Creative Minds Child Development Center

After relocating from San Francisco to San Jose, our family was warmly welcomed by the growing community at Creative Minds. From the very beginning, the school has played an essential role in our son's overall development, and we feel truly honored to be part of such a nurturing environment. Creative Minds goes beyond supporting developmental milestones -- the school places a strong emphasis on character building, instilling values such as respect, kindness, and empathy. Children are also guided in learning how to set boundaries and solve problems independently, which are invaluable life skills. The teaching staff is exceptional. With many educators remaining at the school for five years or more, it's clear they are committed and passionate about their work. They foster strong partnerships with families and treat each child with care, as if they were their own. We are grateful to be part of the Creative Minds community and highly recommend this school to any family seeking a supportive and developmentally enriching environment for their child. Thank you so much for all your hard work.

Creative Minds Preschool: Where Learning is Playful and Joyful Finding the perfect preschool for their child is always a top priority for every parents. This isn't just a daycare; it's a true haven of learning where children's imaginations are nurtured and their natural curiosity is encouraged. One of the things that will immediately impressed you is low teacher-child ratio. This ensures that each child receives ample individual attention, allowing teachers to truly connect with them and understand their unique learning styles. The long-tenured teaching staff at Creative Minds is truly exceptional. These experienced educators are not just caregivers; they are passionate mentors who create a warm and supportive environment where every child feels valued and respected. Their dedication is evident in the genuine affection they have for each child, and the strong bonds they build with families. The curriculum at Creative Minds is thoughtfully designed to be both engaging and developmentally appropriate. Children learn through play, exploration, and hands-on activities that spark their creativity and curiosity. From art and music to science experiments and dramatic play, there's always something exciting happening at Creative Minds. If you are seeking a preschool that prioritizes joyful learning and fosters a deep love of knowledge, we wholeheartedly recommend Creative Minds. It's a truly special place where children can grow, explore, and discover their own unique talents.

I have wanted to share my love for this place for a long time and have actually prepared several drafts but none is satisfactory. So after 7 years knowing this great daycare and having two kids here, I decide to just share random thoughts instead. My older boy started here at 7 months old in green room. The first impression is that they were very strict with licensing requirements and I always forgot to sign in or sign out so the teachers had all the patient with me and kept reminding me about it. Every time I entered the room, I always waited until my son noticed me. I observed him from a distance and I could see moments like him curiously observing the teachers putting together bottles, or focusing on the book in front of him while sitting in his favorite teacher’s arms. He would repeat words in Chinese and the teachers even asked me for a cheat sheet so they can learn the meaning of the words. (well he was mostly asking for milk or a hug :)) I remember how much l learned from their seminars about respecting the child and letting them explore. I always enjoyed talking to the teachers. Not only they are loving they are also very open minded and respectful of children’s needs. Richa is not only knowledgeable but also has a deep passion about child development. I enjoy talking to her so much. ( You have to be lucky to catch her when she’s not so busy) They have Amy who is focused on developing different activities that are suitable for different ages. She always have fun ideas. My older son would always come home covered with paint or mud. The paint is understandable because they really let the kids touch and be immersed in colors to feel it. He’s seven years old in elementary school now. He has special eyes with colors and has a way mixing it. I have always believed it is because of the experience here. The mud part, is so different. He would come home covered with mud even when it was not rainy. So apparently he loved playing with water and he would find the only muddy water in the yard and sit in it. The teachers let him and I am so grateful that they let him explore. They didn’t stop him because mommy may not be happy about dirty clothes. They really let him have fun. And all these experiences contributed to how he is now. He enjoys exploring. You can see his excitement in his eyes when he is curious about something. My younger one is the opposite of my older one. The first day in green room, the teachers had paint in this gated area and let all the babies play in there. My younger one was trying out that day so we stood outside and watched. Richa came to me and said go let him join! So I put him inside. Surprisingly he refused to touch anything covered with paint. He ended up in a corner holding up the edge and wining. Then when he was in rose room, he was the same as his brother- covered with paint all the time. Oh my son was not potty trained until 3.5 years old. We had such a long struggle together LOL Oh I have to mention that even now we talk about the teachers here with my kids. They still remember most of the teachers, especially Adela’s laughter. I cannot say enough about how happy we were with the teachers. They shared my excitement, happiness, anxieties, and so much more during the years. When I picked up my son they would share fun moments or sometimes sad moments about my son. That became one of the few things I looked forward to every day. COVID made things difficult for all of us. We had to take the kids out of the daycare for a long time. And we had to transfer to a different school almost two years ago. I wish we had a chance to properly say goodbye to everyone. ( I miss you all!) So if you are looking for a place not only about learning the basics but also letting them (and maybe you as well) learning to explore, this is the place. You will be surprised of what you and your kid learn.

Across 8 years and 2 kids, Creative Minds has been a constant force in our lives. I couldn't have asked for a better preschool, a better village for both of my boys. The extremely well-thought activities kids are doing each day, the exposure to fine and gross motor skills, outdoor play incorporating elements from nature (like bugs, butterflies, plants, etc.), academic skills that eventually prep them for kindergarten (somehow without making it feel like school), "sharing" sessions where kids get exposure to "presenting" toys/ideas/life events in front of their friends, all make it such a full circle program. These little human beings are really so lucky to get a head start in life like this! This school is also huge in teaching kids how to take good care of their bodies. Your kids will definitely learn about healthy foods, brushing their teeth, washing their hands and importance of sunscreen. You won't see birthday parties every week with tons of sugar in this school. There is already so much exposure to sweets outside of school that I am really happy not to have to fight this battle within the school. Another noticeable thing in this school is the minimal to no turnover of teachers. My boys are 5 years apart and they had the same loving teachers! These kids are the most valuable things in our lives and it is VERY important that we are leaving them with teachers who love doing what they do and who get treated with utmost value and respect from management as well as the parent community. I had done a lot of due diligence while researching preschools for my older one in 2016 including chain-based schools with big campuses and what seemed like endless space. This school has been just the right size for our family to build community and get individualized care & attention for both of my kids. Thank you to everyone at Creative Minds for being there during the most difficult time of any parents' lives!

This preschool is a gem, thanks to its amazing team. We are very happy to be part of the Creative Minds community and cannot find enough words to thank them for everything they do. Our daughter started at Creative Minds a year ago, at 3.5 years old. Her adaptation to school was challenging due to separation anxiety. From day one, we were very impressed by the teachers' dedication, their responsiveness, and their creativity in helping her (and us) feel better and thrive. After years of the pandemic, we chose Creative Minds for its socialization approach within the Reggio philosophy. In addition to academics and activities, our daughter learns to work in a group, to stand up for herself, and to build healthy relationships. There are four classes, and all the teachers get to know all the kids well. Our daughter is in the Purple Room with Rashida and Kristen, who create a vibrant, positive, and fun atmosphere, always welcoming us with a smile. They work hard to foster this group dynamic, and we can see how they cultivate personal relationships with each child, taking into account their individual personalities and sensitivities, enabling them to grow and flourish. We couldn’t have hoped for a better environment for our daughter to become familiar with school. The communication with the school is great, with daily pictures and updates. There are also regular fun events and spirit days. Richa, the founder and director, ensures this positive atmosphere. She is very dedicated and maintains a low child-to-staff ratio, ensuring that both kids and staff are safe and comfortable. She has always been available and accommodating to us when we needed it. As parents without much of a support system around here, we have always felt supported. Aimee, the mentor teacher, has also always made herself quickly available when we had concerns. She always comes up with personalized solutions and keeps us updated. We are excited to see how our daughter will continue to grow in the coming months. Thank you, Creative Minds team, for your support and for everything you do!