Burr Cooperative Nursery School is a tiny little gem--a wonderful community of parents, students, and teachers. It's a play-based, mixed-age classroom. My kids went there and loved it! (It's a small and intimate program, so it doesn't tend to have the quick name recognition of some of the multi-classroom programs in town since there aren't as many families who are alumni...)

My son spent two amazing years at the Burr Cooperative Nursery School. The teachers and program are fantastic. My son is in second grade now and still talks about how much he loved the Burr Coop. He was well prepared for kindergarten and loved going to preschool every morning.

BROOKLINE INFANT TODDLER CENTER - an amazing place to send your child! Warm, compassionate, child centered, fun! Wonderful director and teachers. On Comm Ave in Auburndale. My family spent nine years there (between two kids). Each kid loved it!

Ha! I am also writing in about Burr Co-op. We are a small — but clearly passionate! — community. The teachers are amazing, and provide individualized care for each child. Barb Day, the Director and Lead teacher, is incredibly knowledgeable and talented, and her insights into my son's behavior and development were crucial to his getting the most out of both his preschool and now elementary school experience. And being part of a cooperative has been wonderful for our entire family.

For an outstanding preschool educational experience, you cannot top Walnut Park Montessori School. Beginning with trained and certified Montessori teachers, spectacular materials and classes in art, music and physical education, your child will receive a genuine educational experience. If you are simply looking for a nice day care experience this isn't the place for you. If you want your child to begin her education in an environment that capitalizes on the wonder of the child's curiosity, you've found the cream of the crop.

I vote for Second Church Nursery School in West Newton. They have the best staff and ratio of teachers to children. In many ways a traditional nursery school but they also have options for afternoon programs. Also they offer a program for children age 2 years, 9 months which may places don't offer. My daughter has friends now, age 13, who she met at Second Church.

Please add Children's Corner at Newton-Wellesley Hospital! Wonderful and caring staff!!!

Please consider adding Discovery Central to your list. They have the structure and cirriculum of a larger school but offer it in combination with a very small child to teacher ratio. This unquie hybrid is the best of both worlds. The teachres are well educated and very involved in child development. This month as part of the "Community Helpers" theme the children will be visiting the local fire station, post office, pizza shop. A nurse will be coming to visit the children to speak about healthy living. Next month they are growing ladybugs as part of their Spring/Bug theme. The teachers put an amazing amount of effort into building the children's interest in learning with plenty of hands on activities. This place should definitely be on your list!

Happy Child in Upper Falls is a wonderful place and we feel very lucky that our daughter went there. A very nurturing daycare environment and a wonderful pre-K program on top of that.

http://www.happychildnewton.com/

This is a tough one--I think Burr Coop and Little Red Wagon are incredible programs with caring, engaged staff who really want children to thrive. They are similar in their "play" orientation and both do an excellent job of preparing the kids for "big" school. They are just so supportive and welcoming of parent involvement. And especially good abotu getting kids outside and giving them time to move. I voted for Little Red Wagon because of it's full-day program offering--great for working parents! But really, you can't go wrong with either place.

The Daycare Center at the Fessenden School. Small, under-the-radar program, infants through pre-school. I feel very lucky to have found them!

The Rosenshine Nursery at Temple Reyim is one of the best programs ever. The teachers are warm and nurturing and they have specialists who come in with a wonderful enrichment program. The activities are varied and stimulating. They children enjoy coming here and the school is fondly remembered by their graduates who often come by to visit. It draws families from all over Newton.

Newton Montessori School. www.newtonmontessori.org. I am biased because I am a parent of two boys who have thrived there. The most amazing teachers and the most diverse educational institution for children of elementary age for many miles.

Please add Children's Corner at Newton Wellesley Hospital. The staff and program have exceeded my expectations and they really deserve to be recognized here. Thanks!

We love Newton Montessori School. The practiced educational Montessori philosophy is outstanding-our daughter is 4, already reading and so curious about everything. One of the most diverse educational settings in Newton-over 20 languages spoke by students and teachers. The love and caring from the teachers and administrators is intimate. The art, gym, music, Spanish and library classes every week are exciting for the children. For FT working parents, the school has long hours 7:30-6pm with a great after school program and over 20 interesting enrichment classes offered-woodworking, martial arts, yoga, Chinese language etc...You won't find a school that offers more for its children. The parent involvement is very high and if you like the school, you can stay through elementary too.

Children's Corner at NW Hospital is the greatest.

Newton Montessori school is the best. The teachers are great and very profesional. The kids learn to be kind and take care of them self and take care of the environment.

Childrens corner at Newton Wellealey is fantastic - fantastic and experiences teachers, great age-appropriate curriculum, involves parents and food rates. Soon to be offering nutritious home-cooled lunches.

Children's corner at newton Wellseley is such a great program. The teachers/staff are so caring and knowledgeable. My daughter absolutely loves it here and looks forward to going every week..we couldn't be happier with this program!

Please add Children's Corner at Newton-Wellesley. I am the parent of 1 child who is about to "graduate" and another that will just start in the fall. They have exceeded my expectations and treated us like family.

Please add Newton-Wellesley Hospital's Children's Corner to your list. It is an outstanding center, my three kids spent a combined total of 14 years there. The school focuses on the social and emotional (as well as intellectual) needs of the children and also nurtures the families as well. Many staff members have been there for years and all care deeply about the children and families. It is open to the community as well as to the staff of Newton-Wellesley Hospital. It is a gem.

Hi everyone!

Just a quick reminder -- if you would like a pre-school/day care added to the list, you must comment on the story (please do not email) with the name of that business and why you want it on the list. Once there are a number of comments for one particular business, we will add it to our list! Thanks everyone.

Please add Happy Child Pre-school/daycare to your list. It is an absolutely wonderful childcare center!! I have two girls. My older one graduated from Happy Child in 2010 and my younger one will be graduating this year. I have always felt that my children are loved, well taken care of and well prepared to move on to kindergarten.

PLEASE add Newton-Wellesley Hospital's Children's Corner to your list. My oldest son is a graduate and I have one more coming thru the center now. This school taught my son so much and helped him become who he is today. The staff members are great care takers/educators.

Burr Co-op is such a unique, wonderful place for a child - and entire family! - to thrive. My first-grader is an alum who still talks about the fun projects and warm teachers; my middle child is currently enrolled and can't wait to get to school each morning; and I can't wait for my youngest to follow in her brothers' footsteps. The small community is a great resource for me as well - the cooperative spirit means I always have friends to call on when I need support and parent help days are a snap! Barb Day, the director, has been an amazing source of insight and guidance during the (often) challenging pre-school years. I cannot say enough about this great little school.

Children's Corner at NWH has been added to the poll.

Please consider adding Temple Shalom Nursery School to your list. Both of my children have had great experiences at the school - the teachers, the curriculum, the community have all created a terrific experience for my sons.

Please add BITC, the Brookline Infant and Toddler Center. It is an amazing place, infant through Pre-School.

Please add BROOKLINE INFANT TODDLER CENTER my daughter has been going there for two years and my son will be joining her in September . A wonderful school and warm teachers. We love it!!!

Please add BITC -- it's a wonderful place!

The teachers and community at the Newton Community Service Center are top notch. Not only does our daughter love to go to school each morning, but she also comes home raving about the fun she has had playing, exploring, and learning with both her teachers and classmates alike. As parents, we have also found a supportive network of both parents and teachers which helps round out our NCSC relationship.

You must add BITC (Brookline Infant Toddler Center of Newton) my husband and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it and we have two girls there...-Judy

Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC) - please add "BITC" to your list. From the first day we visited BITC we were won over by the nurturing staff and teachers. The director, staff and teachers are truly dedicated individuals who care about the whole child. Located on Comm Ave in Auburndale.

You really need to get Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC) in there ... both my sons attended and we've loved everything about it.

Please add Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC) to the list. It has amazing teachers, and the lack of teacher turnover is a testament to the center as a workplace and in caring well for children. As an example my two children, four years apart, have had almost the exact same set of teachers as they have worked their way through the rooms. The teachers provide a warm, loving and stimulating environment for the children, and we have constantly been amazed at all they have learned. My son, who has graduated from BITC, still loves visiting the teachers there. He (and we) made amazing friends for life there - it's a great community, too.

Please add BITC (Brookline Infant Toddler Center). They are wonderful!!!

Your list is missing Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC), in Auburndale. This is a daycare facility (infant thru pre-school) that really has a soul. They are invested in the growth of every child, offering love and support. The teachers are incredible (they're trained professionals, they develop real relationships with the children and the ratio of teacher:student is often even better than state requirements) and the principals, Leslie and Laura, leave parents feeling totally confident that this is a superbly run organization. No request is too much to ask of them, and the entire faculty goes out of their way to accommodate the individual needs of every child. I could not imagine the past four and a half years of my family's life without them.

Please add Brookline Infant Toddler Center to the list. The devoted teachers and staff at this Auburndale facility have become an integral part of our lives over the past three years. We feel so lucky to be a part of the BITC family and would not send our daughter anywhere else.

It doesn't get better than BITC -- Brookline Infant Toddler Center in Newton (Auburndale). Both of my boys attend this program and we couldn't be happier. The teachers are nurturing, caring and loving and they all of the teachers really know ALL of the children. Most of the teachers have been there for years! Some 10 + years. And, Leslie and Laura -- the directors of the program are simply the best. It is a professional program and yet feels like a home day care program--you really get the best of both worlds. This is not to be missed!

Please add the Brookline Infant Toddler Center to your list!

Please add the Temple Shalom Nursery School! Director and Staff are amazing. They are extremely invested in developing the unique potential of each child and parent/teacher communication is excellent. Content of program is so well thought out in terms of which area of growth is targeted (gross/fine motor, letter recognition, social, etc.) and detailed summary is emailed to parents daily. I especially love that the school is committed to encouraging community service and awareness of the world around us including helping others and a focus on nature exploration/play.

Please add BITC to your list!

Another vote to add Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC) to the poll.

Please add BITC to your list. We had a rather traumatic experience with another daycare that shall remain nameless. BITC had a wonderful, professional staff and my children love their teachers. My child had a complete turn around, and I know it was from their knowledgeable intervention.

Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC) is an absolutely amazing program and should also be considered one of Newton's best and added to this list. The director and staff are wonderful and create a warm, caring atmosphere that fosters each individual child's growth and development. Children are well adjusted and prepared for kindergarten.

You need to add Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC) to your list. The staff is devoted, loving, and provides a great educational environment. Our children have thrived there!

Please add Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC) to the list. It's the best!

Please add Infant toddler Center (BITC) to this list. I have been on both ends of the spectrum( a teacher and parent of a child that has been through the program) I believe that Bitc does a phenomenal job of preparing a child for kindergarten and reinforces most if not all the values that are important to parents , at the same time making the experience fun and educational.

BITC has been added! Please cast your votes and keep the comments coming.

Remember, not just the final vote count has a say in the winner. Compelling comments are also a factor in who wins.

We love Auburndale Community Nursery School--the teachers are patient and loving and the flexible daycare is one of a kind!

My son is currently attending Burr Coop and absolutely loves it. Our experience has been all positive and we are so happy we choose this wonderful preschool. The teachers are fantastic , and do a wonderful job catering for all the individual needs of the children.I highly recommend Burr Coop.

Coop.

Please add Brookline Infant and Toddler Center (BITC) to your list!! My son has attended since he was an infant (now close to 3) and it is an exceptional childcare center and preschool. The teachers, directors and staff are dedicated, trustworthy, caring, and excellent educators. My son has learned so much and he has so much fun! While pregnant, I toured a number of daycare centers in Newton and chose BITC for its years of experience, low staff turnover, daily prepared meals/sancks in its kitchen, and large SHADED playground (shaded by a beautiful beach tree, not a tarp or tent, so important on those hot summer days)! The teachers are great communicators who provide detailed evaluations and offer excellent feedback on day to day care including eating, napping, learning, etc. It is a wonderful place, my son has learned so much and loves it there! I have confidence each day while I am at work that he he is receiving the best care in a nuturing and supportive environment.

I would like to echo many of the comments above about Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC) in Newton. BITC has been our lifeline for the past 7 years, with one son who has graduated and another currently attending. From a parent perspective, this school has provided my husband and I with the comfort of knowing that our children are extensively nurtured, loved, and taught while we are at work. My older son's transition to kindergarten went incredibly smoothly because he had already experienced a similar routine at BITC. The directors are incredibly insightful, supportive, knowledgeable, and caring. The teachers are OUTSTANDING and provide tremendous continuity (teaching one child for the entire year and often remaining at BITC for many years that they have the opportunity to teach siblings as well). It's truly a phenomonal school and I am already having signs of withdrawal knowing that this will be our last year.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Newton Montessori School. The teachers there know my son in a way that is incredibly heart warming. They understand his learning style, his social needs and his ever-so-curious ways. He has a new found love of reading, but they let him get to that place without forcing it on him. He loves school, his friends and his teachers, and is disappointed when he wakes up on a Saturday and realizes that it is not a school day! BIG fan of NMS!

We had two children go through BITC and they had a fantastic experience. Great leaders and very special teachers. Our kids are now in upper elementary and middle school and we still stay connected to BITC and the staff there!
Steve

Love Riverside Children's center! All 3 of my children went there and have had lasting relationships with the teachers and children. The ratio's are some of the best in the state and that give the teachers the time to really focus on each child and give them the best experience they can have.

We were so fortunate to have BITC (Brookline Infant Toddler Center) as a part of our lives for eight years when our two children attended. I echo many of the comments above about the quality and longevity of the teachers and the dedication and support of program directors Laura and Leslie. From infant care though preschool, we could not have been happier with our experience. I still get emotional remembering our last day this past August before my daughter started kindergarten knowing BITC would no longer be a part of our daily lives.

Riverside Children's Center is where it's at!

We adore Newton Montessori School. The School's focus on the whole child, including traditional academic as well as emotional growth, is a huge strength. The School's programming and facilities are also amazing, from Spanish, music, gym and art classes to classrooms scaled to preschool size and a well-endowed library and technology center. But it is the community and teachers at NMS that really stand out. The community is warm, supportive and diverse and the teachers are truly stellar. I can't imagine a better place for my kids.

Children's Corner @ Newton Wellsley Hospital has been fabulous! The teachers my son has had have treated him with so much care and love....it makes it easier sending him to daycare/preschool knowing he is being cared for so exceptionally well. I have never felt like it is just a daycare because they get the kids involved in so many different activities. I feel like my son has also gotten a jumpstart on his education while still being able to just have fun and be a kid. My vote is for Children's Corner! ~Colleen~

Happy Child in Upper Falls is wonderful! Formerly a family daycare, they expanded into a larger school. Both my sons (now 10 & 13) went there from birth through Pre-K. As a full-time working mom, I am so grateful for the staff (especially, Mira the Director) and the programming. My children were loved and coddled, encouraged and stimulated. It is a terrific place. Friends and family that have gone there have been equally pleased. Please add them to your list.

Another vote to add Temple Shalom Nursery School- as other posters have said- excellent communication, great attention to a varied curriculum, caring teachers and director, wonderful experience so far!

HAPPY CHILD Pre-school is THE place to send your child. We've been with the school for 7 years now (two kids) and I'm thinking of having a thrid just so we don't have to part ways :) It's our family in all the meanings of the word, they love my kids and my kids love them, how can that not constitute as family? Please add HAPPY CHILD to your list!

BITC- Brookline Infant Toddler Center is a tremendous caring place that truly loves the kids and parents it meets. many of the teachers have been there for many years and have a variety of background experience to create a well rounded environment. Teacher ratios are above average. The best way to describe the atmosphere is through the following true story. Upon my visit to BITC I walked through the door and into Leslie's office. Her wall was covered with pictures of kids both past and present BITC members. I soon learned after coming to BITC permanently that Leslie not only knew the names of each child but also where they were currently and how most of them were doing! At the BITC cookout, I met soooooo many families that had kids in the program 5 or more years ago coming to celebrate BITC's growth! Amazing! BITC offers a tremendous family atmosphere to ages 3months to 5+ within 6 classrooms. There are many family/staff events throughout the year and a ton of respect for each other! Mary the cook makes lunch daily for the kids and everyone knows all the kids in the center by name and vice versa. Awesome!

Here's a shoutout to Auburndale Community Nursery School -- the absolute best place for our kids. The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and caring for *all* kids; teachers stay at ACNS for years. Great program, fun activities, great playground (shaded!). Views of the commuter rail=heaven! The flexible daycare hours at the beginning and end of the day were incredibly helpful for working parents (no need to sign up in advance, just use them whenever you need to). Now our kids are 15 and 13 and they *always* insist on us going back for the December Holiday Fair so they can hug their adored teachers. My husband and I think that the teachers and staff there made us better parents!

There are a lot of wonderful programs in Newton, but there is only one place that can educate every child regardless of his/her needs and that is the Newton Public Schools Early Childhood Education Program. It is a warm and vibrant place with the best adult-child ration you will find. Each class is headed by a master's prepared teacher and two aids. Plus a number of specialists participate in the classroom each and everyday. It is a life saver if you have children whose special needs mean they cannot be successfully integrated in a community nursery school. For typically developing peers, it is an opportunity to receive excellent preparation, be a leader and learn alongside students who are different. NECP is really an example of Newton at its best.

Thank you so much for Adding BITC to the list. It is such a great place. We just happened upon it when we were looking for a new daycare and we have been so happy ever since.

We cannot say enough good about BITC. Our daughter has gone since she was an infant and we are sad to be leaving for kindergarten. BITC is extremely well run and very much a community. We are very lucky.

Thank you for adding BITC to the list. Our oldest child (now 6th grade) attending another day care program before we finally found BITC. I recommend it to everyone I know. Even though my youngest is now in 4th grade we still stay in touch with the staff and are close with many families we met through BITC. My kids still want to come back to visit and see staff. It is truly an amazing place.

I am sure there are many wonderful preschools but I can't imagine that any are any better than Little Red Wagon! My four children all attended their program and I couldn't have been any happier. The staff was fantastic! The program was current, exciting, and very engaging. My second child was a selective mute and he grew tremendously in his three years there. The teachers were very attentive and did a great job getting him to overcome his fear of speaking to adults. As a Kindergarten teacher myself, I can honestly say that your children will graduate from LRW very prepared for the years to come.

Burr Cooperative Nursery School is the best preschool I've ever encountered-and I've encountered a lot in my career as a preschool teacher and early childhood professional development specialist. Both my children went to Burr Co-op and it was a fantastic four years for my children and our family. They loved the warmth of the classroom and the teachers and I loved the community of families I got to know. The moment I entered the classroom in 2007 I knew it was the place to send my children-and it was only the second school I'd visited. My children attended from 2007-2011 and I was active on the Board and in the community. My children are life-long learners because of their experiences at Burr Coop. I highly recommend it to everyone in Newton.

Happy Child is a wonderful school. The teachers are very warm and nurturing. They have a genuine interest in the emotional and scholastic success of their students. They treat all of the children like family.

Burr cooperative was a great experience, the teachers were amazing and they were very understanding to my child. We moved to VA and still missing this great school

Please add the Children's Cooperative Nursery School to the list! A wonderful school with amazing teachers. Our daughter has thrived there and we couldn't have asked for a better place for her to grow and learn socially, emotionally, and scholastically. Highly recommend!

The Children's Cooperative Nursery School in Newton Center should definitely be on this list! It's a wonderful, warm, nurturing program. Our daughter has loved attending and we have loved being part of the community.

Please add the Children's Cooperative Nursery School to your poll! It has the most amazing, caring, creative teachers all with many years of experience; lovely sunny classrooms; convenient location and a terrific community of families. I have enrolled all 3 of my sons at the Coop and couldn't be happier with our experience. The Coop has been going strong for 40+ years! So please include it in your poll! 848 Beacon St. in Newton Center. Thanks.

We absolutely adore the teachers and the experience our daughter has received at the Children's Cooperative Nursery School. It's a nurturing environment where the children learn far more than academics. I'd recommend it to anyone. I'm hoping that it can get added to your list!

Please add The Children's Cooperative Nursery School to your list. This is our first year at the Coop and we are absolutely thrilled with our daughter's experience and the family atmosphere shared with the teachers and other families. We feel very blessed to have found it as we are new to Newton.

Please add the Children's Cooperative Nursery School. It's a great pre-school!

We would love to see the Children's Cooperative Nursery School added to your list as well. Both of my sons have had a fantastic experience there. With the support and guidance of their dedicated staff, we have enjoyed a seamless transition into school, and onto kindergarten. It is a warm and welcoming community to become a part of.

Please add Children's Cooperative Nursery School to your list! It has been the perfect school for our daughter, and we won't consider another school for our son when he is old enough to attend.

We cannot say enough good things about the Children's Cooperative Nursery School. Both of our children have adored going to preschool each day. It has a warm, nurturing environment for the 3-4 year olds as they enter preschool and fosters creativity and independence in the 4-5 year olds as they prepare to make the transition to kindergarten. The families are wonderful as well. Please add it to your poll.

Please add The Children's Cooperative to your list. The Coop yields great results by combining passionate and dedicated teachers with a model that actively engages parents in the learning process. My 4 year old daughter is having fun, growing socially and learning a lot.

Thanks for all your comments, everyone! The Children's Coop has been added.

Please add the Children's Cooperative Nursery School to your poll. The Coop is an incredible preschool with talented, intuitive, smart, sensitive, caring, and creative teachers, and wonderful families too. Our daughter skips into her classroom every day and comes home happy, inspired, thoughtful, and engaged. The Coop is a gem.

BITC is a wonderful center! They have a wonderful staff and they make it their goal to make you and your child feel welcomed and loved. My son loves going to BITC and I can truly say they have gotten to know my son very well. When I drop my child off each morning I can reset knowing he is in great arms. The environment is always clean, friendly, welcoming, and warm loving! This center is excellent!

Brookline Infant and Toddler is a great preschool. My son is now in the 5th grade and still has friendships from his preschool days. The environment was warm and nurturing and a perfect place for a child to get ready for a lifelong journey of learning.

Please add Plowshares Preschool to this list. Located inside Newton North High School. The staff is warm, loving and nurture the children's creative and social skills. There are lots of art and creative play projects in this sun-filled classroom. The children get to use the NNHS athletic facilities such as the track and indoor gym. The best part is that the student/teacher ratio goes way down when the NN High school students interact with the children during their Early Childhood Education labs. My daughter LOVES going there and especially LOVES the bragging rights of saying she attends "the high school"!

We loved the Rockwell school at the Holway Child Study Center at Lasell College. The preschool is a half day program for 3s and 4s with a transition to kindergarten year for the 5s who don't make the kindergarten cut off. The teachers and projects were super creative! Also, the kids were very well prepared for kindergarten.

Riverside is an extended family. Our son attends Riverside 5 days a week. We enjoy the fun activities the teachers create and know our son is having a special day every day at Riverside. The teacher's are amazing and highly knowledgable.

We adore the Children's Coop as well. The teachers are unbelievably creative, caring, skilled, and innovative. You won't find any "preschool worksheets" or standard activities here. Instead, they learn about the nervous system by setting up dominoes to show how an impulse travels through your body. They learn about fire and "hot colors" at the same time, exploring art and science simultaneously. I could go on and on. The communication is incredible; we get an email daily with information about the activities, story, and snack. One thing to note in tallying the votes: there are only 30 families at the Coop, but almost everyone who sends a child there has already sung its praises. It won't compete with the very large programs for number of votes, but for satisfied customers, it sure looks like a winner to me.

I love Riverside! It is an amazing place.

I love Riverside! As a parent it is so comforting knowing that my son is well taken care of everyday. The ratios are amazing, the teachers are all educated with degrees, and the Director is very helpful and supportive. We love everyone there like they are our extended family.

Our son attends Riverside Children's Center and he is very happy there. He attends Monday through Friday. He was in the nursery and now the rainbow room. We love the teachers. The teachers are very educated and knowledgeable, as well as caring and nurturing! The ratios are wonderful and our son is able to get a lot of love throughout the day. There is no other place we would rather be.

Walnut Park is an exceptional school. Gifted teachers and administrators instill in the children a love of learning, of self, and of each other. Children experience the wonders and joy of reading, math, geography, and science, and develop a sense of confidence, independence, and conflict resolution through the Montessori method that is truly wondrous to see in children so young. Walnut Park is a diverse and special community of children, families, and teachers and a beautiful place for children to grow and blossom.

"Riverside Children's Center is an outstanding program! We joined the center 11 years ago when our oldest child was a toddler. Our oldest two children are now RCC alums and our two younger children currently attend. Since the beginning Riverside has consistently provided our children with exceptional care and a high quality education. Many of the teachers have been at Riverside for over 20 years and all of the teachers are superb. The center values children, families, and teachers. We highly recommend Riverside and couldn't imagine sending our children to any other center

Although I applaud your efforts to raise awareness about quality early education programs in Newton, and personally send an enthusiastic vote for the Newton School for Children, a terrific, diverse, high quality program with a wonderful staff, where my child has grown and thrived, I object to the concept of there being one "best" program in Newton. One program cannot serve all children in Newton, and one would hope that there are enough terrific programs in the city to serve all families looking for a great preschool. I don't think I need to point out the obvious flaws in this "poll" where parents who hear about it vote for the programs where their children attend, and others who don't come across this poll will not vote, and some schools will be underrepresented. It would be better to have a more independent assessment of schools to see if they meet clear benchmarks of a high quality program, such as NAEYC accreditation, well-trained staff, low staff turnover, age-appropriate curriculum and facilities, AND parent satisfaction. Families do not visit preschools like they visit restaurants. I doubt many have experienced more than one or two personally and it is misleading to have these types of polls. Note, location and availability are also important factors, my older children, now 11 and 13, attended the Barn at Lasell College, which was also a great program, but by the time we had our third child we had moved farther away, and NSFC has a slot open before the Barn did.

Parent helping at Burr Cooperative has helped me understand who my children are with their peers, a tremendous insight for me as a father. it has also allowed them to get to know other parents and build a sense of community, which I think is so important for a good educational experience.

Happy Child Pre-school is an excellent school. Our first born son started at Happy Child 11 years ago and our youngest son is finishing his last year here. Happy Child provided our boys with a strong curriculum, a loving environment and a fun place to lean and grow. We highly recommend this school, please add them to your list.

My daughters attended Walnut Park Montessori school and we all cried when our experience there ended. The teachers love what they do and that love of learning is contagious. The children have a safe environment where they can explore subjects at their own pace and depth, with gentle guidance from the teachers. Both of my girls took away a joy of doing "work", and now in their spare time frequently recreate their favorite "works" at home. Over the course of our years there the school really felt like family, and when we go back to visit we feel like we are coming home again. Such a joyful school, with bright and stunning facilities as well.

Riverside children's center rocks
Great teachers, wonderful community of families and superb leadership!

BITC is such a loving, caring, warm place where it truly feels like family! Awesome teachers and administrators! We LOVE LOVE BITC

I want to echo the accolades for BITC. We joined the family when our son was 12 weeks old, and over the past 2 and a half years, have remarked to anyone who will listen about what an exceptional place it is. Lesley and Laura set the tone for the warmest, most authentic setting you can imagine. Our teachers have been gifts and many will (we hope) be part of our lives for years to come. The blend of nurturing and exploratory learning is amazing and fosters the growth of so many self-assured little ones. Truly, our son's happiness and confidence as a person owes so much credit to BITC- truly the best childcare environment one could hope for.

Riverside Children's Center is the best! The teachers are fabulous. They've been a part of our lives for over 10 years. All of my children have loved their time there.

We had a *very* bad experience with Golden Days Children center. Only after couple of months we found the director self-centered and out of touch. We decided to move our 2year old son to BITC. Our experience could not have been any better!. We now have our daughter in BITC and our son graduated 2 years ago.The directors at BITC and the staff are the best. You can be assured that your kids gets the most love and care in a stable environment at all times.

I love Btci❤❤❤
When I was looking for a place for my third son I thought I saw it all.... I was so surprised to find BITC!
I felt right at home. The first thing I noticed was the kids smiles, they were so happy & engaged. Then, I started walking at the school & I saw all the beautiful art work everywhere. Talking with some of the teachers & admission I knew right away this is the place for my baby! & I wasn't wrong! He loves it! I love it! We are blessed!

I would like to echo Jan Gilpin's comment, that the underlying concept that a poll of parents, who have limited exposure to Daycare/preschool programs other than their own, is essentially flawed. There are likely many top-notch programs in Newton, serving many families well -- as all the glowing previous emails attest. A more useful guide for parents considering where to send their toddler would be a more objective listing of how each program rates on a series of indicators, such as: teacher-student ratios, length of staff tenure/rate of staff turnover, NAYEC accreditation, cost, etc.
All of that said, I do want to sing the praises of Riverside Children's Center in Waban. Not only is the program fully NAYEC accredited, but it is notable for extremely favorable staff-student ratios (1:3 in ages 1-3, 1:5 for ages 4-5), long teacher tenure (avg ~10 YRS), AND HIGH PARENT SATISFACTION. IT'S DIRECTOR AND STAFF GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO ADDRESS EACH CHILD AND FAMILY'S PARTICULAR NEEDS. THERE IS A SPECIAL COMMUNITY FEEL AMONG THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND TEACHERS. I ENCOURAGE THE NEWTON PATCH AND OTHERS INTERESTED TO COME FOR A VISIT! (AND ALSO COME TO OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISING AUCTION THIS SATURDAY NIGHT FROM 7-9 PM!)

Absolutely love BITC! Caring teachers, great kids. terrific playgrounds. After 10 years of knowing BOTC---I would know!

BITC has two fantastic directors, quality teachers who do tons of projects, teaching, field trips, etc. my kids won't leave if I pick them up early! My kids love the lunch food (more than home meals!). Fantastic program.

Couldn't agree more with all the wonderful things said about BITC!

I was very happy to see Riverside on this list! My two boys "graduated" from Riverside and we couldn't have been happier with our experience. Our children LOVED going to school each day and were disappointed when it was a "home day"! The center has been NAEYC accredited for years and, as an involved parent, I saw first hand how committed the program staff is to excellence. Riverside is governed by a board that consists of parents and staff members...everyone has a voice! Without a doubt, Riverside is one of the very BEST programs in Newton!

Bitc is a fantastic, loving, warm family oriented child care that I absolutely love. Coming from a cooperate center that was supposedly all about the family, this center is what it says. Teacher ratios that are above par and they are all lead teachers. Fin activities for families and teachers alike and all the care that it takes to make little ones happy. My vote is for the brookline infant toddler center.

Riverside rocks! What other center has as many dads waxing poetic? I often meet friends of my eldest (13) whose parents get teary when I mention that our youngest is at Riverside. They ask about the teachers, and very fondly recall having the same wonderful people in their lives a decade ago. We are very lucky!

Riverside Children's Center in Waban is the best! Our two sons have attended Riverside and are wonderfully cared for. We have considered moving out of the area in the past to find less expensive housing, but we could not bring ourselves to move away from RCC. Thank you Riverside!

We love children's corner at newton wellesley hospital. I had 2 girls there (one now in kindergarten the other still has 2 more years) and we couldn't be happier. convenient hours and great staff! the girls couldn't be happier!

I would like to sing the praises of Burr Cooperative Nursery School...a wonderful, close knit school and community that shaped our early education experience in such a positive way. Our two daughters each attended the program for two years from 2008-2011. During that time, the teachers and director Barb Day did a phenomenal job helping to expertly guide me as well as my girls through the ups and downs of the preschool years. I would often call upon the teachers for advice in dealing with and recognizing age-appropriate behaviors and milestones. The mixed-age classroom was a blessing. The girls had both the opportunity to gain confidence as leaders and mentors to the younger children, and also benefitted greatly when they themselves were new and needed some extra TLC from the older kids. Burr Coop was (and is - we are still involved with the community even though we are alums) a unique and extremely special place!!

FYI - The Readers' Choice poll closed at 9 a.m., as mentioned in the story. Thank you all for the fantastic comments you provided! You are doing a great service to your Newton neighbors letting them know about some of the fantastic pre-schools and day cares we have in this city.

Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC)! It is a warm, loving environment that encourages growth and development. Strong leadership and teachers that have been there for 10+ years make for a truly special day care. I am totally comfortable leaving my baby boy there and he LOVES it. Whenever we run into a developmental stumbling block (like stubbornly refusing finger foods for 2 weeks), his teachers are on top of it and have already created a plan that is thoughtful, fun, and well-informed by their continuing education on child development. Oh yeah, did I mention their giant playground? Fun!

Please add Auburndale Community Nursery School - we have 2 locations (Newtonville and Auburndale) that inludes over 100 Newton families! It's a great school!