly. He came home with scratches on his face and neck. When I asked, the teacher simply said my son was still learning about personal space and they didn't see what happened. The most heartbreaking: I picked him up to find him crying alone in the bathroom. The teacher was across the room and had left him there alone. When I asked my son what happened, he told me the teacher hit him on the head. I immediately addressed this with the director and assistant. At first, they denied everything and claimed a student hit him (even though the student was asleep at the time). At the follow-up meeting with the director and teacher, their explanation was shocking. The teacher said my son woke up crying, so she sent him to the bathroom without even trying to comfort him. Leaving a crying child alone in the bathroom is unacceptable and dangerous. When I asked why no one comforted him or tried to find out why he was crying, the answer was "she had to take care of other children." My son does not usually cry like this and does not make up stories. Regardless of who hit him, it is clear that he was left alone, distressed, and ignored, which is unacceptable in any childcare setting, especially an NAEYC accredited center. Other concerns: Poor communication: No daily or weekly reports, no photos, and they do not allow parents into the classroom at pickup time. Teacher-student ratio issue: The teacher herself told me she was alone with 15-16 kids. For ages 3-4, NAEYC requires a ratio of 1:10. Low-quality curriculum: Only 30 minutes of Islamic studies and the rest is mostly coloring worksheets. There is little focus on meaningful, process-based learning. This has been the worst experience I have had in the U.S. with early childhood education. I do not recommend this school to any parent who values a warm, inclusive environment where children and parents feel respected and engaged. This is not a place where children feel safe, supported, or happy to go every day.

My 5 year ols daughter attended the summer program here at the Arroyo Vista YMCA even though she…read moreattended another school. It was such a life saver for our family since the hours went until 6 and most summer camp's only went till 4. Cierra the director was so sweet and great with the kids. My daughter enjoyed the weekly fieldtrips they went on and the special event days. I felt 100 percent comfortable leaving my daughter in their care when I worked.

From the owner: YMCA child care provides opportunities for children to learn, grow, and thrive as they make their…read moreway from K-8th grade in a before school and after school setting. We provide daily physical and educational activities like sports & recreation, homework and distance learning support (to assist students in meeting their teacher-assigned requirements) and arts, science, math, and technology that allow students to engage in programs often underfunded in public schools; all while socializing with friends in a safe and healthy environment. License#: 300614092

One star is too credited for this particular YMCA here in Ladera ranch!…read morePoorly uneducated staff, unacceptable condition of dealing with older children, extremely badly managed, staff are, to say the least unapproachable. If issues arise with your child, there will be absolutely no logic or common understanding to be able to deal with that issue with the staff. Be warned, your children are not in safe hands!!! I am extremely disappointed as a resident and a proud member of this community.

My daughter has been going to the Ladera YMCA for the past two years after school and during the…read moresummers. This is her second summer here, and she loves it! The field trips are great (especially the trip to Knotts), and she loves all of the activities during the day. Whenever the Y offers movie nights for the kids, she always wants to go, which helps us parents have a much needed date night. Kylie and all of the Y leaders are so friendly and fun, and my daughter loves them all.

Highly recommend Goddard. My son is thriving in that school. This is not just a day care, they…read moreactually learn a lot and are well taken care of.

I loved coming here very much because I had a lot of nice teachers and friends. They were super…read morenice and friendly to me, good value, and I enjoyed kindergarten.

Both of my children have attended Happy Minds Kids Academy, and we have had a wonderful experience…read more The staff genuinely care about the children and do an excellent job creating a safe and positive environment. We always felt confident that our kids were well cared for and loved while they were there. Highly recommend!

Happy Minds is more than just a daycare, they have truly become family to us! My daughter started…read moreattending Happy Minds at the age of 14 weeks old, and has thrived over the past 4 years. The Pre-K program there has especially been such a wonderful blessing to my daughter's development and growth. The Summer Program at Happy Minds is especially incredible! The kids have so much fun with each week's themes and programs, and my daughter really looks forward to going to school to see what new activities are planned for the day. They even get to go on two field trips and my daughter LOVES going on the school bus!

Our family loves Miss Evelyn! Combined, our two children have spent 5 1/2 years at Kiddie Spanish…read moreAcademy. In all that time, never once, has either of my children ever complained or said anything negative about Miss Evelyn! I think that is amazing. Now that my children have "graduated," they always ask to go back for a visit because they miss her so much. She has unlimited patience with her students. She is always gentle, consistent and playful. My children felt very safe there in all regards. It was like a home away from home and all the while they were learning Spanish. My daughter has the prettiest little accent and my son hit the ground running in his Spanish Immersion Public school. Although elementary immersion programs don't require knowing any of the target language prior to starting, many of the native English speakers find the first few months very intimidating and challenging. My son was already used to school in Spanish so it was such a smooth transition for him. His teacher said my son understood everything and that I had made a good choice with his preschool. He caught on to reading, writing and math very quickly because he was developmentally ready in Kinder and had a firm foundation for the language. I think if I had chosen a very academic preschool he would have been frustrated and unhappy. I'm not saying Miss Evelyn is not academic, she teaches letters and numbers, and provides arts and crafts, but it's not overly rigid. I believe these precious few years should feel safe, relaxed, exploratory and playful; children will have the rest of their school careers to be stressed and told what to do, why not them enjoy preschool. Miss Evelyn's gentle consistency, patience and nurturing teaching was exactly the experience I wanted my children to have. I remember feeling lost and lonely in my large preschool and I didn't want a repeat of that. Miss Evelyn home is always extremely clean and organized. It's evident that she is vigilant about safety. She is always mentally present and engaged with the children. She has a lovely large back yard with lots of grass for running and games. My children have spent countless hours running, playing and giggling on that grass. I know they always get good sunshine and exercise when there. She also has playhouses and little gardening tools. When the weather is nice they can eat outside on the child size table and benches. As I parent, I question all the time the decisions I make. If I could have done better, chosen better or handled something better. Sending my kids to Kiddie Spanish Academy is a decision that I don't question. I do not worry I could have picked a better school. Both my children were very happy, very safe and learned so much! I feel so good about that. Thank you Miss Evelyn!!!!

We absolutely love Evelyn's Spanish immersion preschool! Our daughter, Alexandra, has the best time…read moreevery day--she comes home singing songs, teaching us new Spanish words, and always excited to go back. Evelyn is amazing with the kids, making learning feel like play. It's so fun to watch Alexandra pick up Spanish so naturally and with so much joy. We couldn't be happier and highly recommend it to any parent looking for a fun and engaging way for their child to learn Spanish!