Building Blocks: Daycare Program

This is a brief addendum to my original review from ¼/​2011. This update is mostly in response to the 1 star review by Mary T dated 6÷17÷13. That reviewer is totally off base, and I firmly believe the things she wrote are blatant lies. None of that sounds like the Building Blocks I know. I am writing this update to staunchly defend Building Blocks. Who cares if my review is older? We are STILL in close contact with Mary Riddle and the Building Blocks crew because, as I said in my review, they are «family» to us now and we live nearby. I would seriously take Mary T’s review with a HUGE grain of salt, especially considering how good the other reviews are. Call Building Blocks if you’re not sure. Don’t base your decision on one bad (and likely made up) review.

When we first moved to the Bay Area over a year ago our #1 goal was to find a great daycare for our 2 children. We’re so lucky that we found it in Building Blocks! Mary and her staff have an «extended family» philosophy of childcare, and it clearly shows. Our kids love «going to school» every day! We’ve especially been impressed with how much the kids are learning — from art skills to early reading and math. I can’t say enough great things about our experience with Building Blocks!

I’m also shocked about the recent negative review. Building Blocks has been a second home for both my girls. Mary and her staff has loved both my kids and nurtured them since the age of three months each. Not only did she prep my oldest for success in kindergarten but also has taught her how to swim and ride her bike. Without a doubt my kids are in a loving and safe family based environment. All the staff has gone above and beyond their job descriptions. As a busy working mom of two I’m lucky to have Mary, Kathy, Renee and Heather to rely on. We are excited to have our third at the Building Blocks family. And there’s something about Mary too. She’s got serious mojo with the kids. It’s amazing how she can get the pickiest eaters to snack on veggies and to have fun doing it. The staff can soothe the fussiest babies. I know because I have two. Both my kids are fed, clean, rested and most of all happy when I pick them up at the end of the day. This is a great environment for kids from the itty bitty babies to the older kids. Take note of how happy and friendly the other parents are. That says a lot about the place your kids are at. We greet each other and take the time to speak to one another because our kids play well together and enjoy where they are at. No matter how busy it may seem one of the staff will always speak with you personally about what and how your kids day went. It’s been six years and going strong. I have highly recommended Building Blocks and will continue to do so.

My kids love Building Blocks, and we have never had any issues or safety concerns with them. The owner and the staff are loving, nurturing, and caring, and I trust them completely with my children. I see how well all the children respond to them, and how patient and attentive they are to each child. Building Blocks continues to communicate with us openly about our children, and are constantly working with us to make sure they are consistent in the way we raise our kids. They work hard to cater to our children’s needs, and provide feedback on their progress on a regular basis. I am also very impressed by how much my son has learned from this daycare. My son has been with Building blocks since he was 1 ½ years old and from the age of 2, he has learned all his letters, numbers, colors, shapes, etc. Every day, he comes home with assignments they worked on during the day so we can see his progress. I have no doubt that my children will be fully prepared for kindergarten. I feel very fortunate to have found such a wonderful daycare for my kids.

Always check with the licensing agencies and local law enforcement prior to choosing a daycare for your child. We were seriously disappointed and very personally hurt by the things that happened to our children while at this daycare. I find it interesting that a lot of the reviews posted here were from people whose kids attended several years ago and not from current clients. My kids attended for about 2 years. We had several issues. The owner always minimized what happened, blamed my child, or I was at fault because «I don’t have these issues with the other parents». The owner’s dog bit my child in the face. My child was hit in the face hard enough to knock a permanent and a baby tooth extremely loose, badly bruise the gums, and cause bleeding. We were not only not called, when my husband picked my child up, it wasn’t even mentioned. She complained about her mouth hurting, when I looked inside, I was shocked and asked her what happened. The dentist was furious care had been delayed. We won’t know for another 9 months whether or not she will lose the permanent tooth. We also found out quite by accident that the kids were being taken on side trips by the van driver. My son reported she was leaving them in the car alone as well while she went inside for personal errands. The owner told me this wasn’t really a big deal as «no one got hurt». She was lucky. I pray no child is ever injured at this place. As far as no one getting hurt, Building Blocks is singlehandedly responsible for my now lack of trust in all daycares. My daughter cried daily when we told her she would be picked up from school by the van driver. She was tired of spending who knows how much time in the van while the van driver ran her errands. My kids could also tell me where her home was as they had been taken there. I find it scary and appalling that anyone thought it was okay to take my kids anywhere other than to the daycare. The owner didn’t seem to see this as an issue and didn’t realize it was going on as she was «busy» when I asked her if she ever wondered why it took so long for the kids to return. I thought they were one of the best when we were looking. We were extremely disappointed. I would give them zero stars if I could. Becasue of Building Blocks, my kids will never attend another daycare. They truly scared me. I will never get over not knowing where my children were or who they were with.

Our family loves Mary and the entire staff at Building Blocks. They are kind, fun, knowledgeable, and qualified teachers as well as providers. Our daughter started attending when she was 2 ½ years old. Two years later, she has made close friends, improved her verbal and writing skills and understands the appropriate behavior for preschool/​kindergarten. The staff helped us through a very difficult potty training, and were/​are very sensitive to our daughter’s specific needs. Mary treats all of the kids with great respect and love. Building Blocks rocks!

I met Mary delivering mail to her. I asked about her program and decided to enroll my daughter. She was 1.5 years old at the time. During one of my deliveries to her I walked in (unbeknownst to her) and listened as she worked with the children for a good half hour before she noticed me. I witnessed fairness, love, fairness, attention and caring toward all the children. I was pleased and decided to continue my business relationship with Mary. I had a second child and he was enrolled by his 4^th month of life. My children are now 14 and 10. I can say that my children learned fairness, compassion toward others as well as animals, but above all they learned how to accept all races. My children do not see colors, they see people. Having grown up in the 60’s and experiencing racism and other unfair acts, my children will be able to handle prejudices well. I am very proud of Mary for enstilling that quality just by demonstrating love and fairness to all the children. Mary said that after my children left daycare, we would never see each other again. HA! We bacame the best of friends. I did move away and I do not see her as much anymore, but she is still a phone call away and keep in touch. I will always recommend her business to others because her teaching is wholesome and no nonsense. What more could anyone ask for.

We first met Mary 15 years ago… but it seems like yesterday. My son Drew was one at the time we took him to Building Blocks. We were coming from a bad day care experience and so my son and I were both a bit uneasy. Mary and her staff took Drew in and welcomed him with love. He stayed there until he «graduated» the program and went to kindergartin. He did well in school and was very prepared for the level of work expected of a kindergartiner. He loved his time there and loved Mary as well. I highly recommend Building Blocks and Mary Riddle, she was a part of our family for over 3 years.

Mary and her excellent staff were recommended to us by family when we moved to the area. We’ve been sending our two children (girl — 4 years, boy — 21 mos.) for about 14 months since. We are very satisfied with the level of care provided. Not only do they provide a sense of home away from home, but they also have an appropriate mix of structure and open play. In addition the early education they have provided to our daughter and son has been very productive. At four she can read short words and at 21 mos. he can count to 20! I feel their rates are very competitive as well.

Mary & her staff are wonderful caregivers! My son started going there in Sept. 2003. I chose this facility then because unlike most daycare facilities she had planned activities. Such as preschool learning plans, including infants in story time & provided a daily sheet with info about your child’s day. When my son started kindergarten his brother assumed is spot at the facility. My four year can count well beyond a hundred & has learned many other valuable skills to prepare him for kindergarten. Just like his older brother he had been well cared for & well prepared for starting school this ²⁰¹⁰⁄₂₀₁₁ school year. I find myself truly fortunate to have Mary & her staff involved in our lives. Mary has had a profound impact on our lives & has always been there when we needed her above & beyond the call of duty. It’s been a great 7 years! And yes both boys will be involved in her enrichment program at The Learning Network again this summer. This too is a great program!
If you need a caregiver & teacher for your child/​children this facility will far exceed your expectations!!!

We’ve been at Building Blocks for seven years and have loved every minute of it — my first child graduated three years ago and my second child has one more year (both of them began before they were 2 years old). Mary and her team fill the kids’ day with learning, love, and important life skills. The kids learn songs and rhymes, work on writing, coloring, and art, learn to recognize letters, numbers, and colors, spend time outside and inside playing, eat healthy and varied meals and snacks, and get a ton of love and attention. One of the best decisions I made as a parent was to send my kids to Building Blocks!