Rinaldi Mommy and Me

Hands down the best mommy and me program in the valley. Very well structured activities, great amount of learning for both kids and caregivers, making friends, sharing experiences you name it there is something for every family to like and learn in this program. The classes are 1x a week for 2.5h. This is not your average park & recs type of mommy and me program where the kids mostly have open play with little structure.
We’ve been going there for 1.5 years and can’t wait to start taking both kids to class. Teachers Val and Laurie are amazing. Don’t let the name full you — it’s for all caregivers — moms, dads grandparents, nannies. Lots of dads attend and the classes are very diverse. Highly recommended.

This class is amazing! I don’t have one negative thing to say! Teacher Valerie and Teacher Kay are simply wonderful! My daughter 2.5 loves this class and the time we spend together. You would be missing out on so much if you didn’t sign up!

We started taking our son to this class because we live across the street. However, it is the best class we take him to. Our nanny takes him to class and he has grown emotionally and socially from their participation. He loves teacher Valerie and talks about her all the time. It is the perfect pre-​preshool class /​mommy and me class out there.

This Mommy and Me program is the best program I’ve ever been to. The teachers are amazing, they are super fun to be around and really helpful in giving tips about parenthood in Los Angeles. My son and I have been going for almost two years and he claps whenever we drive by the facility because he wants to go and have some fun! The program is held once a week for 2 ½ hours of fun and learning! If you are fortunate to live nearby check out this program you will be so happy that you did.

This class is truly a hidden gem in the Valley. When I first took my daughter she was about 13 months old and since day one she LOVED it, there is a lot of active play, dancing, singing, and other projects. It’s very nice to see all the little ones socialize and make friends, it does have an important impact in their development.
I really like that all classes are divided by age, that way all babies and tots are in the right place. I have to tell you, my now almost 2 years old daughter looks forward to class and I do too. At this class parents, grandparents, nannies, uncles, aunts, babysitters, etc, also get to make friends and form a support network.
I recommend this class a 100%!

Best mommy and me! We came from another mommy and me class where the class was very short, the kids were expected to be okay when separated from the parents for 30 mins at a time and the whole class seemed to revolve around snack for the adults! This class is really geared towards learning your child. Teacher Valerie is a wealth of information both from her own experience and from her college education. There is plenty of room for creativity and expression. There are field trips, arts & crafts, themed classes, hatching of chickens, caterpillars to butterflies. Can’t say enough about these classes!

First let me say that the other reviews are probably also 5-​star but they forgot (or are too sleep-​deprived) to mark the stars since their reviews are good.
This is the very best Mommy & Me, especially if you’ve never been to one before, or if your baby/​babies are young (newborn-​3) and you still have no idea what you’re doing; or if you need SUPPORT, advice, a shoulder to cry on, a laugh, to feel like yourself again, experienced teachers and fellow mamas to tell you it’s going to be okay, instruction on any question you could possibly have, etc.
Or if you’re pretty «with it» and just not sure what to do about sleeping issues, nightmares, food, behavior, discipline, the right way to install a car seat, fire/​stove safety with children (yeah, seems obvious but there’s always something to learn)…or maybe you feel your baby isn’t walking or talking «on time,» but not sure how to tell your husband… there’s actually tests you can take for your child to allay your fears, or if your child might be that 1 or 2% that needs help, Teacher Valerie can get it for them.
Basically any help/​support you need is HERE.
And if you just want to mingle with some new/​newer moms that’s great. Because they need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen, also. And because if you don’t GET OUT OF THE HOUSE and have some semblance of a conversation with ADULTS you will scream! This is absolutely the class for you.
The classes are also SUPER HELPFUL if you have two or more children 5 and under. It’s so difficult to find ONE PLACE to take both kids in this kind of setting when they’re, in my case, 3 and 1. Or 2 and 4. Or any combination 5 and under. You know what I’m talking about!
So you get to class at 9am (or in my case, I was late a lot in the early going because mine were 4 months old and just over 2, and it was hard getting out of the house on time — but NO ONE CARED) and there’s so much for the kids to do. An arts and crafts table (keepsakes for moms mostly, which is fabulous); a playdoh table, and I mean homemade playdoh that smells like pumpkin at Halloween and Evergreen at Christmas… and if your child eats it they won’t get sick because it’s basically salt and a couple other natural things); massive amounts of blocks, toys, make-​believe kitchen/​dollies in buggies, a double-​sided telephone booth, books, and plenty of helpful moms to read or talk to you about whatever.
At about halfway through the class, everyone goes outside for snack. After this, half the parents stay outside for yard-​duty, the other half go inside for the very-​much needed discussion time. The door to the classroom stays open at all times, so children learn how to be without you for a couple minutes, yet still come back whenever they (or you!) need to. The week it’s your turn for outdoor chaperoning, you watch the kids the way you’d watch your own, because we’re all parents who care about the well-​being of each child. And next week when it’s your turn to stay inside and bring up issues on your mind or add to the topic of discussion, you’re relieved that you can relax for a few minutes knowing your child/​ren are safe and looked after while having fun. And you get to finally blow off steam! Or learn and ask questions. It’s a win-​win.
Teacher Valerie is wonderful and is the perfect mix of sweet yet firm, and can and does help you if you ask. Your child having a tantrum that morning? She’ll show you how to deal. And your baby too. They have a strong will or temperament? She’ll guide you on how to get through it while teaching the child what’s acceptable and what’s not so much.
For my kids, they learned how to socialize, how to get along and compromise, share and reason. They rode bicycles and played in the sand box, follow directions and made friends. They learned their love for arts and projects, reading, singing songs, painting, and most of all, independence. They always looked forward to coming here.
For me, a big reason I became a better, more adjusted parent was due to this program. I don’t have very much help when it comes to family, so I needed friends. People who could understand what I was feeling and physically/​mentally going through. And seeing that parents will help and support each other. I hadn’t seen this before and I’m so thrilled I called the number while driving by when I first moved into the area three years ago. It takes a village — we need one another. And you need this program!
P. S. I have many close friends that I’ve held on to from Rinaldi and that makes me that much more grateful for this program!

You know something is wonderful when you hear about it unsolicited from 4 different and unrelated sources!
I first heard about Rinaldi Mommy and Me from one of my coworkers, next an old high school classmate, then my brother signed up his 2 year old and lastly a random stranger told me about it at the mall. They all gave rave reviews so I decided to look it up myself. I sent an email requesting information and I was promptly responded to. Teacher Val and Laurie answered all my questions and accommodated my needs without hesitation. Needless to say, I signed up my twins for the winter quarter with Teacher Val.
In class, I was very much impressed with Teacher Val’s attentiveness to each parent and her patience with the children. My husband and I have learned so much from her in the short time we’ve been in the class. The discussions are insightful, the activities are geared towards their age group and there’s limitless potential to gain tips, ideas and parenting tactics.
I highly recommend Rinaldi Mommy and Me to anyone looking for a mommy and me experience. I’ve already encouraged my boss and my cousin to sign up their toddlers and they’re now happily enrolled. We’re on our second quarter and already planning on enrolling for the summer! Money well spent — a bargain considering the value you get with the teachers, facilities and syllabus/​activities!!!
Great job, Rinaldi Mommy and Me! Please keep up the good work. You’ll forever have a fan over here!

I like the fact there are lots of active play and Physical activities (dance, jump, parachute, musical instruments.) and in the circle time there is a lot of finger play songs and the children seem happy to participate.
Nevertheless the place seems too crowded when you step in. There are too many activities and free play at the same time the children seem overwhelm. I might be wrong, since I understand the short gasp attention that toddler have and get bored with activities very quick… But when I mean tons of activities at the same time. Believe me!
It didn’t work for my little one, might work for some others!

Rinaldi Mommy & Me is beyond amazing!!! Teachers Valerie, Kay and Laurie always seem to amaze me with their creative lesson plans, that are always themed to perfection. My daughter Alexis is always thrilled to go to school. My daughter is barely 2 and can count to 12, she knows all her colors and shapes and sings all of the mommy and me songs throughout the week I honestly give credit to Rinaldi mommy and me for all that she has learned in the short time she’s been there. I highly recommend this class to all my family and friends. I wish I could give them 10 stars

Truly as good as it gets. This class set us on a healthy, happy and insightful path with our first baby. The time we spent there was priceless and even though we’ve outgrown the series, I still retain many lessons taught there. Not only is the class well thought-​out and intelligently organized, the opportunity to share our experience with other parents and observe a myriad of children in action have helped me and my baby relax and enjoy these wonderful toddler years. When I attended the class, I was a stay at home mom and the routine of coming to the campus helped me begin to organize our life. Later on, when our little one began attending daycare at age 2, he already had many skills that allowed him to adapt and enjoy the new environment. I would give class another star in a heartbeat. *

I had Teacher Valerie as a teacher from when I had my baby all the way through getting ready for pre-​school. Teacher Valerie is amazing! She held my hand through a very difficult babyhood (colic, cradle cap, baby acne) through crawling, walking, some incredibly terrible 2s, time-​outs, and enforcing bedtime. Being a parent is hard, but going to Teacher Valerie’s class was like someone handing me a manual.
I also made some incredible life-​long friends. Since the kids were all the same age, I found an support group that I still rely on for advice and babysitting (with the occasional Mommy’s Night Out too!).
I can’t say enough good things about these classes. They saved my life!

Thank you Teacher Valerie, Teacher Laurie and Teacher Kay for your dedication, care and devotion to children and mommies. I am very grateful for your courage and sacrifice to keep the Rinaldi Mommy and Me Center open despite the huge budget cuts and limitations you have endured over the +30 years the program existed. Not only did the program benefit my older daughter who requested more one-​on-​one time with me when my younger daughter was born, but now my younger one is also enjoying and thriving in the class. The program is a great alternative to traditional weekly preschool. The 3 – 5 year old kindergarten transition class is very helpful in preparing my 4 year old for kindergarten, and helps parents to observe in class and have age appropriate materials at home. The teachers have a wealth of knowledge and the guest speakers and parent discussions are really informative and useful. Plus, the class is a great way to socialize for both kids and parents. My daughter and I have met and made wonderful friends. Some of us who have moved on are still getting together for playdates and birthday parties.

Great place for parents and children to learn and socialize. I miss this place, we attended for 4 years but my kids had to move on to elementary school. We made many cherished friendships. This instructors are amazing!