Our daughter was a founding student at Modern Schoolhouse in Eagle Rock. She attended TMS from when…read moreshe was 18 months until she graduated as a 4-year-old (when our family moved from LA to Denver). It's difficult to capture the gratitude and appreciation we have for Sue and her team in words. Modern Schoolhouse was an integral, joyful part of our family's life for several years. The teachers expertly crafted a safe, nurturing, and rigorous environment that provided a strong foundation for our daughter to blossom and grow. I feel like we will always look back on our enrollment at Modern Schoolhouse as one of the best parenting decisions we've ever made. A few things stand out about TMS: CURRICULUM - Our daughter was enrolled in full-time childcare for a year prior to Modern Schoolhouse. However, it was unclear whether her previous caregivers were working toward any kind of goal (e.g., Kindergarten readiness) or if she was learning anything. That changed the instant we enrolled at TMS. I remember feeling skeptical when Sue asked us to purchase a special pack of flashcards. However, a few months later our 1.5 year-old daughter was recognizing the alphabet and making letter sounds at home. We were legitimately shocked! Preschool years are so important for kids to develop foundational skills and get broad exposure to different topics. Modern Schoolhouse delivers a learning experience that feels ambitious, but not forced. Our daughter was always engaged with the current unit (e.g., marine life, camping, etc.) and excited to go to school. That is the best feeling as a parent! The regular assessments and parent/teacher conferences helped us understand her progress and make a smooth transition to our new school in Colorado. CARE - At the same time that preschool aged children are exploring new academic concepts, they're also learning how to interact and play with other children. Modern Schoolhouse does such an excellent job helping their students communicate, manage their emotions, and engage with their classmates. At TMS our daughter learned things like how to ask for space and differentiate between good vs. bad choices. Teacher/staff transitions are inevitable and unavoidable in early childhood learning. What stood out to us about TMS was the quality and consistency of the team over the years and across classrooms. The teachers at Modern Schoolhouse helped us through the various ups and downs of life with a toddler and major transitions like potty training. Now that we're no longer enrolled at TMS, we're realizing that we took for granted how proactive and responsive the teachers were with their communication. The "ouch reports" from the playground, the quick responses to questions, it's all so important for parents - especially if this is your first childcare experience. COMMUNITY - Lastly, I want to highlight the broader Modern Schoolhouse community. Our daughter became very close with several other girls in her classroom and over time we became friends with their parents as well. TMS families are diverse, kind, and welcoming. I appreciated the music day potluck, annual art show, graduation, and the various other ways that Modern Schoolhouse brought everyone together to celebrate the students. Thank you Modern Schoolhouse! We will forever be grateful to you for the positive impact you had on our family.

We learned early on how incredibly important and foundational the learning ages of 2-5 were going…read moreto be for our son's growth. Until the age of two, we were able to nurture his love of creativity through art, get him engaged in reading and music, and keep him active and independent while learning at home, but his social-emotional growth needed a community like Modern Schoolhouse to truly develop. We met another family at his favorite playground that had an AMAZING experience at Modern Schoolhouse and their daughter, who was academically gifted and raised with similar philosophies, was thriving under their care. We enrolled and discovered for ourselves that Modern Schoolhouse was indeed an absolute gem for child development. Our son entered after turning two, and he was very shy/reserved at the time. The talking, dancing, singing, bilingual artist that blew us away with his funny ideas and love of learning at home, needed help expressing himself in the larger group. Over the next several years, Leonardo was able to grow and thrive his ability to emotionally self-regulate, from having a 'safe space' at home to being able to identify what he was feeling and how to 'calm his body,' to listening to others and respecting common space. What we didn't anticipate was not just the top quality of the school, the clean aesthetic spaces, and the exceptional teachers (Teacher Alicia from class 3 was truly amazing!!), but also the like minded and kind community that became a key part of our son's social life. During our son's first years at home, we studied Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia- instituting some principles of each in our approach at home. It wasn't until we met Sue and her philosophies at Modern Schoolhouse did we see some of these same philosophies embodied in an American child care setting; and we must have interviewed or toured at 5 or more local schools before finding Modern Schoolhouse. The core beliefs consist of the idea that children are competent, capable, curious individuals with hundreds of ways of self expression. The role of the school and family should be creating a structured, clean, and aesthetic environment that is conducive stimulating exploration and discovery. Teachers in this sense guide and foster collaboration rather than just 'delivering information.' Giving our son a new challenge was hard at first, but Sue and her staff were quick to offer suggestions and outside resources so we could reinforce some lessons at home, especially around his development of social/emotional skills like managing anger, dealing with disappointment, and learning to communicate when he needed space. He also was given the chance to learn how to build relationships and have positive interactions with new friends. Each 'season' and month had different themes that would be clearly delivered in monthly/quarterly emails along with chances to meet with teachers on child progress in key development areas of language, tracing, use of scissors, how to put on shoes/jackets, counting, class participation/listening, and emotional self expression. By class 3 (3 years old and above), our son was giving 'show and tell' presentations, using the 'sharing bee' to discuss their weekend, and playing inventive games to stimulate imagination and curiosity. Through the use of brightwheel, we were always shown photos and videos of our son having fun with friends and doing some fun activity. The school also offered many events at the school such as the "annual art show," "parent and me" day, and music sessions from Teacher Gaia culminating in a student led music performance (the cutest!). This year all the 4 classes made their own animal costumes and acted out various Disney themes. It was extraordinary to see him flourish and thrive under Teacher Alicia in class 3, who is truly remarkable for her ability to connect to kids and meet them where they are on the journey. By the end he was more confident in his presentations and even singing his favorite Disney songs Karaoke style to the class! Everything ended on a wonderful note with his graduation and small speech to parents and the graduating class. We were given an opportunity for a graduation photoshoot and his 'family book' with messages from all of the teachers as a keepsake that he created during his time there. As he graduated before many of the others in class 3, everyone created a special hand painted art for him with with the handprints of all his friends. It is bittersweet to go onto the next chapter, but he graduated school scoring high in every single metric of development, and he easily was interviewed and accepted into an international private school. Thanks you for being such a key part of his childhood journey and we hope to stay in touch with Leonardo and our growing family!

Little Acorn is a lovely place! The teachers and staff are kind, responsive and welcoming, and…read morethey take excellent care of the students. The outdoor space is beautiful, spacious and shaded, with a fun trike track and plenty of nice playground equipment. Parking, pickup and dropoff are a breeze, and the grounds are well-secured. My daughter enjoys her time there, and I really appreciate Little Acorn for providing this safe and friendly environment.

Our daughter spent a year and a half at Little Acorn, starting from when she was 18 months old…read more It's a great daycare program filled with thoughtful and caring teachers, enriching activities, and overall, is a structured environment that supports the children well. In particular, I cannot say enough good things about Ms. Amanda's Toddler classroom. Our daughter came home weekly with beautifully crafted art projects and we received regular photo updates from the Procare app, which gave us peace of mind when she was so little. She also began potty training around 25 months old when Ms. Amanda noticed that she showed interest, and I attribute her potty training success to the consistent effort and support reinforced by her and the rest of the teachers. Another positive is that our very picky eater has been a big fan of the hot lunch program, which is cooked on-site (thanks Ms. Gene!) I would remove a star as there was quite a bit of staff turnover right as our daughter switched into the Pre-Primary classroom. This was unfortunate as the ever-changing staff made the transition more challenging for our child, and she had a bit of a regression. However, once Ms. Nona was instated as the main teacher, she was patient and worked with our daughter, meeting her at her level until she got over the hump. Though we're sad to leave Little Acorn, we're grateful that this program set our daughter up with such a great foundation. We will miss all the teachers at Little Acorn!

As an early childhood education professional, choosing the right preschool for my daughter was…read moreincredibly important. I wanted a program that not only provided a safe and nurturing environment, but also truly supported her social-emotional development. This preschool has exceeded all of my expectations. The teachers are warm, supportive, and genuinely caring, creating an environment where children feel loved, valued, and confident. Since starting the program, my daughter has grown tremendously in her confidence, independence, and social-emotional skills. She looks forward to school every day! I also greatly appreciate Aremi's (Director) vision and commitment to providing a high-quality program. We are incredibly grateful for this positive first preschool experience and highly recommend this school to families seeking a nurturing, developmentally appropriate environment for their child.

We have sent both our kids here from when they were infants through age 5 and we couldn't be…read morehappier. Aremi is wonderful to work with, and all the teachers really care and do a great job. Our first child had a smooth transition into school, and I think she felt so prepared because of all of the great work at The Play Atelier. My son will start school in August and I can already tell that he is ready too!

My son has grown so much socially and academically since starting at Little Otters Academy. We've…read moreseen huge strides in his confidence and social skills. We are especially impressed by the extracurricular activities they offer; having Spanish and Chinese classes integrated into the day is such a unique and valuable benefit. They also recently added a Soccer Shots class, which has been a huge hit--my son absolutely loves getting out there and playing soccer with his peers. I also love that they have cooking activities, which is such a fun way for the kids to learn and explore. Beyond the academics, they put on the cutest little performances for parents to watch, like the Christmas show, which we absolutely loved. We couldn't ask for a more stimulating learning environment with amazing and attentive teachers for our little one!

We absolutely love Little Otters Academy! My daughter started here when she was 3 in their…read morepreschool program and stayed on for TK because we loved their curriculum so much. The teachers are amazing-so warm, communicative, and you can tell they truly care about the kids and their success. The school itself is great. The playground is huge, the campus is very clean, and safety is clearly a priority with security cameras around the school. Compared to other local preschools we toured, the classrooms and playground here are by far the most spacious, which we really appreciated. We also like that the school focuses on both academics and play. Even starting in preschool, they introduce light homework, which helps build good learning habits early while still keeping things fun. Another thing we love is their focus on community engagement. They bring in local police officers, firefighters, and librarians to talk to the kids about safety and the community. Fridays are especially fun with activities like pizza making, dress-up days, and arts and crafts. They also do a great job celebrating different cultural holidays so every family feels included. Mandarin and Spanish classes are available too (for an additional cost), which is a nice bonus. Overall, we've had a great experience and would definitely recommend Little Otters Academy to other families looking for a caring and well-rounded preschool/TK program.

Our son attended Almansor's early education program from when he was one years old until he turned…read morethree, and he loved it there. We left to attend a school closer to us, and on our final day, we were all in tears to say goodbye because that is how much the programs staff and teachers mean to our family. From before our son could walk, and through every big milestone, the caring teachers at Almansor have supported him developmentally, emotionally, and academically. We love the teachers, especially Teacher Alexis and Teacher Mary who our son still talks about. They provide so much love and support, and we always felt comfortable and at ease with leaving our kid in their care.

Almansor Center has been such a wonderful place for our family! My son, who is now 3 years old, has…read morebeen at this day care since he was an infant and he has absolutely loved going to this daycare every day! The teachers are so incredibly kind and nurturing. In every class he has been in, they have always welcomed my son with open arms and made him feel safe and part of warm school community. The director has also been so inviting and supportive in every interaction. Communication through the Procare app is consistent and specific which I very much appreciated. If you are looking for a fantastic daycare, look no further! If they have a space open, don't delay! Secure your spot today! You won't regret it.

Logistics: - They're open till 6pm!…read more- Little Sunshine is split into 3 classes based on age/readiness: Class A (3.5-5yo), Class B (3-4yo), and Class C (2-3yo). Classrooms have the appropriate mandated headcount (usually at least 2 teachers, plus admin staff who drop in as needed). - There's an optional lunch program. - Tuition is reasonable - parents can pay monthly or by number of expected days for upcoming month, and there are discounts for siblings. - They use the Brightwheel app to provide real-time updates, photos, and to communicate with parents throughout the day - Their Mandarin program is awesome (and no additional $$$). As a plus, there is also some Spanish taught in Class B and C (depending on teacher availability). - No nuts policy (helpful, because my son is allergic to peanuts). - Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your beliefs), the school is "Christian," which means the kids learn Bible songs (we're not Christian) and say a short grace at lunchtime. I for some reason wasn't aware of this until my son came home saying that his favorite song was "Jesus Loves Me." Outside of this, religion does not feature too heavily in the curriculum. Background: My son, who is about to turn 4yo, started here in May'24 in Class C at 2.5yo, moved to Class B at 3yo years, and then just "graduated" to Class A. Each of the three classes have wonderful teachers who are committed to teaching the kids and helping them grow at their own pace. In terms of curriculum, there's arts and crafts, physical play (playground outside), outside exploration (gardening, etc.), and classroom learning (counting, reading, singing, etc.). School supplies are included in tuition, and the teachers and administrators host fun events (i.e. a Mother's Day tea/breakfast, Easter egg hunts, Halloween Trick-or-Treat, Christmas celebration, or annual graduation) where the kids have activities or perform for the parents. The teachers seem to really drive the classroom curriculum, and they are all so skilled at thinking of creative activities for the kids. The only negatives are related to the administrators and management - they exhibit occasional off-putting behavior, and my impression is that they're somewhat disorganized in their communication with parents and cohesiveness with the teachers. A couple of examples: 1. The day that my son was to start daycare here, Director Sandy was wholly unprepared. We had been in communication the week prior and even had messaged the Friday prior to confirm that we were going to do drop-off for the first day of school and pay tuition via check. At drop-off, my son was screaming/bawling (because of course, it's his first day, and he was only 2.5yo). Sandy asked us if we can start the following week instead, because they apparently had another new student starting that day and "it would be hard." When I told her that was not possible, because we had work and other commitments, Sandy's reply to me was "I'm just thinking what's best for the kids." I was quite unhappy with this statement. Luckily, Denise was there and said that they would honor our agreement. But to even have this conversation was just ridiculously frustrating and tainted my initial impression of Little Sunshine and the Director. 2. When Bennett turned 3, he was held back for a month and a half in Class C. We wanted to move him to Class B alongside his friend whose birthday was the following month, but we were told that our son wasn't "ready". This was surprising to us, because he seemed ready academically and emotionally. Our understanding was that a transition would be easier if he didn't have to do it alone. After much back-and-forth with the teachers and admins, he moved to Class B a month after his friend moved. I suspect that the actual reason was that they didn't have space for an additional student in Class B (his friends' parents had asked about graduating to Class B two months earlier), and they had to wait until there was a space before they could move him. 3. Little Sunshine was closing for their annual teacher development day, which is awesome. What was not awesome was telling parents 7 business days before it was scheduled to occur, which is insufficient notice for parents to find other care arrangements for when school was closed. Enough parents were upset about this short notice and contacted Little Sunshine about it, so they moved it to the following week so that we could have a two week notice. My comment was that if this were an annual event, they would be more organized and have it scheduled/communicated earlier. Overall: The Little Sunshine community is strong - we all want the best for our kids, and I really believe that it is the best in the area. It's not merely a daycare - it's a preschool where the kids learn so much and make friends. My son loves going to school so much now and gets so excited at drop-off that he occasionally forgets to give me a goodbye hug and kiss!

The review is based off the tour I had. I was initially drawn to this preschool because of their…read morebilingual program, which led me to schedule a tour. The manager was very nice and friendly, providing detailed information before we toured the classrooms. However, during our conversation outside the classrooms, the director unexpectedly came out from one of the rooms and poured water from her thermos onto the floor--without introducing herself. I found this quite awkward. Even if someone is used to doing this elsewhere, it's not appropriate to do it in front of prospective parents. There were three classrooms, but they were not the cleanest and seemed generally disorganized. I also noticed that the teachers allowed the children to watch TV before naptime, which I am honestly not a fan of. At the end of the tour, the director finally came out to introduce herself, and something awkward happened. I was holding two pamphlets--one originally given to me and one to my husband. The director took one pamphlet from me and began giving me more information, then spoke to the manager in Mandarin about why I was given two pamphlets instead of one. (I understood perfectly well, though she probably thought I wouldn't.) She then took one pamphlet away from me. One pamphlet is just a piece of paper--so taking one away felt unnecessary. I found this both weird and funny. It's odd to behave this way in front of parents. How much does a pamphlet really cost? To me, this behavior seemed rude and frugal. No matter how great the teachers are (which the director kept emphasizing), at such a young age, I want my child to learn respect and politeness first--academic skills come after. Little things matter. If the director herself struggles to exhibit proper manners, it's a definite no for me.

Happy Day School was the best kept secret of San Gabriel Valley area cities had ever had. This…read moreschool was run by the Steffey family for 3 generations. 1946 through 2026. It was run as a private school, Nursery through 3rd grade, but complimented the area public school system as an All year around curriculum including the famous Summer Camp Program. There was none like Happy Day School. Period. I personally found this school in the yellow pages back in 1993 for my daughter who needed a 1st grade class opening. No other school around had an opening, except Happy Day. We joined the summer camp program and she found her 1st grade class that September. She even learned how to swim there! A classic Coppertone commercial kid :) Teachers, teacher-assistants were so attentive and met all the needs of a child making new friends at school. The value of this place for a working parent was undeniably superb. For the child, it was home away from home. Since it was year around, my daughter spend all of her summers here, until high school and becoming a camp counselor before she went off to college. She loved this place! Thank you to Pam, Karen, and most of all Mr. Ron for the wonderful memories Happy Day has given us. Much blessings to you and your family!

Kids love coming here. I recommend to try brining your kids here. Teachers are very good and camps…read moreare organized. Summer camps are great with their own pool. They also have thanksgiving and winter camps. Super helpful.

My two children spent the first 5 years of their lives at this daycare. To this day, 11 years later…read morethey still talk and remember their time there fondly. Wong's day are is more than a daycare, it is a family. The individual care and attention that this daycare provides to each child should be commended. My kids learn how to read, write and do math before they even entered preschool. Fresh food was made for the children everyday and they even had Easter and Christmas parties that my children still remember. I would highly recommend to anyone who is looking for the best care for their children.

My child came to this childcare since she was 4 months old. By the time she went to preschool she…read morealready knew all her ABC and numbers. She also knew so many vocabulary words, addition and subtraction too. By the time she was in kindergarten she already knew most of her multiplication. With my child having Dyslexia it was hard for her to learn how to read and write but the provider had so much patience with her. I can't Thank her enough.