The Learning Experience @ Miami-Biscayne

Happy Times Day Care and Learning Center has been such a blessing for our family. From the moment you walk in, you can feel how welcoming, heart-warming, and loving the environment is. The staff truly cares about each child and treats them like family. What really stands out is how Christ-centered the daycare is. They intentionally teach values, morals, kindness, respect, and compassion, helping the children grow not only academically but also spiritually and emotionally. It’s comforting to know my child is learning strong principles while being nurtured in a positive and faith-based environment. The education is absolutely up to par. The teachers are attentive, patient, and dedicated to making sure each child is learning at their own pace while still being challenged. Communication with the teachers is excellent—they keep parents informed, are always open to questions, and genuinely partner with families in their child’s development. Overall, Happy Times Day Care and Learning Center goes above and beyond. The love, structure, education, and values they provide make this an exceptional place for children to learn and grow. I highly recommend them to any parent looking for a safe, nurturing, and high-quality daycare. 💛

So where do I start… My son started at this school when he was just 2 years old. As a first-time mom returning to work, I was absolutely terrified about him starting school. On top of that, my son is hard of hearing, and I was so scared he would be treated differently. But let me tell you this school is truly amazing. From Ms. Giovanny and Ms. Caitlyn to his current teachers in Preppers, every single teacher has treated my son with so much love, patience, and care. They are always inclusive and make sure he feels supported and valued. Every teacher knows him, and you can genuinely see how excited they are to see him each day. Even Mrs. Janice is such a sweetheart. I am so grateful for her and for everyone at this school. My son has learned so much here—things I couldn’t even teach him at home, he learned in the classroom. They are also incredible about allowing speech therapists and other specialists to come into the classroom, which has made such a difference for him. Thank God for this school. I 10/10 recommend TLE. We are so blessed to be part of this community. 💙

The Learning Experience is a wonderful place for children to grow, explore, and learn through play. The space is warm and beautiful, and the people who work here give their best every single day. It is an environment where children feel happy, supported, and excited to learn.

I can’t say enough good things about TLE. The teachers and the entire staff are so caring and loving, you can truly feel that they treat every child like their own. I have complete trust in them because I know my baby is not only safe but also learning and growing every single day. It gives me such peace of mind to see how happy he is to go each morning and how much he’s learning. I’m so grateful for everything they do!

The WORST experience I have ever had with a childcare center. If you are looking for an extremely expensive school where your child gains little to no academic benefit and where communication is constantly hindered because many staff members struggle with English, then this is unfortunately the place for you. From the beginning, the director, catherine, displayed a level of spitefulness, unprofessionalism, and disrespect that no parent should ever have to deal with. She and her close friends in the office staff behave as though they run the center based on personal feelings, not actual policy. My son has asthma and requires medication whenever he gets sick, even with something as simple as a cold. Every three months, I had to get a new medication-administration packet completed, which is extremely inconvenient for working parents. This required taking time off, scheduling an appointment with his specialist, and going through the entire process repeatedly. Each time I returned with the completed form, Catherine or her staff would find some tiny reason to reject it. After dealing with this multiple times, I eventually stopped trying and simply hoped my son wouldn’t need medication during school hours. Unfortunately, because many children and even staff members frequently came to school sick, sniffling, coughing, and with runny noses, my son eventually became ill and had an active asthma attack. His doctor confirmed he would require medication every four hours, including while at school. When I brought the fully completed forms, Catherine immediately began listing new “issues.” When I asked her what the actual problem was, she spoke to me with extreme disrespect, even using hand gestures as if I wasn’t listening. That moment made it clear there were deeper problems at this school. She then claimed a “new protocol” began on January 1st, something they never notified parents about. Yet they somehow manage to notify parents dozens of times when they want money for a show, event, or fundraiser. When I asked how long approval would take so I could plan my work schedule, she responded sarcastically, saying she would call her boss “if she were awake.” This behavior was shockingly immature and unprofessional. After this, I decided the school was not the right environment for my son and submitted my two‑week notice. During the final week, I requested a zero‑balance letter so I could enroll him elsewhere. They repeatedly stalled, claiming the payment was “pending” even though tuition is automatically drafted weekly with no issues. She then claimed she needed to speak with the accountant, when she is the same person who corrects billing errors herself. The Early Learning Coalition was shocked by the situation and even tried to call the school, but no one answered. Not surprising to me or shocking! Additionally, staff members often struggle with English, and it shows in their documentation. One teacher filled out an evaluation so inaccurately that someone had to come assess my child for developmental concerns. Catherine also lied, claiming my son had trouble calming down and did not speak, yet she told the evaluator she “watches my Instagram stories” and sees him talking there. Completely unprofessional behavior. After the evaluation, I was told there were zero concerns and that the person who completed the assessment clearly did not understand English or Spanish. My other children attended a reputable, long-established preschool where they were reading by age three. At this school, my son only knew basic letters and colors, which he learned because I taught him at home.They also charge extra for everything: arriving before 8 am every event, every activity. For the money they charge, academic growth should be visible. The franchise owner seriously needs to review what is happening at this location. Staff pressure parents to leave good reviews, which is why the ratings appear high. After everything I went through, I will never recommend this school to anyone. In fact, I will warn every parent I know to avoid it completely.