Caring Connection Children’s Center – J Street

Please do not send your children here. I promise there will be a better school for them. My child was at a caring connection location and he hated going to school. It was so bad that when I told him he was going to start at a new school he cried because he was so anxious. When he started, he LOVED it. Now he tells me to leave so he can play. The owner does not care about the kids, she cares about your money. Employees are not listened to and do not actually have paid sick days, so be prepared for your child to catch something. There are multiple people contacting licensing for violations, so please save yourself the time from a parent who had to go through this. The only positive would have to be the friends my son made and he learned how to deal with a bully since the director refused to have the teachers do anything about the child, even though there’s a high chance anyone else’s kid would be asked to leave for no reason other than they don’t want to deal with a child they feel isn’t easy to handle (since children don’t push boundaries at all and that isn’t normal. Total sarcasm.)

I’ll try to keep this fairly short and simple (though there is so much more I could say).
My son did not like being there. He’s never had separation anxiety a day in his life until I brought him to Caring Connection. He was fine at his school before, and he’s been fine at his present school. I had high hopes because I thought a play-​based preschool was what he needed. Clearly, it wasn’t.
They get 2 stars from me for teaching the kids a bunch of fun songs (that was my son’s favorite part) and for their lovely outdoor play area.
They terminated my son from their program — which is not why I’m upset. When Ms. Jenkins-​Sathe said, «I just don’t think we’re the right place for him», I appreciated her honesty. However, when she continued on to say that my son lacks empathy at age 3 ½, and that I should have him evaluated for Asperger’s and/​or ADHD, I was dumbfounded. She told me that the teachers had been telling her «for weeks» about my son’s behaviors. She said that the «other kids don’t even like playing with him.» Ouch.
In my shock, I simply asked how much notice she was giving us. She gave us one week. My husband and I found him a new preschool in 3 days because we refused to send him back there.
To be clear, doling out diagnoses when you are not qualified to do so is utterly irresponsible and unprofessional. After my son met with a psychologist, Asperger’s was completely ruled out, and she noted he showed signs of giftedness. (The kid, now 4 years old, insists he wants to be an astrophysicist when he grows up!) He was TOO YOUNG for a diagnosis of ADHD.
Please, Ms. Jenkins-​Sathe, be mindful of the weight of the words you speak to parents, and please know your own limitations in understanding atypical children. Not all kids are ADHD or on the Autism Spectrum just because they seem different.
As a side note, I hear stories from my son’s current school about how he comforts other kids when they’re feeling sad, how he helps his teachers clean up, etc. So, Ms. Jenkins-​Sathe was actually right about one thing: Caring Connection was not at all the right place for him.

This is the first daycare/​preschool my son has gone to when we first moved here in Sacramento. I got nothing bad to say about the staff, teachers and most especially the Director, Julie. They are very helpful, caring, accommodating and really treat my son as one of theirs. I have never encountered major issues or concerns on how they give their services. If their are issues, it is resolved quickly, professionally and very proactive. My son is 5 and he really loves it here! Next year he will be in kindergarten and I am sure he will be sad to leave them. But, I also have another little one on the way and yes, I will surely enroll him/​her at Caring Connections when the time comes.

We love Caring Connections. And so does our daughter. The philosophy that focuses on play, nature, and exploration fits us well. Our child comes home covered in paint and dirt and a huge smile. We know she’s engaged, encouraged, and well cared for. It’s a great school.

My two sons love it here.
I have a 4yo and a 2yo — and we signed up in September because their in-​home daycare closed.
Since the price difference between in home care and a daycare center was going to be big, I wanted to make sure we made the right choice. We did! After looking at a few centers in the midtown area, I was immediately impressed by Caring Connection.
The first thing you see is a beautifully designed outdoor play area, with a padded area for a play structure, a home-​made teepee for fun times, a little garden and a grassy hill for mud fun, a rock stream, picnic tables, a bunny hutch!
Their day is divided into little sessions, some spent outdoors playing, some spent indoors for circle time, story time, learning time, crafts, lunch and snacks. There are two separate spaces for two groups of kids — diapered and potty trained. The older kids work on more focused activities and lessons — they learn about the days of the week, nocturnal creatures, planets. My older son is full of information when he gets back. The younger kids play with toys and do crafts, sing songs that my little one will hum during dinner.
And the menu is delicious — seriously. I envy that food — chicken cacciatore (i’m not kidding), meat loaf, rice and beans, fresh vegetables and fruit with every meal. A lot of time and thought goes into their menu plans.
It took my kids maybe two days to get used to being there. The teachers and owner really love the kids and comfort them when they’re sad. My boys honestly love being there. They may come home tired, but they don’t come home grumpy — as if they’d been holding in their real feelings all day. I’m very happy with Caring Connection. I really love it!

I just wanted to take a moment to compliment Caring Connection. We recently moved my 4 year old son here and so far we are all absolutely thrilled with the experience! I was saddened when our in home childcare provider was closing because he’d been with her for years and we loved her. We were referred to Caring Connection and I am so glad for the referral. My son loves it (so much so he asks to go on the weekends) and all the teachers are amazing! Everyone’s extremely sweet and I can tell that he’s happy and fulfilled there. Thank you so much for taking such great care of my wee one. Highly recommend!

As a stay at home mother for two years, I was beyond apprehensive about enrolling my first and only son into preschool. After extensive research and endless tours of large-​hotel-​for-​kid-​type schools, I was ready to give up my search. Then I found Caring Connection Children’s Center. I knew the second I walked in and met the owner, Julie, that I had found the right place! My son LOVES his days at preschool and is learning and developing quickly, right before my eyes (thanks to all the photos I receive, documenting my child’s day). The safe, kind and clean philosophy (no time outs, natural and logical consequence) line up exactly with how I strive to parent at home. I love the playground, and the natural elements that engage the children in such a deep way. I am thrilled by the teacher implemented and child guided lesson plans, the floor books, the take home art, the elements of nature integrated into all aspects of learning, the singing… always someone is singing, I just love everything! I love that my son is taught to clean up but first allowed to make a huge mess… he is allowed to be a kid! The nutritious family style meals, the diapers provided, the parent involvement and recognition, and the obvious love for the children that the staff exudes is just the cherry on top! I would highly recommend Caring Connection Children’s Center for any family looking for a high quality, safe, and happy environment to learn and grow!