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March 2023 by Yubing Ji
Most health conscious and child centric day care I visited (for example, child size toilet and child height wash basin, boy/girl separated restrooms). Most spacious outdoor play area with tall trees, outdoor xylophones, child cabins and sand play area, in addition to typical slides. (Unlike many daycares with old tricycles lying around - I think it’s not safe to have kids with mixed activities where some ride bikes while others walk/run).It’s also one of the best places that offer hot food cooked onsite for both breakfast and lunch. The kitchen is spotless. The most impressive thing is they clearly list each child’s dietary needs on the table with color coding beyond allergy, for example, no egg, pork ok but no beef, vegetarians etc.it’s also unique that they invest in security cameras and parents can watch their kid all day long in an app.The curriculum is good with comprehensive evaluations 3 times a year. Overall, very impressive. The only thing on my wishlist they don’t have is the Montessori style and some toys are a bit worn out (but still very clean, the classroom carpets are so spotless).
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October 2022 by Liz W.
Many many years ago my child attended Little Mud Puddles and I attribute his success in learning and life to the amazing start he had with the most compassionate, motivating and caring childcare People on the planet! I'm sure Darlene continues to maintain employing high quality individuals as well as maintaining a safe and secure environment. I am proud to say my son is now an Emergency Room Doctor - thanks Darlene and Little Mud Puddles!
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May 2022 by Suvidha K.
I highly recommend Little Mud Puddles School and can't say enough good things about them. My son has been going there for about 1.5 years and absolutely loves it. It is a joy to watch him grow and thrive there. He started with classroom 1 and is now in classroom 3. Along the way, we have worked with multiple teachers and they are all so very nice and supportive to say the least. Miss Gloria and Miss Amy helped with my son's initial transition and were always very patient, keeping us posted on his daily moods and working with us together to help him succeed. I have seen Miss Gloria sit down with him and taking individual time to understand his emotions and help him. Now, my son is in classroom 3 and it is a blessing to have Miss Gayle work with him. Miss Gayle knows him just as I do as his mother, and appreciates and encourages him to be his best self. Miss Darlene, the school owner is such a nice and lovely person, and that reflects in how she cares for her school, her staff, the families and the kids. She has been so supportive since the beginning, super responsive and makes sure all families and kids get individual attention from her. Whenever I am at school picking or dropping off, I see all the teachers being so interested in what they do, all of them greeting children as they come, smiling at them and easing their morning transition to school. I see the kids happy, chirpy and lively. It is truly a joyful place to send your kids to. I have been and will continue to recommend LMP to friends and neighbors.
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May 2021 by Linda W.
There is a reason why the waitlist of the school is very long. The school just earned its reputation throughout the years. My older one went to LMP pre-Covid, and we loved the school. The school is very well managed. One of the biggest reason is Ms. Darlene, the owner/ director. She is very hands on. She knows everything about the business and her school, including all the students in various classes and their parents. When you have concern or questions, she is always very welcoming and takes time to address your concern, whether it's related to the school or to your kid. As a parent, I feel very comfortable sending my kids there. We also love the teachers there. All of them are very caring. Even though not all of them are my kid's class teacher, most of them knows my kid's name and always have a big smile on them when talking to him. It is also a great school to get your kids ready for the kindergarten. In case you are curious, they use Hook on Phonics program. The program really prepares all kids very well, and lead them started on reading. So from a parent's point of view, they are very organized administratively, teachers are very caring, and your kids are beyond ready academically for the next step, what more can I ask for? Luckily, my younger one will be going there soon!
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May 2021 by Valenka Pereira
Excellent staff patient teachers My son loves his daycare
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January 2021 by Deanna Tiburcio Realina
We've been part of the LMP family since 2013 when my daughter joined as a 2 year old. My son will graduate this year. 2020 brought on so many challenges and Darlene was very upfront with her concerns and plans. Leaving LMP this summer will be bittersweet. We will miss the amazing staff.
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January 2021 by Farhana M.
My daughter has been at little mud puddles for 2 years and has amazing engaged teachers that truly care about her and invest in her growth. We joined this day care because it was clean, the program is structured and the faculty is amazingly kind. Mrs. Darlene is the most caring owner I have ever met. She greets us as provides updates multiple times a day. We live 40 mins away and work in the city but we still send our Daughter to Little Mud Puddles because we trust Mrs Darlene and her staff. Covid has been very difficult on all of us and seeing how Mrs. Darlene went into action from the day it started to scaling back the number of kids in the school and implementing social distancing and limited contact protocol was amazing. Little mud puddles was one of the only schools that has a video auto scanner to check temperature, and requires kids to watch their hands on entry, from recess and on departure. Little mud puddles also does not intermingle classrooms, that means a max of 10 kids interact all together + 2-3 teachers who all wear masks. Little mud puddles manages checkin for the parents so there is no physical contact on a shared device. As a parent that has respiratory health issues I can say Mrs. Darlenes policies make it easier for me to send my child to daycare. Thank you for all you do Mrs. Darlene!
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December 2020 by Arcadia Y.
Update: 2021/1/8: I saw she had say Sorry about this. Not really apologize But I do not care anymore. I just request the refund for tuition Dec 30 and Dec 31. I added the suggestion email. There is no conspiracy as 'I knew more than you or hiddenstory. I chose to post all out for truth is truth. END Update: 2020/12/31: I saw there is good review behind me. I would like to say. This email address is not personal it could be found in their website. Also there are 4 citations in the past 3 years which I just found out. Update: 2020/12/30: I need a apology no matter whatever you reply others, or in the name of whatever for your own malicious words. Updated: 2020/12/29 I upload the email screen shot for her email and my previous email for better reading. Between these two emails, there is no other email. I did not feel surprise to see her official reply. However, it does not relate to the part that she insulted me. I did not delete or modify any of the word part in the comment. the update is just the screenshot of email. -- I rarely leave review for preschool. However, I was personally attacked and insulted by the owner Miss Darlene who judged me a terrible divorced single mom, a rude and mean person. Immediately she kicked my son out. However, what I email to her is the Covid19 concern as parents, no any personal issue. There was a case that a kid was discovered positive on Dec 19 2020. (correction, the kid has symptom on Dec 19, and test positive on Dec 24). I send email to her ask if the school may have improvement, like limiting the parent enter into the classroom each time when they pick the kids. There are 40 kids, so which means 80 visits every day. However, Miss Darlene replied and attacked said I am rude and mean, and kind ex. I knew when the police invests the crime, they manipulate people first destroys their confidence and dignity, makeup unrelated thing to support this 'pre-set' character. and make whatever they said is invalid. This happens to me as well. I could not image how a preschool owner could do this to a parent. I would like to post all other conversations in the future. (there is what miss Darlene replied to me in the first paragraph. in the second paragraph, which is untrue. They allowed me to stay a bit longer since it is my son's first day. It is their place, if they do not allow me, they can easily speak it out to or stopme ) On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 2:37 AM DARLENE JOHNSTON wrote: '' --------------------------------------------- You really are not a very nice person. I have chosen to put up with your situation due to your divorce and the pain your son goes through when I see how he is between you and his kind father. You have a very mean spirit. His last day is now. You are rude and not kind. --------------------------------------------- I took you because of the pain I see in your son. You were the parent I asked to please not visit the classroom the first day due to the health and safety of the children and families. I had one wonderful mother complain about you because you kept on coming into the class because Eric was crying. I have this documented on top of the incident between Eric's father and your situation. Parents come and they leave respectfully. We do not have families stay long. If I observe or am told by a family, which I have not seen, they are asked to leave right away like I told you the first and second day when Eric begun our program. This situation was a child, not a parent!!! Unfortunately the child might of contacted the COVID-19 due to wearing his mask and doing something outside our school and home and touched his face. By having families working together to wash children hands before they enter our school and after they leave our program , helps all of us working together to keep everyone safe. Many programs that don't allow families into their program unfortunately have had many COVId -19 cases. I feel blessed that in this situation that it kept to that child instead of effecting any of us. Your last day is today 12/29/2020. Darlene
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September 2020 by Lindsey P.
To say that the Little Mud Puddles Learning Center is amazing, is truly an understatement!! Miss Darlene & her wonderful staff are true angels here to protect, guide, teach, encourage & to love each child that they welcome into the school. From the classrooms where our children learn their ABC's and numbers. To having fun with arts & craft projects daily. Where our children socialize with friends & teachers. The Little Mud Puddles goes above and beyond to be a great place for our children to be. The extra precaution in regards to COVID is taken into consideration with following all CDC regulations to guarantee our children are safe and healthy while at The Little Mud Puddles learning center. Miss Darlene is so good at reminding us to wash our hands when arriving, take temperature, check to make sure we look well and have no COVID symptoms while entering the school. From the kitchen where they prepare fresh, healthy meals to the phonics and learning teachings, to the arts & crafts, and special care that each teacher brings is sincere and all of their efforts show throughout our children's growth. Thank you Little Mud Puddles for all you do for our children's future and well being and for giving us parents a piece of mind that our children are in good hands! We love you all very much and appreciate all that you do for my family and for my son!
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August 2020 by Michael J.
*disclosure* - we are leaving a yelp message for LM (Miss Darlene) without actually putting our daughter to LM. Why? Because Miss Darlene made such great/amazing/wonderful impression with us that our decision not to go to LM was PURELY due to the Pandemic risk (we have a senior/high risk living with us). Where should we start? How about we met with Miss Darlene twice on-site to discuss fall enrollment for LM and each visit lasted 2+ hours? Not one second/moment we noticed any impatience with Miss Darlene while we asked million questions. From our conversation with Miss Darlene, we can definitely sense her passion, drive, and her deep caring for your little one(s) & building relationships. Unlike other schools out there, we did not get any sense of "business-like" (a.k.a. caring only on MONEY) from her and that's such an unique quality for private school now days. She's just an amazing person/owner and we were really sad to make a hard decision to continue home school our daughter until we felt safer with the situation. There's a recent why we were on the wait list for so long (pre-pandemic) with LM. Miss Darlene, we will pray for you/your family safety/health with all of your wonderful teachers/staff at LM. We definitely hope we will cross path again! Good luck!
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August 2020 by Smarak B.
Miss Darlene and the Little Mud puddle team is simply THE BEST when it comes to day care business. We have been with Little mud puddles for a little over one year now. Miss Darlene has taken personal care to help our 3 year old son integrate into the school and feel a part of it. Our Son is hyperactive with less attention span because of which he was let go from his previous school. Little Mud puddle has been a blessing for us. While other schools were apprehensive in including our Son, Miss Darlene not only felt made us feel welcome but took extra care of our Son to ensure that he integrates with the school. The level of transparency love and attention that we found in Little mud puddles is generally not seen with other providers. We consider this as a life-changing event not only for my son but also for us. Miss Darlene gave us numerous personal advices and suggestions in how manage our Sons hyperactivity and in all cases we have been successful. Ex - when our Son jumped from his bed fearing a barking dog in the neighborhood, Miss Darlene introduced "Honey" her gorgeous little puppy to our Son so he would no longer be scared of Dogs. It worked like a charm. She is the most loving person we have ever met in our lives. she not only considers Little mud puddles as her business, but her life's mission to take care her Kiddos, and it manifests in the little thing she and her staff does to make life easier for busy working parents like us. Every challenge, every problem we faced with respect to our Son was dealt with at utmost love, professionalism and teamwork. Miss Darlene has an infectious positive and optimistic spirit, she is willing to solve problems by going out of the box and that's what you love most about her. We have been incredibly lucky to be a part of the little mud family and we hope encourage anyone who wants their Kids have a loving and caring environment to try the LMP experience. We cannot recommend Miss Darlene and her little mud puddle staff more. Miss Darlene we wish you and the entire LMP staff good luck and lots of happiness. Shumi
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August 2020 by Florence A.
I appreciate Miss Darlene, Miss Bernice, Miss Tanya, Miss Gloria, Miss Amber, Miss Tianta, Miss Yuner, and Miss Olivia for caring for my little Allison. My daughter was only there for a year but it was quite memorable. She outgrew her shyness and became more confident. During lockdown, Miss Darlene took every precaution: limiting class size, requiring temperature checks and masks, having the kids remain mostly outdoors, and having staff wear masks and gloves, There was also a sanitizing routine after every restroom use. I feel the kids were secure. Key fobs were required for entry and the lobby was always with a receptionist. The play ground was well-gated and surprisingly clean. I can tell that Miss Darlene put a lot of effort in the general upkeep but ramped up the cleanliness efforts when Covid hit. During my daughter's graduation, social distancing practices were maintained, sanitizing and masks were required. It was really sweet. I can't wait for my second little girl to join Little Mud Puddles.
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March 2020 by Barbara L.
I went here as a child! I graduated the class of 1994 and I had really fond memories when I did attend even though I was so young. I remember it being a very loving and nurturing environment. If I lived closer I would definitely take my child here!
