Brandywine Children's House

My twins go here and they love it! I find that their fees are affordable and the emphasis on discipline is reassuring.
--Submitted by a parent

My son attended BCH in the mid-1990s and was supremely happy there. We still talk about the lasting influence of Mrs. Benford and her fine staff--none of us can conceive of a more impressive school. The international mix of children, the emphasis on communication skills, social etiquette and teamwork complemented the curriculum. The foundational skills he received in the nurturing and supportive environment of BCH gave him a rock solid beginning.
--Submitted by a parent

Love BCH. I sent both of my kids there and they really helped my kids excel for the future.
--Submitted by a parent

My children are now in high school and college and were some of the first ones at BCH. We still regularly talk about the wonderful, lasting effect that BCH has had on their lives. They say they were smarter in preschool than they are now (not really, but the learning at BCH was incredible). They both attribute much of who they are, especially academically, to the BCH influence especially that of Mrs. Benford.
--Submitted by a parent

I have two kids here, one in pre-k and one a toddler. They have been here about a year and love it here. I am very happy with the acedemic progress my 4 year old is showing and the discipline is good too. I would recommend this school to anyone. The fees are reasonable and teaching excellent.
--Submitted by a parent

In 3.5 years, my son has been enrolled in various settings from home cares to large schools in three geographic regions. But BCH beats them all! The kids are all well-behaved and I am no longer worrying about my son picking up unruly behavior, nor am I worrying about him being 'babysat.' Now when he falls to sleep he'll count to himself -- in English, Spanish and French!! The best part is he doesn't think he's learning ... his whole day is fun for him! He's just now started talking about wanting to read and I know soon he'll be able to, since his recognition of letters is unbelievable. BCH is a true gem ... you would be extremely hard pressed to find another school that can compare in price, the hours, the academics, the personal love and attention
--Submitted by a parent

My 5-year old child has been attending Brandywine since he was 15 months old. I could not be happier with this school. And while you may not like the breaks that they take, you have to remember that this is a school, it's not a daycare facility. If you want a center that is open every day of the year, you need to seek a true daycare facility. The school is open much more often than the public schools in the area. And yes, this school is not meant for every child. But if your child fits into the Montessori way of teaching, you will be very satisfied. The school is there for the students, not the parents, so if you are looking for a school that caters to the parents, look elsewhere.
--Submitted by a parent

I would not recommend this school if your child is a free thinker or works outside of the box. They prefer quiet children who sit, listen and do as they are told. The curriculum was good for the older children and some of the teachers (not all) were understanding of pre-school children who just are not ready to sit still for hours at a time. It seemed that the teachers were very keen on teaching their Montessori knowledge but had little tolerance for preschool behavior. They involved parents only after weeks had gone by and an issue had grown out of control. In counseling later, we were told that school really had a negative impact on his self esteem.
--Submitted by a parent

I agree the teachers are wonderful and the knowledge the children acquire is wonderful! I do not agree with the long holiday closings. Brandywine children's house has less of a holiday and less closings then public schools. After all, the staff does deserve some time off here and there, they work basically 12months straight with barely any time away from the children. I praise those teachers, their dedication, and the school.
--Submitted by a parent

Great educational advantage children! My daughter loves it. Not so considerate of parents working situations. Long holiday closings. Inordinate amount of weather related closings.
--Submitted by Michelle Messere, a parent