The U.S. may have had a revolution on its hands were it not for Children's Village Montessori…read more As a new mom I felt absolutely wronged by the laws of this nation that do not allow for extended paid maternity leaves. So when I had to look for a place that I could trust with my firstborn when he was 10 weeks old, I was pretty particular, to say the least. I also needed a place that was convenient to my commute and was reasonably priced. It's been 10 months now and I am so happy I found this place. First of all, Pat, who works in the infant room, is an absolute baby-whisperer (or a Godsend, depending on your religious affiliations). It is such a joy to leave your child with someone who makes him flash that adorable toothless grin. She takes excellent care of the babies; my child is always is well-rested, well-fed, clean and - most importantly !happy! at the end of the day. The toddler room also seems to be a happy place. All the ladies have been almost like co-parents to us. They are baby experts! and will give you helpful tidbits about your particular child. I don't expect the moon - it is a daycare center, and it is tucked in a place that has crazy construction going on right now. Also it's not like they offer a fully organic menu or baby reiki or anything, but at least they are willing to work with you. They've also been flexible with our unpredictable work schedules, which is huge.

I can't believe I'm the first to review CVM!…read more I switched my now 5-year-old son to this preschool/daycare when he was three years old, after a disastrous experience with another child care. I was frantic and desperate for childcare, and when I walked in and saw Mary (the owner) wearing a cheery green leprechaun hat for St. Patrick's Day and calling each child by name, I knew I was in a good place. I only have a few (minor) complaints about this place, and I'd send another child here in a heartbeat. My son is starting kindergarten soon, so I'm sad to say we'll be leaving CVM soon after nearly 2 years. I'll get the cons out of the way quickly: (1) Parking is a little rough, since CVM is smack dab in the middle of a swath of auto-body places, and it's in an urban neighborhood right next to the University of Minnesota. Often there are no parking spots and parents have to idle their cars in the middle of the lot. (2) The staff could probably use a dress code. Their clothing is sometimes a little off-putting... there's something to be said for looking neat and tidy and well-groomed, and CVM staff occasionally are lax in this department. The pros: (1) CVM accepts childcare assistance. You'd be astonished how many places don't. This was a major factor for me. (2) The location is very convenient -- RIGHT next to the University of Minnesota, which is great for people like me who are students, staff or faculty at UMN but couldn't get in off the waiting list at the university daycare. (3) The mix of kids is healthy. The kids almost uniformly come from good homes, and many are the children of grad students and university employees. The racial balance is well-distributed and diverse, not skewed in any one direction, and my son has playmates whose parents hail from countries as diverse as Ethiopia, Somalia, Laos and Norway. Having playmates whose parents are involved, serious about parenting and affectionate is so important. Parents often bring treats for all the kids. (4) Mary, the owner, has been at CVM for almost 30 years -- longer than I've been alive. That continuity is so good for the children. There is less turnover at CVM than other childcares I've used. (5) I have never felt anything less than completely secure leaving my son in the care of CVM. Even when they bring the kids to the park (a few blocks away) or walk them to the playground, I know they're keeping a good eye on him and taking good care of him. You can't put a price on that.

We sent all three of our children to this preschool and loved our experience. All the teachers are…read moreamazing and they keep the kids busy and engaged. PLUS it's affordable!

I would do 10 stars if I could! I'm so happy to have found Mt. Calvary! They are loving to the…read morechildren in their care. I sent my son (who is now 10!) and he made amazing memories and friendships that still last. The field trips are a blast and they provide so many hands-on experiences. We aren't very religious but it doesn't matter. It's a warm, loving place for all kids. I highly recommend!!!

Little Beginnings has gone above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to our son's care. Our…read moreson started last fall with strong separation anxiety, and has really blossomed from a shy one-year-old to a bubbly toddler who regularly signs, comes home with new vocabulary, and can't wait to show off his new habits (such as washing his hands and sitting on the potty unprompted)! Nearly all of the staff have been there for years, which I think says a lot about their quality as a center. I feel 100% comfortable leaving our son in their care.

Little Beginnings has been a wonderful part of my children's lives. The teachers plan activities…read morewhich are engaging and age appropriate. The staff see the children as individuals and truly understand each child. My children have grown tremendously at Little Beginnings - physically, socially and academically. The concepts and experiences they are exposed to cannot be matched. From field trips, to bike and water days as well as daily exposure to math, science, and literacy, my kids are never bored. In fact, I can't arrive early to pick my kids up because they don't want to leave. The staff are consistent in they way they teach - the children know the expectations. My oldest will start kindergarten in the fall and I know he is well prepared.

I have had my daughter in a few different daycares, all in a different city. I had heard about…read morePrimrose through other family and friends and decided to give it a shot! We enrolled her and she began learning faster than we could keep up. It was amazing how much she would tell me she did in a day during our 45 min car ride home. She would sing, and dance, and continued to tell us what she learned day to day. This year, she started into Kindergarten in our school district. In November, when they closed the schools due to COVID, she was expected to be full distance learning and complete numerous packets for her work. She began to "hate school" and didn't want to go to school, even though she stayed home. We heard there was an opening in the Private Kindergarten and without hesitation, dis-enrolled her from our local school and placed her back at Primrose. Within the week, she was back to loving school, singing and dancing. Nothing makes my heart melt more than her smiling and giggling as she tells me about her day and how much fun she had. If it wasn't for Primrose, I can't imagine where my little girl would be in the realm of her education as well as her mental health. Even though school is back in session and she would be welcome back in our towns school, we refuse to pull her from Primrose and will make the 45 minute one-way drive every day, as it is more than worth it for us and her.

Overall experience: This is my 5th daycare in 3 states. And…read morethis center is top notch! From the moment you enter the premises you know they care. The level of care is off the charts and this center is a favorite of mine. I work full time and dropping my kids off at Primrose everyday really eases my mind. I know they are in an environment where they are cared for and where they are learning. Experience in learning/readiness: I have seen my children continually learn and we have seen growth in their readiness. I have a 5yo who has been at Primrose for the past two years. I have no doubts that he is ready for kindergarten. Primrose's curriculum prepared him for kindergarten not only with the information but by helping them become independent. They also focus on the whole child. When we first came to Primrose our 5yo was not eating very many things. One of his teachers was super concerned and constantly encouraged him to try new things. Now he tries all types of new things. When things go wrong: Several months ago a serious accusation was lodged against my son. This mama bear was ready for battle!! The Director of Primrose took everything really serious and started fact finding without any accusations or choosing of side. She interviewed teachers and a few students in a gentle (the kids didnt even know they were being interviewed) and caring manner. The issue was resolved without incident. To me a true test of a school is when things go wrong. Things went very wrong this time but the folks at Primrose stepped up and handled it with care and a thoroughness that speaks to their commitment to excellence. Pick up/ drop off: Pick up and drop off are pretty easy. You get a key fob to gain access to the building, you log your children in and out on a computer. Recently I took the kids out of school for the day to hang out. I did not check them in and did not leave a note in tadpoles (awesome app)...so the school called us to check on them. With all the hot car deaths this small action really touched me. This school cares and they show it! Gosh, I have so much to say! I still have not talked about the app (tadpoles that tracks all the kids do during the day and you get photos) or about the healthy lunches and snacks by the in house chef. I haven't touched on the fact that the chef makes a cake for every child on their birthday...or that families are celebrated monthly. Some may say the cost is too high...but you get what you pay for. If I can't be the one watching my children I want to pay for the best..and the best is Primrose!!!

I love this child care center. It's in the middle of a nursing home. The children occasionally…read moreinteract with the seniors who are referred to as "grand-friends". Our child has previously gone to both lil' explorers and kindercare. Lil' explorers had way too many kids in each class and our daughter wasn't learning much. Kindercare was too expensive. North Ridge is small class sizes for a certain reasonable price. The staff and classes are diverse. They do weekly themes. My favorite was when they learned about bears and at the end of the week they dressed as explorers and went on a bear hunt. Our daughter is always sad when it's the weekend because that means she can't see Soozee, Tammy, Jessica (teachers and director). The facility overall is a little run down but the kids rooms are bright and full of fun. The teachers have really put in a lot of work into them. They follow all regulations. We've never had a report here where our child was bit (happened weekly at little explorers). There is a dedicated kitchen staff which makes the meals since it's required for the nursing home. There is also a dedicated janitorial staff. In case there was an emergency there are nurses on site, again the benefits of the nursing home. The only downside is you don't get a fully locked down facility. People come and go inside and outside of the building but we've had no problems since the classes are small, they are in their own wing of the building, and the kids stay in their rooms for the most part. The kids get outside most days for play time. Our daughter loves the trikes. They also interact with the grand friends. Just the other week the grand friends put on a puppet show. So if you're struggling with the cost of a center, looking for a smaller class size, and really want to see your child bloom then North Ridge Childcare is for you!

North Ridge Health and Rehab's child daycare is wonderful! The space is clean and well-maintained…read more Jess, the director, communicates clearly and keeps families informed. The children are happy, engaged, and truly enjoy their time there. The staff create a warm and positive environment. I highly recommend it!

We have sent our daughter to this center for four years and we have been impressed with the quality…read moreof care she has received. The staff is wonderful with the children and our daughter has thrived in this environment. I greatly appreciate the "community" aspect of the center. There are a lot of engaged parents and families - this isn't just a place you drop off your kids during the day. The center hosts many family events throughout the year where we are given an opportunity to get to know the other parents and children. I would absolutely recommend CCCC to anyone looking for childcare in the south Minneapolis area.

I cannot express my love and appreciation for this school. We were new to MN and enrolled our first…read morechild in Ready, Set, Grow and have never felt more welcome and comfortable leaving our child in their capable hands. We have loved the entire staff, Andrea, the director has been a really supportive and encouraging to the children and the staff. This preschool has helped both of my boys develop emotionally and intellectually.

I wouldn't use one star but I had to...... So, I wrote a honest review previously. Somehow Rainbow…read moreChildcare got Yelp to remove my HONEST review. Something they say they can't & don't do. So this time I left out the illegal activity I witnessed & experienced. *I also imagine this is why No1 else has commented about this horrific center but here it goes. Often incodents would happen without receiving a write up. This is a family owned operation that is very manipulating to make things appear at ease. Always telling you good morning & goodbye. Rainbow Childcare Center requires a two week notice. Which is reasonable. Only, when I experienced a hardship and was 1 day behind on the $1240 a month tuition that I had been paying since 2015, The Director Maria and Asst. Director Daniel (probably related to Maria and her mom Cheryl as well) dropped my child with no notice or just cause. Childishly sending my child's personal belongings in the mail. So I'd assume your discriminating against my child or that there is a personal vendetta, and or you had another child to take my child's spot that you could make more money off of. ??? Personally, i believe they dropped my child because I confronted issues that needed to be addressed by staff. Needless to say I contacted the proper authority and there is a full investigation. ***Keep looking parents*** I feel bad for their staff. The non-family ones that have to deal with the BS on a daily basis. Sad, great area: Unreliable, uneduated, manipulative conniving lead employee's. Out of five kids this has been the WORST experience by far. DHS licensing complaints & BBB reports are public record.

Great daycare, management is very supportive and will try to help you as much as they can. Staff is…read morevery kind, I love the baby room. I had my two kids there until they entered kindergarten and hope to be able to send my 3rd one there when time comes.