Hill & Dale Family Learning Center

Our family has been a part of the Hill & Dale community for 6 ½ years. My oldest started in the infant room when he was 5 months out and went through Hill & Dale’s full program, infant room through Preschool. My 2^nd son started 2 years later when he was 5 months old in the infant room and is now in his final year of the program at the Preschool. They say it takes a village… but what do you do when you don’t have family near by to help? The amazing educators became those we trusted with our children while we had to work. My boys have learned responsibility, independence and empathy and I can truly say my children are who they are because of the wonderful guidance and love they have received from the Hill & Dale educators. When you see these educators in their element, they are not there just doing a job for a paycheck, they are there because they truly love the children. And, they children are happy, engaged and learning! I recommend Hill & Dale to every friend and co-​worker I have.

I am on Child #2 at Hill & Dale. The fact that I sent me second there should tell you everything. Fantastic school. Excellent teachers, first and foremost. Educated and engaged, they have not only taught my children how to be curious and learn but they have taught me that as well. Excellent with building self-​esteem and confidence by letting the kids play, explore and work things out on their own. And yet they have a great sense as to when to intervene and make it a very teachable moment.
Long history here — 65 years. They have led the way in early childhood education and doesn’t look like they’re slowing down. Great community of warm, smart parents as well. Very little of the competitive B.S. I’ve seen elsewhere. Thank you, Hill & Dale.

I have a 2-​year-​old son at Hill & Dale (he started at 9 months), and another son will start in the infant room in early 2016. There are so many things I love about this school, but here’s a partial run-​down:
— Being in the infant room taught my older son how to behave around babies, which was enormously helpful when his little brother arrived. He had learned to gently stroke baby’s tummy or foot, or to bring a little toy and put it near baby when he cried. What a difference it made in the baby’s first weeks (and even now) for big brother to have that foundation of how to act around a smaller person.
— I love that my son isn’t just in day care, but really is in school. H&D’s philosophy includes that children learn through play, and the educators are so mindful in how they build curriculum and encourage and respond to play in order for it to be a learning experience. I have also learned a great deal about how to speak with and respond to my son by watching his H&D teachers, who are true professionals. He is also learning to take responsibility for his body, feelings and environment in a much fuller way than I think I could teach him at home.
— The food! He eats seaweed and picadillo at school, and since he can put up a fight at home I’m glad he’s getting regular exposure to a variety of flavors at school. I also know the nutritionists are very helpful to families whose kids have sensitivities (or who are trying to figure that out).
— He loves his H&D community and talks about his teachers and friends constantly at home. It was so much easier to go back to work when I knew he was happy at school. I also enjoy being part of the community. We started with the My Family & Me class and met both parents and teachers that way. We also meet other parents at drop-​off/​pick-​up, at the monthly parent education evenings, at picnics and other events, etc.
— Date night! One Saturday a month, the school offers an evening of care with teachers (dinner included) so the parents can have some time together.

This is Hill & Dale’s 65^th year nurturing children (from infants to pre-​K), educators and families. There’s a million reasons the school has been around for so long — it’s just a magical community, in every respect. H&D teaches my kids how to be good people — responsible for themselves and their environment, developing important emotional and communication skills like empathy, balancing structured time and free play time, and following their curiosity so that they develop a self-​starter ability and enjoy learning about the world around them. Hill & Dale’s educators are amazing with the kids, and form a really special bond rooted in trust, security and respect. The school values diversity, is a non-​profit organization and offers reduced tuition to qualified families as well as proactively encourages its educators to continue their education and enhance their abilities. And there is a very engaged parent community who participates in special event planning, educator-​led programs designed to facilitate parent education and Board of Trustees. Also importantly, Hill & Dale is a working family’s dream come true. They’re open from 7am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday, all year long (no scrambling for summer camp!). They provide snacks and a hot lunch every day (no packing lunches!). They even cater to all of the kids’ various food allergies — I’ve never worried about my child’s safety or well-​being, as the staff is super-​conscientious about food allergies. Frankly, the tuition is the best value in town. We’ve been part of the H&D community for over a year now, and both of our kids are flourishing in ways we couldn’t have predicted. H&D is the best.

My child has attended H ‘n Dale for 4 years. The teachers are well-​educated and kept knowledgeable of the latest trends in ECE. There is very low teacher turn over and most teachers have been there a minimum of five years. A few have even been there 20 years. The teachers are loving and nurturing and form strong bonds with the children. I understand they are paid well and given ample time off to refresh and sharpen their skills, which keeps them content. Every year they all go to an ECE conference in San Jose where the director of the center, Judy Brunk, usually presents a topic. I am extremely satisfied with the program and their philosophy. They encourage choices and the children learn about consequences for wrong choices they have made. They also do not have a rigid «academic» curriculum and by that I mean they don’t give out useless coloring worksheets or «homework». Rather the children learn through play and experience and they are not trying to push the children to learn too fast stuff that they will learn when they begin elementary school. The curriculum is usually taught in themes that last for 6 weeks and my child always learns a lot and has fun doing it. They incorporate several field trips into the curriculum which also reinforces the learning. Parent participation is encouraged. Parents are often asked to come in and share experiences etc. There are a few down sides to H ‘n D. One is the lack of space and the amount of children who occupy it. Also, at times there is a feeling that there is a lack of supervision. At the Discovery Center, the center for the 3 – 5 year olds, the space is incredibly crowded. The outside play area is very small and there is not much room to run around. My child regularly comes home with TONS of unspent energy. It seems like they take on kids to capacity when they would provide a higher quality experience if there weren’t so many children. At times the center gives off a hectic somewhat stressed vibe. Not very often, but occasionally. I have, at times, also witnessed a lack of supervision and have walked in on children fighting and teachers unaware of what is going on. I have NEVER witnessed teachers off to the side and talking and not engaged with the children, however, sometimes one teacher will be working with a small group on one side of the school while other children are sort of left to their own devices. But again, they can’t watch everyone all the time and they certainly do not warehouse the children. It is very organized and the teachers are firm and hold the children accountable. I’m sure all centers experience this. Having said all that, there is really no place in LA that can provide the space I am talking about. I highly recommend H ‘n D for anyone looking for high-​quality day care/​pre-​school. I would say the teachers are what makes the center so special. They truly are dedicated, educated, creative, nurturing and compassionate. Although not perfect, I would be hard-​pressed to find a preschool in the Santa Monica/​West LA area that is. Hill ’ n Dale is top tier in my book, and I am very happy and satisfied with the care my child receives there. I highly recommend H ‘n D if you are looking for a place where your child will have fun, be safe and make wonderful friends, albeit in a crowded area and hectic area, at times.