At a Glance
Trust Score
Based on comprehensive analysis of reviews, safety records, and operations.
About The Childrens Discovery Center
Reggio-Inspired Nature School in Hyde Park
The Children's Discovery Center has been a staple of the Hyde Park community for over 30 years, offering a progressive, Reggio Emilia-inspired environment where play is the primary vehicle for learning. The program is deeply rooted in nature, with children spending much of their day outdoors, often returning home 'dirty but happy' after a day of creative exploration and discovery. The curriculum focuses on social and emotional development, helping children find their words and build confidence through artistic expression and group activities. Led by Director Brittany Overton, the center is known for its exceptionally low staff turnover, with many teachers having dedicated decades to the program. From ballet lessons to garden adventures, the space is designed to be a warm, lived-in extension of the home. Parents value the close-knit community and the staff's commitment to letting children lead their own learning journeys in a nurturing, albeit less structured, environment without...
What Parents Say
5 reviews from parents
The teachers are very nice
We couldn’t be happier with this daycare! It’s a place of fun crafts, outdoor adventures, and loads of creativity. Toria's vibrant energy, Erin’s memorable body mods (I'll never forget the clown faces) and photos, Allison’s ballet lessons, and the efficiency and responsiveness of the Brittanys in handling everything makes it a stellar team. Our daughter has flourished here, gaining confidence and skills in a nurturing environment. Big thanks to the whole crew for making her early years so enriching and joyful!
This is an amazing environment for kids. We love Children's Discovery Center and would absolutely recommend it to anyone with young children.
Both our kiddos have been with CDC since they were 3-months-old. We have found a great community here with the teachers, directors, and other parents. The social/emotional learning and focus on outdoors/nature is exactly what we wanted for our kids at this age. Our son (now 2-y-o) is adept at using his words to describe his feelings and our daughter (now 4-y-o) is in the "Explorer class" at the NW location where she hikes every day in the fall/winter/spring and swims everyday in the summer. The teachers are each phenomenal - including the saints in the infant class that make the impossible job of dropping off your baby with someone new much easier with their kindness and abundant affection for the babies in their care.
I feel so lucky to have our kiddo here. He is a little shy and was slow to the potty training table, but everyone on staff here is wonderful with letting him lead. They are communicative, warm, and are clearly invested in my child. They also have surprisingly low turnover in staff. I love that they are outside almost all day and that the kid comes home covered in dirt. He's happy, and I'm ecstatic.
Web Report
Aggregated insights from public records & parent discussions
Safety Record
The Children's Discovery Center is a state-licensed child care program (License #996666) that has been operational in Austin since approximately 1992. No major safety incidents, legal issues, or news-reported concerns were found in recent public records. Parents frequently describe the environment as safe and nurturing, though characterized by a 'freeform' and 'play-based' structure where children often engage in messy outdoor activities.
Parent Reputation
The center has a strong reputation for its social and emotional learning focus and outdoor nature activities. Parents on platforms like Quora and Google reviews praise the facility for its 'progressive' and 'Reggio Emilia-inspired' approach, noting that children often return home 'dirty but happy.' It is frequently described as a 'beloved' neighborhood school in Hyde Park, though reviews emphasize it is 'not for everyone' due to its less structured, freeform educational style.
Staff Insights
Reviews from parents and local mentions highlight low staff turnover and the presence of dedicated, long-term teachers. One parent review specifically noted that many of the teachers who shaped the preschool's philosophy have remained with the organization for many years. No specific reviews from employees on Glassdoor or Indeed were found to confirm internal management experiences.


