Tata’s Busy Bumble Bees Day Care

This review is specifically for my experience with the application/​prospective phase. MY CHILDREN DID NOT ATTEND THIS DAY CARE.
The day care is conveniently located about 8 minutes from my home. It is in Melissa’s home. When I visited, the home was very clean and organized. There were awesome Halloween decorations up and even a cool calendar for the month of October. There was a nice, clean play area in the backyard and all of the children there seemed cheerful.
The day care environment was safe: there were gates and baby proofed areas. Her assistant was nice and even held my youngest baby while I chatted with Melissa.
On Melissa:
Melissa was very welcoming and had a really great energy. She was very detailed on the day-​to-​day activities as well as monthly activities she planned. She spoke about her experience and love for children and I even met her son (early 20s, doesn’t live in the home).
On why I gave her two stars: I showed great interest in this day care and even offered to leave a deposit to hold the position that Melissa said was available. I also asked if she would be able to keep my 5 year old for after care. She said yes and added that the she didn’t have rates for after school care, but would get back to me on Sunday at the latest. That was on a Friday.
Before leaving I thanked her. She gave me a contract to read over and we agreed that my husband should look over it as well. I was under the impression that we would move forward. Mainly because: she asked how soon I needed the kids to start (I said Monday), she said she would have a final rate by Sunday, and I asked her several times if she was sure she could keep the kids.
All that being said, she flaked. I sent her a follow up text which I didn’t expect an immediate response to because it was during her working hours. She didn’t get back on Sunday. On Monday, I left a vm asking for an update, but also noting that I’m sure weekends are probably busy so I completely understood if she was too busy. I also stated that I would be understand if she could not take the kids. On Tuesday. She responded via text and basically said there were two other mothers interested and who she would choose was based on ‘her and her assistants comfort as well’. I asked how that was determined exactly. I never got a response.
It was very frustrating that after expressing how I had been searching for care for 6 months on and off that Melissa dos not have enough professionalism to inform me directly that my children were not selected to attend her day care. I would have not have not been upset to hear that she had decided to go with another family, although it would have been helpful to know how that selection was determined.

I agree with all the past reviews. This daycare continues to be top notch. My daughter is always happy to go to Tata’s. The staff are friendly, loving with the children and extremely caring. They are in tune with each child’s individual needs and also help them to cooperate in the day care setting.

Our daughter has been cared for by Tata and Julie 4-​days/​wk for 2 years, since she was about 4 months old, and I can’t say enough great things about them. My daughter always looks forward to seeing Tata and Julie and she even prays that God blesses them every night before bedtime. She constantly talks about her friends at Tata’s and tells us about her day. The in-​home daycare has a lot of space, a back yard with a play structure and ride-​on toys, and is in a convenient location.
All the children receive the benefit of her preschool, even the little ones. Our daughter was doing a great job counting to 10 and signing the alpahbet at 1.5 yrs. There is structured time and play time. They have circle times, singing, crafts, lots of celebrations, great food, and plenty of play. She was even learning the names of the planets before she was 2. And whenever Tata puts on the music on at the end of the day and the kids are dancing around, it makes me want to dance too!
Best of all… the love. Lots of hugs. Lots of cheering. I am confident they care deeply about my sweet girl. And any time I have to pick her up from Tata’s because she is sick, they have done a wonderful job cuddling her and caring for her until I get there.
Highly recommend these lovely ladies to anyone searching for trust-​worthy childcare/​preschool.

Tatas Busy Bumble Bees is an awesome place for your child to stay at. It’s more then just a family daycare.
My son has been going to Tata’s daycare since he was 6 months old, and now he is 3. I have another child that will be going here at 3 months old in a few weeks.
My son has learned how to interact with other children both younger and older. He has learned how to share with other children and how to communicate and was potty trained at 2.5 years old because of daycare! Tata has showed my son his A B C’s, counting, colors and shapes, the planets, fun songs, and games. They do circle time (and even include infants!), arts and crafts, music and dancing, story time, outdoor play and so much more. I believe there is never a boring day at daycare, there is always something to learn and do. She also gives out monthly calendars that outline fun activities, birthdays, events, and letters and numbers that your child will be learning.
Her daycare is set up really well too. Lots of space, colorful, great toys for all ages, posters, and your child has their own cubby that you can put any extra clothes that they bring for emergencies.
She gives each child individual attention. Her hours are great, she feeds the kids well (breakfast, lunch and snacks-​water, fruits and veggies are always served), her personality is awesome, and my son loves her… It’s like his second home!!!
Overall I recommend Tata’s Busy Bumble Bees Family Child Care to anyone who wants their child to be in a fun and loving environment where they will learn a lot!

Melissa (aka Tata) has taken care of my son for over 2 years. He recently «graduated» from her day care as he moved on to preschool. It was difficult to say goodbye as she had a lasting influence on his formative years. Tata was extremely flexible and understanding with my part time work schedule and my son being sick frequently with asthma. She was also very accommodating with his food sensitivities. I always felt comfortable and confident leaving him in her care. She is especially organized and creative. Tata engages the children in age appropriate activities and she goes above and beyond and celebrates each and every one of her kids’ birthdays. Her helper, Julie, is equally good, and she even does some babysitting for us on the side. If you are looking for a warm, safe, enriching environment for your baby or toddler, Tata’s busy bumble bees is the place to be.

As a working mom, the only way I could feel ok for those hours each day away from my kids was to absolutely know that: 1) they were learning and 2) that they were being well loved…
And 3 years ago, when we moved to Redwood City, I was exceptionally lucky to find such a place for my son and daughter: Tata’s Busy Bumblebees. Melissa (aka «Tata») and her team put my mama heart at ease, and I felt that even though I couldn’t be with my kids full time, that they were in a place as good (or better!) than what I’d be able to give them day in and day out.
We first took our son to Tata’s as a baby. He was miserable at another daycare we had tried, and we were nervous we wouldn’t find a place where he could be happy. Within a week at Tata’s he had happily adjusted and basically couldn’t wait to get there every day thereafter. In fact he’d grab his bag and run to the door when I told him «We’re going to Tata’s today…»
Now that my younger daughter at Tata’s, it’s the same thing. My daughter leaps out of my arms when we arrive, and gives big hugs to Melissa, Clark and Julie (the team at Tata’s BusyBumblebees). And she comes home with new knowledge each day: colors, counting, asking to read books, singing, dancing. It is a joy to see her flourish there as my son did.
Here are some other things I notice about Tata’s:
–Tata and her helpers Julie and Clark are very clean, organized and structured. Impossibly, she gets the kids to eat without making messes, drink out of their own water bottles, share etc.
–Though it’s in-​home, the facility is more upscale than other in-​home daycares we looked at. The modern, clean entire bottom floor of the house is exclusively for the kids.
–Nice fenced backyard with shade and lots of toys and things to play on.
–Melissa decorates for all of the holidays, celebrates each child’s birthday, has a learning theme each day (counting, stories, colors, singing, planets etc), and sends out a calendar of activities, birthdays and learning themes each month.
–Melissa, Julie and Clark create a loving, happy, joyful atmosphere which is great for young babies. They don’t leave babies sitting all day, instead they will regularly cuddle and interact with them throughout the day. It’s a very communal vibe.
–Melissa is flexible with parents’ part-​time or changing schedules (this can be hard to find and invaluable for parents who can’t do full time care)
Hours: 7:30am to 5:30pm Monday — Friday
Location: Near Oak and Valota in Redwood City
Phone: 650−369−3602 or you can email her at
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