The Learning Experience - Riverdale — Local services in New York

Had to reduce the stars from 5 to 2. From 2015 to the Pandemic this place was great but since 2021 the original owner/director left. Now every other month there are new teachers or new center directors! My son who is there now seems to be doing WAY LESS than my daughter did in 2018 when she was in the same 3K program. For every single picture of him doing constructive art, play or writing on the TLE Parent App we get a dozen pictures of him eating, snacking or napping!!!! Pick up and drop off alone seems hectic and too crowded. Since the pandemic and the advent of FREE 3K in NYC half the Bronx is now pushing their toddlers into the doors here which I don't mind but there is no organization that I can see beyond the tiny lobby area packed to the ceiling with kids from tiny infants to huge 5 year old Pre-K kids. A handful of the teachers (Raquel, Kionna, Yakosta)are long term employees here and are above and beyond really great and is the main reason my son is still there but the new teacher turn over rate is insane and some days I have no clue who is with my son until the end of the day. Honestly TLE Riverdale used to be a gem of a place but they are going thru many inherent and (to be fair to them) post-pandemic issues that need to be worked out before I would recommend them again! For reference when my daughter left TLE she took a couple of ABLE and cognitive/aptitude tests to get into Kindergarten Programs at various exclusive private (Riverdale Country Day being one) and catholic schools and she passed ALL of them on account of her great pre-pandemic education at TLE Riverdale! Sadly for my son I doubt this will happen if we keep him there!

ORIGINAL 2018 Review - Great place. We have had our baby girl there since she was 6 months and watch her transition over the last year to from the infant room to the the toddler class. She is now 17 months and I'm amazed how much she has learned and developed from being in such a diverse and educational-driven setting. We choose TLE over the cheaper in-home daycare services where your baby are pretty much sitting the whole day in someone's apartment watching TV with other kids that may live there. At TLE our daughter has developed strong social skills and she interacts well with other kids and adults in public. TLE rooms are very clean and well lit and the staff are all friendly and knowledgeable. I love the transition process where as your baby grows they move on to higher functioning rooms in a timely manner that isn't rushed or delayed. I highly recommend...

A Place That Feels Like Home – A Heartfelt Thank You to The Learning Experience at Riverdale

Choosing a childcare center is one of the biggest decisions a parent can make, and I can confidently say that enrolling both of my children here has been one of the best choices for our family.

From the very beginning, this place has felt like home. The love, care, and dedication from every member of the team is something truly special. They don’t just look after our kids—they love them, they nurture them, and they treat them like family.

Our journey started when my daughter entered the 3K program. From those very first days to just recently graduating Pre-K, I’ve watched her blossom into a confident, curious, and compassionate little girl. She was always excited to go to school, eager to learn, and most importantly—she felt safe and loved ( Ms. Yokasta and Ms. Natalie are the best)

At the same time, my son began his journey at just 5 months old in the infant room. Handing over your baby to someone else’s care can be incredibly emotional, but the warmth, patience, and professionalism of the infant staff ( Ms. Ana, Ms. Kaylee and others) made all the difference. Now a toddler, he continues to thrive in an environment full of exploration, learning, and affection.

Beyond the incredible care and educational growth, The Learning Experience has given us something even more meaningful: a true sense of community. The staff doesn't just support the children—they embrace entire families with open arms. From the moment you walk through the door, you're greeted with genuine warmth—a cheerful "Good morning!" from Ms. Kionna or a heartfelt "See you tomorrow!" from Ms. Keah, the school director. You can truly feel the love in every interaction. They celebrate our children’s milestones as if they were their own, communicate with honesty and kindness, and always find meaningful ways to involve us in our kids' learning journeys

We’ve made friendships with other parents, shared laughs and tears with teachers, and felt part of something greater than just a school—it’s a second home for all of us.

Thank you to everyone for the love, guidance, and heart you pour into everything you do. You’ve helped our kids grow in the best ways possible, and you’ve helped us as parents feel confident, connected, and truly supported every step of the way.

With deepest...

Let me just say i was very excited to register my daughter to this school ! When i recieved an offer i was ecstatic. I contacted the school to do a tour i was told only virtual due to covid which i understood . The one who gave the tour was very polite but wasnt too sure on any questions asked from us and other parents but i decided to accept the offer anyways because it was a nice school ! I emailed them about 3 times to get the registration paper work and finally recieved it which was a whole book ! We have to scan it all and give it in which is totally fine , i read everything and i did agree with my husband to put my daughter her flu shot when she attends school . She was never given a flu shot , i called the school and spoke to Linda and she told me my daughter cannot attend the school if she didnt have the flu shot i then said DOE on their site its not mandatory she said well it is here i asked to speak to someone else she said noone else was around i said i will call Raquel (Business Manager) thanks anyways and she said okay. I emailed her , no response i then called and asked for her and said i had a few questions in regards to the paper work she says well what do you need . I told her the situation and she said its fine i can bring a letter stating she will get the vaccine when her appointment was coming up . She sounded busy so i decided to give her a call in the morning next day with a few questions , i called her and asked if i can ask questions she said okay go ahead so i proceeded to ask normal questions to my daughters dismissal , how many students , lunch and breakfast like any normal parent would ask with their first child . Raquel definitely got straight to the point with her short one word answers and some of my question that were on the forms she had no idea of which made me feel like she did not care if i felt comfortable sending my daughter. Very rude as well , I went to a few tours from different schools and let me tell you they made me feel comfortable and at ease . Raquel and Linda just makes you feel like they dont care and sound annoyed, im sure they answer you because they have too. Thank god i was able to put my daughter to her old school which is a bit further from me but very communicative, very nice & they really make you feel like family. EVERYONE FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS, IF SOMETHING DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT...