French language immersion program in a fun and educational environment. The director uses themes to engage the kids and help them learn new vocabulary. There is also music, stories and lots of fresh air in a large backyard with a garden. A healthy hot lunch is included. The director and her assistants are very energetic and there is great communication with the parents. Also a nice mix of older and younger kids, and the younger ones need not be potty trained. We've had such a great experience at A La Vanille - my son is in his third year and we are thrilled to have found it. I feel great knowing that when he is there he's happy, well cared for and having fun - I know I don't have to worry. Definitely check it out - I can't recommend A La Vanille highly enough! ~ Child now attends French Lycee in SF

As it turns out, the introduction to French immersion has been really important. My daughter had fun, met new friends, learned new things and developed - like any preschool - but the reality is that the door closes and it's all in French. Having this French language immersion introduction made the next step of French Kindergarten/school something that is possible. Other than this, A La Vanille was a lot of fun for all of us... it was a great experience! ~ A parent whose child now attends the French Lycee in SF

We do not speak French in our household. Our initial reason for sending our daughter to French Immersion preschool was to prepare her to attend Austin Int'l School. We sent her to ALV from ages 2-4 and have been thrilled with the outcome. Our daughter is constantly singing songs in French and telling us how to say words in French. Her time there has also taught her table manners, social skills, and helped her reach countless other important developmental milestones. It has also opened the door to other languages as she is now learning Spanish and interested in learning Korean from her grandparents. The program is always new and interesting, everything from gardening to painting with everything except a paintbrush, to making their own books and serving child-friendly gourmet food that is both healthier and more interesting than the average chicken nugget. Although our child is sensitive and high strung on occasion, Rossanna has always made her feel comfortable, secure and happy. I have no doubt that this foundation in both language and life skills will make the transition to her new school infinitely easier than it would have otherwise been. ~ From a parent whose child now attends Austin International School (Bilingual French)

Since beginning in February our son has begun speaking French and singing several French nursery rhymes, he has brought home wonderful art projects that he is obviously extremely proud of, and he has become much more outgoing and social than he used to be. ~ Parent whose child now attends the French-American school in SF

The personal attention and enthusiastic second-language teaching for our children, plus nutritious snacks and hot meals, are an exceptional value for the cost. Our children have been accepted into the French-American school with a head start thanks to having attended two years at ALV. ~ Children now attend the French-American school in SF

My son attended A La Vanille French Daycare from the age of 2 1/2 to 4, at which time he began preschool full time at French American International School in San Francisco. Since day one at FAIS, his teachers have commented on his extensive French vocabulary, native pronunciation and the ease with which he understands and converses in French. While my husband and I speak French, it is not our native language and we do not speak it regularly at home; my son's teachers were amazed at his level in French when they found this out. Now my 2 1/2 year old daughter is attending A La Vanille and after only 6 months, she is very comfortable with her French and able to understand and respond to others when spoken to. ~ From American parents whose son now attends French-American school in SF

ALV is a great program to help children learn French in a wonderfully friendly atmosphere. The caregiver is extremely loving and the children are sure to have a great time while learning a new language. Of course, they don't even know that they're learning something new, they're just having a great time playing educational games, singing songs, "working" in the vegetable garden, eating new food, reading books... all this in French of course. My daughter has been going for a few months now and I am amazed at the rate at which she is learning. She understands everything and even manages to have phone conversation with her grandparents who live in France. She asks to go to A La Vanille every day! She loves it as much as I do! ~ Written by a French mother who started speaking to her daughter exclusively in French after enrolling her in ALV/Father speaks exclusively in english to daughter.

I speak French to my kids at home, but as a non-native French speaker I needed something more for them to learn & grow with; A La Vanille has been perfect and was exactly what my kids (& I!) needed. They've learned more about the French culture at A La Vanille than I could teach them without going to France; from the wonderful French songs they sing, to the adorable French characters they read about, to the very delicious and nutritious French food that they are fed when they're there, I couldn't ask for a better place! The Director is very warm and caring, and speaks French to the children constantly, which in turn helps the kids absorb more French the whole time they are there. I feel so happy every time my children respond to me in, or better yet initiate a conversation with me in French; as a Francophile, A La Vanille is the best exposure to the French language and culture I could ask for my preschoolers!" ~ Parent whose children now attend the Ecole Notre Dame des Victoires, SF

We are a trilingual family who appreciated our daughters attending the AVL program because of the cultural aspect. They learned songs, poems and stories in French as if they had attended preschool in France. Raising French-speaking children in the U.S. is a sub-culture all it's own. We are grateful to have found a warm, diverse community of parents who are likewise raising multilingual children in the Bay Area. Some of the children are learning Chinese, Tagalog, Arabic, Italian, and other European languages in addition to French and Spanish. The family parties are lots of fun, too! ~ By parents who speak French, English and Spanish at home and children now attend public school in U.S.

Je voulais que mon fils comprenne que le français est une langue vivante, en dehors de la maison. J'étais ravie de trouver A La Vanille! Non seulement ça lui a permit de continuer son Français, mais avec les thèmes varier conçue par la directrice, il a appris du vocabulaire en plus! Je suis très heureuse avec ALV. Un programme intéressant, des déjeuners avec la culture européenne, et une communauté de parents fort sympa. ~ French-speaking family residing in SF

Notre fils avait un retard de language important du a divers facteurs dont une baisse d'audition, mais aussi probablement un manque de "bain de francais" dans le daycare Anglophone a SF ou il etait souvent seul dans son coin et tres peu integré dans les activites. Notre fils s'est sentis a l'aise des qu'il a commencé a venir a A La Vanille. C'est a ALV qu'il a commence a chanter et surtout a parler en faisant des phrases, a faire des jeux symboliques, et a ratrapper le retard qu'il avait pris pour avoir finalement le niveau d'un enfant de son age. Madame Donio stimule beaucoup les enfants, par des bricolages, des lectures et des jeux en groupe. Nous sommes tres heureux que notre fils a pu frequenter ALV pendnat un an et demi, car alors que nous nous appretons a rentre en Suisse, nous savons qu'il pourra entrer dans une ecole publique non specialisee, comme cela aurait ete necessaire si sa situation ne s'etait pas amelioree. Nous gardons un tres bon souvenir de cette periode et tenons a remercier Madame Donio ainsi que ses assistantes pour tout ce qu'elles ont fait pour notre fils. ~ Mr. Et Mme. R. actuellement residant en Suisse / Written by French-Swiss Parents while residing in the U.S., before returning to home to Switzerland