Kiddie Academy of Tustin

I would not use this facility for infants. I took my daughter there for her first day (3 months old) and watched on the video monitor throughout the day to check in on the facility. First, there video monitor system hardly ever worked. We tried on various devices and it would only work like 20% of the time.
Next, my daughter was alone on a pillow for most of the morning which allowed toddlers to come up to her when there wasn’t an adult nearby. She had to spend most of her time on the pillow even though she was crying.
Then, we witnessed as one of the people there left a baby on the changing table while searching on the bottom shelf for something and didn’t have a hand on the child. The infant rolled over and almost climbed/​fell off the changing table. This alone made me feel like it was unsafe to have her here.
Finally, when I came to pick her up late afternoon, my normally happy content baby was sobbing/​whimpering for four hours afterwards. Sadly, I could not get my deposit back and lost out on two weeks tuition but there was no way I was bringing my daughter back to the Kiddie Academy.

I visited this facility in February looking for day care for my newborn (I am still pregnant). It is nearby my work so I was hoping this would be the best place for my child. My tour took about 5 minutes and then they gave me some paperwork and told me there was only one opening for September and to hold the spot the deposit would be two weeks tuition ($ 738). I still wanted to look around, but I was afraid of losing the spot. They told me if I signed up for automatic payments the deposit could be reduced to one month ($ 369). So, I decided to make the deposit. I was not told that the deposit was non-​refundable. I visited a couple more day care centers and after those visits I decided that Kiddie Academy was not the place for my child. At the other centers… they took their time showing me around, gave me much more information, the teachers were more friendly, and the highest deposit I encountered was $ 125. One was only $ 25 to secure a spot. Kiddie Academy in Tustin has a corporate feel. It is clean and the furniture is new, but the other centers I visited had much more friendly environments. And, during my visit not one single teacher said hello or spoke to me. (Again, my tour was only 5 minutes long).
So, I decided to go with another day care center. I called the staff one week after placing my deposit (which was in February and I was securing a spot for September ~ 7 months early). They did try to work with me to match the tuition at the other center (which was over $ 200 less per month), but I told them I would be going with the other center. Natasha told me that I would get a refund of my deposit in 7 – 10 days. Well, two weeks passed and no refund. I called and spoke to Elaina (who said she would give my message to Natasha), no return call. In fact, I called once each week for the next few weeks and was told I would receive a return call and never did. I finally emailed the center (over a month after leaving my deposit and no refund). I got a return email from Melissa which said…
Good Afternoon,
I’m very sorry. The owner was contacted and unfortunately as stated in the enrollment agreement the deposit is non refundable. You are however able to attend a week and the deposit will be put towards the tuition. Very sorry for the delayed response.
Kiddie Academy of Tustin
OK, so #1… I was never told that the deposit was non refundable. #2… I was told that I would receive a refund in 7 – 10 days. #3… why would I ever bring my child to this place for one random week?
So a warning… DO NOT PUT DOWN A DEPOSIT UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE ABOUT YOUR CHILD ATTENDING THIS FACILITY. UNLESS YOU WANT TO PAY $ 369 FOR A 5 MINUTE TOUR.
Also, after I posted this review on Unilocal I received a very nasty reply for the business owner. Basically, calling me a liar! And, stating that I was told several times that the deposit was not refundable. That is not true! I would not have been compelled to write the review unless I was treated unfairly.

This is a top notch safe place run by true professionals who are also sweet caring people that understand child care. Our previous experience with our initial Daycare provider left us wanting much more and within 15 minutes of our first visit to Kiddie Academy, there was no question that we would be placing our daughter here and as soon as possible.
Our 2 yr old daughter has flourished at Kiddie Academy of Tustin. In the few months she has been here, the amazing teachers have gone above and beyond to make her feel comfortable and truly enjoy her time there. In addition, we just placed our baby here and again the care has been consistent and impressive.
It’s no fun paying for daycare but I have no remorse spending a dime at Kiddie Academy because I know my daughters are getting quality care, education and are having fun. Lastly, everyone from the teachers to the lovely girls in the front office ALL go above and beyond to make it easy for the parents. I highly recommend Kiddie Academy of Tustin.

We have been taking our kids to kiddie academy for over 2 years now. Our kids love it there. The front staff is so welcoming and understanding. The teachers are so caring and wonderful. We would not put our kids anywhere else. We love kiddie academy of Tustin!!!

Kiddie Academy is amazing. I love their approach to teaching. Ms. Tina and Ms. Amanda have been wonderful with my son. They are very patient, they show genuine interest in our son, and they show genuine care for him. Ms. Elena and Ms. Natasha have been nothing but helpful and accommodating since day one. Ms Elena and Ms Natasha run the front office and always jump through hoops to make life just a bit easier. My sons confidence is blossoming and he’s daily reflections of what he learned always impresses and surprises me. I love kiddie academy and all they are doing to prepare my son for kindergarten.

this review is a bit overdue as my son has been attending this location for over two years now. we love this place because the teachers are just fantastic. my son loves every teacher he’s had here, from Ms. Silvia, to Ms. Adriana, to Ms. Amanda, to Ms. Elena in the front office. they are the most down-​to-​earth people ever and genuinely love the kids. the facility is a bit small (esp. compared to the Irvine site), but everything in it is brand new and very well-​lit and the classrooms themselves are plenty large enough. they have cameras in every classroom that you can view with an app, and it’s very secure, every parent has a personal pin to enter the facility. they have super convenient hours (6:30−6:30) and they don’t charge extra like montessoris do. and they provide all meals and snacks! the location isn’t the greatest, but it works just fine for us. and what it all comes down to is the teachers. they are the most important factor and we just love them and can’t wait to start our daughter here next spring.

All of the women at Kiddie Academy are the absolute BEST! Miss Elaina and Miss Natasha are so wonderful and have made me feel comfortable with Leaving my daughter there from day 1! I used to call everyday to check on her when I first went back to work and they were very patient and always took the time to answer all of my questions! They still do when I call to check to see if she’s eaten or anything since she never wants to eat ANYTHING!
My daughter has had a few issues with her stomach, and has had to see a few specialists, & her teachers and the directors always make sure to do any special instructions I have for them.
My daughter LOVES going to Daycare and she never cries when I leave her which makes me feel very comfortable! Miss Elizabeth sits with her every morning and feeds her, her yogurt and cereal bars! My daughter just loves them, which makes me love them even more!
Not to mention, Miss Elaina just made My daughter and I matching Minnie Mouse Tutus for Halloween! Which is going far beyond anything I could ever ask for! I love them and they’re so cute! Everyday when we leave, my daughter walks into the front office and says bye to the ladies up front and gives them hugs and kisses! It’s just too cute! These women are fabulous! Im glad I got her on the waiting list, and very glad I waited and didn’t go anywhere else! I’ve had a few personal things happen since my daughter has been going there, and the way they work with me and keep me informed is beyond appreciated! I would recommend Kiddie Academy to any mom or parents looking for a daycare for their little ones! Thank you guys for everything you do and have done for me and Eden! We love you :)

My two sons have been attending since Jan 2014 and we love the place. The teachers are great. They are caring, fun and dedicated.
My kids were first in the infant room with Miss Paulina and are now in the toddler room with Miss Sylvia and Miss Alex who are simply amazing. They have helped my boys transition into regular drinking cups by age 2, master eating by themselves with a fork or a spoon and, best of all, they have helped us enormously with the potty training. I am a bit bummed that my boys will be moving on to the next class but i have heard nothing but good things about Miss Adriana, their next teacher.

I’m so lucky that my friend recommended this place for me last year. From the first day when I went for the tour I felt the warmth of all the people who work their. Everyone in the staff is really friendly and ready to help. All the teachers are really good with the kids and you can tell when you see how much the kids love their teachers. The place has been the same from day one, it’s really clean and cozy and have everything your kid might need. Everyone is there for you when you need them for any emergency, I tried them many times in different issues and they didn’t turn me down once. I wish that there are more than 5 stars to give this place

My daughter has been going to Kiddie Academy Tustin since they first opened last year. When shopping around for day cares I had a hard time deciding. I liked Kiddie Academy because they have a sort of toddler transition room for ages 18 months to 2 years old (I think that’s the right age range) with a larger teacher to kid ratio then just a regular toddler class. Since my daughter is very attached to me, I knew the additional attention from the teachers would help her feel comfortable. Ms. Adriana and Ms. Silvia are two teachers my daughter always talks highly about and I feel they genuinely care about her. Since attending they have helped her learn so much and they are very kind to her.
Kiddie Academy helped her with potty training and her teachers let me know her progress on a regular basis. They have a great summer program where they have a fun activity planned every day from end of June to mid August.
My daughter has really blossomed and made lots of little friends there. She is happy to go to school everyday and I trust the staff dropping her off. They take pictures and post to a private Facebook page (just for parents to view) and have security codes and doors to get into the building.
All in all, I cant think of anything I would change in a day care. My daughters safety, happiness, and growth are very important to me and all area are taken care of here!

We started back in November 2012 when they first opened, and have been going ever since. Let me share why we love it here, and why our children are thriving under their care:
10 Reasons Why We Love this Kiddie Academy:
1) Excellent security — you need a code to enter the front door to reach the front office, then another code in order to sign your kids in electronically to enter the actual facilities.
2) Cameras in every room — you can download an app and check-​in on your kids throughout the day.
3) They provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks — Anything that makes a parent’s life easier is a win in my book! There is always some sort of fruit and veggie provided with meals too.
4) It is a NUT-​FREE facility. This is hugely important to us because my daughter has a peanut allergy. They have whiteboards in every room posting every child’s food allergies, so rest assured that the staff here are super diligent about food allergies, and will do whatever they can to prevent any accidental exposure from happening.
5) I LOVE my children’s teachers — This is the most important thing of all because you want to know that your children are in safe, loving hands! My son is currently in the toddler room with Miss Alex and Miss Sylvia — they are so amazing, and I can just feel the love they have for my son. They are so funny and friendly, and I will be sad when he has to move on. BUT the next classroom up (the preschoolers) also has an amazing teacher — Miss Adriana — my daughter used to be in this class and I adore Miss Adriana too, so I know he will be in good hands. My daughter is currently in the Pre-​K class with Miss Tina and Miss Amanda and they are great too! She is thriving under their care, and comes home telling me all the things she’s learned that day (planets, oceans, insects, etc). She always talks about how much she loves them, and is always wanting to draw pictures for them. She and her friend even like to pretend play to be them. These teachers have all consistently been around for at least the last 2 years. VERY LOW TURNOVER is a good sign.
6) The front staff is great too! Miss Elaine and Miss Melissa are accommodating and helpful. My children feel so at ease with them and on Fridays I let them get a treat… so they’ll run to the front office and ask for a piece of candy, which they always seem to have on hand. They’re also very on top of the teacher/​student ratio and will rearrange things as they see fit to make sure they’re meeting the state standards.
7) They have a closed FB group where they’ll post pictures and videos of the kids — I love seeing what my kids are up to throughout the day!
8) Their summer program is great — it runs from the end of June through the end of August, and they have things like bounce houses, water day, petting zoo day, s’mores day, crazy hair day, popsicle making day, popcorn and movie day, etc. that make summers extra special for the kids.
9) They have indoor toilets in every classroom — and they will help potty train!
10) We recently went on vacation for several days, and they cut our weekly tuition by half for the week we were gone. I don’t know of many places that would do this, but to us, this was a huge benefit that we were so grateful for!
For full disclosure, I’ll call out a couple things I don’t love, but really isn’t that big of a deal to me… I just know they might be important considerations for other parents:
— They have a small parking lot, though parking has never been a huge issue for us since people are always coming in/​out and this KA isn’t located in a super busy intersection.
— I wish they had larger outdoor play areas, and a swingset! I think play is really important for kids, and while I do think the space provided is sufficient, sometimes I long for more!
— Sometimes the TV will be on towards the end of the day in the older children classrooms (I’ve never seen it on in the infant, toddler, or preschooler classrooms)… not a big deal to me, but thought it was important to note.
We really couldn’t be happier here!

My daughters have been attending Kiddie Academy for the past two years and they absolutely love it; and I couldn’t be happier. I appreciate the structured schedule they provide which includes time for physical/​outside time, group and individual activities and a well thought-​out, stimulating curriculum. My 5 year old started reading at 4.5, thanks to the instruction she receives, and my 3 year old, who is on the shy, reserved and strong-​will side, has opened up tremendously and adjusted socially. They provide meals and snacks throughout the day. The facilities are always clean and safe. There’s a special Sumner program that the children totally enjoy and they’ll have the occasional pizza party that they look forward to. I have dropped in on numerous occasions at different times of the day and I have never been disappointed. The staff is always very helpful and accommodating. The teachers are caring and qualified. But most of all I pay attention to how my daughters talk about their day and the different things they did. They enjoy doing their homework and love their teachers. Ms Adriana, Ms Emily, Ms Tina, Ms Maggie, Ms Natasha and Ms Amanda. Not to mention in the front office Mr Joseph, Ms Sonia, Ms Melissa and Ms Elena. I appreciate the service and care they provide and I very highly recommend this day care.

I have two kids at Kiddie Academy for nearly 2 years now. One started at 6 months, the other at 3 years old. I was using an at-​home daycare before coming here. I see a huge difference in my kid’s social/​cognitive development. My eldest had a lot of speech difficulties when she first started. Now she is a social butterfly who is talking a mile a minute. The curriculum is also on par with the Montessori stuff. My kindergartener has learned about germs, the solar system, different types of animals, weather, addition, sight words and etc.
The staff here are really very involved and work with you. Ms. Elaina even volunteered to pick up the birthday pizza for me when I couldn’t get off from work to drop it off! The teachers are friendly, and will send me pictures of my kids during the school day. (More often in nursery, not so much now that they are in ‘class’). Both of my kids have a laundry list of food allergies, sometimes these allergies were discovered during the school day. Thank goodness the staff has always immediately called me and sent me pictures whenever they spotted signs of an allergic reaction.
The staff is professional and never fazed by a kid’s difficult behavior, or a parent’s complex care instructions. For example, I once told them «Please change the diaper EVER 90 minutes. Give her medicine A at 11AM, then medicine B at 3PM. Also make sure she is fed one more time at 5 and has a fresh diaper right before I pick her up so she doesn’t fuss in the car.» The staff didn’t even bat an eye, and acted as if my request was just another ho-​hum event in their everyday life.
The teachers are honestly affectionate of the students here and understanding of concerned parents. What more can you ask for when you’re entrusting your kids to someone else? My kids always ask to hug their teachers and even the front office staff good bye. My kids are happy here. Did I mention that sometimes the teacher will braid my daughters hair? I love it when she comes home with a better hairstyle than I dropped her off with. :-) I can’t give enough praise for the teachers and staff at Kiddie Academy.

This daycare is spectacular. They are very professional and have the perfect mix of structure and fun with a healthy dose of kindness. They are so good with the kids! It really does not seem like work for them and that is truly a joy for the parent who has to leave for work. Being able to log in and see what is going on is so comforting during a tough day. The kids always make me smile. I give Kiddie Academy 5 stars because I can’t figure out how to give more. Don’t take my word for it. Check them out. You won’t regret it.

I can not say enough good things about Kiddie Academy of Tustin! The love and dedication Joseph and Sonya have put into this place to ensure the kids are happy is amazing! The Assistant Director Melissa is wonderful. She has always been very helpful and is very dedicated to getting the job done. Melissa as well as Ms. Elaine in the front office are a great first point of contact they are both very inviting and greet us every morning we walk in. The building is very secure and I love that you have to have a code to even get in to the front office. The inside is clean and organized and you can tell the teachers work very hard to ensure a great atmosphere for the children. Every day when we get to the light before Kiddie Academy my daughter is pointing to the building and saying «I want to go there». During pick up several times my daughter has requested more time to play with her friends. The teachers are patient with both the kids and parents and take the time to tell you about your child’s day. I love knowing that when I drop my daughter off at Kiddie Academy of Tustin she will be well taken care of and I enjoy seeing the growth in her everyday! I highly recommended Kiddie Academy of Tustin

My daughter went to Kiddie Academy of Tustin for over a year. She loved it and my husband and I were very pleased with the family oriented environment. The staff were friendly and made sure your needs were met; like family. They have a curriculum and day care hours that include drop off as early as 6:30 am and pick up as late as 6:30 pm; awesome for working parents. The facility is new and clean. The children’s work is always posted for parents to know what is going on in the classrooms. The owners Joseph and Sonia were sweet, friendly and accommodating. They always tried to make sure we were satisfied with the school and strived to do their best to accomplish just that. Unfortunately, we had to move so no longer could attend Kiddie Academy but we will always remember them.
Thank you guys

The reason I am writing this review is because of Sonia. Sonia is the owner of this facility and likes to talk highly of herself. Almost every time I talk to her, she talks about how rich she is and how she does not have to work. Hearing this when you are dropping off your child before going to work in the morning isn’t to pleasing. A lot people aren’t wealthy, like Sonia, and have to work hard for their money.
Sonia if you ever read this please stop talking about how wealthy you are and that you do not have to work. Also, stop talking down on the parents as if you have better parenting skills than they do. In the end it’s their child not yours. If they need advice on parenting they will ask.
I do not recommend this day care. You can find better day cares in the area. My child is no longer enrolled here.
Thanks!

I’ve had my daughter in kiddie academy in Tustin since the place first opened, I don’t know why I hadn’t written a review before. But I can’t express the love that my daughter Genesis, or as everyone knows her as «Genny» has for the facility and all of the staff. She was around 27 months when she started, she’s three now and the school has helped me with her from potty training to teaching her so much. I love when I pick her up and she tells me «mommy I had fun at school today» that alone tells me kiddie academy is doing an outstanding job! Miss Adriana and Miss Emily are so loving towards her there’re the best, they all are! Not to mention the owners Joseph and Sonia they have the kindest heart! You can’t go wrong with this school!

My son started here when he was five and a half months old and I couldn’t be more pleased.
The facility is clean, engaging, bright and cheerful. The toys are washed regularly (I know because I’ve seen them coming back from being sterilized) and they’re rotated to make sure that the children remain engaged and stimulated.
The teachers are wonderful. I don’t think that family could love my kiddo more than these teachers do and it shows in the way he interacts with them. I love that he gets excited to see his teachers and that he is having fun every time I go to pick him up.
I have no idea what Wendy R. could be talking about. I have never had a rude encounter with anyone in the front office. As to the food, I’m not sure of the age of her child, but meals are included once your child is eating REGULAR food. If they’re an infant and requiring breastmilk/​formula/​jar food that is a completely different situation. My son enjoys the meals made for him and I love that everything he eats and does is accounted for on the daily activity logs kept by the teachers.
There are so many spelling and grammar errors in Wendy’s post I’d encourage anyone reading it to take it with a grain of salt… clearly that lady has issues. I’ve referred this location to several friends looking for child care in the area. It’s the best.

My daughter has been going here for about 3 months now and I’m very happy.
She has learned a lot and the staff is not only friendly to the children but the parents as well. The preschool is very clean and sanitary which is important. Overall, Kiddie Academy in Tustin is a winner!