"My child just started attending the toddler daycare class. My child loves being there because there are other kids to interact with . Great activities and pictures are shared to us (parents ). Staff are amazing and very helpful and very patient. Feedback from teachers updated on daily basis . Flexible with hours for pick up and drop off. Meals are provided .Very clean and organized daycare."
- Biruntha Kirshnamoorthy
"Bringing our daughter to Polka Dot preschool has been one of the best decision we've made. My daughter (now 2) has been there about 10 months now, she has learn and mature so much with the care and patience of her dear teachers Ms. Natasha and Ms. Abby. There was a lot of anxiety on being FTM before she started. But to my surprised, my DD didn't even cry and adapted to the environment so quickly with such gentle care of her teachers. This shows how great the teachers are and how much they care about the little one's well-being. Within a few weeks, my DD would walk right into the classroom without even looking back. To this day, I think she has more fun in school than at home. In addition with the help of her extremely patient teachers, my daughter was also potty trained before age 2. Ms. Natasha and Ms. Abby never complained and was very encouraging with the process. We are so very grateful for them in her life! The school programs including the music movement, arts & craft, water play and sandbox play in summer time etc, has been really great for the children's development and social interaction. The school facilities are always well maintained and cleaned. We thank Karine, the school director and the teachers for everything"
- Tim & Alice
"Best place for your precious little one. Great teachers , management, chef and staff. A balanced circculum between playing and learning. Everyone is so helpful and understanding in every concern the parents have"
- Elham Mosavi
"Dear Karine and all the staff members of Polka Dot Preschool, We want to express our gratitude to all of you (Stefan’s preschool and kindergarten teachers) whoever participated in his care and growth. Thank you for your dedication, desire to work and educate the younger generation. You are all high-level specialists with extensive experience working with children and really good at what you do. Stefan went to Polka Dot with pleasure, which was very important for my mom and I. We were never worried leaving him at the center, in your safe hands. In addition to that, we want to recognize your sensitive approach towards children, attention to parents, high professionalism in educating and caring for children. All pedagogical tasks were handled with creative inspiration and imagination. Lastly, we do appreciate of your linear help with Stefan’s extracurricular circumstances and a smooth transition to his SK class at the public school. Thank you very much! Sincerely, Stefan's family"
- Angelina P.
"I am a first-time mom and choosing a daycare for my son was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. If I was going to go back to work, I wanted him to love the daycare we chose and I wanted him be challenged and stimulated in ways that would help him reach his full potential. I can definitely say my son loves going to Polka Dot PreSchool. After just a few weeks there, he would happily run into the classroom when I dropped him off and he didn’t look back. I was worried about starting back at work again but it helps that I feel like the teachers and staff genuinely care about him and they cared about helping him and his anxious mom through this transition to preschool. Everyone is so warm and I feel he responded so well to each and every new face he met. I love the app they use to communicate with parents and the videos and pictures they send of my son and the children in his class enjoying the day and the different programs they offer. My son loves the Music and Movement program! It is so amazing to see the changes and growth he has shown since he has started and that is all thanks to the care and patience of the staff there. I also can’t say enough about the director of this preschool, Karine. From the very beginning, other parents raved about her and how she goes above and beyond. She definitely does. She has always been very professional and approachable and it is reassuring to know she leads this exceptional team of staff members. I feel like there are so many children at this preschool but she makes a point to know each of them and takes an active role in helping them grow and reach their potential at this school. Each day my son seems to show me something new he has learned at Polka Dot and that is all thanks to the amazing care they provide and I am so happy with decision we had made to send him here."
- Amanda Carpino
"Our son started at Polka Dot a few months ago, and as first time parents we were hesitant to leave him anywhere. He also has a potentially serious medical condition that made our care decision all the more difficult. The first few months at Polka Dot have been wonderful and have only reinforced our decision to be here. The staff have been extremely caring, supportive and compassionate towards his transition and development. He is closely monitored and cared for in regards to his health concerns, putting us at great ease. He is greeted daily by all the staff with warm welcomes and hugs, which has exceed our expectations. In his short time at Polka Dot, he has already become more independent, assertive and outgoing. We are extremely pleased with the well-rounded amount of free play, outdoor play and academic instruction, which is precisely what we were looking for. We especially love the daily updates through the school’s app, which provides us with a glimpse into his day. Overall, we would more than highly recommend this family-friendly preschool to anyone!"
- Laura Hyde
"My experience at polka dot has been a positive one so far. My daughter is now 2 and absolutely loves going to daycare. Her teachers are wonderful and really take the time to show they care. They are always decorating the room with photos of the kids, artwork and fun seasonal decor; it’s always changing. They also post photos of activities they’ve done on the seesaw app which is great cause you can see what they do during the day. The teachers also take the time to talk with the parents at pick up and go the extra mile to explain how their day was and what they specifically learned. I also like that the facility is clean, esp with so many germs going around with so many kids. The lady who cleans it seems to do a wonderful job and always has a smile on her face which is nice to see. We will definitely be enrolling our son when he turns the appropriate age."
- Hannah Chang
"My daughter has been here for almost a year and she loves it. The teachers and staff are wonderful! She often tells me how great her day was and it's amazing to see how much her vocabulary and speech has improved. She loves it here and we are all so happy! :)"
- Joanna Chun
"Since my daughter started at this daycare, I have witnessed a huge change in her. She came from her previous daycare what we call a wild child. Hitting pushing biting not napping etc.. at Polka Dot she became a sophisticated young lady with a whole suitcase of new vocabulary that was astounding. She learned to spell her name among others at a very high rate of speed. She became more confident and outspoken in a very positive way. The curriculim is outstanding and the teachers work very hard to make it top notch. I know Karine is constantly at the top of her game and doesnt miss a beat. In the winter the kids are always well dressed and and prepared to go out as in the summer the teachers always ensure they are in hat proper attire sunblock etc... At Polka dot you are always greeted by a warm smile and hug (hug for the kids that is) and a summary report of how child is doing. I even tested my daughter and asked her if she wants to go to a new school and her immediate response was noooo i love my preschool B mama!! Therefore thank you Karine and Ms. Brittany, Ms. Hany, Ms. Angelica, Ms. Christina and everyone else who have made polka dot a pleasant place and a positive learning environment where kids are happy safe and bright. We look foward to returning in September."
- Biana Pasternak
"We sent our oldest daughter when the staff and management were at Doncrest and now we have our second daughter at Polka Dot once the current management and staff took over. I know our children are well taken care of. We drive 30 min out of the way just to send our child here! It is worth the extra time!"
- Haewon Lee-Ko
"This is one of the best daycares I've seen so far. Great teachers, we love Tasha and Abby..:) As well management and the chef are the best.. The outdoor playground is beautiful.. :)"
- Luziana Leskaj
"My daughter has been here for almost a year and she loves it. The teachers and staff are wonderful! She often tells me how great her day was and it's amazing to see how much her vocabulary and speech has improved. She loves it here and we are all so happy! :)"
- Joanna Chun
"Polka Dot Preschool came highly recommended to us by a couple offamilies who were familiar with Karine and her team before she became the director of Polka Dot Preschool. We have experience with a few other childcare facilities including two daycares and a montessori for our older son and we were always satisfied. Polka Dot, however, has far exceeded our expectations. Our younger son has been in the toddler room for half a year. It's apparent when you see the teachers interacting with the children that they are loving, understanding, patient and truly care for the well-being of the children. The toddler room is well-decorated with the childrens' artwork that is refreshed on a regular basis. The layout allows for plenty of play-based learning opportunities that incorporate the holidays and changing seasons. We have been so happy with our experience at Polka Dot and can see how much our little guy has grown and developed under their care."
- Karen Uy
"The staff are all very loving and genuinely care for the kids. The facility has a beautiful outdoor green space for the kids to play in which is different from the 3 other childcare places our children have been to (playgrounds built on parking lots with turf, breathing in traffic fumes)"
- W Wong
"We have a son who is 2.5 years old and in the toddler class at Polka Dot. The school has exceeded our expectations in all areas. Ms Karine and her staff are caring and attentive towards the children. The facilities are well maintained and our son enjoys the food there. The teachers have helped our son come out of his shell and provided encouragement to help him reach his developmental milestones. My son told me the other day: 'School was good because it was fun!'. We will mostly likely be sending out younger child there as well."
- Louise Wong
"I would like to thank Ms. Karine, all the teachers and staff at Polka Dot Preschool. Ms Karine and the dedicated group of teachers have a curriculum that is not only centred around play based learning, but also augmented with activities such a water play, monkeynastics, music classes etc etc. The school is always beautifully decorated with the children's artwork. You can tell the teachers enjoy teaching the little ones and put a lot of effort into planning a variety of activities. At the school, all the teachers children in other classes by name. There is a new shaded playground with various toys to help develop the children's gross and fine motor skills. The outdoor area also includes a well cared for vegetable patch for the children. Overall highly recommended."
- Michael Lam
"And the Award for The Best Daycare Goes To… Polka Dot Preschool!!! I really never thought my son would love his school so much and it gives me joy knowing he is in good hands. Before Manny joined Polka Dot, I knew he was a lot behind in his speech and it was difficult for him to express himself. His eating habit was poor and he didn’t like eating much. Going to school on the first day, I had explained my concerns to Karine and she assured me they would do their best to help him. Within weeks, I learned from his teachers that Manny gives the best hugs and this gave me a great deal of relief knowing he was happy going to school. His teachers always put in the extra effort to help him and now Manny can actually have a meaningful conversation. He is eager to read and always tries to pronounce most words on his own. Polka Dot does set a good foundation for the development of their children and the school’s curriculum focuses on key areas necessary for early childhood growth. Manny has improved in all areas and due to the school’s efforts he is currently enrolled in York’s region Early Intervention Program in order for him to get the extra help he needs. Thank you to karine and all the teaching staffs at Polka Dot Preschool, every single one of his teachers has shared a tip or an idea that has helped me become a better parent. A special thank you to Chef Vera, Manny is eating a lot more in school and I am pretty sure we owe that to all your delightful meals."
- Eddy U
"One word to describe polka dot preschool is Family. It has become a big part of my son's daily routine and I am really happy we found the best daycare around. The first time we went in for a tour my son ran towards the play-stations like he has not seen toys before. He was really excited and just wanted to be a part of the class, very eager to play with other kids and he had the biggest smile on his face. Each room was set up perfectly with books, clean tables and chairs, toys which were mostly educational toys. Karine was super helpful showing us around and spoke to Manny like a mother would to her son, this was a huge relieve to know that my boy would be in good hands. One major improvement I noticed within weeks was a boost in his speech. He became really vocal and expressed himself more. I remember his first week after picking him up from school, I would ask him how was school today and he would say Miss Judy blah blah blah. His speech wasn't always the greatest but him knowing his teacher's name within a day or two was a sign that she did work a lot with him one on one and was on track to helping him communicate better. Having My son attend Polka Dot preschool has been an amazing experience and attending the parents night event has also given me a good opportunity to learn more about my boy. The teachers are easy going and are always informing parents on how their kids perform daily. My son is my pride & joy and Polka Dot has been my cornerstone towards being a better parent. The teachers have exceeded all expectations and I will always be grateful to everyone that works at Polka Dot Preschool"
- Sam Asco
"I am very happy with Polka Dot Preschool. Both my daughters have learned so much by attending Polka Dot. The teachers are very caring and are passionate about what they do. All the staff are very friendly and my kids love the food. It is a well run organization."
- Inhee Park
"This is the best Day Care..We love there everything: starting with director Mrs. Karine Edmonds, which no matter how busy she was she always had enough time for us explaining everything that wasn't clear, or giving an advise when needed.. And of course, continuing with all the amazing as persons- Teachears, which are also very well trained, loving and caring 
How can i forget Mrs. Vera, who's meals are delicious and what is most important: healthy. Our family loves you very much, Polka Dot Preschool Team.You Are The BEST!!! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to make part of you!!! We will miss you a lot"
- Cris Ursu
Polka Dot Preschool has been such a find! We are so fortunate to have our son attend daycare there. Very low staff turnover. Staff are caring and genuinely nurturing to the children. Management is supportive, understanding, easy to approach.
- Mhjk k
"Fantastic place! My daughter is with them since she was 23 month until now in JK and she is continuing for SK. This is how much I love, and rely on them. They have such an amazing teachers and a program. I am so sad she will leave this wonderful place next year."
- Sophie So
"And the Award for The Best Daycare Goes To... Polka Dot Preschool!!! I really never thought my son would love his school so much and it gives me joy knowing he is in good hands. Before Manny joined Polka Dot, I knew he was a lot behind in his speech and it was difficult for him to express himself. His eating habit was poor and he didn't like eating much. Going to school on the first day, I had explained my concerns to Karine and she assured me they would do their best to help him. Within weeks, I learned from his teachers that Manny gives the best hugs and this gave me a great deal of relief knowing he was happy going to school.
His teachers always put in the extra effort to help him and now Manny can actually have a meaningful conversation. He is eager to read and always tries to pronounce most words on his own. Polka Dot does set a good foundation for the development of their children and the school's curriculum focuses on key areas necessary for early childhood growth. Manny has improved in all areas and due to the school's efforts he is currently enrolled in York's region Early Intervention Program in order for him to get the extra help he needs.
Thank you to karine and all the teaching staffs at Polka Dot Preschool, every single one of his teachers has shared a tip or an idea that has helped me become a better parent. A special thank you to Chef Vera, Manny is eating a lot more in school and I am pretty sure we owe that to all your delightful meals."
- Eddy Ubaka
"It's always a little stressful when you send your child to preschool for the first time. Will she miss being home? Will she make friends? Will she listen to her teachers? When our daughter first started at Polka Dot PreSchool whatever worries we had were quickly calmed by the confident, experienced and gentle way we saw the teachers interacting with her and the other students. Very quickly we saw our shy little girl fitting comfortably in, walking confidently into class each morning, playing with friends in her class and insisting on saying good-bye to each classroom when coming home each day. My wife and I are also very impressed with the balance in the curriculum and the wide variety of activities and learning opportunities. I can't remember learning to read in Kindergarten, but our daughter who is now in JK is prolonging her bedtime stories by sounding out the words. She really enjoys her lessons at school and she especially enjoys the Music and Movement class every Thursday and the nature walks. We are so thankful for the teachers and all the staff at Polka Dot Preschool and the blessing they are to our daughter."
- Joseph Kennedy
"Superb team in a beautiful renovated place by the pond. My son has been attending for almost a year and beyond loving it, he learned so much. Like any daycare, it's not for everyone but I suggest meeting Karine before making your final decision."
- Zack Shrem
"The teachers are very caring. They teach the kids with love and kind hearts. My daughter loves going to school and I can see her big smile everyday when I pick her up from school. Another bonus is that the school is using seasaw application to help parents stay updated of how the kids are doing in classes."
- Harfrey Ng
"My daughter has been going to Polka Dot Preschool for over 2 years, she loves this daycare so much, that at the end of the day it is so hard to take her home... Every evening she gives hugs to every teacher, in-house chef and even the owner. When taking your child to this daycare, you know that the child will be taken a good care of! I, would and constantly, am recommending this daycare to anyone who looks for a great place to take your child to. The teachers are great, they have been working there for the long time and always are taking a great care of our children. My daughter learned and learning every day a lot. Great daycare, great teachers and food! Your child will definitely love it here."
- Maia Vdovicen
"I am very happy with the care my child is receiving. Especially, Miss Judy, who is the teacher of our daughter, teaches her math, reading and writing in English very well. Thank you!"
- Vlad Carpov
"My son Maxim Was attending Polka Dot preschool for a year and a half, I am very happy with a staff and teachers. He has shown a huge improvement in communication and speech. All the staff are friendly and helpful, if i need any advice, they are always happy to help. We are very happy with a place, would definitely recommend it to our friends."
- Kristina Saparova
"Since my son has started at Polka Dot, he has shown significant improvements in his speech and his ability to followthrough with day-to-day functions. Polka Dot offers a very warm and friendly environment for the children (parents too) and an assorted range of activities to keep our little ones learning while having fun. keep up the great work!!"
- Alison Douse
"My 5 year old daughter has been with Polka Dot Preschool for the past 6 months and she loves it there. We are very happy with our choice, the school has energetic and hands on management and teachers. The food is outstanding thanks to the chef. And we feel connected to all the current activities through their online communication app. To sum it up, I would highly recommend this school."
- Sara R
"My daughter has been attending Polka Dot Preschool for 2 years. We love the staff and owners. They are all so great and involved with the kids. Our daughter has learnt so much for all the experiences and extra activities that they involve the kids in. They have taken the kids on field trips, yoga, Dance classes, French and many other fun adventures. I highly recommend this daycare. It is very clean and they have great toys and learning activities."
- Ekaterina Kalashnikova
"Polka Dot Preschool is a great centre that has caring and knowledgeable staff. My nephew currently attends Polka Dot and my family have seen amazing progress in not only his communication skills but in his overall development. This program offers an engaging environment with opportunities to learn and grow. I would recommend this centre to anyone looking for child care.
- Taryn Williams
"Polka dot preschool was recommended to me from a friend. When I went shopping for daycare centres, I knew right away this was the right place for my son. Staff are friendly and caring, there are always hot meals and fun playtime outside. Everyday is well structured and organized and parents are always involved via their mobile app. I've seen so much progress from my son over the last 6 months and he loves going to school and talks about his teachers all the time. Would definitely recommend to all my parent frieds."
- Jennifer Byun
"One of the best ways to tell if the daycare is suitable and good for your kids, is by looking at how yours kids talk and feel about the daycare, their relationship with teachers, and the overall atmosphere in general.
My son, 5.5 years, and my daughter, 3.5 years, have been attending Polka Dot Preschool for a little over two years now. Our relationship with Polka Dot started before, with the previous owners, and a change of ownership/management is always a little stressful and suspicious. With Karin, a present owner, starting jan 2016, a lot has change, and in a very positive and best way possible. That includes new teachers, new menu, which got a lot more variety and positive feedback from my kids (they always tell me how their day care has the best soup and the salad is better than at home), and of course their daily schedule, which now includes yoga, music movement, and french lessons.
I really like the system that Karin implemented, where every teacher gets a chance to meet and interact a couple of days a week with kids from different groups. As a result, the kids not only get very familiar and comfortable with their own teacher, but with the rest of the staff as well, making it much more easier and less stressful to transition to different groups.
I specifically wanted to mention the teacher of kinder garden, Ms Judy, who is also a teacher for my son. In my opinion she has a gift from god for teaching and for kids. She finds individual connection to every single kid in the group, is able to feel and understand their mood, their learning abilities and their desire to learn in areas like writing, reading, and math. The kids not only know how to read, write, and count, but Ms Judy further develops their desire and aspiration to learn more, which in my opinion is very important.
Thank you so much Karin and her wonderful staff for their amazing and most important job."
- Elena Kozinova
I have two girls (6 and 3). My 6 year-old is a graduate of Polka Dot Preschool and I attribute her success in the public school system to the work of the amazing teachers at Polka Dot. Their approach to a structured but also play-based learning gave her the tools she needed to be successful in JK with zero transition time needed. My 3 year old is currently in one of the preschool classes and absolutely loves going to school every day. As a busy professional it is so important to have reliable child care. I go to work every day knowing that my child is being cared for by her teachers and is having an amazing time. Additionally, I am assured that she will be happy and healthy when I pick her up at the end of the day. That does so much for the guilt we all feel as working parents for not being the ones providing care to our little ones during the day. The management is very organized and transparent which is also important to me when it comes to my children. Great job!
- Ines Gembom
"Our daughter has been with Polka Dot for about two years now with our second little one joining her soon. The staff at the centre have been nothing short of amazing in the manner in which they handle all of the needs of their kids and how skilled they are at reading the situations and making each child feel comfortable. The biggest thing we noticed when our daughter started, was how much her vocabulary has expanded in the time she has been there and the constant learning that is happening. Karine and her staff have made a big effort to create a well rounded program that educates the kids on all sorts of topics and through varied methods and activities. Thank you guys for making sure that my kids are in a safe and nurturing place while we're at work."
- Sally
"Excellent staff from the administration to the teachers who are very caring and nurturing towards the children. It's a clean facility and the teachers have established a well rounded plan to educate the kids in a variety of subjects while also making it fun and interesting for them. They are very creative with their activities and have a great open communication policy with the parents about any progress or issues their kids may be having. I would absolutely recommend Polka Dot preschool to any parent in the area looking for a great and safe place to send their children."
- Lamees Cheeks
"As a first time parent, there are worries, questions and sometimes even frustrations when placing your child into a daycare/school program. The teachers at Polka Dot are kind, loving, encouraging and approachable. We have personally had great support from Karine and her staff during certain transitions and could not imagine anyone else taking care of the most important and precious part of our life such as our child. Karina’s “door” is always open and she is never more than a phone call away. Our experience at Polka Dot Preschool has been nothing short of remarkable and we are so grateful that our son is able to spend his days in such a positive, wonderful and enriched environment."
- Talia Bernknopf
"A friend highly recommended this school to us after having a good experience with the director and staff. We like the fact that the school is smaller than some others and so the child to teacher ratio is low. You can tell right away the teachers love what they do and that they care and love the children immensely. Despite our daughter being a bit shy at times, she has done really well here. We love it here so much that we're going to be sending our twin boys here as well. The facilities are well-kept and they keep it really clean. The food is cooked by their own cook who makes all of the food for the kids. I highly recommend Polka Dot!!"
- Christina Ng Kennedy
"I highly recommend Polka Dot Preschool. When I found out that Karine Edmonds was taking over Polka Dot Preschool, I transferred my daughter Victoria to her school. From my previous experience at Doncrest Early Learning Centre, I know Karine runs her school to the highest standards and ensures that she has the best teachers and program. The entire staff is very nurturing and Ms. Vera is an excellent cook. Victoria just turned four but her reading, writing and her math skills are already impressive."
- Lien Luu
"The best place for your precious little one. Great teachers , management, chef and staff. A balanced circculum between playing and learning. Everyone is so helpful and understanding, with the kids that English is not their parents language or every concern the parents have :)"
- Delnavaz Mobedpour
"We are super satisfied and appreciative from the outstanding staff and facilities of Polka Dot preschool. Thank you."
- Karine Shrem
