Melissa's Playschool

Reviews (17)

• Review from the Spring 2023 Early Education Survey

  August 2023

  Review: Loved it. Melissa is a pro. We valued the affordability and the flexibility to choose your days (we only did one day per week.) It was our daughter's first preschool experience, and it went great. It was easy, low-maintenance, and Melissa gave us every confidence in the care. Amenities: Has outdoor space, Provides meals

• Review from the Fall 2021 Early Childhood Education Survey

  December 2021

  Type of facility: Preschool Review: Melissa’s playschool is truly the sweetest place to send your young child. It is a max 10 kid program ages 2-4 years old. Melissa truly knows these children and helps them grow. I actually had a 3k spot I turned down to send my son here ( my daughter also went here and loved it) and I am glad I did. It has been the best transition to ‘school’ and being away from his parents. My son overall loves going everyday. He gets excited to see his teachers and tells me stories about his friends. Snack and lunch are both provided(!). The hours are 9-2 which is important to know if you need longer hours for work. What amenities does the facility provide? Has outdoor space, Provides meals What would you change about the program, if anything, and why? Nothing. Really happy w the program Is there anything you would like to add about how the school handled the pandemic? Have handled well, no concerns

• Recommendation : Melissa’s Playschool

  May 2021

  Recommending Melissa’s Playschool for the fall. Ages 2-4. My daughter went there and my son is starting this Fall. Melissa’s is the perfect place for a warm and playful transition to school. She is wonderful and my daughter still talks about her time there and asks for her all the time. There are still spots for this fall. She makes lunch and gives snacks so one less thing for parents to worry about in the morning. I strongly recommend this daycare - which is out of her town house in park slope with a backyard.

• 2020 Review

  January 2020

  Melissa's Playschool has been a fantastic childcare option for our daughter over the past two years (age 23 mo-3 yrs), and I highly recommend it. I found out about Melissa's from the recommendation of two different friends, and I'm so glad I did. Our daughter loves going to playschool and loves her teachers, Melissa and Ty. Melissa is nurturing, gentle and steady, and Ty is like a fun, silly big brother. Our daughter often talks about them at home and the fun, age-appropriate things they do like yoga, playing in the garden/sandbox, music time, crafts, baking, going to the library, etc. She loves her classmates, and I really like that it's a small group (~7-12 kids). It feels close-knit and intimate. Sometimes I barely get a goodbye when I drop her off because she's so happy to be there! Our daughter is independent and outgoing, and I appreciate how Melissa and the school foster that quality in her, but also lovingly reign her in when needed (which I've witnessed firsthand at pickup when my daughter tests the boundaries). Melissa has also been so accommodating to my daughters dietary restrictions, potty training woes, and our financial situations. Melissa's Playschool has been a blessing to our daughter and family, and I feel like she's a happier, more confident kid because of it.

• 2020 Review

  January 2020

  Unfortunately, Melissa's Playschool was not the right match for our son. It was his first drop - off program and he was 22 months. He is on the "shy" or "slow to warm up" side of things when it comes to new environments. We found the approach at Melissa's to be very hands off, very low energy and not communicative. It was not a good fit for our son or our family. My son who was very shy and needed a little hand holding to start playing. We didn't feel the teachers reached out to talk to us about our child, despite the fact that he was crying there daily for sustained periods of time. It felt like there was a pessimistic or sink -or - swim approach - for example on the first day when I picked up my son, I was told he had been crying for the whole time - he was handed to me and I was told by the teacher that she wasn't sure it was going to work out. As a mother dropping off her son for the first time, this didn't feel supportive or professional to me. At no point did the teachers say to us "your son is having a hard time transitioning, let's sit down to talk about some things we think we can do or you can do to support him". After two months, our son did begin to settle in a bit, and started talking about playing with some of the kids. But he seemed quite unhappy at drop off and eager to leave at pick up & we just felt like there was a negative attitude and poor communication, so we let the team know that the following day would be his last day. The reply we received was that it wouldn't be worth it for him to come in. We had hoped he would be able to say goodbye and have some closure. Needless to say, we didn't send him. He is now enrolled in an outdoor program with very nurturing, energetic and communicative teachers and he is thriving. I know many parents have loved this school for their children, so of course this only represents our experience. Things might have been different if it wasn't his first drop off or if he was older. In retrospect, I wish I had spent longer visiting the school and clarifying the approach and communication style of the teachers.

• Review from the 2018/2019 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey

  November 2018

  I found this program so lovely. The focus is on learning through play. Melissa is quick to adapt the plan based on kids interests. My child loved coming to school and playing in the backyard playground. She loves all the activities during the day. Snack and lunch was provided, which was an added bonus! About the facility: Has outdoor space, Provides meals What would you change? nothing to change

• Review from the 2017/2018 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey

  April 2018

  Melissa's program, nestled in the garden floor of her lovely brownstone, is warm and inviting. I love the low-key atmosphere and flexibility - my child only went 2 days per week and I was able to pick her up early so she could take her full nap at home. My daughter often comes home excited to share her art work and crafts and is always singing "Music Dan's" catchy tunes that she learns during her music class. They have a philosophy of learning through play, which I value deeply. My daughter especially loves playing in Melissa's awesome backyard space complete with a rock pit and tree house. Any time I've reached out to Melissa to ask a question, learn about my daughter's experience, etc she has always responded quickly and with deep insight and consideration. She has a keen understanding of the age level and sets expectations appropriately- allowing the children to take risks and learn lessons independently while still providing the needed guidance and support. I highly recommend Melissa's Playschool. About the facility: Has outdoor space, Provides meals.

• Review For Melissa's Playschool

  April 2018

  Between our two daughters, our family has been going to Melissa's for three years. For both our incredibly active older daughter, and our shy and quiet (when she started) younger daughter, Melissa's has been an extraordinary gift. Melissa is such a thoughtful, caring individual as are Ty and Britina (the co-teachers). They do yoga and music and the intimate setting is the perfect way to introduce your child to a space outside your home. The outdoor space is a wonderful addition as kids spend a part of nearly every day outside and there are also trips to the library and the local community garden which both our daughters loved. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this school and all of the individuals associated with it. It is an intimate and nurturing space where we are always happy to know our daughters are when not with us.

• Review Submitted via Fall 2015 Daycare/Preschool Survey

  November 2015

  PROGRAM: 12th St TIME: 4 days/week AGE: 3-4 years REVIEW: A loving, play-based environment. It is a very high energy but low-key place, with a calming, nurturing feel. This is our second year sending our child there and we have no complaints about it at all. There are specialists brought in to do yoga and music with the kids, they go on walking trips around the neighborhood, and they play outside regularly. I wish we had found Melissa's when our eldest was the right age. Melissa's is so much less stressful than any other school/daycare/nanny situation we've tried. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND? (Hi/Rec/DoNot) Highly recommend WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN? Absolutely

• 2014 Daycare/Preschool PSP review

  November 2014

  Length of Time: 3-4 days/week Child's Age: 2-3 years3-4 years4-5 years Review: Teachers are relaxed and authentic. They believe in fostering the imagination and celebrating the individual. They have decades of experience and it shows. They encourage children to work through conflicts using language. They are very flexible with dealing with different personalities. Issues are discussed privately, not in front of other parents or children. I have never doubted our decision to send our children to this school and they are confident, happy, and inquisitive learners thanks to the leaders there. Recommend (Hi/Rec/DoNot) Highly recommend Would you send your child again? Absolutely

• 2014 Daycare/Preschool PSP review

  November 2014

  Length of Time: 4 days/week Child's Age: 2-3 years Review: A relaxed supportive environment, this playschool is an easy place to trust your child will be learning, playing, and content. Specialists in music and yoga come to support the regular staff, and both the specialists and the regular staff are incredibly flexible, supportive, and loving. Transitions are easy, with teachers supporting whatever your philosophy and needs are. Lots of outdoor play, walks around the neighborhood, and building of friendships. Only positive things to say! Recommend (Hi/Rec/DoNot) Highly recommend Would you send your child again? Absolutely

• Review of Melissa's Playschool

  June 2014

  Melissa's Playschool allows children to learn through play. The atmosphere promotes self-confidence, cooperation, and language development & communication. Both of our sons have attended Melissa's and I feel that the nurturing environment and well-rounded activities are unrivaled in Park Slope. "Music Together"-trained Dan has a class on Mondays, assistant teacher and yogi, Jenny, leads yoga weekly, and the children take regular trips to the library. They also do art projects that are open-ended instead of cookie-cutter. They are offered the supplies and encouraged to think creatively. The outdoor space is well laid-out and the children go outside daily. It was very important to me to find somewhere that offered a warm and nurturing environment. At Melissa's, I feel like I am leaving my children with a most trusted friend or family member. Melissa understands 2-5 year olds and lets them be who they are, while helping them learn the necessary tools to form relationships and become caring & resourceful individuals. I have no worries when I leave my children in her care and neither do the children. I highly recommend Melissa's Playschool.

• Wonderful preschool has spots for next year

  May 2014

  Melissa's Play School has spots for children ages 2.5 to 5 next year--especially girls. My son attended for two years, and it is just the most wonderful place. Melissa and her co-teacher really take the time and care to know and understand each child's needs and personality. For example, they were so helpful and creative in finding ways to encourage my very reserved child to open up. (In fact, he's a confident and exuberant kindergartener now, and I think I owe that to his very positive preschool experience.) I found them so wise and thoughtful about a range of child-rearing issues that I often found myself asking their advice about things. The school operates in the garden level of Melissa's townhouse on 11th Street between 7th and 6th Avenues, which makes it very comfy and homey. There's a very nice garden in back with play equipment and a sandbox, etc. They have music and yoga once a week, cooking projects, and occasional small "field trips," such as walking to the Park Slope library or to the JJ Byrne playground. The school provides a healthy lunch and snack every day. She is also licensed.

• Review of "Melissa's Playschool"

  November 2013

  Hi, my son is in his second year at Melissa's Playschool, and I just wanted to post a review about how happy we are there. As a speech-language pathologist, I was really looking for a place where the focus would be on language and group interaction. Melissa has a nice, comfy space, and the kids have learned not only to play with the toys, but to play with each other. They also do group projects together, and eat served lunches together. They have a co-teacher who's also a yogi, which I love, and also have music. This is a great "first school" environment. During his first year, my son was very shy, and would take a while to take his coat off and engage in activities. Now that he's a "veteran", he knows the routine, and his verbal and play skills have really taken off. I know he's in great hands there, and I can focus on work knowing he's having fun.

• Review from 2013 Daycare/Preschool PSP Survey

  July 2013

  Review date June 2013 (for 2012-2013 year) Program: Length of time: 3/4 days week, 9-2 Child's age: 3-4 years Review: This was my at-the-time 2-year old's first experience in a consistent group setting. He was shy at first, and then over the course of the year, really came out of his shell. As a speech-language patholgist, I was looking for a place that focused on play and language, and Melissa's Playschool is exactly that. Both Melissa and Stephanie were patient, interactive, and the schedule was organized. They appeared to handle whatever conflicts or behavioral issues in a calm, positive way. They have a yoga teacher come in once a week (she was fantastic) as well as music once a week. When I recently observed the kids there, they, too, were calm and attentive during circle time. They all listened to a story, and waited their turns to go the table for a snack. I was really impressed. They all eat together...the one thing I would hope for is more cooking activities, as well as varied foods to taste. Do you recommend? (Hi/Rec/DoNot) Highly recommend

• (no subject)

  August 2012

  Length of TIme: 3 or 4 days a week, 9 to 2 Child's Age: 3-4 years Review: Melissa's Play School emphasizes learning through play, social development over "academic" learning. In art work, teachers focus on process rather than products--they didn't bring home a lot of pre-fab projects just to please the parents. They provide lunch for the children, which is also part of their emphasis on community--everyone sits and shares the same meal. (They were careful and sensitive about dietary issues--there were a couple of vegetarians and a gluten-free child this year). Both Melissa and Stephanie, the two wonderful teachers, worked hard to think of ways to loosen up my very reserved child, giving him special jobs to do to make him feel involved and important, suggesting playdates with kids who would be a good match for his personality--and leaving him alone when it was clear he needed time just to warm up and adjust. Do you recommend? (Hi/Rec/DoNot) Highly recommend

• (no subject)

  November 2010

  I am so happy we found Melissa's Play School (located on 11th street between 6th and 7th Avenues). It is a pre-school program primarily for 3 and 4 year olds. The teachers are fabulous. They really get pre-schoolers and just in the few months that my daughter has been going to the school, she has become more expressive and imaginative. The program is 3-4 days a week from M-Th from 9-2. The children have outside teachers come in for music and yoga class. They do cooking and art activities with the regular teachers. There is an outdoor play space and the indoor space is fairly large and comfortable. The school provides all the snacks and lunch. Since it is a small school, the kids become close with each other and the parents get to know each other as well.