Paidea Child Development Center

As all the other reviews have stated, Paidea is the ideal place to bring your young children for care and education. We currently have 3 children under the care of Lynn and her incredible staff. Every day is filled with age-​appropriate activities and interactions and the communication with parents in impeccable. I urge anyone looking at early child care options to place Paidea at the top of their list.

There aren’t enough words to describe how much I love Paidea! If you are taking the time to read this review, let me tell you that Paidea is an absolute gem. Three years ago, my nanny situation came to an unexpected end and I decided it was time to introduce my then 18 mos old son to a structured center format. In the quest to find the right fit, I visited every center within a 10 mile radius of our home. Paidea was one of the last centers I visited and it was immediately a different feeling. Instead of a rundown on hours and payment schedules, the owner/​director, Lynn, inquired about my son! She wanted to know about his likes/​dislikes, how he interacted with other people, what made him happy, etc. She went on to share with me the philosophy behind Paidea, their history, their teaching style. I was impressed the day I went for my first visit and three years later I’m still equally impressed. There are so many things about Paidea I love, but the best part for me is incredibly deep foundation and commitment that Lynn and the teachers (who are the best!) have to emotional coaching. Every activity and interaction that my son has at Paidea is permeated with emotion coaching. Being able to express his emotions and being able to read those cues in others is a skill that will serve him throughout his lifetime. Plus, once a month Lynn hosts Parent’s Night where my husband and I learn to emulate in our home what my son learns at school. The result so far? I have a happy, super communicative, flexible thinking four year old. Paidea is to thank.

We absolutely love Paidea. Staff is talented and caring with very low turn over. The curriculum is research based and innovative. Most importantly, our daughter is always excited to go in the morning!

Paidea met a very specific need for us of a private Kindergarten for our «tweener» boy whose birthday was on the borderline of start early or wait a year. We decided that waiting a year made more sense but couldn’t imagine sending him back to preschool for a third year.
Paidea Kindergarten was a godsend for us. Julie is perhaps the best teacher I have ever encountered. She is fantastic.

I completely agree 100% with the eloquent post written by Cori W and second everything said. When my spouse and I were looking for care for our toddler twins, we went to three facilities. The first was a daycare center run by a major chain. Teach turnover was high and the place lacked warmth and energy. The second was a Montessori school with beautiful building and brand new everything. When we walked into the classroom, it was chaos. The school had the state maximum ratio of toddlers to teachers — not sure how one person can watch seven! toddlers who are still in diapers and need help eating. I would think just keeping them all safe would be a full time job. Not sure where the extra time for activities, play, learning, and hugs would come from. We last went to Paidea after rave reviews from a number of my co-​workers. Sure, the building wasn’t as beautiful, but the way it was run — as a family — was nothing short of amazing. Teachers who have worked there decades in what is traditionally high turnover business, low child to teacher ratios (well below the state maximum), and Paidea teaches EQ (rather than IQ) — all this won us over after one tour and visit with Lynn (founder and director). Our kids have graduated from the toddler room to the preschool room — which by the way happened when they were ready, not some arbitrary age or being potty trained. Our kids are slower at potty training, but were emotionally and cognitively ready for preschool, so they went instead of being held back in toddler. As a first time mom, I was so grateful to see how they bonded with their toddler teacher — talking about her, getting lots of love all the time. They have been in preschool five months and still go to the toddler room to give her a hug.
Parent nights — parents get together with Lynn while the kids play to discuss topics such as potty training, disciple, sleeping habits, EQ vs IQ, etc. This is a great way to gain skills, while getting to know other parents. There are potluck picnics in the summer, end of school year fun night at Tartan, and Kids Night Out so parents can get a date night. And field trips every week starting in preschool — mostly to outdoor activities and parks. In the winter, they have in-​house field trips where different activities are brought in such as bubble dance parties and Mike the baker (and toddlers get to go to the in-​house ones too).
Our kids are thriving at Paidea, and learning both the emotional skills AND intellectual skills that will set them up for amazing success during continued school career and life in general. I would not hesitate to highly recommend Paidea to any parent looking for a child development center — this isn’t just a daycare, it truly develops the whole child and family.

Ditto everything the previous reviewers said. This is hands down the best preschool around. We have been involved with Paidea for three years now with two girls in the preschool program and now enjoying the summer school age program. The teacher longevity is nothing short of amazing. And I think of Lynn as a «child whisperer». She truly has a magical way with children.
I interviewed four child care centers in the Oakdale/​Woodbury area when it was time to enroll my two girls in preschool. I knew Paidea was the right place as soon as I spoke with Lynn. Her first question was to ask me to tell her about my children. All the other centers had immediately tried to hard-​sell me on why their center was the best. Lynn’s simple question showed me that she valued the children first over anything else. As we discussed my girls personalities, Lynn’s responses and questions told me that she already understood my children and their unique needs. She even provided insight that I found extremely helpful in my own daily dealings with my girls. And all in a brief introductory meeting!
I will admit that I was nearly won over by the shiny new facility at another school. But when I toured Paidea, I watched children using their own creativity and supplies from a recycling box (fondly called Oscar) to make amazing and unique art work rather a structured art project led by the teacher. I saw children working together to build forts with sheets and tape and then pretending to be knights and princesses in some far away land. It was the kind of play that I remember experiencing as a child — open ended, creative play that encouraged a child’s imagination.
Paidea has been an amazing experience for our whole family. My girls are now both in elementary school and are excelling both educationally and socially. Their teachers often comment on what good citizens and good friends they are and I know that strong social foundation comes from their time at Paidea.

Hands down, sending our child to Paidea has even one of the best decisions we have made as parents.
Paidea is not your ordinary child care center. The teachers have longevity, some dating back 25+ years to when they opened! This is unheard of in child care centers. How is this done? They are respected and paid well. At our previous daycare center our toddler was watched in the afternoon by teacher assistants who were high school aged, um, where are the real teachers? Never at Paidea. Always real teachers, all the time.
They care about your child, and teach them emotional intelligence. What is that? Only one of the most important things a person can learn, how to monitor one’s own and other people’s emotions. How to talk about emotions and ensure your needs and others needs are met. Studies show that people with high EI have greater mental health, better job performance, and better leadership skills. Plus it’s great to hear a two year old tell a peer, «I need my space» instead hitting them to get them away. :)
They also respect the kids and their feelings. Maybe your child is having a rough day, they need their blanket, and want to bring it outside. Other day care center, «no, blanket is for nap only», child sobs and feelings are disrespected. Paidea — Easy solution, «you need blankie, here’s blankie! You need to being blankie outside? Well let’s put blanket in a gallon size ziplock, now it won’t get dirty.» Just one of many ways that the kids and their feelings are respected.
Speaking of getting dirty, HELLO DIRTY. The kids spend TONS of time outside. TONS. It’s great! Except for the layers of dirt and sunscreen to wash off every summer night. It’s worth it. Though make sure you shake the sand out of shoes before getting in the car… we have bucketfuls in our entryway. ;)
Monthly «parent nights» are ECFE style potluck dinners and then discussions afterwards (while the kids play with their friends and teachers) that are life savers. It’s validating to hear that others can’t get their kids through a Target shopping trip without whining, and Lynn steps in to assist with ideas for next time (that actually WORK! Seriously). Plus you actually meet other parents with kids the same age, we have made many parent friends!
They also offer a Kids Night Out monthly, where kids can come have a fun night without mom and dad. (ie DATE NIGHT FOR MOM AND DAD!!!). The teachers of the night always have fun activities planned and then a movie and snacks! This is the only time the kids can watch tv at Paidea so this is a HUGE DEAL to the kids. :) (this is also a huge deal to parents, at daughter’s previous daycare the kids watched tv multiple times a day) (FYI — KNO is additional but reasonable payment to the teachers running that night).
Our daughter has thrived at Paidea, and now is doing great at public school! As parents WE have thrived with Paidea in our corner, assisting us how to be better parents and respecting our needs as well. No regrets. Best CHILDCARE center ever.