I had a bad feeling about this place the second I walked in. I had to use the restroom and the…read moreadult restroom was dirty. Ever since I noticed that, during our tour, I also noticed the rooms that the kids were in were pretty dirty and messy. Grated, kids are messy, but this was a different dirty and messy, like they haven't washed the floor in a while dirty. The newborns were crawling around where there had been food dropped from lunch about 1/2 hour-1 hour prior, It made me really grossed out, plus what if the baby was allergic to whatever was on the ground?! The person we spoke to was nice, and sort of seemed to know her stuff, but gave us some misinformation (pricing info, staff info, etc.). The turnover is really high: 3 teachers leaving all together. That makes me nervous. I couldn't get out of there quick enough. The vibe was terrible. I didn't want to give it one star, but I the location is good for commuting parents.

I truly recommend this place. My two daughters ( 3 and 5 years old) attended for a week and they…read morehave a great time. The fascilities are big and super clean and the personnel very professional. Vanessa Freeman, the director knows exactly how to do her job. Very organized, problem solver, she would make your life easier. In comparison with other centers, for instance bright horizons in Allston and Kiddie academy ( very bad) this one was by far the best and there is a big gap. Thank you!

I have nothing but positive things to say about my child's time at LCS:…read more The staff were full of love and brought so much care and attention to my little one every day. All of the teachers/caregivers work very well as a team and take the time to get to know and love each of the children they look after and it really does show on the faces of the little ones attending the program. The learning curriculum is engaging for the kids and the communications with parents are frequent and clear . The Brightwheel app updates are amazing; seeing photos of my kid every day really brightened my mood. The physical space within the daycare is fun and inviting, with each classroom mocked up as a house or building in a neighborhood (hallway). I'd HIGHLY recommend this daycare to anyone in the Brookline/Boston area looking for somewhere their LO can socialize, exercise, learn, and grow in a safe and loving environment.

Both of my kids spent several years at LCSH, starting (for kid #1 at age 4, and kid #2 from 9…read moremonths). Between them, they passed through every classroom. There was not a single room that we (and they) didn't love! My son left for Kindergarten a year ago and my daughter is leaving now at age 3 to be closer to our home for pick-up/drop-off reasons. I'm so incredibly grateful we had LCSH to care for our children. First, the leadership. Lissy and Gladys are wonderful. They are experienced, kind, friendly, professional, and very responsive. They clearly love and know each one of the children and care for their staff. There is very little staff turnover, which both creates a very nice family atmosphere for the kids and speaks to Lissy and Gladys' leadership. When the pandemic hit, Lissy and Gladys did everything they could to keep the children safe while understanding the needs of working parents. I also have compared their tuition to many other places and they are very reasonable. Second, the staff! They are such wonderful people - my kids loved them all because they are warm, loving, and great educators. My son was fully ready for Kindergarten and my daughter has learned fine motor skills, sharing, listening, resolving conflicts, and fairness. Often teachers from previous years would see my daughter in the hallway and give her big hugs. It meant a lot to us that they felt surrounded by people who care. Third, the other programs. Lissy and Gladys keep things fresh by bringing in music teachers, having field days, sports, and many other activities. My daughter looked forward to every Thursday when Ms. Monica would come to her class and bring instruments for the kids to play and to dance. Finally, the community. The parents and other children are a lovely group of people. We are sad to leave LCSH, but grateful we have the memories. If you visit the school - especially Boylston street - it's not the most beautiful location. But don't judge based on that! The school itself is very nice and the teachers get the kids out and about to the local parks for sports, water parties in the summer, and playground fun. Ultimately, LCSH is a great place with people who truly care about kids and families.

Recently became a parent at GNS via the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP)…read more I had many reasons to be nervous about my kiddo starting preschool - pretty big aversion to playing with other children, having essentially no daycare/nanny experience, loud "no school!" when the idea was brought up periodically in attempts to make it less foreign, being a picky eater, etc. True story - when we did a classroom visit, where families can come and see the school, be in the classrooms, and meet the teachers, my kiddo said "why do I like school?" 5 minutes into it and the rest is history (currently in the making). The thought "oh, I can leave my kiddo here" came to me pretty unexpectedly and clearly during that visit, and I legit got pretty emotional. The other reviews ring true. If GNS interests you even a little bit, I highly recommend that you check it out for yourself.

Our daughter is in her second year at Garden Nursery School and it has been such a wonderful and…read moresupportive first school experience for her. We love that it is play-based and emphasizes socio-emotional learning, and the community that is created through the cooperative structure. It is such a welcoming environment with teachers and a director that truly appreciate the uniqueness of each child. Being new to the area, we have appreciated the chance to get to know the other families beyond a hello at dropoff. Our daughter has so much fun with all the art projects, and being able to run around with her friends in the garden, and as parents, it has been the perfect opportunity to have a part in sharing the experience with her. We love GNS!

We've had such a positive experience with Rogers-Pierce Childcare Center! Our family started in the…read morepreschool room with our oldest child, and now our second is thriving in the toddler room. The teachers are warm, attentive, and truly invested in each child's growth and happiness. The transition from home daycare to the center was seamless - the teachers answered questions at our play visit and were so welcoming. Communication is excellent through an app and each classroom has a cell phone for communications, too. The curriculum balances learning with play in a way that feels natural and engaging, and the kids are active in the Arlington community through different field trips and everyday adventures to the local parks and libraries. The center's values are rooted in equity, social justice, and community-building, and that shines through in all of their lessons and activities, as well as through the staff and the experience they bring to the classroom. RPCC has created a welcoming community for both kids and parents, and we feel confident every day that our children are safe, loved, and learning. We couldn't recommend Rogers-Pierce more highly!

My children have attended Rogers-Pierce since 2004. It is a warm, caring school with fantastic…read moreteachers. Recently (summer 2011) there have been some issues with teacher turnover, but a new Board of Directors is in place and is getting RPCC back on track. My daughter will start Pre-K in a few weeks and we could not be happier with the center.

TLDR: Triple check your start date, go out of your way to make sure they've sent you any paperwork…read morethey need, ask for a supervisor if they won't attempt to rectify their mistake . I would not use Kindercare in the future because of their poor communication and I hope that people in the future do not have issues like I had. -- In July 2022 when I was in my second trimester of pregnancy, I sent in an application and $200 registration fee for this daycare. I asked for a start date in April 2023 and they agreed that was likely. Later I got an email that there was a new director. When my baby was born, I emailed the new director to say, yes we still want that spot. No response after a few tries. After calling the center, I learned there was another new director. She and I communicated and she told me in writing that she confirms my spot for April. No mention of paperwork or next steps except that I could come for a tour if I wanted. It was December so I figured she'd ask for the extra paperwork closer to the start date. In February I reached out to her to ask about paperwork. No response. I learned from a friend that they have yet another director so I got her email and asked about next steps. She told me there's actually no April spot. This was very worrisome since I was going back to work in April. The July/August start date they offered would not work for me because we would moving out of the area. She declined giving back the $200 since it's not technically used to the "hold" the spot. I understand that the 200 is not a guarantee of a spot but after they told me I had a spot how would I as a first time parent know if there was even more to do? Even now I don't see what more steps I could have taken to ensure that they kept their word. The director basically agreed with me and said they dropped the ball but would not give me a refund when I asked a second time either. After asking to speak to a supervisor she agreed to send the $200 back. Whatever she did didn't work so when I reached out about the status she connected me to a support team who was able to send me a check. All this to say, I had to be very, very proactive to get any information or anything moving along. Also to clarify, after the first email communicating a director change, the subsequent changes happened without any notification. One more thing - at least one other parent I know was promised an April spot and then told there isn't one. Now I think and hope these issues won't happen when there's a consistent director. I understand that this is not the fault of the current director. I think it's appalling that they can put parents in this position without childcare by their own mistake and then not even offer to refund money deposited. I would not use Kindercare in the future because of their poor communication and I hope that people in the future do not have issues like I had. I gave 2 stars instead of only 1 because I do think some parents/kids have a good experience there and the people I spoke to were at least polite.

We brought our son here when he was 3 months old and stayed until we moved out of the city (~11…read moremonths old). Our experience at this Kindercare was excellent, and our appreciation for this place only strengthened after enrolling our son at a new day care in the 'burbs. The staff here is friendly and caring; they're always happy to see your child in the morning and to tell you about his/her day in the evening. They were very communicative both ways (I can't stress the importance of this enough). They really felt like extended family. We also appreciated that they had curriculum which, although it seems silly for an infant, provided structure and gave us comfort that they were assisting our child's development. Suffice it to say, we really miss this place.

I could go on forever taking about how amazzzing this place is and how wonderful the entire staff…read moreis. It's like they were born to take care and teach these children. Above and beyond is all I can say.

It is hard to put into words how much we have appreciated the Brookline Infant Toddler Center's…read morecare for our son. They provide a loving, warm comprehensive environment for all of the children in their care. Unlike some daycare centers, where the management remains aloof and detached from the children and staff, the BITC Management team are constantly moving through the center, providing support and supervision. I was particularly happy with the fact that their two playgrounds are directly attached to the building and completely enclosed. Choosing a daycare can be an anxiety provoking decision for a parent, we are happy in our knowledge that we made the right choice with BITC.

Both of my girls spent more than one year at the Inman square location. And they loved their…read moredaycare so much!!! We love it for the following reasons: 1. The caring staff! Kids are well-loved at their school. My kids are very close to their teachers and it has been an unforgettable experience. 2. Kids learned a lot. They learned so many songs at school and they enjoy singing and dancing very much. And my older one learned to read books and do some challenging math problems. We didn't teach her much at home and it is amazing for us to what much she learned at school. 3. The center is well organized. All inclusive programs, no need to bring lunch and diaper. That makes our life so much easier. Every month there are kids' performance show and other events. 4. The musical theme is great for kids. The musical director Phil is awesome! The downside: the center is relatively small. But it didn't bother me at all. I am just happy to see two little happy faces everyday. My older one will start kindergarten this September and we are also planing to transfer my younger one to a nearby center. I am sure that they will miss their old daycare a lot! There will be lots of tears at the moments of saying goodbye.

Our experience with Rock and Roll North Point infant room…read more TL;DR- A place for kids to have their basic needs met and for parents to get updates. Not a place for kids to learn and grow developmentally, or feel cared for by their teachers. Impossible to build trust with them. - Teachers don't have a genuine interest in the kids. They don't like kids. Felt transactional (will feed, will shake crib to help fall asleep, will change diaper, but not much more). - They let kids CIO (they will claim they don't, but they actively withhold soothing and attention until our kid is calmed. I get that they have other kids to tend to so it's not always possible to meet every kid's needs right away, but both teachers watched on as they let our kid cry continuously on the floor for 45 minutes. I took screenshots with timestamps to escalate to the executive team). - Not surprising to us, they had a DCF allegation (not from us) and closed down the classroom for 3 weeks. Same teachers returned to the classroom, nothing from the director what they'll do differently or any reassurance to rebuild trust. - If the teachers don't care about the kids, there needs to be more daily structured activities besides 15 mins of music, otherwise the teachers are on their phones, chatting with each other, skipping walks when they don't feel like going outside. - Both teachers had been there less than a year. Had more years of experience as a cashier, customer representative, or security guard than as early childhood educators (a career change must start somewhere, but see above comments on a lack of genuine interest, not a good combo). - Both admin and teachers lied to us (they'd tell us one thing, what we saw on camera was another. Had to take screenshots again to avoid they say vs. we say when we talked to them) - No windows at the kids' eye level in the classroom. Blinds are drawn even not during nap time (depressing atmosphere, especially given how much time they spend there). - Subjective, but I felt the teachers were kind of rough when picking up and putting a kid down, seems to think the kids are a nuisance. - Director has their kid hanging around at the daycare before and after the kid's school, which coincided with drop off and pick up at the daycare. The kid can be helpful, handing out toys to the infants (a liability in my opinion), but was disruptive when you're trying to have a conversation with the director and they repeatedly want attention from their parent. This review was based on 10 weeks of experience in the infant class. I understand there are short-term and temporary challenges with any daycare transition, but what we saw and what I noted here are long-term concerns that didn't going away even after our kid got well-adjusted. Many of these issues being fundamental to the approach of childcare (how do you teach someone to care and like kids?) On top of poor teacher quality, the admin failed to manage and train them.

School is cool is our favorite child care: the teachers are all very professional and passionate,…read morethe educational program is so variable, every day our toddler brings home new things she's made, tells us new stories, at 2 she new the letters, at 3,5 she can read! They have highly professional teachers who come to give special classes like music, painting and yoga, our lo loves it all! They make birthday celebrations for each kid, place pictures on Instagram almost every day, and we love to see her happy face there. They make special projects for every single holiday, so the kids get to know the culture while doing arts & crafts. And our lo is always excited about going to "School is Cool", so that's the main reason we like it! She started at 1,5 and we only changed between locations in the "School is Cool" chain.

We have one child at School is Cool who has been there two years, and a second child about to…read morestart. School is Cool is a wonderful daycare and with plenty of options to choose from in the Brookline area, I am glad we chose this one. The staff are lovely and there is very little turnover, so you really get to know them as your little ones grow. Olesia took over as Director earlier this year and she is great, she makes such an effort with the kids activities and extra-curricular fun. This is one of the most cost effective daycares in the area, so there's no fancy app telling you what your child is up to every second of the day, and meals are not provided, but these are both things we happily live without. Just knowing our child is happy, safe and learning each day is everything we need.