Happy Gnome Preschool

"We feel incredibly lucky to have found Happy Gnome Preschool for our little one. From the moment we walked through the gates into the beautiful outdoor play space, we knew it was a special place. The neighborhood home-setting created a warm and nurturing atmosphere that made us feel like part of a big family. Ian and Shelley are simply amazing - caring, patient, and dedicated to the growth and development of each child. Our daughter thrived here, learning new things every day while having so much fun! She loved the swings, bubble dancing, and learning about nature. She also enjoyed the many adorable craftivities that helped build her early literacy and fine motor skills. She was very excited on days when special visitors came to school to enrich the class with children’s songs and hands-on animal presentations. And the friendships she formed will continue on even though she graduated to Kindergarten. We couldn't be happier with our choice of preschool. Thank you, Happy Gnome, for creating such a safe, joyful, and loving environment for our little one!"

"Both our son and daughter went to Happy Gnome. Our son for 3 years and our daughter for 1 1/2 years. During this time we moved to West Sac but we were set on having both of them to continue attending Happy Gnome, even if that meant a longer commute. Shelley and Ian are the absolute best and are truly the kindest and sweetest people we know. Their program was a perfect fit for our kids…so many fun activities and crafts, mostly outdoor play (which we loved!), gardening and learning about nature, and so much more. They say it takes a village and we are so thankful Shelley and Ian were a big part of our village for 4+ wonderful years."

"We have absolutely loved every aspect of the Happy Gnome experience. Shelley and Ian have provided a safe space for our daughter who has food allergies to learn and socialize with peers and find educational things that interest her. On top of that, thank you providing healthy and nutritious snacks that our daughter would rave about for days at a time! Their ability to foster a sense of community not just amongst the children, but the parents as well was a welcome change from the usual disconnected experience found with other care providers. The applied policies during the initial wave of COVID helped keep everyone from bringing it home. With us leaving the area, our son won’t have the chance to learn and grow with the Happy Gnome bunch. However, the experiences and interests that have been bestowed upon our daughter will no doubt have an influence on how he learns and grows. Every time we see Lady Bugs or Praying Mantises, we will always be reminded of the wonderful experiences we have had with Happy Gnome."

"We absolutely love Happy Gnome Daycare! We were planning on sending our infant son to a larger center in downtown, and a spot opened up just in time. The in-home environment is the perfect fit for our little one. While I was nervous about leaving my little guy for the first time to go back to work, I felt immediately at ease with Shelley. She provides a nurturing environment, personalized care, keeps us informed, and sends us sweet pictures throughout the day. Our son has the biggest smile on his face every morning when he gets dropped off. I highly recommend Happy Gnome!"