Circle Time Preschool and Child Care

After 9 months at Circle Time, we made the difficult decision to unenroll our son. We did not make this decision lightly, but over time we became increasingly concerned about the program’s approach to behavior, communication, and support for young children with regulation challenges. Our child struggled at times with behaviors that are well within the realm of normal child development — impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, difficulty with transitions, conflicts with peers, and sensory overwhelm. These are not rare or shocking behaviors in preschool-aged children, especially children who may be neurodivergent, highly sensitive, or simply still developing coping skills and emotional control. Unfortunately, instead of feeling supported through those challenges, it increasingly felt as though our child was being viewed as “the problem.” The overall approach often felt reactive rather than proactive, with heavy reliance on redirection instead of evidence-based supports commonly used in early childhood settings. Strategies such as visual supports, structured choices, sensory or movement breaks, proactive check-ins, co-regulation, positive reinforcement, and teaching replacement behaviors could have made a meaningful difference. Instead, many situations seemed to escalate before meaningful support was provided. The final incident that led to our decision was handled in a way that left us deeply uncomfortable. We received a message from the director stating that “under normal circumstances today’s event would have resulted in immediate termination.” This felt extremely alarming and pressuring, especially given that the information we heard from staff did not fully align with our son’s account of what occurred. Rather than feeling collaborative or solution-focused, the communication felt punitive and adversarial toward a preschool-aged child. The most heartbreaking part as a parent was hearing our son begin to internalize this experience. When we discussed leaving the program, he apologized and blamed himself. No child should walk away from preschool believing they are bad, unwanted, or fundamentally “too much.” I was also disappointed by the lack of professionalism and communication from leadership. After notifying the director that we would be unenrolling our son, I received no response at all. No acknowledgment, no conversation, no follow-up. I am sharing this because I believe parents deserve transparency. If your child is naturally easygoing and compliant, your experience here may be positive. But if your child needs patience, flexibility, emotional support, or a more trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate approach to behavior, I would strongly encourage you to ask detailed questions before enrolling.

We cannot say enough amazing things about Circle Time Preschool and Ms. Stacie and her incredible staff. From day one, they have gone above and beyond in every possible way. The team is so attentive, loving, and genuinely invested in each child’s growth and well-being. They follow a thoughtful curriculum that truly prepares the kids for success when they transition to kindergarten. My son was more than ready academically, socially, and emotionally by the time he graduated. The foundation they provide is outstanding. What makes Circle Time even more special is the environment they’ve created. The children learn so much while having fun, and you can see how kindness, sharing, and respect are consistently encouraged. The kids genuinely get along so well because those values are instilled every single day. Communication with families is exceptional. We receive pictures, updates, and detailed daily summaries, which gives so much peace of mind and makes you feel connected throughout the day. Ms. Stacie also plans the sweetest holiday activities and special events that the kids absolutely love. Safety is clearly their number one priority, and it shows in everything they do. They have exceeded every expectation we had. I truly cannot recommend Circle Time enough. I wouldn’t send my children anywhere else!

Yesterday was my son’s first day at this daycare, and I honestly couldn’t be happier with our experience. From the moment we walked in, everything looked so beautiful, bright, and clean. You can really feel how much love and care is put into every little detail — from the cozy classrooms to the wonderful outdoor garden. The teachers are incredibly kind and patient. . I could see how much they truly care about the children. The owner is also amazing — warm, welcoming, and clearly passionate about creating the best environment for the kids. The garden is just perfect! So many fun and safe things for the children to explore and enjoy. I loved seeing how happy and relaxed all the kids were — smiling, playing, and having a great time together. It’s such a wonderful feeling as a parent to know that your child is in a place where they are happy, cared for, and loved. I’m so grateful we found this daycare 💛🌿

I never write bad reviews- and I had high hopes about enrolling my daughter here for preschool. First red flag for me, should have been the poor/lack of communication with the owner when trying to enroll. But the staff seemed wonderful, clean facility, ect. BUT If your child struggles with any “behaviors” they deem unfit, they will shut you down so fast and label your child as a problem. My daughter didn’t nap(which was discussed before we started and was assured it was no problem), which “didn’t allow them to take breaks”, so they forced me to pick her up early and still charged me full day enrollment cost(for less then 4 hours), which forced me to call out of work or leave multiple times. I attempted to work with the teachers but I truly feel the girls working there are too young and inexperienced (some are the owners children’s girlfriends). They made me feel like we were doing something wrong as parents, when we were paying for her to be there and be cared for. My daughter moved to another preschool and has thrived- since she has a facility and teachers willing to work with her our family and understand that toddlers aren’t perfect. I’m sure this place is great for children who are used to daycare setting, being forced to lay down and nap or just aren’t “problems”. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Circle Time Preschool is truly exceptional. My son thoroughly enjoys attending the school. The staff is outstanding!