Amazing. The best preschool I have ever sent my children to. I knew that there were many choices living in Folsom, but Bright Beginnings was a more-than-pleasant surprise. It’s an intimate, loving place that has an incredible group of teachers and involved parents. I also really like that it’s a not-for-profit place, where parents serve on its board, not just people watching the bottom line. And being this way also keeps tuition very affordable.Bright Beginnings also helps me feel more of a sense of community, too. Moving to Folsom was a bit intimidating with many newcomers and also long-term residents. Bright Beginnings has been the first place that I feel like I truly BELONG with people. Friendly, mellow types who really want the best for their little ones.I’ll say it again, amazing. Just amazing.

We LOVE Bright Beginnings. The learn to play philosophy is what initially intrigued us, and the teachers and community is what sold us! Our daughter absolutely loves her preschool and is always so excited to be there. Were so grateful to have found it!

Bright Beginnings Preschool has been such an amazing experience for our children. The parent co-op is a great way to connect with other families as well as be involved in the events with the school. We love the play based philosophy and hands on approach our children get to experience, all while learning!

We first attended Bright Beginnings Preschool 3 years ago for their Parent Toddler Program. It came highly recommended by a friend of a friend, a place to take my toddler once a week for 2 and a half hours. She was very involved with painting and other sensory activities, participated in dramatic/imaginative play, and ultimately, another opportunity to bond with my daughter while introducing her to the idea of school. For $50 a month I was sold, I dropped the other parent toddler gym membership we had, since I found this alternative a lot easier on our budget and I enjoyed seeing her have fun in a classroom setting! When it came time to pursue a Preschool, we visited other top rated places in Folsom as well to be fair, and no comparison, Bright Beginnings Preschool had the right environment we were looking for! When we were visiting some places I knew that I did not want my newly turned 3 year old to sit for half an hour and be taught repeatedly about alphabets phonetically! What I love about Bright Beginnings is that the experienced teachers are very approachable, yet respected by the children rather than feared. The teachers actually engage in the playground, garden, even participate in dramatic and imaginative play in the classroom. The children are taught to problem solve by letting their own experiences unfold, rather than be told what the outcome will be. Lastly, I was overcome with the sense of fulfillment and accomplishment I felt as a working parent whenever it is my turn to help in the classroom. My daughter is so excited when we drive to school, the fact that for a few hours that day she can show me all the exciting things she is learning first hand. I continue to recommend Bright Beginnings Preschool and its wonderful staff to everyone. I now have 2 children attending Bright Beginnings and we are thrilled! PLAY BASED education is where its at, your children have a lifetime of learning in our educational institution so why not let them enjoy these early school age through play & artistic expression...no contest BRIGHT BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL is the choice!

We were new to Folsom and heard about Bright Beginnings through multiple neighbors and families we met at local parks. Our son has now been there for two years and the growth we’ve witnessed is significant.Bright Beginning’s “Play-based learning” curriculum has given our son more independence and confidence when interacting with other children and his teachers. His creativity has also increased exponentially and it carries over when he plays with us at home.The Co-op environment is also a great way for parents to be more involved in their child’s development, as well as meet some really awesome families that have become great friends of ours. We would highly recommend Bright Beginnings to all parents looking at preschools in the Folsom area!

Not only have we loved the hands-on, play-based program at Bright Beginnings, but we have found it so rewarding to be part of a co-op preschool where we can be a part of our childs learning and meet other engaged families.The teachers are attentive, thoughtful and respond to the needs and interests of the children. The executive director is knowledgeable, honest and a great resource on the critical role of play in a childs development.Our son started in the Morning Glorys class and will continue in the Explorers class, giving him a great foundation for being prepared to enter kindergarten in the fall. We love this school!

In choosing a preschool for our kids we wanted a place where we could potentially send all our children. We wanted a sense of community not simply dropping our child off and picking them up a few hours later. Most importantly we wanted our children to have a safe, loving, and well-rounded environment to grow and flourish.We are so pleased to have found Bright Beginnings Preschool and are extremely happy with our choice for a preschool. I searched the web endlessly for the perfect school for my first child and narrowed my search to about 5 potentials. After going on a tour of each place, observing the teachers and the students we chose Bright Beginnings Preschool.My favorite features of Bright Beginnings Preschool (and what makes our school so great)... 1. Teachers and staff with many years of experience. 2. Well set up classroom and fabulous outdoor play space (huge sandbox, 2 play structures, lots of room to paint, imagine and get messy). 3. The other families- because this is a co-op preschool other families are involved in their childs education as well and it is great to know we have a community caring for my child not just 1 teacher.I encourage you to check out Bright Beginnings Preschool for your childs first experience into school and see, hear and experience why soo many families LOVE it!

We became part of an extended family when we came to Bright Beginnings. It all started out as a transition for our oldest daughter to work on socialization skills. I had always believed that children should play for as long as they can. They are only little for a short time in life. WOW, did I learn so much more! Children learn so many life skills just from play. This is our last year as our youngest will move on to kindergarten next year. So thankful and blessed to have had the experience of Bright Beginnings! My girls have life skills that will be with them for the rest of their lifes. Thanks to everyone at Bright Beginnings!

We are so lucky to have this excellent, play-based preschool so close to us here in Folsom. The staff is well educated and follow best practices to ensure individual needs are met. I appreciate how all of the preschool families can take part in participating in this school at whatever level they choose, and how the school strives to foster a culture of inclusion. My second boy has completed 2 years of this program and is moving onto Kindergarten. I am confident he is ready for any of the demands of elementary school - social or academic - because he had a chance to go at his own pace, practice real world skills with his peers, and thus build his confidence. My older son has been thriving in first grade and I attribute his positive attitudes about himself and about learning to his experience at Bright Beginnings. What a gem we have!

Im almost not sure where to start...What first hit me about Bright Beginnings was how rich the classroom environment was. After touring day-cares that looked sterile and wanted to show me their smart boards, it was a relief to see toys in play dough, paint, plants growing in the windows, bowls of pine cones and rocks. The contrast was even greater outside where there were sand and bark boxes, a tire swing, a mud kitchen, fruit trees... a far cry from the cement-enclosed play structures and rectangles of lawn I had been trying to resign myself to. I wanted a preschool were my kids could explore and experiment and do the things I took for granted when I was a kid.Then a teacher chatted with me for a while and explained why each station that was set up was there: Dramatic play for social development, and play dough to strengthen hand muscles for fine motor control and writing, shaving cream for sensory development... I found out that while the kids think that theyre just playing with whatever is out there the teachers are constantly looking at the development and interests and needs of their students and changing what they put out and what activities they organize. Apparently this is what, play based, is supposed to mean, I couldnt believe how thoughtful and individualized the philosophy was.Ive been supper grateful for how supportive their staff is. Part of this includes that they have a lot of parent education aspects, and I have learned to be a better parent thanks to much of the directors work. But more than that, my first son was really sensitive and I was so worried about his transitioning to a new environment. In the long run it turned out he had mild Autism. The staff supported him and me through our own struggles, were the ones to suggest I get him evaluated, and never did anything to single him out or, manage, him as being any more different than his classmates.My ONLY complaint is that between being a part-time program and being a co-op, it would be nearly impossible for any family without a full-time caregiver or very flexible work hours to manage it. Its a real pity since this is the kind of preschool all kids should get to experience

Bright Beginnings has been an amazing place for my children to grow into thoughtful, independent, and enthusiastic learners. I cannot say enough about how happy I have been with our time at this school.

So so glad to have had my kids attend Bright Beginnings. Love the staff and sense of of community. Seriously, this preschool was a game changer for our family.

We chose Bright Beginnings because of its play-based, child-empowering philosophies, and my four-year-old son is really happy here! Children in the Butterfly class (8:45-11:45 MWF) spend 2/3 of their school day doing free-play. This allows kids lots of practice with social skills, and time to delve into projects at their own pace; watching this cool process is a benefit of being a parent-volunteer. New art, sensory, imaginative play, gross-motor, and science areas are changed daily or weekly, and cater to the interests of the children. There are so many awesome activities offered!I also highly recommend the parent/toddler class. Similar to the other preschool classes, activities are offered with great intention, and care is taken not to overwhelm the kids with stimulation (i.e. fewer toys are offered to allow kids to focus and interact more with each other). Check out this school!

My family started at Bright Beginnings in 2007. We have 3 children (ages 8, 6 and 2.5). Our two eldest attended, and the youngest is currently enrolled . When we looked into schools, we wanted one that would encourage kids to have fun but to also LEARN while having fun. We not want the factory-like preschool in which kids are expected to sit down, be quiet, and do work sheets like robots; or worse, we did not want just a daycare-like environment. All of our kids love the school, the teachers, the activities, and the FUN! My third-grader (who spent 2 years there) excels at math and is an avid reader. My kindergartner (2 years plus a pre-K program) has grown by leaps and bounds as both a writer and a reader in just 4 months! Our youngest (in a one day a week program) is continuing to develop her verbal, motor and cognitive skills at an amazing pace. All 3 of my kids are viewed as friendly, caring, responsible, respectful and focused students. We attribute that in large part to the programs at Bright Beginnings.From a parent s point of view, I enjoy working in the classroom and seeing what the kids do and how they interact with each other. Not only have my kids made great friends there, but I have as well. The families are invested in the community of the school, which shows in how well our kids perform socially, emotionally, athletically, and academically.There is structure and there are expectations, but they are realistic and based on a child s development, not a standardized test. My kids have been and are challenged and encouraged to test their abilities in every regard. You cannot get that from doing worksheets and sitting in a desk in a room all day!We love this school!

Bright beginning is a perfect fit for my daughter! Wonderful staff, volunteers mom and dad and nice teachers 🙂

As an early childhood educator with both my teaching credentials and masters I was determined to find a play-based preschool for my family. To say that I shopped around for a preschool is an understatement. I was appalled at what many of the preschools in our area consider to be developmentally appropriate. One prominent preschool in Folsom had the children coloring worksheets dictating the colors to be used and tracing upper and lower case letters on the first day of school – these children were newly 3! I quickly realized finding a play-based school that was in alignment with best practices was going to be harder than I thought. I found Bright Beginnings from another mom in a gym class we were attending. I had never heard of them before and was told that they do most of their marketing by word of mouth and because they rent their school space from a church they are limited on street signage. Bright Beginnings has been educating children and families for 38 years!!!What initially struck me about Bright Beginnings was that it was truly child-centered. The children here are encouraged to ask questions, explore, discover and take initiative. They really do take the whole-child approach to heart and find ways to foster development in all of the developmental areas (social-emotional, self-help, cognitive, creative, and physical) within the natural context of the classroom environment.I can’t sing enough praises for Bright Beginnings. Not only is the low-cost of tuition a life-saver for our family, but I have the peace of mind that we have educated teachers guiding the working parents/grandparents in the classroom. The teachers ensure a well-balanced curriculum is developed based on the interests and needs of all of the children. My oldest daughter is now in her 2nd year as a Butterfly and my youngest has just begun her 1st year in the Parent-Toddler program.I had initially questioned how I would be able to manage working in the classroom as I had an infant at the time, but another mom and I paired up and we trade childcare. My husband enjoys attending the beautification days and I love to attend the meetings. Nothing like being involved in your child’s educational journey on this level- your feedback and ideas are actually encouraged! Plus, there is a strong sense of community at this school. We have parent nights out and monthly out of school play dates at various parks and museums. We also have fun, family-oriented fundraisers (bike-a-thons, spaghetti feeds, etc.). No selling cookie dough or wrapping paper at our school!I can’t believe Bright Beginnings isn’t better known in our community- this school is a hidden gem! I’m blown away at how my children are growing into critical thinkers with a self-driven passion for learning. All thanks to Bright Beginnings.

We started at Bright Beginnings in 2008 with my very shy daughter in the Parent/Toddler class. It was a great opportunity for her to get used the environment and the teachers with me there so she felt secure. I loved all the creative projects that the teacher had for the kids every week. Things that I would have never thought of and messy things I wouldnt do in my house. I also got to meet other parents and talk about the stages our kids were going through.When it came time for her to start the preschool class, she was so comfortable the first day she ran in the classroom and yelled bye-mom and didnt even give me a hug. She already had friends that transitioned with her, she knew her teacher and felt so safe. I loved the experience of working in the classroom. It honestly made me a better parent. Seeing how the teachers handled conflict and how they spoke to the children at their level, gave me insight in how to deal with behavior issues. I loved being able to see her make friends on her own, learn conflict resolution, and become more confident. She went to Bright Beginnings until she started Kindergarten. She did wonderfully in Kindergarten. By the time she started she knew all the basics, ABCs, colors, how to write her name, ect. All things that Bright Beginnings exposed her to and supported her with, but did not force onto her. But more importantly she learned to love school. She learned to love learning. She saw learning as something fun and interesting, she was engaged. In Kindergarten, she raised her hand and asked questions. My super shy toddler/preschooler had gained the confidence to stand up in front of her whole class and tell a story. Her teacher praised her for understanding when it was appropriate to talk in class and when it was not.She is now in second grade and has always done very well in school. This year being the top reader in her class (by a lot). She is reading books at a 4th and 5th grade level and getting 100% on her comprehension tests. But more importantly, she wants to read. I have to ask her to stop sometimes.She is my first of 3 children. My second also went only through Bright Beginnings and started Kindergarten this year. She is also doing fantastic in Kindergarten.I always find it amusing when I hear comments that parents dont think Bright Beginnings is academic enough to prepare their child for Kindergarten. I wonder if they have ever actually spoken to a Kindergarten teacher. All the elementary school teachers that my children have had and teachers I know personally have praised our choice of Bright Beginnings. They have said that a play-based preschool is exactly where preschoolers should be. They have commented on how well-prepared my kids were for school, not just because they knew their letters and numbers, but because when the little boy chases my daughter she says please stop chasing me and doesnt punch him. Because when its circle time she sits and pays attention to the teacher and doesnt talk to her neighbor. Because they both add to the discussion of the classroom and ask interesting, thoughtful questions. All of these learning skills were taught to them at Bright Beginnings. Honestly, your childs Kindergarten teacher isnt really going to care whether they know their ABCs or colors. Your childs kindergarten teacher is going to want them to be socially and emotionally ready for Kindergarten. Bright Beginnings gives them opportunities to make choices, solve problems, get messy, and learn.My youngest child is now in the Parent/Toddler class and will go into the preschool when she gets older. I couldnt think of another preschool I would trust with my children.