As first-time parents, sending our son to daycare at 7 months old was a huge milestone, and naturally, we were nervous. From day one, the staff made the transition so much easier than we expected. They took the time to answer our questions, listen to our concerns, and always made us feel supported and heard. Now, almost three months later, our son is completely comfortable there and genuinely happy to see his teachers each day. It's clear that his well-being and best interests are always the top priority. We've also seen such an incredible leap in his development since he started. He's learning new skills so quickly, and we truly believe the attentive care from his teachers, along with the opportunity to socialize with the other babies, has played a big role in helping him thrive. He's almost 10 months old now and doing so well. We couldn't be more grateful for the care he's received. I would absolutely recommend this daycare to any new parent who feels nervous about sending their baby to daycare for the first time. They made what felt like such a scary transition into a really positive experience for our whole family. read more

We love the owner of this school! My kids attended the owner's last school and we had an amazing experience. Michele creates community with her programs. I am so grateful we were able to find excellent care at an affordable price. We highly recommend! read more

Our daughter has been at TJB since August of last year and it has been an absolute treat. We are so lucky that she had an easy and well-supported transition, and truly enjoys her time at her "school". Between 15 months of age and now at 2 years 2 months, she has learned how to identify colors, days of the week, count, sing multiple songs including her letters, and communicate with us. I was surprised last week that when she didn't enjoy cuddling with me, she was quick to say, "Please, I don't like that", which is something she has been taught at TJB. They have also been super helpful with letting her transition from bottle to glass while drinking milk etc. It has been a true delight to have our kid at TJB and we're truly going to miss it as we move up to preschool :) read more

Michele took my daughter right in after we lost our other preschool in the Altadena fires and we could not have been happier. Great support, loving environment, healthy lunches, awesome teachers and good security. Highly recommend! read more

Our baby started attending The Journey Begins at 6 months old. The teachers put in a lot of work to make the transition as easy as possible. Our baby had barely even napped in a crib before TJB (mostly contact napped!) and the devoted infant teachers helped our kiddo feel comfortable enough to start taking long crib naps. That's just one example of our how baby has grown since starting at The Journey Begins. I give so much credit to the teachers for all the care they show the little ones every day. Other things that are great about The Journey Begins: -Outdoor space and lots of outdoor play time -Separate dark nap room for the infants -Infants can all be on their own schedule - teachers follow each baby's cues -Classrooms for each age, but opportunities for the babies/toddlers to sometimes play across age group read more

We enrolled our daughter at 18m right before the new school year started in fall. And although she was old enough for the toddler room, Michele thought it was best she start in the wobbler room and then transfer over with all the kids who would be the same age as her. And she was definitely right! She transitioned nicely and we love to see her grow every day! We love all the teachers at TJB. I was very nervous leaving her with strangers at first. However my daughter has really learned to love everyone. It's really convenient that they provide meals and snacks for the kids as well! read more

Thank you to TJB for the lovely program, both my kids love it! My daughter is currently enrolled as a wobbler and my son started in the infant room and graduated as a toddler. read more

My 2 year old son goes here and he became much more sociable. The teachers and the Dean Michele manages the whole group very kindly and love the kids. It has a nice patio. read more

The Journey begins is a great place to have your children. They always have great and loving teachers that care for the well being of the children. It's an addition to home due to the nurturing and love that the children receive from the staff. I was a lead teacher at the Journey begins for 5 years in the toddler room, I LOVEd working there! I loved planning fun and eventful days for my students and seeing their progress as they grew in knowledge with so many fun activities. To this day I miss working there. There is also an advantage to going there, after your child is ready to move on to another school, they can attend TJB's sister school, Celebration Kids! In which I also worked for 12 wonderful years! To this day I go back and visit both schools and feel blessed to have had both my children grow up experiencing such great memories and hand on activities with such great teachers and in safe environments in which encouraged them to thrive in many areas of their lives. The Journey Begins speaks from its name, truly children do begin a Journey once they step a foot in their, to learn, explore, have fun, and be surrounded by amazing staff. read more

The Journey Begins - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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We're so grateful to have found The Journey Begins! The teachers are loving, nurturing, and just all around excellent. We've sent both of our kids there. Our son, now 3, absolutely thrived. He is a brave, caring, curious kid, and I know that I have TJB to thank for his positive emotional development. Our daughter, now 5 months, just started a few weeks ago and already loves it. She gets excited when we walk into the gate, and smiles every morning at drop off. It is such a relief to have found a caring community like TJB to help our kids grow. read more

My son started here in fall of 2020 at 10 months old. Generally, navigating pandemic childcare was extremely difficult and confusing. I don't envy the difficult job that Michele and the staff at TJB had. And I am forever grateful for how well they navigated COVID all while making sure our kiddos were happy and safe. Here's what you can expect from TJB: - Communication: Michele is a total pro at this. She sends weekly emails, navigates all the latest rules and procedures from the health department and always keeps you informed. I was always so impressed by how well she handled things especially through the toughest parts of COVID. - Care: every staff member could always answer questions about my sons day and communicate any relevant details. He genuinely loved all of them and I've never been happier to see him run into someone else's arms. - Crafts: some of the most amazing and thoughtful crafts are created by the kids and put together and sent home by the staff. I don't have the strength to make footprint art but I am so happy someone made these for us and I'll have them forever. Overall, I've sent two of my other friends and their babies here, I can't recommend them enough. Bonus points is that the price is very fair and once your child is too old for the program they have automatic entry to the next school down the street, Celebration Kids. They also have an app where you can see pictures and details of your child's day. read more

We love The Journey Begins! Their teachers are amazing, so caring and sweet. It's such a loving and supportive environment. Our daughter loves it so much, she doesn't want to leave when we pick her up. We highly recommend TJB to any family looking for infant / toddler care :) read more

Our daughter attended TJB from 13 months (in the wobbler room) up until age 2 (in the toddler room). This was during the COVID pandemic, when a lot was up in the air, we were juggling working from home with a new baby, and really needed that support system. We definitely got that from TJB! The director, Michele, is always listening and setting up a great experience for the kiddos and the staff. From spirit weeks, to great in-app communication and updates, a secure and safe location, and lots of celebration and fun. While there are a lot of illnesses that first year in daycare, the communication and next steps were always clear, and we were able to get through it with minimal time off work. The teachers were also incredible. We've kept in touch with many of them since "graduating" and they continue to have a role in our child's life through babysitting and social media. It's a truly special place, and I encourage NELA families to take a tour. read more

TJB has been wonderful with our daughters. Our oldest went there from 6 months old until she graduated to preschool at 2.5 years old. They were so much more than just daycare. They taught her to taken turns, to count, to play well with new kids, and helped her dance and sing with confidence :) now our 6 month old baby girl is there too and I can already tell that the teachers are helping her grow into her own little self. It's a safe, clean, reliable place to help your child and family grown and learn. read more

My son has been attending here since he was 3 months old. The staff is extremely communicative and wonderful with all ages. Their lesson plans, yes lesson plans, for the week are above and beyond and are helping my son develop both mentally and physically. read more

TJB holds a very special a place in our hearts. They have provided wonderful and loving care to our two boys. The management and staff are super supportive and responsive to any and all our needs. They were there for us during the pandemic having only closed for a short time and our kiddos were really sheltered from appt he craziness of 2019-2021. This place is truly a gem! read more

Both of our children have attended The Journey Begins and we feel so fortunate. Our sons are very different, and TJB was a great place for both of them as individuals. They both started when they were only 16 months old and to say we were nervous is a major understatement. The staff and teachers at TJB made us feel right at home and we knew our sons were loved, encouraged, and thriving from the first day. Nothing about parenting has been easy, except maybe for the choice to send our kiddos to The Journey Begins. read more

Wonderful, caring staff at this play based daycare center for babies and toddlers! My son was one of the first children to attend TJB and he quickly formed a bond with his teachers and classmates. I appreciated the effort the director put into developing a program that was enriching and fun for the students as well as keeping the parents connected to the greater community. Their sister school, Celebration Kids was a big perk and he now attends preschool there. I'm grateful daily for finding TJB. read more

My 20-month-old son has attended The Journey Begins for the past seven months and I am very happy with this school. My older son attended their sister school for daycare and preschool, so when the school directors opened an infant/toddler center, I did not hesitate to sign up my youngest. The school is in a large, old craftsman home that has been converted into wonderful, bright, open, and playful spaces for the children. There are plenty of toys and books, soft spots to read, tables to craft, and open spaces to stack. Their outdoor spaces have enough push toys, ride-on cars, and playhouses for all the children to be engaged. I appreciate the trees shading the backyard, as I've seen many schools that look like cement jungles. The teachers are great. They plan lots of different activities to stimulate the senses, get down on the floor to play with the kids, and join in silly dancing to music. Important to me, they hug and hold your child and give extra TLC when they are having a hard time watching their parent go, have a boo boo, or are having a hard time falling asleep at nap time. Diapers are changed as often as I do at home (every 2-3 hours, or as needed). Once a week a teacher comes in to lead a music class. There is lots of communication with parents. The director sends a weekly email with updates on staffing, planned activities, celebrations, and logistical items. Everyday the teachers fill out a sheet for each child indicating how they ate, slept, when diapers were changed, and the activities they enjoyed. Also, the school uses an online app to share pictures (in a private account, and with parent permission) so you can see what your kids are up to during the day. I also love Michelle, the director and co-owner of the school . She has a strong child development background with the degrees, her own kids, and many years of experience in running childcare centers to back her up. She lives in the community, knows about all the local resources as well as the people throughout. I ask her school questions and parenting questions, and she is always happy and eager to answer and discuss anything. The only downside is limited parking on the busy street. But there is a strong, tall fence that cannot be seen through, with a set of double gates so no child can accidentally wander out. There are lots of security measures built in here, which I am grateful for. read more

The Journey Begins is a very special place for young children. The director and her staff are expert caregivers and have created a warm, loving, secure and stimulating environment that fosters learning and growth. I have never once doubted their commitment to keeping my child safe and giving her the tools she needs to grow. TJB prioritizes children and families' best interests over all else, and the peace of mind that has given our family has been invaluable. My child has blossomed into a happy, secure, polite and curious 2.5-year-old, well equipped to move on to the next phase of her childhood, and so much of the credit for that is owed to our TJB family. Thank you for all that you do! read more