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Parent Reviews
I used to think going for the well-known faith-based preschool in Irvine was the best choice for my child. However, I was wrong. The faith-based school has its own uniqueness & its own way of teaching, but what does my child really need and which teaching approach would work the best on my child?
My daughter started going to Chonghwa Montessori Children’s House when she was about 18 months old. From Chonghwa, in addition to developing proper motor skills and working on language & knowledge developments, she has learned some basic self-care skills, like taking off & putting on shoes / socks / jacket, etc by herself, how to blow her nose when she has nasal secretions (a very important skill she has learned that prevented her from having middle ear infections again). Due to lunch & snacks are provided by school, my daughter also had opportunities to be introduced to different kinds of foods that she may not be eating at home. Knowing that there’s no other food choices available & seeing other kids & teachers all eating the same foods, her pickiness in eating had started to gradually improve.
My husband & I took all of the above good improvements for granted, thinking that most schools are the same.
Then, around 2 yrs old, she was transferred to Irvine’s most well-known faith-based preschool.
Yet, soon after attending the new preschool, we noticed things have changed with my daughter’s independence on self-care, her eating habits & even her praying habit —- everything had gone backward! She’s not willing to put on clothing / pants / socks / shoes by herself anymore. Her pickiness in eating had gotten worse. Her desire to try new healthy foods had gone down a lot. She had also got to a point that she would refuse to eat all kinds of vegetables. She had also refused to say grace before meals at home. I got stressed out every morning just from preparing her breakfast, preparing & packing her school lunch, getting her ready to school while getting myself ready to get out of the house.
Yet, in exchange, I got confronted by upsetting teachers for my inability to send my child to school on time. Both my husband and I were very frustrated with the backward changes on my daughter & were also disappointed with the school. We did try to communicate to the teacher our situations at home & our expectations for school while listening to the teacher about her expectations to her students. We had a good talk, and my husband & I did try to work on meeting the school expectations as much as we could too. Yet, the whole situation was so stressful to a point that my husband & I had gone into arguments many times just because of all these negative changes.
After trying hard for about 1/2 year, both my husband & I agreed to transfer our child back to Chonghwa. This was one of the best decisions we ever made!
Ms Sherry, Head of Chonghwa Montessori, is amazing! Not only is she very loving, caring & patient towards her students, she’s very good at encouraging kids towards positive behaviors. She was able to reverse all of the backward changes in 2 months! In addition to further motor skill & language developments & increase in knowledge, my daughter’s independence on self-care is back. She’s also now more willing to try different healthy foods, even willing to eat some vegetables and say grace again before meals! My daughter likes going to Chonghwa & likes Ms Sherry a lot!
From the above experiences, both my husband & I have realized that what everyone thinks is good may not necessarily be a good fit for the child & for the family. A relatively small & not as well-known school, like Chonghwa, can also be an amazing school for the kids! We are truly thankful to find Chonghwa & feel blessed to have Ms Sherry as our daughter’s teacher. Chonghwa Montessori is also a bilingual school with Mandarin- & English-speaking teachers & with very well-structured weekly lesson plans. School also provides a detailed daily report to the parents at the end of each day. We definitely recommend Chonghwa Montessori Children’s House & Ms. Sherry. 👍
Ann Sunny
I am thrilled to share my positive experience with Chonghwa Montessori. My daughter started attending at the Cypress village campus when she was almost 3, and recently transitioned to the primary class located at the great park campus. The school boasts a team of highly qualified and professional early childhood educators, Ms Sherry, Ms Layla, and all the teaching assistants, who are true experts in the Montessori philosophy. Their passion for teaching and their genuine love for children are evident in their respectful and nurturing approach. They guide the kids with patience and care, helping them learn essential social skills and respect for others.
One of the standout aspects of Chonghwa Montessori is their commitment to promoting independence and critical life skills. My daughter has made remarkable progress, including being potty trained and learning to take care of herself by dressing, cleaning up, and contributing to class chores and simple meal prep.
The preschool also offers a diverse and balanced menu of homemade meals, encouraging children to explore different foods. My daughter has started eating more veggies and even trying salad, thanks to the exposure she's received at school.
Learning through play is a cornerstone of their approach, and my daughter has quickly picked up new skills in Chinese, English, and math, all while enjoying the process. The well-structured lesson plans, including monthly outlines and weekly detailed plans, ensure a coherent and engaging learning experience.
Additionally, I appreciate the daily updates with pictures and reports on activities, meals, and nap times. It provides a comprehensive view of my daughter's day and progress.
Most importantly, my daughter absolutely loves going to school and talks about her teachers with fondness, even on weekends. It’s clear that Chonghwa Montessori has created a supportive and joyful environment where children thrive.
I highly recommend Chonghwa Montessori to any parent looking for a nurturing and effective early childhood education experience.
China Montessori Kindergarten has a highly professional and well-qualified early education team, who are true Montessori education experts. Their passion for teaching and genuine care for children is evident in their considerate teaching methods. They patiently guide children and help them learn basic social skills and respect for others.
A distinctive feature of Chinese Montessori kindergartens is their commitment to developing children’s independence and important life skills. My daughter has made outstanding progress here, including successfully toilet training, learning self-care such as dressing, tidying up, and participating in class cleaning and simple meal prep.
The school also provides varied and balanced lunches and snacks to encourage children to try different foods. Thanks to the guidance from the school, my daughter is now eating more vegetables and even trying salads.
Learning through play is at the core of their educational philosophy, and my daughter quickly mastered Chinese, English and math skills while having fun. Teachers will upload monthly overviews and detailed weekly lesson plans to ensure a consistent and interesting learning experience.
In addition, the school provides daily pictures and activity reports, including the child's diet and naps. This gives me a more complete picture of my daughter’s activities and progress throughout the day.
Most importantly, my daughter absolutely loves school and looks forward to going to school every day. Even on the weekends, she often talks about her teachers. Clearly, Chinese Montessori Kindergarten creates a loving and fun environment where children can thrive.
I highly recommend Chinese Montessori Kindergarten to any parent looking for caring and effective early education.
Richard
Our 2.5 year old has been attending Chonghwa for six months, and she is really flourishing here and loving the school! We sent her here from a bigger English-only facility because we want her to speak more Mandarin (I am a native Mandarin speaker but my husband is not). Shortly after attending Chonghwa, she went from primarily speaking English at home to primarily speaking Mandarin! Not only that, she is often singing songs and loves reciting poems in Chinese. The school’s curriculum is well designed and each week is centered around a theme, with crafts, stories, songs and poems around that theme in both English and Mandarin. Our child has also developed leaps and bounds socially, physically, and is more independent and proud of being able to do things herself and being able to help us around the house. She has also become a better eater, and loves the daily nutritious lunch provided by the school. Ms. Sherry is so enthusiastic, passionate and caring, and she stays at the forefront of children development and Montessori teaching through books, events and conferences. The photo is from the Mother’s Day event that the teachers carefully organized. We look forward to sending our child to the older age group class in the Great Park in the fall. We highly recommended Chonghwa!
Liya Ma
This is my daughter's first daycare, amazingly the transition is very easy and quick with all the loving care from Sherry, I have to say this is the best family daycare in this area. My daughter loves to go to school with happy face everyday. I can tell Sherry truly cares for each kid as if they were her own. Sherry also updates us the kids daily activity: meal, potty, nap, activity, etc. Besides, Sherry is an amazing teacher with a lot of experience, she helps the kids to develop and grow with all kinds of skills (singing/writing/painting/gardening/cooking/etc lol) to build their own confidence in a happy environment. The school is clean and safe as well. I highly recommend Chonghwa Montessori to parents.
Julie Chen
My son spent a wonderful year at this school. He started as a 17 month toddler and was very well taken care of during the time. The curriculum is well designed so that children enjoy the activities and also learn new skills every single day. We are very grateful that we selected this place for him to start early education.
Yufei Zhu
Enrolling my children in Chonghwa has been an incredibly positive experience. The caring and dedicated staff create a warm and nurturing environment that fosters both learning and play. Every aspect is thoughtfully designed. My kids looked forward to going to daycare, and I am grateful for the wonderful care and education provided by the exceptional team. Highly recommend to fellow parents!
Victoria Li
Teacher Tao is very caring for children. She will feel sorry for the children when they take a nap and cover them with quilts. She will watch the children eating lunch to prevent them from not eating well. She will ask teachers to change diapers frequently to prevent red buttocks. She will also ask teachers to urge children to learn writing and culture. Sometimes I have to make up for what I didn’t have time to learn in the morning in the afternoon. I am conscientious and diligent. I am a good teacher with a very sense of responsibility!
Lily Ding
My son really enjoys his experience in this bilingual family childcare. With different themes and topics every week, their creative art and craft activities are truly amazing, which make kids happy every day. Ms. Sherry, who is always warm and welcoming, creates a loving environment for all the kids. A lot of thanks to Ms. Sherry and the other dedicated caregivers. Highly recommended!
M. W
I sincerely recommend Teacher Sherry’s Chinese Academy
The perfect combination of Montessori education and Chinese tradition. The new campus is closer to home and within walking distance. The best part is that you can freely combine your time as needed.
It’s really suitable for a free-spirited family like ours.
Melody Ma
We couldn't be happier with this daycare! The place is always clean and so inviting - definitely a big plus for us parents. What we absolutely love is their bilingual setup. Our child gets to interact with both Chinese and English teachers, which is a fantastic way for them to enjoy diverse learning experiences.
There is always something exciting happening, whether it's a creative hands-on project or a fun physical game. Our kid comes home every day with a big smile and new stories about their adventures and friends.
I highly recommend it to any parents looking for a caring, vibrant, and bilingual daycare!
Vivian Liu
Our daughter has been attending this daycare since she was two, and after a year, we couldn’t be happier. She absolutely loves her school. She talks about her teachers, classmates, and everything she’s learning every day. The school is incredibly organized, with thoughtful weekly lesson plans, daily reports, healthy meals, and well-planned special events. We’ve especially noticed how much her Chinese has improved through the immersion, which is amazing since we don’t speak much at home. It’s been a truly wonderful experience.
Angela Phan
I am thrilled to share my experience with this exceptional Montessori daycare . The teachers here are incredibly patient, kind, and professional, demonstrating excellent communication skills. The low teacher-to-student ratio ensures that each child receives personalized attention, fostering an environment where they can thrive. The curriculum is wonderfully rich and well-structured, blending academic and developmental activities in a way that supports each child's growth. Since joining this daycare, my child has shown remarkable progress and improvement in various areas. The focus on helping children develop good habits has been particularly beneficial. Additionally, the bilingual strength of the program enriches my child’s language skills and cultural awareness. The daycare is also impressively clean, reducing the risk of illness and offering a healthier alternative to larger centers. Communication with the teachers is always prompt and thorough; they are quick to respond to messages and provide timely updates. Overall, I highly recommend this daycare. It offers a nurturing, clean, and communicative environment that has greatly benefited my child.
Wilson Wu
Enrolled our daughter here from when she was seventeen months old for a full school year. During this time, i watched our daughter grow from an infant to a very independent and smart toddler. Our daughter has made friends within the day care and gets along well with the teacher. I wish we could enroll longer, however we opted to move to a day care closer to home for convenience.
Julius Tan
I visited three kindergartens and finally chose this one. I am very glad that I made the choice! The children adapted quickly and were very happy to go to school every day! What touched me most was that the Christmas activities were very warm and you can see that the teachers are very attentive!
Linqin Lyn
I was looking for a bilingual daycare where my kid would be immersed in Mandarin 100% of the day with plenty of outdoor playtime. Chonghwa Montessori is a hidden gem, and there’s so many great things I can say about this school, but I’ll narrow it to 3 things that were important to our family. 1) experienced teachers: the teachers are not only compassionate, patient and understanding but more importantly educated in handling the critical/ emotional milestones of toddlers. Our son started at 2 and has gone through many development stages already in a year and a half, each time Ms Sherry and her teachers have always been quick to guide us with empathy and optimism. 2) building trust: the curriculum is well organized with a different theme each week, the activities are thoughtful and exploratory for children, the classrooms are clean and the daily schedule is well structured with 2x outdoor play and plenty of cognitive plus creative activities. The teacher will share the theme and activities each week and then a daily report + photos each day. The transparency we get ahead of time and the clarity on what to expect for our child helps build trust with the school and feeling comfortable leaving him there each day. 3) mandarin immersion: I speak mandarin exclusively with my son and I wanted to extend his language skills in school. There are native mandarin speaking teachers and students who speak to my son in mandarin all day, the school schedule introduces English activities and there are students who only speak English as well. I have seen my son’s mandarin vocabulary expand beyond my expectations. He sings, thinks, recites poems and talks in mandarin and he’s even starting to learn to write the characters. There are so many great things about this school, we are so grateful we found Chonghwa Montessori for our kids and would highly recommend this school.
Justina Rauhala-Kwong
My son loved the teachers at the Chonghwa Montesorri Children's House. My son enjoyed the outdoor activities to the park and indoor activities like circle time, drawing, and painting; they take such great care for the kids. The place is clean and organized. I appreciate everyday the teachers send pictures to parents to see what their kids are doing in school. I also love that teacher Sherry was able to organize outdoor events for Mother's Day and Easter as a group. It certainly made it fun for both the parents and the kids. :)
Yealan Tseng
I was very happy to send my kids to Chonghua Montessori. Teachers here are dedicated to provide a healthy and happy growth environment for kids, my kids had a very good time here. Hope you will like it as well.
Xiaoxue Gu
This is a great home care that I have known. My Daughter’s Chinese was improved in 3 months when she went to Chonghwa Montessori. She loves to go to school everyday ( because she loves her teachers ( Mrs Sherry and Layla/ lunch/education toys/ outdoor activities ). We are looking forward summer camp in Chonghwa Montessori.
Vivian Huynh
After an extensive search for the preschool for our now 5 year old, we found Chunghwa Montessori, and it has been nothing short of a transformative experience for our entire family. As a parent, your two biggest hopes are that your child will be both academically prepared and deeply cared for with love and compassion. This school delivers on both fronts in a way that feels seamless and authentic. The Bilingual Montessori Method: The academic structure here is profound yet beautifully simple. The authentic Montessori materials are meticulously maintained and the classrooms are designed to foster independence and concentration. What sets Ms. Sherry and Ms. Layla’s team apart is how effortlessly they weave bilingualism (English/Mandarin) into this framework. It’s not a separate "language class"; it’s a living, breathing part of the day. There are Mandarin oriented teachers and English oriented teachers, who jointly speak naturally to the children in both languages during work cycles, songs, and play. It’s amazing to hear my child now confidently counting, naming colors, and singing songs in both languages—they absorb it like a sponge, without any pressure. High-Quality Teaching: The teachers are exceptional. They are not just caregivers; they are keen observers and skilled facilitators. They understand child development and know exactly when to step in to offer gentle guidance and when to step back to allow a child to discover the solution themselves. They have a remarkable ability to identify each child's unique interests and spark their natural curiosity, turning it into a love for learning. The progress we've seen in our child's focus, motor skills, and logical thinking in the few years is a direct testament to their expertise. A Warm and Caring Environment: This is the heart and soul of the school. From the moment you walk in, you feel a sense of calm and warmth. The staff knows every child and every parent by name. The teachers speak about the children with genuine affection and insight. Moreover, the school lunch is homemade and prepared fresh daily for the students. My child runs into the classroom every morning with a smile and is greeted with a hug. They have cultivated an environment where children feel safe, respected, and valued. This emotional security is, in my opinion, the absolute bedrock upon which all effective learning is built. You can't truly learn if you don't feel safe, and here, every child clearly does. We are so grateful to have found this gem. It is a significant investment, but we see it as an investment in our child's lifelong love of learning and their sense of self. We cannot recommend Chunghwa Montessori highly enough to any parent seeking a truly holistic and outstanding early education experience.
Gas Works
Highly recommend ChongHwa Montessori Children’s House for those who are looking for preschool & daycare. ChongHwa focuses on whole-person development of each child. My child attended ChongHwa for 2 yrs. Not only did she learn age-appropriate academic knowledge, she has grown a lot positively in her social skills, self care skills, language (both Mandarin and English) , both of her fine-motor & gross-moter skills, character development and even very good improvement in her pickiness in eating. My child is moving on to TK this year and she’s so well-prepared in all areas for this new school year! Truly thankful for Ms Sherry & her team of teachers for loving & teaching the kids as if the kids were their own children! To my family, ChongHwa is the best preschool my child has ever attended! We highly recommend ChongHwa to all parents! ChongHwa is more than a daycare & more than a school, but a loving center for whole person development. 👍❤️
Ann Sunny
We went to this school from 1.5 to 3 years old and Ms. Sherry and team are awesome! Especially if you want your kid to have immersed Chinese language and culture, this is the perfect fit! The team helped my kid to transit to school life at early stage and helped parents to understand what can be done to support child education at home also. Highly recommend.