Dot To Dot

We’ve been part of the Dot to Dot community for two years now, and we continue to love it. Below is our detailed review of the daycare. Highlights: - Pros: - Owner is caring and listens to feedbacks - Passionate and caring teachers - Hands on learning and exploration - Focus on each child as an individual, building confidence and independence - Strong support for social-emotional development - Exceptional food program with fresh meals, snacks, and nutrition education - Cons: - Closing a bit early (4:30 extended care till 5), difficult for working parents finishing work at 5 - Neutral: - Scheduled days off are comparable to other daycares in the area Dot to Dot RB has been an amazing place for my daughter. I first heard about it through a friend, and after touring the center, I was immediately impressed by the confidence and independence the children displayed. It was clear that the teachers truly see each child as an individual and intentionally support their social-emotional growth while helping them believe in themselves. The administration, teachers, staff, and chefs are all exceptional. Every person plays an important role in making this center such a supportive and nurturing environment. Since attending Dot to Dot, I’ve been amazed at how confidently my daughter expresses herself—through artwork, language, and even singing. When we recently went through a challenging period managing my daughter’s emotions, the administration and her teachers were incredibly kind and supportive. They made time to meet with us, walk through strategies together, and thoughtfully discuss ways to help her succeed. On top of that, the administration gifted her a special book with plush toys that she now loves using at home to identify and talk about her emotions. That level of care truly meant a lot to our family. Dot to Dot also offers an outstanding food program. Not only do the chefs prepare fresh lunches and morning and afternoon snacks, but the children also participate in a food education program. They learn all about the food, where it comes from, how it’s grown, handled, delivered, and why it’s important for their health and nutrition. I am so grateful to have my daughter at Dot to Dot RB and highly recommend it to any family looking for a caring, thoughtful, and enriching daycare environment.

Our two children attended Dot to Dot, and now that they're older, my husband and I often reflect on what a profoundly impactful decision it was. This wasn't just preschool, it was a critical foundation. At Dot to Dot, our kids learned to be genuinely curious about the world. They explored concepts and ideas that went far beyond a standard pre-K curriculum focused on letter recognition or early math. They learned to engage with others' thoughts and ideas, and they built the muscles to form independent perspectives. Both are now thriving academically, and we credit much of that to the foundation they received here. Jensen Huang recently said that the hallmark of intelligence going forward is the ability to think strategically and look around corners. That's exactly the trajectory Dot to Dot set our children on. You can memorize math facts later, but learning to truly think and explore? That creates an invaluable foundation. We are forever grateful we found this incredible place for our kids.

We spent probably 7 years here between two kids and we couldn’t have picked a better preschool for them. It’s such a unique school where they really focus on social-emotional skills and needs. It isn’t just a place for your kids to just sit and wait for you to get them but a safe place where they’re learning how to grow emotionally and make connections. Where there is art and learning how to eat healthy. Everyday there is different with something new to explore. Couldn’t recommend a better school.

If I could give 10 stars it still would not be enough. This was the 9th preschool I toured, having moved to San Diego from the Central Coast mid school year with a 2yr and 4yr old. The moment I entered DTD Rancho Bernardo I knew we had landed at some place truly special. The ethos of encouraging curiosity, wonder, self confidence and emotional regulation was something I had not seen in combination with the Reggio Emilia based philosophy, and as the kids get older, some standard kindergarten concepts (math and reading). Dot to Dot's holistic approach to enhancing a child's developing mind is apparent in their appreciation of arts, music, and the incredible food curriculum in the Atelier. I have so many stories of my children learning about the vitamins in foods they prepared and ate, celebrating international cultural celebrations of their classmates' families, a deep interest in the earth/sustainability, and most importantly the compassion of the educators that quite literally will bring happy tears to any parents eyes. This school works with you where you and your children are at. After 8months, my son was eligible for TK in the Poway public school district but I had a strong maternal sense that another year at Dot to Dot (15 kids: 2 teacher ratio) would give him the confidence to truly thrive in a (26:1) ratio environment. We wanted to work on speech therapy and social/emotional development and felt the intimate class size and exceptional teachers would be the right path for him despite him repeating the Stems class. This proved to be one of the best decisions for my son. The teachers at Dot to Dot rotate each year, so he had the chance to experience a similar curriculum from a new educator and mostly new classmates where he was one of the eldest in the room and could contribute what he knew to the group as an "upper classman". There is a lot of learning in that, and he truly flourished. Now he is thriving in public kindergarten. Dot to Dot accepted this decision with open arms and we worked together to be sure he was challenged and motivated. Without going into too much detail, our family had a life changing event take place last winter that significantly disrupted the lives of my two children (3 and 5yrs old). Without missing a beat, the administration, educators, and community rose up to support us in ways I could never have imagined.  I credit this school for keeping the children's routine normalized, their continued growth/laughter/learning, and becoming an extended family when we needed it the most. The Dot to Dot community of families has become our closest friends in San Diego which we will be forever grateful for. If you are on the fence, I sincerely encourage you to visit and give them a chance. You will not regret it and continue to see their impact in your children for years to come.

The teachers and staff truly feel like an extension of our family. They foster an environment that is both comforting and nurturing, where every child is seen, valued, and supported. We have complete peace of mind knowing our children are in such a safe and caring space—one that helps them flourish and grow into kind, confident, and responsible young individuals.