As a mom of three, I've experienced several daycare settings over the years and I can honestly say that the infant classroom here has been one of the best experiences I could have hoped for. Leaving a baby at daycare is one of the hardest things a parent can do. When they're so young, they can't tell you whether they feel safe, loved, or happy during the day. You have to trust your instincts and the people caring for them. Even when they're just a few months old, I've learned that you can absolutely tell the difference between an environment where a child feels secure and one where they don't. My daughter truly thrived here. She was genuinely cared for, loved, and accepted, and that gave me so much peace of mind. During drop off she would try to get out of my arms to get to her teachers. Maybe she was excited for breakfast, but more than anything, it was obvious she was excited to be there. She'd light up when she saw them and would often start dancing with them before I even left. As a parent, there's nothing more reassuring than seeing your child genuinely happy to walk through those doors. She's now moved on to the next classroom, and while I'll miss the infant team, I'm incredibly grateful for the love and care they showed her during such an important stage of her life. If you're looking for a daycare where your child will be cared for with kindness, warmth, and genuine affection, I would absolutely recommend this KinderCare. The ONLY downside is that the parking is tough to find during peak drop off times and that can be a little frustrating but I know the director has been looking to alleviate that issue. Still, a small inconvenience when you know your kid is with genuinely good people. read more

Our son attended KinderCare from age 1 through 4. We are so incredibly thankful for the knowledge and care that he received from Ms. Lynn and her incredible team of teachers and staff. Everyone does a great job of communicating through email and the KinderCare app. We looked forward to the daily reports and photos that showed us what our child was doing throughout the day. We were pleased with the way teachers took his milestone goals very seriously. If he struggled with something, they took time to speak with us at drop-offs or pick-ups. We took advantage of the parent-teacher conferences to discuss our child's learning habits and social interactions in more detail. Above all, we were impressed by the patience and caring from teachers and staff. When our son first started, he wouldn't eat. They noticed that he gravitated towards a particular teacher's aide so she sat with him every day until he felt comfortable around the other kids. When our son couldn't fall asleep during naptime, the teachers helped him feel safe. They always encouraged him to open up at his own pace. To everyone at South Coast KinderCare: THANK YOU so very much for the positive impact you have made on our child's life. Sincerely, the Le Family. read more

My son has been attending Kindercare for the past 3 years, starting from when he was 1 1/2. I've seen him thrive in a nurturing environment where his teachers provided him with both principles as well as the necessary education socially and academically to adapt and mature to the child he is now. To list a few past and recent examples that drove my to my review to give it 5 stars: I knew he was thriving academically in their care since he was able to read all letters before the age of 2 with minimal reinforcement on my end. It was his teachers that noted the time he was ready to be potty trained, and with coordination of his teachers and myself, it took less than a week. While those are older examples, they gave me enough sample size to know that my son was in good hands. Throughout the years, I'm always reassured to hear that he's excelling both socially and academically from teachers and peers alike. When I got pregnant with my 2nd child, my worries of my son potentially getting jealous were reassured when I had noticed that he was emotionally equipped and appropriately guided, to which I noticed my concerns were really unnecessary. I trust Mrs Lynn and her staff as their communication leaves me at ease. I believe in communication between teacher and parents as crucial as the education that is set in place at school will only come to fruition with consistency at home as well. I don't say it enough, but I am so incredibly thankful to everyone who has helped with my sons education with such ease. We appreciate you so very much for all you've done for our family. read more

I wish I could rate this higher-as an educator it hurts my heart to write this. Unfortunately, my 4.5 month old son was somewhat neglected while here. Yes, they changed his diaper as required by the state, but that was it. He ended up with diaper rash so severe it took special cream to solve the issue. They claimed that they couldn't smell him--he is in hypoallergenic formula and his poop is the worst poop I've smelled with a baby. So, that tells me they probably weren't interacting with him enough to realize he had pooped. They never proactively communicated. I was able to pull him out and work from home until he got a new spot someplace that keeps him changed and loved. I am sorry for every parent that doesn't have that luxury. This isn't my first child or childcare experience--this is not how our babies should be cared for. read more

Yes, everyone is helpful and nice. Very welcoming! The director Lynn is amazing. Thank you much for all the help. Will definitely recommend to my friends. read more

I am so grateful that my boy is able to go to this Kindercare. Like any new mom, I was sad and hesitant to leave my baby at daycare and I did months of research and tours of various daycares before finding this lovely daycare. Lynn and Candice are so nice and easy to work with. I had some last minute schedule changes and they were extremely accommodating and worked with me to make sure my babies schedule fit my needs. I remember when I first toured the school, how at ease I felt after seeing Miss Elizabeth with the babies in the infant room and how much pride and excitement she had in her job. It was evident she really cared about these babies like they were her own. Fast forward a few months and it was time to drop my baby off for daycare. I cried all day and when I went to get him, he was very calm and at ease. It is hard to leave your baby, but every day when I pick him up, he is so happy and is getting plenty of attention, which makes it easier for me to have to be at work. I know he is in good hands. For the baby to provider ratio for infants (4:1), I have to say they do an AMAZING job providing care to these babies and are extremely attentive. All the teachers that interact with my baby seem to really love and care about him and from the way he cuddles and looks at them, the feeling is Mutual! I am so happy I chose this center. I highly recommend it. read more

South Coast KinderCare - Went to pick up my baby and he was fast asleep getting cuddles - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Great little school/daycare for children! As an educator in my past life I have been pleased with everything I've witnessed here. My niece has been going here for the past couple of years and they provide consistently solid care for the kids. From classroom curriculum and homework, to interesting lessons and bringing in resources from outside, the kids seem engaged and enjoy coming to school here. They even have a small holiday performance they put on in December - what a treat! The woman in charge of this KinderCare is a professionally trained singer and she performed as well. My only criticism is that they don't have a secure zone for parent drop-offs. They are located on a busy street and don't have their own dedicated parking lot. Other than that I've enjoyed all of my visits here. They have great hours and staff that genuinely cares for the children. read more

My son has been attending since he was 5 months old and has had an amazing experience. He has had wonderful teachers and it has allowed him to develop in such a remarkable way. read more

My husband and I toured many daycare/preschool centers before my co-worker told us about South Coast KinderCare. We did our tour in June and we really like the place. Ms. Lynn was able to answer all our questions and address our concerns. We started our son in July 2018 in Ms. Angie's class for the summer program and then he was moved to Ms. Susie's class in Sept. This review is for Pre-K class. Pros: - Clean and organized; my son haven't come home sick or anything. - Amazing curriculum that is structured and geared towards educating and preparing the children. - In front of each classroom, they have bulletin/poster of what they did each day which is very informative for the parents. - The teacher provides progress reports of your child, which are very thorough as they let you know where your child is with respect to others his/her age. And if there any concern that need to be addressed. - Majority of the teachers have been teaching here for years (10+ years) which say a lot about the center. - Just love how all the staffs are very friendly, professional, and personable. - And much more... Cons: - Secured drop off zone/limited parking. To me, it's not a big deal but to some it is. They located on a major street and shared a parking lot with Woodside Village apartment between the hours of 6am to 6pm. My husband and his brother drop K off in the morning on their way to work, so one would take K in and the other would stay in the car. I picked K up between 5pm to 6pm, sometime there's no parking but I just wait around for 5-10 min and I'll get a spot. Most parents are in and out within 10 min, so no big deal. All the staffs here are amazing! I want to say thank you to Ms. Angie, Ms. Susie, Ms. Marcella, Ms. Kate, Ms. Coral, Ms. Kathy, Ms. Lynn, and Ms. Candace for making K's first school experiences a positive one and he have grown so much since he started. We will be taking our youngest one here in Dec when he turn 2. read more

I highly recommend this day care. The teacher's are all great and very caring. I have tried a few day cares and this one is on the top of my list. The staff always respond to my questions quickly as as the needs for my children. When my kids want to go even during school break, you know they are doing something right. If I could give 10 stars, I would. read more

We have been with Kindercare South Coast for almost 1.5 years. In that time, we have had nothing but positive experiences, even through these crazy pandemic times. As a pediatric physician, I know the importance of having a safe, reliable, nurturing environment where children feel loved, safe, cared for, and allowed to grow and develop; whether that be at home or in a daycare setting (depend on family structure). My daughter absolutely adores her teachers, and has so much fun! I love that they are incredibly receptive, and keep me well informed of my daughter's day (Love the app with all the photos of the day!). I feel very comfortable leaving my daughter to be loved and looked after while I am busy helping take care of others sons and daughters. Thank you Kindercare South Coast for all you do! read more

My rating for this daycare is 3.5 stars.I am writing this review because I know how difficult the daycare chosing process is for every parent and every review matters so much. My child attended the 1-2yos and the 2-3yos classrooms. Overall she liked going here and liked her teachers. The toddler (1-2yo) classroom was lead by Ms. Rosa and besides the fact that she didn't seem to enjoy watching the kids, I thought she did a great job taking care of them. In this class, my daughter rarely got sick as Ms. Rosa always made sure to put her jacket on when she went outside. I also liked that she kept my LO clean and didn't get lazy to change her clothes when they got dirty. Also, she rarely had any incidents. I also liked the other assistant teachers who watched her in this classroom. So right when things were going great, she turned 2 and went to the two's classroom, where things took a dramatic turn. The first 3 months here, she had the absolute 2 worst teachers you could ever imagine, Ms. Sandra and Ms. Stephanie. I felt like both teachers were never mentally present. My daughter would get wet from washing her hands and would stay wet like that the entire day, even after I had begged her a million times to change her clothes when they got wet. Every day my daughter looked like a wounded warrior at pickup time from all the incidents that would happen on a regular basis. Ms. Sandra would lie just about everything when I asked her a question including the fact that my daughter would never sleep and was put in the corner by the door to hang out, which I only found out later when one of the teachers told me that she never slept. Anyways long story short, the director caught up with all the lies and I'm assuming Ms. Sandra got fired!! Ms. Stephanie on the other hand is still there once in a blue moon. My daughter got this deep scratch which left a scar on her face from the time that Ms. Stephanie was watching her and her response to how she got the scratch was " I didn't see how she got it, but she didn't cry" , which is unacceptable..how do you not know HOW it happened, maybe stop checking your phone every second and do your damn job. The rest of the stars on this review are for Ms. Amanda and Ms. Maria. They were both great with my kid and my daughter absolutely loved them. Ms. Amanda taught her a lot which I will always be thankful for. The daily incidents and scratches stopped and I felt at peace again once Ms. Amanda took over. Also, Ms Lynn and Candice were great. We had many complaints and they always did their best to educate the teachers and try to solve the issues presented. Also, big thank you for accommodating my constantly changing schedule. We are going to miss you! read more

So I had an apt for touring and meeting with the director and as I'm trying to find this place, they were not located correctly on the map it had me lost and so I had to call them and ask where they were located and they did say but I still couldn't find it??? This preschool is kind of hidden, hard to spot and I can't believe they don't have a parking lot!! I was thinking of putting my child in private preschool since thinking my husband would make to much for the preschool program in our school district. During the tour was okay and the director of this location, she seemed like she wasn't in the mood for explaining everything and anything of the preschool. So I left with little knowledge of the place than I would like to. I felt like the director didn't care to explain things or tell me more information about the place, teachers, students, etc. I'm not going to put my child in this place if the director gives me a vibe that I seem to "poor" & not rich enough to put my child in this place. Thanks! I'm NEVER recommending this PLACE to ANYONE, because of the impression YOU GAVE ME. Plus not only that, this place here is so expensive. 3 full days is already $215 PER WEEK & 5 full days is $285 PER WEEK. PER WEEK. Omg, I'd rather teach my own kid if anything then.. as much as I was looking forward to this place for my child & how nice it seemed to be, I don't care what anyone has to say, positive or negative about this place. THIS WAS MY EXPERIENCE & I'm not wasting my time for this place anymore. But from a family member, says Sunflower Preschool, across from Diamond Elementary School, is cheaper. So check there if you don't want to go broke here. read more

Best Center to place your children by far in Orange County. We have both of our children here, one in Mrs. Maricella's class for the 2 year olds, and our son comes when school is on break to be with the school-aged children. We have loved all of the rooms we have been in over the past year; no complaints or concerns, and are pleased with how they have both progressed developmentally and socially. Mrs. Maricella is excellent with the children. She takes them all in as if they are her own and gives them the same love we do as parents. I can say the same thing about Ms. Romina and Mrs. Katie, as well as those who come in to assist when needed, and those who cared for our daughter and son in the other rooms. Aside from having dedicated teachers, the staff is excellent and beyond accommodating when we have special situations we need assistance with. I am able to bring my 6 year old in when needed, and do not have to worry about finding a sitter to assist me. The owner Lynn and co-owner Candice have been there over 20 years, as have many of their staff, which says a lot about the way they run the center as a whole. Everyone there seems to love their job as well as enjoy the being with the children; two things that other facilities lack. Overall, you will not be disappointed by the quality of the center or the programs offered to your kids. I highly recommend you give this place a try as you will be more than satisfied with them. read more

My daughter has been attending this Kindercare since she was 18 months old and I can't say enough about them!!! ALL the staff here are super caring and friendly. Most important to me, the majority of them have been teaching here for years!!! That bears a lot of weight for me.....long standing teachers means they're doing something right in the center. My daughter has learned soooo much! She's going into kindergarten this year with an amazing grasp of reading and mathematics. Another bonus, when she was 2 1/2 years old they literally potty trained her for me!!! Haha. I will have the biggest tears this August when our daughter goes to kindergarten. But I know we will be coming back to visit all her beloved teachers at kindercare!!! read more

We have been using South Coast Kindercare for over a year now. So far, we have been satisfied with the price, cleanliness, and caring attitude of the staff. My only complaint is that I wish that the program was more organized and academic. I would prefer to move my child to a Montessori school, but Kindercare's extended hours until 6:30pm are a huge benefit. The staff has always been sweet if I have been late! read more

I had my daughter attend here from preschool & she also attended their private kindergarten program. Prices are ridiculous. They charge for EVERY LITTLE THING. It was evident they werent watching the kids. My daughter was having an issue with a girl & i addressed it many times with the director. Then the teacher had the audacity to tell my daughter not to "tattle". The end of all this was that the girl told my daughter, "Lets play the scratching game!" My daughter said no. She came home with a huge scratch on her arm that took a long time to go away. Since kindercare, my daughter wont tell me if someone is bullying her at school anymore. She also didn't learn a thing here. In first grade she was behind everyone when it came to reading. Save your money & dont bother. I wish i knew what i know now. read more

My son has been attending KinderCare since March of this year. He started in the infant room and he's now moved into the 2 year old room. He absolutely loves going to school each morning and looks forward to seeing all his teachers, Maria, Fran and Favi. He's learning to socialize well with other kids and they are always working on fun creative projects. I'm also happy that he is fed a well balanced breakfast, lunch and snack at school -- so that really puts my mind at ease. The school director, Lynn Porter is extremely knowledgeable and professional and runs an excellent facility - which is the reason for her staff's longevity and commitment to the school. I would highly recommend this school for your infant/toddler. read more

This place is amazing. My son has been attending this school for about a year and I amazed with how much he has learned. The staff is phenomenal and take pride in their facility and the safety of the children. They also take my daughter to school and pick her up! I wouldn't want any of place teaching my children! read more

My lil one really loves the discovery preschool class. So glad I put him in a 2. He has become more independent and started to talk more since he has been with Kindercare. ms. Marsella really is great with him. I see the love and sincerity she gives to each student. To be on the safe aspect I would pop in unannounced becuz I missed my LO. I peep through the window and I see how involved she is with the children. I notice that do a lot of fun hands on project. Logan would come home with words I didn't know he knew. They do a lot of reading. Becuz at night time he would ask me to read an extra book. He is in the transition of potty training. Yes, they will potty train your child also. I love that this daycare is more of like a school environment. They have a set curriculum and gives a daily progress report to the parents when child is pick up. Over all I really like the school. Lastly I was told their food served to the kids are not frozen but fresh abs whole grain. read more

My daughter is 4 and a half. She has been there since she was 3 and her first teacher, Ms. Mary, was (still working there) is adorable. My daughter really love her. Ms. Susie is also a great teacher. Highly recommended!!!! read more

I love this place.The teachers really tend to my son and his individual needs extremely well. Hes high energy and doesn't sit still very often so a teacher sits with him during lunch to make sure he eats. They don't force him to nap if he wont sleep long but rather take him to a different room to play while the rest of the kids continue napping. He has been starting to communicate better and uses a spoon more than he initially did upon starting. I love how he gets excited to come to school and practically runs to his classroom. The communication between the staff and parent is on point as well. They answer all my questions and i feel very comfortable with any needs or concerns being addressed. Its also extremely comforting that the Director Lynn knows all the kids names and is regularly walking to each class to check on child count and status. No teacher is left overwhelmed which means your child is well attended to. I highly recommend this facility. read more

My heart is full of absolute gratitude towards South Coast KinderCare!!!!!! :) Every single day at drop off and pick up, my 17 month old son and I are greeted with beautiful and happy smiles and an extremely positive environment. Each teacher and staff member welcomes my son daily, by his name and they automatically hug and include him in whichever activities are taking place at the time, really helping ease the transition from him being with mommy, to him staying at school so mommy can go to work! I never fear or worry about my son's safety or happiness while I am away and he is in the care of South Coast KinderCare. I know he is happy, safe, well cared for and loved by all the teachers and staff, and I know this because daily he comes home with more knowledge and skills than the previous day and always so many smiles! I feel so lucky to have found this school. They are constantly doing fun activities and decorations for the children to explore and learn, special events for holidays, silly dress up days, picture days, parent volunteer opportunities, and so much more!!! My son started when he was just a little over a year old and I hope for him to continue his education at this school for many years to come! There is not a single complaint I would have, I have more than my fair share of compliments to give and I congratulate all of the teachers and staff on an extremely well managed, safe, happy and loving environment they provide daily for all the little ones and their parents too!!! read more

My 5 yr old son has attended this KinderCare for the past 3 yrs. We have had a great experience at this facility. The Director, Lynn, and Asst Director, Candace, have been amazing at communicating the direction the facility is going with regards to the education of the children, also they are very invested in this facility as they have both been there for 20+ years. My son has made a lot of great friends at this school, as have me and my wife. The curriculum is very structured and geared towards educating the children on a daily basis. We have seen tremendous growth in our boys intelligence since he started here. We have other friends that chose not to send their kids to a preschool, wanting to wait until Kindergarten, and we feel our son has socially and educationally surpassed those kids. We owe a lot of this to the staff at KinderCare. The teachers are truly caring people, my son has loved all of his teachers he has had there so far. The reviews they provide the parents regarding the progress of your child are very thorough as they let you know where your child is with respect to other children his or her age. They let the parents know if there are areas they excel in and also if there are areas they are having trouble in so that you can help them at home with these issues. Lastly, I highly recommend the phonics program. Our son started reading words, not recognizing words, but actually reading words at 4 yrs old as a result of the phonics classes he took at this KinderCare. So as you can tell, we have had a very positive experience here. That is why I am taking the time to write this review. I hope it helps in making your decision. read more