Mission

Little Explorers is a place where kids come first! We are dedicated to our children and strive to make every moment enjoyable and productive.

Our program is primarily a Montessori oriented program. Maria Montessori believed that development starts from birth, and we share that approach with her. We balance educational and physical progress, outside play and indoor activities, healthy meals, and interactive developmental strategies into enjoyable activities.

We treat each child with respect and focus on building a greater connection with each other.

What We Offer

Organic, home-cooked meals your children will love

“Food is the moral right of all who are born of this earth.”

A low capacity

At Little Explorers, every child receives individual attention, has choices, and develops at their own pace. We offer Montessori materials and tools for children of different ages.

An expressive learning environment which fosters creativity

At Little Explorers, we offer children aged two to five yeasr old opportunities to explore their independence and connection to the world using their extraordinary capacity for learning.

About Our School

Our school is located in a detached single-family home in the brand new “Eastwood Village” in Irvine. It is a two-store house with the entire first floor dedicated to the childcare. This ground floor includes with two large living rooms and a separate area for nap time. It has a lot of natural light and fresh air. There is direct access to the backyard, with a set up playground, mini-house, sandbox with kinetic sand, mini garden, splash station, and a ‘live corner’.

Our Programs

Toddler

Preschool

Upcomming Holidays

10

Oct

Columbus Day

11

Nov

Veterans Day

23-25

Nov

Thanksgiving Holiday

21-3

Dec – Jan

Winter Break

View the Full Calendar

Testimonials

Yelena T.

I wholeheartedly recommend Julia and Vlad’s daycare center.  Ever since my daughter began attending a year ago we have had nothing but peace of mind which was in stark contrast to what we felt  when she attended another Montessori establishment previously.They are incredibly loving, kind, and attentive and treat her like their own.  When I was in the hospital delivering my second they allowed me to drop her off on the weekend and took care of her like a family member would

Their passion for developing well rounded emotionally intelligent children shows in everything they do.  Their activities for the children are always so well thought out, fun, and focused on teaching practical life skills and cultivating critical thinking. My two year old can dress her self like a pro, eats on her own, can put together complex puzzles, and is potty trained thanks to them.

Another huge plus is that they provide food all day for the kids which is healthy and delicious and freshly prepared

Overall they create an environment that feels like home which can explain why sometimes my daughter needs to be convinced to leave

Ben O.
12/17/2019

This review is long overdue but I wanted to mention how amazing Ms. Julia was for our 2 year old.  Placing our daughter at Little Explorers was a great decision for us over choosing a nanny because it really helped our daughter transition from being at home to going to a full time day care.  The time our daughter spent at Little Explorers was so positive and it was so difficult for us to take her out when the time came to begin a full time daycare/school program.  My wife and I highly recommend Little Explorers and have nothing but the best things to say about Ms. Julia and  her staff.

Sarah B.
3/13/2019

We absolutely love Little Explorers! Julia and Vlad are wonderful. We knew from day one that this school was a great fit. Our son has been attending since he was 3 months and is now 8 months old.

My mother is a daycare teacher of 40 plus years and came with us when we originally took a tour of the school. Side note her daycare is too far and the age limit starts at 2 years old. She said, “if it’s a right fit, you will get a good feeling when you visit the school.” Well, we got that good feeling.

I am a prodigy of daycare and I feel it is so important for social skills, behavior, and development. With that said though not every daycare is the same. When we started looking at schools some had way too many kids per teacher, a year waiting list, and high rates. Here we feel like our son gets enough attention and care he needs. Knowing our son is in good hands puts us at ease (especially being first-time parents). Every time we drop him off and pick him up he has a smile on his face and is excited to be there.

We couldn’t have asked for a better layout of the house, which includes the cribs location and blackout curtains, the type of toys, books, indoor and outside play area, and activities. We are glad they do not have bouncers or walkers, we do not have these in our home as well, as they could delay development.

We love that the kids get a lot of outside play time and fresh air. They have been accommodating in allowing us to bring breast milk and homemade baby food. They always keep us informed about his day, any new milestones, how well he ate and slept. My son loves playing with the other kids and developmental toys. I could keep going on and on about all the good things that Julia and Vlad do for our son. They truly are amazing and so important to our family and our sons future.

Elliott G.
2/15/2019

I honestly wish I could give six stars. Julia and her husband Vlad are amazing and we literally consider them family at this point. Our son has been going since he was about 6 months old and he’s 13 months now.  He’s treated like their own kid as are all the little ones they take care of.

The home is so warm and cozy. The minute you drop them off they greet your LO with a big smile. They have all the best toys and keep the kids always interacting in new ways. Everything is kept super clean and sanitary as well. I know he’s made so many new friends and he’s always so happy to go every morning!

Julia cooks up the most delicious food for them and it’s all ORGANIC! My wife and I were so happy to hear that as it’s important to us. Vlad and Julia are always sending us updates of how much fun he’s having and the new things he’s learning which makes us as parents feel a lot better.

I can keep going but I’ll just say we went through a bunch of daycares and are truly blessed we found them. Julia and Vlad are on another level and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Christina N.
2/11/2019

I love Little Explorers and I can tell my son enjoys going here! The family is warm and inviting and they genuinely care for my son. The space is beautiful, clean and all toys are carefully curated. I love how my son can easily go from inside to the outdoors anytime he wants! They also use real cribs here with black out curtains which I love! The activities they provide for my son are educational and fun. I would highly recommend this daycare!

Nikolynn T.
7/2/2019

My husband and I were looking for the right mix of one on one attention and care along with a comfortable learning environment that would help our son thrive. One of our main concerns was finding the right fit that felt right. From the moment we walked into little explorers toddler care we immediately felt the warm of Julia and Vlad (the schools main instructors). My son gravitated immediately to Ms. Julia. You could feel how much they truly care for the children who attend there. They are also parents themselves and understand the importance of finding the right care for their little ones. We really wanted to focus on my son’s development, social skills with other children, and his academics. Even at a young age my son thrives off of routine and learning. One thing little explorers emphasized was teaching and development. The program Julia and Vlad have put together is thought out and carefully executed. This is a great school for anyone looking to provide their child with a lower ratio of teacher to child care with the warmth and comforts of home. Little explorers is no babysitter but a small but well rounded in home  early learning center that provides the luxury of home with the aspects of a larger Montessori. It’s a great place to send your toddler especially between age 2-3 when so much development takes place and there is a great need to help those little brains grow, learn, explore, and have fun! I’m so glad my son goes here. It’s been the best experience and transition for our family. My son has been going there for 6 months and absolutely loves it! Daily reports, updates, and photos of our child’s progress are provided and their is an open line of communication between parents and teachers.

Manasee J.
2/27/2019

My husband and I love this place. Our daughter has been going to this day care for last two and half months now and I can definitely say she likes it there. I came across this day care on yelp and it was fairly new. So I had my concerns but when we took a tour of this place and met Julia and Vlad, we knew this was a best fit for our daughter. It’s a family run day care. They have less number of kids which means more attention to each of them. I also like the selection of the toys they have and the quality of the meal they provide to all the kids. Julia and Vlad are very patient with all the kids around there. Our daughter misses all her friends and Miss Julia over the weekend, which is a good sign. What I like the most about them is the way they keep sending us the updates, pictures during the week. Also, when we go to pick her up in the evening, they give us details of how much she ate, slept, played and all. I can go on and on about Julia and Vlad. I am happy that we made a right decision by choosing this place.

The greatest development is achieved during the first years of life, and therefore it is then that the greatest care should be taken. If this is done, then the child does not become a burden; he will reveal himself as the greatest marvel of nature.

Maria Montessori