Paidea Child Development Center
| Address: | 949 Geneva Ave N, St Paul, MN 55128, USA |
| Phone: | +1 651-714-8646 |
| Site: | paideachild.com |
| Rating: | 5 |
Location
Photos 1
Reviews 6
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Grace Jager
Our son has a late spring birthday, so my husband and I decided to give him an extra year before starting kindergarten. He spent two years at another great preschool in the area, but we felt that he needed more time to develop emotionally. His former preschool teacher and a parent educator highly recommended Paidea. We checked it out and instantly felt that this was the right place for us. Within the first month he had made not one, but two best friends! We loved Paidea so much that we enrolled one of our other children there in November, and our oldest will attend their private kindergarten next year. The teachers are caring, kind, and supportive while still being firm and consistent. Rather than expect every child to fit the same mold, they strive to truly understand each child and find ways to help them all be successful. Lynn (the owner and director) is amazingly knowledgeable about children and, between monthly parent nights and private meetings with her, we have learned more about parenting in six months than we had in the last 5 1/2 years. Their method, also called emotion coaching, takes time to learn, but is worth it. Just the other day, my 5-year-old knocked down his brothers tower, and my 3-year-old, whose standard reaction would be to shriek or hit, chose to tell him that he "was not being respectful to his property" and solved it with words. We know he learned that from Paidea! The other piece that has impressed us most about Paidea is their desire to support the entire family, not just the child for the time theyre there. We receive a daily summary of how things went, and the staff is always more than happy to chat if needed. One of our boys needs some extra services through the school district, and Lynn has been vital in helping us navigate that process. Shes taken time to educate us, attend IEP meetings, and come up with alternative arrangements to make the transition easy on our son and family as a whole. It is obvious that Paidea is driven not by their desire to make a profit but by their desire to honor and develop each individual child. We wholeheartedly recommend Paidea to all of our friends, neighbors, and anyone who asks!
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M Wan
I cant say enough about Paidea. My 2 boys went there years ago...one starting in the Toddler Room, the other in one of the Preschool rooms. My only regret is that I didnt find them sooner. While my kids are now in middle school and entering HS, we still have a strong connection with the staff as they became friends and partners in raising our boys. What sets Paidea apart from other child care centers is that the success of your child is their number one priority! I watched as my kids learned such important skills that many adults struggle with...trouble-shooting, problem solving, teamwork, personal space, critical thinking, compassion, etc. Recently, when one of my boys was having challenges in middle school, Lynn, the director, was more than happy to have us both in to discuss things. She spent time with him to listen and help him identify solutions. On our drive home, he told me how much he misses Paidea and how great it was to be able to talk things through with Lynn. He also told me hed like to volunteer as a helper so he can go back during the summer. Thats how much he loves Paidea! How many parents do you know can say that they still have a strong relationship with their kids preschool. While money was tight, we made the decision to keep our kids there for Kindergarten and it was the cherry on top of our experience. Julie Brown is FANTASTIC!!! If youre on the fence, hopefully this will help you make that decision, because it was well worth every dime!
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Jessica Ennis
I could not be happier with having our children at Paidea. My kids love attending and I know the staff is experienced and responsible. Most have been at Paidea for decades, and my kids have bonded with the teachers they spend time with. The center takes a lot of care to tailor adaptive methods to individual kids whose temperaments or personalities could be considered a nuisance in other settings. No one is a nuisance here! Kids are taught to be kind to others and how to manage their own emotions. They get physical activity and healthy snacks. As a day care center or preschool it is already far and away the best there is, and it would have been fine just being that, but Lynn, the owner, has put time and effort into making Paidea a community. Its a place where I, as a parent, feel safe and appreciated as well. Monthly parent nights teach me about childhood development and evidence-based parenting principles. There are many ways for parents to get involved here, and the result is a strong sense of community. I would keep my kids in Paidea through high school if it were a viable option, but on the other hand I know Paidea is giving them the tools they need to be adaptable and self-sufficient for the challenges of real life, and you cant always be at Paidea. But Paidea is a home away from home in the meantime.
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Laura Sourdif
My child began Paidea as a toddler in 2013. I echo the comment that this is more like a community than a day care center, because it is. My child looks forward to school and enjoys playing with her friends. I could not imagine my child spending her days in any other facility. There is great longevity in the staff. The teachers are very well trained and treat the children with respect and dignity. The center provides support to parents through parent nights and one on one discussions. Paidea gives children the tools to be successful and parents the tools to be successful as well. Paidea is not about shiny new things to wow parents, but is about substance and teaching that all parents should look for in a center. The class sizes are perfect and I am 100% positive that my child is being treated in a manner that is caring and respectful. I know my child will enter public school with the emotional tools to navigate the rocky waters of adolescence thanks to the teachers, staff, and director of Paidea.
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Anne Nygaard
Not just a day care, but a place that cares for, nurtures and appreciates each child and parent. Paidea focuses on teaching the whole child the gambit of skills needed for life - not simply ABCs or 123s but the interpersonal and personal skills needed to success in ones professional life and personal life in the 21st century; things like grit and resilience and emotional intelligence. Paidea is not into parenting fads; its practices are research-based and carefully considered. Free parent education nights and free consulting with parents to address behavior or learning issues at home or at Paidea are priceless perks parents can enjoy. If you have heard of Mary Kurcinka and her books such as Parenting Your Spirited Child, this is the Child Development Center with which she works closely (its mentioned in her books). My children - including one with ADHD - went here, thrived, and thrive in school now that theyve grown. They still come back for part of Paideas school age summer program!
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Kristine Jenson
My family has been with Paidea since late 2006 and it has been the BEST place ever for my kids. I was very wary of putting my kids in daycare but circumstances demanded it. My children have flourished while at Paidea. The teachers and staff are so loving and nurturing. I was one of those nervous Moms and they helped to alleviate my concerns. Besides that, my children were so happy to be there that it made my nerves go away immediately. Both of my girls are in school now and the lessons taught at Paidea have shown in how they interact with other kids and approach the world. They are kind and caring and know how to work with other kids and also take the time to figure things out on their own. My older daughter is now a 7th grader and my younger is in 4th. Their teachers continually point them out as being amazing kids in their classes. I love Paidea and would highly recommend it to anyone!