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Kindercare Learning Center

Kindercare Learning Center

AUSTIN, TX
3.9(32 reviews)
Play-based
Call to ConfirmTexas Rising Star 4-starNational Accreditation Commission (NAC)

At a Glance

0

Trust Score

Based on comprehensive analysis of reviews, safety records, and operations.

Ages
0mo - 12yr
Capacity
105 kids
Meals
Included

About Kindercare Learning Center

KinderCare Emerald Wood Accredited Care

Operating in Austin since 1985, KinderCare Learning Center at Emerald Wood provides a structured curriculum focusing on early academics and social-emotional growth. The facility features a locked security entrance with numeric access control and specialized spaces including shoe-free infant rooms and age-appropriate playgrounds. Led by Director Casandra Thomas since 2017, the center emphasizes stability in local management. Parents stay connected through a dedicated mobile app providing real-time updates and daily photos. The program is recognized as a Texas Rising Star 4-star provider and holds national accreditation, ensuring a standard of care validated by third-party experts. Beyond standard care, the center offers enrichment in phonics, music, and STEM, while providing daily meals and snacks to all enrolled students.

accreditedbilingualoutdoor-playparent-appsubsidies-accepted

What Parents Say

5 reviews from parents

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Chellie Codeine Cuts
Oct 2025
Google

The staff at this location is wonderful ...they are truly concerned with issues and issues are addressed and resolved ..Its hard to find a place to trust with our little ones but I can honestly say I know my kid is in good hands...thanks Emerald Forest Staff you are greatly appreciated

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marisa luna
Apr 2025
Google

As first-time daycare parents (our older two were always with family), we were incredibly nervous about leaving our 3-month-old with people we didn’t know. But this experience has been nothing short of amazing. From the very beginning, the level of communication and care blew us away. We receive updates for every feeding, diaper change, and even adorable photos throughout the day. Our son is absolutely thriving here. He always greets drop-off and pick-up with the biggest smiles, which gives us so much peace of mind. I’ve even picked him up early a few times just to see how he’s doing — and every time, I’ve been reassured by how happy and well cared for he is. Ms. Cassie, the director, is phenomenal. She’s incredibly attentive, not just with the kids, but also with her staff. She’s a truly hands-on leader, and it shows in the warm, nurturing environment she’s created. We’re so grateful to have found this place!

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CASSANDRA MENDIETA
Mar 2025
Google

Ms.Cassie and Gailia are awesome and have been a big help these last several years my children attended KinderCare. Ms. Cassie is always in communication when it comes to the center and to my children. She and staff go out of their way to make sure all children are safe and are having a great learning experience.

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Kat Yeoham
Jan 2025
Google

My daughter started here at 3 months, and we kept her here till she was about 1 and a half. Our general experience was pretty aweful, but I do want to put in here that there are some wonderful teachers here who truly care! I wish my daughter could have just stayed in the care of Miss Laura or Miss Jeniffer, or a few other teachers who left KC during our time there. There was an extremely high turnover rate, and many teachers who we really liked that came and went. Towards the end of our time here, though, I didn't even feel that my daughter was safe, much less tended to with love and kindness. The place is constantly short staffed and under legal ratios, the teachers are all overworked and many of them are grumpy, overly defensive, and indifferent to the individual needs of the children in their care. My daughter suffered almost constant diaper rashes while there, like raw and bloody, and it was a battle getting them to use her rash cream or even the diapers and wipes that I supplied for them. She came home almost everyday extremely dehydrated, hungry, and exhausted. Towards the end she would cry and try to hide under bed when I told her it was time to go to school. She was bit 5 times in her last month there, and she even came home one day with large bloody gashes down the back of her neck. When we took a picture and sent it to them asking what happened and why there was no incident report, they clearly hadn't even known about it. She frequently came home with fingerprint shaped bruises on her arms. I understand that children bite and scratch and accidents happen, but it was clear that there was gross negligence going on. At her new daycare, for contrast, she has come home a little beat up twice in 2 months, and each time there was an incident report with pictures explaining she fell off a swing or got a papercut while painting. There is a kindercare app where parents are supposed to get updates about things like food, diapers, and incidents. It is not actually utilized by the teachers though. They do not tell you what foods they're feeding your child, and even when my daughter had a medical issue and I told them I needed to know exact details about her diet, they only occasionally gave me the info I needed. At one point, my daughter was very successfully using her potty at home every time for a about a week. I told her teacher and asked that they try to offer her the potty at school. That evening when my daughter came home, when I offered her the potty like normal she fell on the floor crying and to this day she is scared of bathrooms. I dont know what happened at daycare but clearly i never should have said anything. Because the director always became very irate and defensive whenever we brought up issues that ought to be simple, we were a little afraid to tell her when we were leaving the daycare. When we did, 2 weeks before my daughter's last paid day there, she became irate like usual and told my husband, "well don't think you can get out of paying for anything." We were glad we waited to tell her. We sent the official notice of leaving a bit later then we verbally told them, and now I'm getting calls for bogus payment due to KinderCare. I don't owe them anything and wish I could take back all the horrible time we were there. My daughter thrives at her new daycare, and the contrast confirms to me how bad it was at KinderCare Emerald Wood.

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Kari H
Jul 2024
Google

We loved going to the Emerald Wood Kindercare! As a first time mom, putting our son in daycare at 3 months was scary. We instantly felt welcomed and felt our son was safe at school. It was easy to build trust with his teachers. Even teachers that did not directly work with our son, seemed to care about him so much and always greeted him with a smile and excitement. He got to play all day, and the days were embedded with natural learning opportunities and activities, even for infants and toddlers! He learned so much there, we always called it school versus daycare. I have to brag about the app, it was so easy to use and the teachers were the best about sending updates and pictures everyday. Turn over can be typical in early childhood care but any time our son did get a new teacher, we loved them. He had many of the same teachers there with him for a year and a half, as well as the same little buddies! It was hard to leave when we had to move when he was 1.5 years old. We'll always be so grateful for the care given and remember Miss Cassie, his teachers and little buddies that helped shape his early months. - JP's mom & dad

Web Report

Aggregated insights from public records & parent discussions

Safety Record

No safety concerns found in news or official records. The center is a licensed childcare facility (License #62855) with 11 inspections and zero self-reported incidents in the last 60 months. It maintains high safety standards as a Texas Rising Star 4-star provider and holds national accreditation from the National Accreditation Commission (NAC).

Parent Reputation

The center has a strong reputation with parents, holding ratings of 4/5 on Daycares.co and 5/5 on Winnie. Parents consistently describe the environment as 'loving,' 'caring,' and 'nurturing,' particularly praising the infant program and the staff's commitment to child development. Sentiment in parent forums is generally positive, focusing on the center's balance of affordability and safety.

Staff Insights

Center Director Casandra Thomas has led the facility since 2017, indicating stability in local management. As part of the broader KinderCare brand, the center benefits from a corporate culture that has received the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award every year since 2017. Parents specifically mention that teachers are attentive, communicative, and well-trained in early childhood education.

Quick Information

Address
610 Emerald Wood Dr, Austin, TX 78745, USA, AUSTIN, TX, 78745 2127
Phone
(512) 443-9515
Hours
Monday6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Tuesday6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Wednesday6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Thursday6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Friday6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed
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