My second child will be graduating from SMS next week and I can't believe our time here is coming to an end! The SMS staff and families have been such a huge and wonderful part of our lives for 8 years. It was hard dropping my older son off for the first time (at 3 months), but when it came time to drop my younger son off for the first time (also at 3 months), I knew he was going to be in such great hands, it really was like leaving him with family! I also believe that my older son's smooth transition into kinder was thanks to the 'academic' and social learning he experienced at SMS. read more

Choking back tears we said goodbye -not to our kids- they're in the backseat arguing about crackers. We were going to miss the warmest daycare with heart that exists. They got us through Covid with an infant, prepared her to thrive in kindergarten. They seamlessly worked with us to help our son with special needs. Their staff was a natural extension of our kids community. The infant room teacher attended her PreK graduation. This daycare is one of the few that is actually worth the cost. read more

We recently relocated out of Texas and had to leave a review to share our experience with our son at SMS (he started at the age of 14 months and left at 2.5 yo). Like any parent, I read reviews to try and decide on my child's care. I am extremely particular about looking at care centers now because of the high bar of SMS. 1. Ownership: Shalini is a wonderful owner. She prioritizes the children's safety, quality of care, and happiness above all. You may not always agree with her decisions, but they are always to protect the integrity of SMS and devotion to children so for that, I respect her tremendously. She is a great communicator who will call you to discuss any needs or incidents. 2. Teachers: Many angels work at SMS and take great pride in their work caring for our children. I have been fortunate to love the teachers in the 1-year-old rooms and 2-year-old rooms, my fellow parent friends have said the infant teachers are also wonderful. Again, Shailini is hiring the right fit for our children and SMS standards 3. Facility: The SMS campus is second to NONE. I miss the gardens, playscapes, and walking around and seeing all of the children outside. This is so unique and I doubt you'll find this setup at the chain daycares - the kids and staff get so much outdoor time (weather permitting) and I truly believe everyone is happier because of it. 4. Renovation: I could have been critical of the security and parking but Shalini has invested considerably in the new facility to resolve parking lot issues and heightened security. Great work! Thank you for the best experience - I knew my little shaggy-haired boy was happy and thriving and we will miss all of the teachers and people. I especially will miss Miss Donna (she is a tenured professional and a wonderful, warm human being), Miss Adriana, Miss Esraa, Miss Lolis, Miss Israa, Mr. RJ, and so many more. Thank you for all the smiles, joy, and warmth you brought to my family and me during drop off, pickup, and throughout the day. So much love to SMS - we're forever fans + supporters! Definitely send your child here and join the community! read more

We've been extremely happy with Sun Moon & Stars and have no complaints. Our daughter (who is now moving on to Pre-K after spending 2-3 years at SMS) has become very kind, creative and friendly during her time there and has made many friends. Every teacher we've had has been excellent, and I feel SMS leadership navigated the complexities of COVID as well as they possibly could, following the City of Austin's guidance while being open to feedback, with clear communication throughout. read more

Sun Moon & Stars is hands down the best daycare/early childhood school in the area. Our son went there since he was 5 months old until 18 months (he only stopped going because we moved). Before deciding to place him at SMS, we did a lot of research and toured multiple daycares in the area and nothing came close to what SMS offers. I can tell you right now that it's really not worth looking into other places to save you time! SMS met all the strict requirements we set for our son's daycare: caring staff, comprehensive development curriculum, safe environment, cleanliness, good hours and good staff to child ratio. We highly recommend SMS for any family that need childcare. For those that one to read on, our son was initially in the infant room (Sunshine) and then moved to the toddler class (Moondrops). All the staff that took care of him were consistently amazing. They are all caring, gentle, and well trained. Ms. Shalini who is the Director of the learning center is keen on creating an environment that is safe, educational, and inviting. Our son is excited to go SMS every morning and he loves all of his teachers. SMS has a robust curriculum even for infants and toddlers and we noticed that our son has learned a lot from his time at SMS. He knows ASL, Spanish, and all these phrases in English that we did not teach him at home! He also learned the importance of tidying up and picks up trash and puts back items that are misplaced (we def did not teach him that at home LOL). COVID Response: What is also really impressive about SMS is how quickly they adapted their operations with the pandemic. They were initially shut down for about a week and re-opened with very thorough and strict guidelines that follow CDC guidelines. Ms. Shalini was very transparent about the whole process and communicated all details and instructions to the parents to ensure the safety of the children and staff. SMS being open was a lifesaver for us since my husband and I both work full-time jobs. read more

Another year, another review. After 3+ years at Sun Moon and Stars I have to say I am always happy to drop my sons off at school with my oldest now 4 years old and my youngest being 14 months. I have noticed more turnover than previously seen in the infant rooms but we had a pretty smooth experience in the infant rooms overall. I think that the most disappointment I will have with Sun Moon and Stars will be when we transition out when my oldest son is too old to attend. He still tells us how great his day was and all the cool fossils he found with Ms Miranda and Mr Aaron and all the activities. Still a great place for my children and still a great experience! read more

We could not be happier with this daycare- we feel really lucky to have found it! Shalini is kind and does a wonderful job of running things, the grounds are absolutely beautiful and full of old huge oak trees and our son loves his teachers. He's in the one year old class and they keep him busy with fun, educational activities and he's happy when we pick him up! I also love the fact that they offer 2 or 3 days a week. Again we could not be happier- highly recommend! read more

We absolutely love Sun, Moon and Stars! Our daughter has been at the school for over a year, now in her second classroom. We were previously at 2 different Stepping Stone locations, and we are so happy we made the change, this school is so much better. I can't say enough about the care and love that is given to our LO every day. Ms. Shalini is constantly making additions and improvements, not because any are necessary, but because she takes such pride in providing a warm and fun environment for her students. They are flexible with schedules to ensure the best fit for families, and have fun events throughout the year. read more

We had originally ruled this place out, but it's hard to get into an infant room in Central Austin, so we ended up putting our 6 month old daughter there. The director swears up and down that cloth diapers are illegal, despite being presented with evidence to the contrary. She has a long list of other things that are "prohibited" including letting my daughter nap in a swing and helping us transition her to a crib. Instead, my daughter DID NOT nap at all. Then she told me my daughter was a problem and was having trouble transitioning because she cried a lot. After less than two weeks, we pulled her out. I could write quite a bit more, but instead I will do what another reviewer did and say to message me if you want more details. Update: The director is threatening to sue me for this review. read more

I am reviewing this school as a prospective customer that has received really poor customer service. I am so disappointed, because I had been really impressed with what I had read on their website as well as the numerous positive reviews. I am pregnant with our first child and am looking for a day care starting in August of 2012. Knowing that some places have a waiting list, my husband and I began looking for schools in November of 2011. So in November, my husband left 2 messages on SMS's voicemail and never received a call back. I finally got somebody to answer in December, and the teacher I spoke with was quite lovely. She was able to fill me in on the day to day routine of the infant program, but said that their director was out for the entire month of December and did not allow tours while she was gone. So, in January I stopped by to see the facility but there is a sign on their door that says tours are by appointment only. I called while I was in their parking lot, and have yet to hear back from anybody. read more

My 4 year old son has been attending SMS (Sun Moon and Stars) since they opened about 6 months ago. We've enjoyed sending him there and feel that he's getting more than he would at a traditional day care. They do Yoga, introduce new types of music and teach signing. It's not your ordinary preschool setting. The building has been converted from a house and it is a little small. Parking can also be tricky, especially if you work the normal 8-5. But those issues are small compared to the quality of care we receive. In summary: * Quality Care * Small Class sizes * Great Teachers * Unique and comfortable atmosphere read more

We have two kids and they have both loved SMS. All of the teachers are wonderful. They care for the children, engage them, keep the parents informed about what they see, and encourage the kids to be their best. The Director, Ms. Shalini, skilfully handles any issue and truly cares for each of the children. They just built a wonderful play area out back on a second lot and didn't add anymore space for more children. The new gardens and play areas were built for the children that are already coming. Our kids have been in every class from 6 weeks old until 5 years old. We love each of the teachers and have been grateful to have found such a wonderful place for our kids. read more

REVIEW FROM 5/9/2011 THAT WAS INEXPLICABLY FILTERED: My three year old son's love of this place speaks for itself! The director of SMS (Sun Moon & Stars), Mrs. Shalini, definitely reassured us that this was the right place for our son. She was very profession but also had an obvious love for children and learning. From there, our experience with the rest of the staff was just as good. Ms. Jaquelin is more than just a teacher but has become our son's friend. He's even asked if she can come on vacation with us. All of the other teachers that he spends time with, Ms. Allison and Ms. Anita, are just as loving and attentive to him. When he first started, they all helped him get to know all the other children and really helped him adapt. He's been there since January 2011 and is greeted every morning with big hugs from all his friends. The location is a little hard to get in and out of when there's traffic but notice I still gave it five stars because it's not that big of a deal when you consider everything else. It's also not your typical building. They've converted 2 old houses into classrooms but they've done a great job. Everything is really homey while still giving each age group their own space. As far as technicalities go, the pricing is great compared to surrounding schools and quality of care. My son attends 3 full days a week and we pay $500 a month. Lunch is not provided but all snacks and drinks are provided. I'm sure that's one thing that helps keep the cost down. Being a family concerned about eating healthy, I like having more control over what he eats. However, most of the snacks they serve there are organic so I feel good about that. They also have a weekly yoga class with an instructor, Ms. Elizabeth and weekly music class with Mr. Neal who bring in instruments and teaches new songs. He comes home everyday with new stories of great stuff he's learned. Of course his learning includes all the important stuff too such as letters, sounds, numbers and even Spanish. Before SMS, our son was at Stepping Stone Preschool on Brodie (which is a whole other review altogether) but he absolutely hated it! Never before had he cried when being left somewhere but he threw a fit everyday we dropped him off there. After only a couple of weeks and some safety concerns there, we quickly withdrew him. After experiencing a place where my son was so unhappy, I'm that much more thankful for a place like SMS where I have no doubts about his happiness, or more importantly, his safety. read more

We love SMS! Our two-year-old started going there almost three months ago, and of course at first I was really hesitant, because she's been home with me until now. The first week of drop-offs was tough, but Miss Michelle and Miss Shalini were so great about helping my little one transition. I would stay outside the classroom, peek through the window and wait until I saw my little bug stop crying, which only took a minute or two, then she was laughing and dancing. Now that she's in the swing of things, she LOVES it there. She literally can't run up to the front door fast enough. She's there every morning until I pick her up just before nap time, and I think she really wants to nap there! I'm so glad she is exposed daily to things like yoga, Spanish, sign language, music, art, gardening, and of course, playing around outside. All of her classmates are so sweet and smart, and they're from a range of cultural backgrounds, which I love. They give me a little report every day of what she did that morning, so I love being able to reinforce the Spanish words she learned that day, or the sign language words, or the books. I thought it would be a big pain to make her lunch every morning, but as with so many mommy tasks I've gotten used to it, and I love being able to control what she eats, and give her new things to try. Sometimes when I arrive early I can watch the kids eat, and they're all so tidy and quiet and cute, sitting around a table together. I don't know how the teachers get them all to cooperate! The teachers and classmates all always give my girl a hug goodbye. They are so sweet. As you can see, I highly recommend it! read more

My son has learned SO much here so far! I'm seriously amazed! He is 3 and coming home telling me about bears hibernating, the sun is actually a star and made of gas, he knows we live in Austin Texas, can write letters, actually paints now instead of dumping all the paint like he used to before I put him in school, naps there but not at home-haha. Before here he knew ABCs, counting, & colors but this school was able to teach him SO much more than I could! We tried one school before This one and my son would cry every time at drop off and pickup & he would tell me all about kids who hit/hurt him. Here at sun moon stars he comes out telling me he had a good day or a fun day. He still occasionally gets hit by other kids still but it's par for the course at this age- it's just gonna happen. I do hope they teach more about not hitting though. I'm just proud my kid doesn't hurt people. On another note, my son loves bringing stuff for show and share Friday; as an only child I'm so happy he has a place to bring toys to share and learn more about sharing. Personally we like packing his own lunch and they send home what child didn't eat. Happy he's settled in here after 4 months. read more

As good as it gets for sure! I found the transition back to work to be quite difficult - just thinking about being separated from my little one was so scary and sad. From the very beginning Sun, Moon, and Stars staff and Ms. Shalini (the owner) were so patient, warm, and informative. They sent me updates, kept a detailed daily report, and took time to always include me and help me in the transition. The center has an incredible property - with beautiful scenery, landscaping, little chickens, giant wind-chimes, and happy, caring people. You get a loving vibe the moment you go in. I'm so grateful for this place. My daughter has been enrolled at SSM for more than a year now and she is flourishing, as is our family. We have an extended family with SSM and recommend it to everyone we know. read more

I can't review how the school actually is to attend, but I can give my opinion on the experience we had during the process of applying to have our son go there. I was blown away by the school when I first went alone to visit. I loved the idea of yoga and musical instrument sessions, gardening and how large the two houses were. I went back with my husband and son a month later. My husband was not that impressed. He felt the director, Ms. Shalini was a bit "cold" and noticed that she didn't even really talk to our son, however I was convinced that this was the right school and we went ahead and registered him. The agreement was that if my son were potty trained, he'd go into the 3 year old group and if he wasn't, he'd start in the 2 year old group till he was potty trained. When it came time for my son to come for a 1/2 day visit, he was potty trained and we expected him to go into the 3 year old group. Ms. Shalini said there wasn't a spot for him in the 3 year old group, that he would have to start in the 2 year old group, and that I should have given her more notice that my son was potty trained (I emailed her nearly 2 weeks ahead of his 1/2 day visit). My husband and I are SURE she told us he could start in the 3 year old group if he was potty trained. Ms. Shalini eventually found a spot for him, but still asserted that she never said he could start in the 3 year old group. One week before he was to start full-time I got a message from Ms. Shalini verifying that he would start on the 29th. Actually, he was to start on the 26th so I called back to make sure that was clear and she had just misspoken on our answering machine. When I called the school I ended up getting my son's teacher-to-be on the phone. When I verified his start date, she said "Oh, I'll be on vacation then". I was flabbergasted. No one had mentioned to me that my son's teacher was going to be gone the first few days. This was going to be a huge transition for him because he had been at his current day care for nearly 3 years. We had been talking to him about his "new school" and "new teacher" and he had met her twice already. I had even taken pictures of her and his classroom to show him and get him "ready". Then I come to find out one week before his start date that she won't be there for his first few days. This being another major issue with the school before my son even started there (we had one more which had to do with our prorated tuition check) made us come to the conclusion that we didn't want him to go there. Ms. Shalini later sent me an email stating that she felt there was no miscommunication on her part and that SMS couldn't meet my "demands". Having my needs for my child being categorized as "demands" makes me sure that this was not the correct place for him. I do not feel Ms. Shalini has any bad intentions. I just feel that she may not be the best communicator, director or businesswoman. I was, and still am, quite disappointed that we were not able to take our son to SMS. I was really looking forward to him having a new experience in a different school with some interesting activities. However, I also feel being able to communicate and trust the director of the school are very important issues when choosing a school. read more

Could not be more pleased with SMS - Ms Anita, Ms. Cindy and Ms Karen are great. They will call and give updates, when requested. I cannot speak about the drop in daycare aspect but Ms. Shalini runs a great facility that fosters indivuality as well as learning. We will be sending our son here for years to come. read more

My daughter attended SMS for four years and loved it. When my son was born with special needs I wanted him to get the socialization of daycare but was nervous about a daycare that would accept him. When I approached Ms. Shalini she was immediately understanding and was very supportive of him coming to SMS. We love all the teachers and have had no issue with them and they love our son and have made a great effort to understand his condition and to support his attendance at school. read more

My daughter has been at this school for over a year now and has progressed onto her second class (she's 3). Our experience has been excellent. We loved her 2 year old class teacher (Ms. Cheryl) and love her three year old teacher (Ms. Michelle). They do a great job with the kids! They really care about how your child is progressing and getting along. That means a lot when you can't stay at home with your children. Has it always been perfect, no, but the teachers and director are always willing to work with us if and when there is an issue. Anyone who has a child in school understands that at ANY school there are ups and downs. No one is going to raise your child the same way you do... and guess what, they are teachers, not parents! I totally understand that people want to parent their children in a certain way (ie cloth diapering, baby led weaning etc). I certainly do. But every child care center has to have rules and regulations that meet the state standards but that also meet their own standards and preferences. If they choose not to allow cloth diapering (i also cloth diapered so understand the frustration and challenge of finding a place that does it) then that's what they choose to do! If you don't like that, it's probably not the right school for you. If they choose not to do baby led weaning because they can't provide the constant oversight that is necessary when very small children are eating solids, then that's what they choose. And again, it's likely not the right school for you. I think i might err on the side of assuming it's a safety issue rather than assuming they are just trying to stick it to you and your parenting style, but hey, that's me. In the end, if this isn't the right place for you and your child fair enough. I'm not sure blasting them on yelp, particularly when there are 17 other 4 and 5 star ratings that are 'filtered' is helpful to prospective parents. One more thing... the owner of this place is quiet and shy, but extremely dedicated to the children and the success of her business. I like that about her. Apparently others don't. If you've ever run your own business you know how personally you take reviews like the ones here. Here's my two cents: Parents, if you are looking for a place to take your young child, give it a shot. It might not be for you... but you might just find it is. We sure have! read more

As a first time parent I was hestitant to put our little guy just anywhere. We researched and found this place from a referral. The same week we signed up, we found out our friends with two boys joined also. There is some turnover but nothing that throws my child off. I've been very pleased with the care he gets and the consistency of policies. I would recommend this learning center. read more

I just wanted to add that my son graduated from preschool at SMS in 2016 and is now in first grade. We had a wonderful experience there and now our 15 month old daughter is in the Moondrops class! read more

My son, B, moved to SMS in August and could not be happier. This preschool is the best of Austin. In addition to weekly yoga (If you are ever having a bad day, I seriously suggest watching two year olds do yoga. Comedy Gold) and music class, the school features a chicken coop and garden. Day one I was worried about the transition. B did not want me to leave. His teacher asked if he wanted to feed the chickens. I think we know how this story ends -- pro tip: toddlers love feeding chickens. Already B is using the Spanish words he is learning. The environment is so welcoming, it's hard to leave sometimes. Especially when a small boy starts his morning by making a superhero mask. (That was today.) B's teacher Ms. Michelle is excellent. She's creative, kind, and helps facilitate good choices. She is also saintly patient regarding potty training. And she has taught B that critical song about what happens when monkeys jump on beds, despite a doctor's clear orders. It can take a while to get off the waiting list, but so far we think it has been well worth the wait. read more

From the second that I saw the look on my son's face when we visited Sun, Moon and Stars I knew that this was a special place that would nurture and encourage my shy 3 year old. He attended SMS for a year and in that time he blossomed in to a funny, creative and caring boy. I attribute this to the environment that Ms Shalini, the director, has created with plenty of outside play and interesting centers inside. Ms. Allison's and Ms Karen's guidance as wonderful teachers also gave my son the confidence to learn and explore and grow in ways that I didn't know were possible. Unfortunately we moved to far north Austin and we could not make the commute to this wonderful place any longer, a decision that was not arrived at lightly. My son still talks about the school and all of the wonderful friends he made and the many songs and lessons that he learned. The only major con that others have mentioned is that getting in to and out of the daycare center can be treacherous, but you figure it out after a few weeks. read more

My 14 month old thrives at SMS. She started when she was 8 months old and the transition from one-on-one nanny care to a school environment was a little difficult for her, to say the least. Ms. Shalini and her teachers were wonderful and patient with my daughter. It took 5 weeks but with everyone's effort, patience and willingness to try different tactics, my daughter adapted. My daughter now loves her teachers and going to SMS. The teachers are very caring and I am able to leave in the mornings with no tears from my daughter. When I arrive to pick her up in the afternoons, she is always smiling and playing away. She comes home happy and we can tell she is really thriving, which is important considering she spends 45+ hours a week at SMS. This is my thank you to the nurturing and caring people at SMS. read more

We have been sending our son to SMS since he was an infant. He is nearly 2 years old now and we have had a pleasant experience. No place is perfect, and we have had our moments. But all in all we have been pleased with the care at SMS. Working and caring for babies and toddlers is a high-stress job and I applaud the teachers we have had. My son is happy when I drop him off and happy when I arrive to pick him up... that says a lot to me. He has learned sign language and other useful skills at "school" and I think he thrives here. Here you get a few little extras like music time with Mr. Neal and yoga every week. They have a couple of pet chickens, wonderful outdoor play areas and a cozy, homey feel to the classrooms. I give SMS a solid four stars, but hesitate to give it a perfect rating due to high turnover and other issues. Director, Ms. Shalini is happy to give updates, work on problem areas, and respond to issues. Also, Toddler teacher, Ms Cheryl is organized, and really knows what she is doing with the kids. For this, I'm updating and giving SMS 4-stars! read more

My two year old son started attending Sun Moon and Stars last August. He is always excited about going to school. Everyday he learns something new- he paints, sings, does yoga, plays outside...The staff is caring and friendly. We are very happy with our choice for his first daycare. read more

I can't say enough good things about SMS. Excellent leadership and loving staff have made my two sons happy and healthy. My family is lucky to have SMS in our life. read more

When leaving your little one in the hands of others, it's natural to get worried or sad that you're not the one caring for them all day. This place takes all of those emotions away. My child absolutely LOVES going to daycare/school/whatever you want to call it. These teachers are incredibly gifted with love and desire; only once or twice have I teared up leaving my kiddo but it only lasts a second because I feel so confident about the care and fun my child is having. Miss Shalini really reaches for the stars as she organizes special learning & music days, and even yoga on the weekend (select days). The best part? An organized parents-day-out once a month. She really has this learning center fine tuned and you can tell the caregivers love their jobs and are valued. Miss Shalini is always making improvements to making the place tip top! The parents are all wonderful from my experience and you really feel a sense of community here. P.s. I am a first time mom and our child is in the infant room. Get on the wait list early (we got on at four months pregnant) and check in as you get close to your due date to see where you are on the list. During the summer time, there is a bit of organizing for the new school year, which is common, and may have a delay in how quickly they'll know as kiddos will be moving up to enter kindergarten, etc. read more

I'm a first time parent and wasn't sure about the daycare route. I'm so happy that I chose SMS since our move to Austin. My daughter has been with SMS since she was 5 months and she is now 10 1/2 months old. She loves the school and the teachers. She's very happy and excited to see her teachers and friends. They teach her so much and they truly show the love they have for my child. Every teacher knows her name as well as the other children. I've watched her blossom and grow to be a happy baby. She learns Spanish, sign language and other fun stuff. I highly recommend the school if you are centrally located. read more

We have had our son attend SMS since he was 10 months old and he is now just about to turn 4. We feel very fortunate to have our son at such a nurturing and caring center. He has loved all of his teachers and all the variety of activities they do during the day. His favorites are music with Mr. Neil, art time, yoga and water play! SMS has also been very accommodating when we needed to change his hours at the center do to our different work schedules. We would highly recommend SMS to anyone looking for a high quality daycare/ preschool for their child! read more

Our son has been going here for about a year now, and he's been in excellent hands. He's learned sign language, plays well with other kids and loves arriving every morning. The teachers have all been great, and Ms. Shalini has been very responsive and flexible with us; when we have an issue, we bring it up, and it gets dealt with. They've had some organizational challenges lately, but it's been due to teachers having health issues, etc and not because the teachers don't want to be there. Overall, we've been very satisfied and feel good about taking our little one there every day! read more

Great daycare. Our 4 yr.old has learned so much since she started here. They teach spainsh, yoga,sign language and much more. The teachers are also great and easy to get along with. read more