Childrens Montessori Adventure - San Leandro, California

amy griffith

An amazing Montessori school and amazing family that runs it ? spots here used to be hard to come by. Both of our kids went here and felt the love daily, sometimes they didn’t even want to leave which is the best feeling as a parent. They focus on teaching kids how to be independent and respectful which makes our lives as parents trying to do the same much easier when the school also focuses on this. My oldest started kindergarten this year and he’s already well prepared educationally. I highly recommend this school.

Willow Idlewild

We started sending our little guy here about a year ago. While communication leading up felt light, once we met with Ms Lorena and started to seriously consider going to CMA, there was much more communication. We came to learn that this is because of just how much attention she and the other teachers give the students they already have! While our kiddo started off as the youngest student in his class, he thrived under their care -- making friends, doing projects, and bringing home new pieces of information! He is now tidier at home, practices emotional regulation when he doesn't get his way, and is excited to see his friends at the farmers' market.

Karissa Yee Findley

I had two children who attended Children's Montessori Adventure from age 2 until elementary school. My children were in good hands with Ms. Lorena and the staff. My kids were safe, happy and nurtured at this preschool. The program helps children learn how to participate in a structured group setting while also allowing children to select learning activities and move at their own individualized pace. The staff are actively engaged with the children, and the Montessori approach included hands-on, individual and small group activities to practice life skills and gain early math and literacy concepts. When my children got upset, the staff taught them tools to manage their emotions and calm down. There is lots of outdoor play, art, song and dance, and storytime mixed in also!

The preschool has two classrooms and a sweet outdoor play area in the backyard. The staff helped with potty training too.

We're all done, but if we had another child we would enroll them to Children's Montessori Adventure too!

Cori Maiden

Our son has been attending CMA since he was 2 and will be off to Kindergarten in the Fall. Ms. Lorena and her family of teachers have taken such great care of our child and we have developed such a strong connection with many families in the school. Our son has grown in so many ways and we are so thankful for Ms. Lorena and all of the teachers that have taken such great care of him and helped him to be a thriving kid ready for school!

Pauline Cutter

As a former preschool teacher I recommend CMA preschool for families who are looking for a full day program. Both my grandchildren have benefited from the calm, supportive and learning atmosphere there. The staff is excellent and the kids love them. The children are more than ready for Kindergarten as they move on.

Reed Idlewild

Our little guy has been attending Children’s Montessori Adventure since he turned two, and has now been there a little over a year. He loves it. We love it. The teachers are so deeply kind and caring, and they are so supportive of the children. They focus on empowering kiddos to make good choices and helping them learn responsibility.
It was actually quite hard for us to get in, but unusually due to the TK expansion they have a couple extra spots this year!
If you are looking for a place for your young child to learn and grow I don’t think you can do better than CMA.

Mary Sobrero

Just transitioned my daughter to kindergarten after two years of CMA - she was is well prepared! Ms. Lorena runs a tight ship - and maintains a loving but firm relationship with the kiddos. Big emphasis on doing things themselves and independent, self-directed learning. We were very happy with our experience there!

David Jackson

CMA is not for every kid. In our son's few months of attendance, multiple families (including ours) were asked or encouraged to leave. Our son internalized being a "bad kid" in his time at CMA and ultimately we feel that the staff are ill-equipped to handle children who don't fit into their specific, and strict archetype of the "perfect" toddler.

For kids who are able to follow the specific rules and procedures, there's no doubt that they are able thrive at CMA, the activities they do and crafts they make are amazing and really encourage fine motor skills and cognitive development, but it seemed that our kid was far too often prohibited from just playing and being a kid and had to follow very strict guidelines and rules which made him frustrated.

When he didn't follow the rules he was separated from his friends further which caused even more anxiety for him, leading to him to act out more, which staff at CMA didn't know how to address; possibly due to staff/student ratio.

Communications with us was rare, and often only when something was "wrong"; we received very rare positive feedback. Even during our parent/teacher discussion near the end my wife had to request for Ms. Lorena to say a single positive thing about our child.

Our son has since been at another preschool. He comes home every day enthusiastic and happy. He gets to play with friends all day, he is learning, growing and enjoying life. Staff at this new school have only positive feedback for him, they communicate very often, post pictures of him having fun with friends, etc. He went from feeling excessive anxiety at CMA to loving school.

Our son learned a lot in his time CMA, but he was unhappy, and they made it very clear they did not want him there which is a shame. He internalized being a "bad kid" during his time there, and if I could go back in time I would have avoided CMA altogether.