Cedar Gables Preschool & Childcare - Danbury, Connecticut

Alexis M.

I’ve been meaning to share my experience for a while, as it’s something I hope no other parent has to go through. Last May, my son was abruptly removed from this preschool, and the events leading up to that decision were disheartening and infuriating. I urge parents to proceed with caution when considering this school.

My son attended for almost a year, and while things initially seemed fine, small red flags began to emerge. The staff turnover was constant—new faces every week—and it was unclear who was responsible for the children. Some staff members were unprofessional; during drop-offs, one teacher was cold and uncommunicative. Staff were often on their phones or unaware of classroom activities.

Despite these issues, my son seemed to thrive, so I tried to overlook them. From the start, I was open with the director, Tara, about a self-soothing behavior my son had since infancy: lightly banging his head to sleep, which sometimes left marks. His pediatrician assured us this was normal, and I communicated this anytime marks were visible. For months, this wasn’t an issue—until it was.

I noticed judgmental looks from staff about my son’s energy or comments labeling him a “distraction” during drop-offs. Then came threats about being late on payments, even though I used a childcare voucher. This made me feel devalued for not paying full tuition.

Things escalated when his teacher began questioning his speech, claiming that while she could understand him, the director might not. I immediately arranged a professional evaluation (as I kept being pushed to do), which confirmed there were no developmental concerns. The teacher was dismissive when I shared the results.

The breaking point came when I was abruptly told my son couldn’t return without a doctor’s note regarding his self-soothing behavior. I reminded the director that she had known about this for months, but she gave me a 24-hour deadline and threatened to call CPS if I didn’t comply. Despite explaining it was impossible to secure an appointment so quickly, she followed through with her threat. I withdrew my son immediately, knowing this was a hostile and unsafe environment.

CPS cleared us quickly after a thorough investigation. Both my son’s pediatrician and the professionals who evaluated his speech vouched for us. My records contradicted the director’s false claims that I had refused to provide information.

The ordeal left me feeling violated, but I’m relieved my son is now thriving in a new school where he is genuinely cared for. The director is actually present, knowing my son by name and greeting him every morning. His new teachers are attentive and communicative, creating a warm, supportive environment.

To any parent considering this preschool: trust your instincts and read reviews carefully. Signs of disorganization, high staff turnover, or dismissive behavior should not be ignored. As a dental hygiene student (similar to the director's path) and a parent, I can’t emphasize enough that running a daycare requires genuine care and professionalism—qualities this school sorely lacks.

Proceed with caution. There are better, safer options out there for your children.

Trending S.

Our experience with this preschool was extremely disappointing. Last May, our son was abruptly removed under distressing circumstances that no family should have to face. The school’s disorganization, lack of professionalism, and questionable handling of concerns made it clear this was not a safe or supportive environment for our child.

For more details, I encourage you to read my wife’s review. I hope our story helps other parents make an informed decision—proceed with caution when considering this school.

Kelsey L.

We absolutely love Cedar Gables! We have two children who attend there and they look forward to going to school every single day. The owner, Tara, and her staff of wonderful teachers are absolutely amazing! They are kind, patient, and take every action to provide a safe, fun, and nurturing environment for all of the children. We look forward to the daily updates and pictures that the teachers provide us through the app. We have nothing but glowing remarks about Cedar Gables and recommend it to everyone!

Michelle S.

We love Cedar Gabels and have enrolled both of my children. The staff is extremely caring and attentive. The facilities are clean and well-maintained, and there are plenty of activities and educational activities offered. I feel confident leaving my children in their care and would highly recommend Cedar Gabels to other parents.

ryan C.

Terrible school. We were looking for a new place after we pulled our son (who has a speech delay) from a previous daycare and explained to the director the issues he was facing as well as advised her of the minor problems he himself was having that were being addressed by a behavior therapist. She agreed to give our son a 2 week try and see if he was a good fit. After a week we were called and told that he was being kicked out at the end of the week for his behavior (throwing a shoe 1 time and having trouble settling during naptime) despite no effort made to either let us know what was going on or any attempt to find a solution. I called the director (who was conveniently away at the time) and asked what was going on and she confirmed he was being kicked out after only recently telling us about the problems he was having. She determined that after 1 week he was "too much for her teachers to handle and required too much attention" so she had to kick him out which left us scrambling for proper care for our 3 year old. Also they use the procare app which lets you monitor how your child is doing throughout the day which was also a disaster because 1) our door "code" never worked and 2) after kicking our son out his profile is still in the app linked to her school which she is too lazy to unlink and claims the other school has to do it. Typical behavior I would expect from a director that has a degree in Dental Hygeine which certainlly does not make her qualified to oversee the care of children. Beware sending your children to be cared for by this underqualified director for she will find the easiest and most beneficial way (for her) to "care for" your kids. Also i would ignore any "comment" they may add to this review as its sure to be a lie or an attempt to save face in an attempt to convince you to spend your hard earned money there.

Erika P.

My son has been going to CG for almost a year and it has been an amazing experience. He was first in their infant program and transitioned to their toddler program. I love the photos and daily updates we get each day from the staff. I am continually impressed each week when my son comes home and has learned something new to share with us! It makes me confident that he is in the hands of not only quality educators, but warm and kind people who care about their students.

Thank you CG team!

Amy K.

We have been a part of the Cedar Gables family for over 8 years. As a working mother, it is very important to know that my children are happy, safe and loved during the hours I am away. The school has prepared them well for school - not just with ABCs and 123s - but with manners, social interaction and routine. I highly recommend - 5 stars!

Alyse D.

Cedar Gables has far surpassed all expectations we have had for daycare. As a new mom who was going back to work full time, I was terrified to be sending my infant away from me 8 hours a day 5 days a week. I was able to tour the facility, meet the staff and observe the room for a short period of time to watch the children and staff interact. It totally put me at ease because several of my previous tours and experiences at other local daycares were very disappointing. My daughter has been there since she is 4 months old and I couldn’t imagine a daycare experience more educational, safe, loving and “homey” than Cedar Gables. My daughter has learned so much during her time there. The staff truly loves her and not just the teachers in her assigned room but the entire staff in the building knows her by name and interacts with her regularly. Recently the staff upgraded their communication with parents by going electronic and I receive messages and updates throughout the day. Staff send pictures of her special moments and fun activities. I feel like I get to be a part of that experience when she can’t communicate with me just yet and that is extremely valuable to me and my husband. I highly recommend Cedar Gables!