We have twins--a boy and a girl--who have been part of Fun with Mandarin Preschool and Daycare for over three and a half years, starting when they were just 20 months old. From the very beginning, the environment has been warm and nurturing. One of the standout aspects has been the close relationships they've built with their teachers, which has made a lasting impression on both of them. One of the biggest reasons we chose this preschool was for the Mandarin immersion program, and it has exceeded our expectations. We don't speak Mandarin at home. Both kids have developed strong language skills and even scored 100% on their Mandarin proficiency tests. It's been especially fun to hear them sing songs in Mandarin and teach us new words and phrases they've learned. Their confidence with the language speaks volumes about the effectiveness of the program. The school has also done a fantastic job preparing them for kindergarten, including building a TK-level curriculum. They were well prepared for the variety of assessments and evaluations required during the kindergarten application process across public, private, and parochial schools. Since our kids tend to be shy in new environments, we really appreciated how the teachers partnered with us to help them practice and build confidence for those situations. That collaboration made a noticeable difference in how they approached interviews and assessments. Communication has been another strong point throughout our time here. We especially value the daily debriefs from BinBin and Ben, who consistently share what the kids learned, topics discussed during storytime, and highlights from the day. These updates made it easy for us to stay involved and extend those conversations at home, reinforcing their learning and helping us feel connected to their daily experiences. Overall, our experience has been overwhelmingly positive. We would absolutely recommend it to families looking for a nurturing and enriching early education experience, especially one that offers meaningful Mandarin immersion.

We’ve had an amazing experience at Fun With Mandarin for 3 years now. Our 5 year old daughter has been attending since she was 2 and we now send our 2 year old son. Led by Bin Bin & Ben, the team of teachers have helped our kids grow up — from potty training to playing to navigating interpersonal conflicts. But what’s been most gratifying has been their growth and immersion in Mandarin and Chinese culture. Our daughter comes home singing songs, showing off new vocabulary, and telling us about things she learned about Chinese holidays. They’ve helped our kids learn how to speak with fluency based in everyday life, not something academic and rote. Heritage feels like it can be harder to maintain and preserve than ever, so we feel like we’ve given our kids an irreplaceable foundation where Chinese culture is fun, interesting, exciting. Bin Bin & Ben are incredibly communicative, providing all parents daily updates about curriculum, delightful photos of what the kids are up to, and direct messages about individual needs. We always feel like we know what’s happening. As parents themselves, they’re also incredibly supportive and helpful in navigating the complexities of SFUSD and getting into kindergarten. The parent community has also been wonderful, giving us a close-knit group of friends and playmatesz. Highly recommended for any families looking for a Mandarin immersion program for their young ones.

We couldn't be more thrilled with Fun with Mandarin! My kids genuinely love going to school every day, which says everything about the warm and engaging environment the teachers create. They come home excited to teach me the new words and phrases they've learned, and I'm constantly amazed by their progress. As a family with no Chinese language background, we were amazed when my 5-year-old scored 100% on his Chinese proficiency test after only 7 months of learning. His second choice public school was for a Chinese immersion program, but the assessor was so impressed that she's moving him to the native speaker program instead. This is a testament to the incredible teaching and dedication of the staff. Fun with Mandarin beautifully balances language learning with cultural activities. My kids especially love the artwork component and are always eager to show me what they've created each day. The teachers foster not just language skills but a genuine love of Chinese culture. I only wish Fun with Mandarin extended all the way to high school because we'd stay enrolled in a heartbeat! If you're looking for a Mandarin program where your children will thrive and actually enjoy learning, this is it. Highly recommend!

Our daughter is completing her second year at Fun with Mandarin and we could not be more pleased with how the school is run, how happy she seems every day, and the support we get as parents. We are thrilled that she also scored a perfect score on her public school Mandarin assessment as neither my wife or I are native speakers. I recommend Fun with Mandarin to anyone looking for a positive and enriching environment for their young child.

We’ve had a wonderful experience at this Mandarin immersion preschool and feel so grateful we found it for our daughters. Our older daughter started at FWM when she was about 2.5 years old, and our younger daughter joined about 8 months ago. Watching both of them grow here has been incredibly reassuring. Their Mandarin has improved tremendously — far beyond what we expected — and they’re not just memorizing words, but becoming comfortable and confident using the language in everyday situations. What really sets this school apart is the leadership. The owners/directors are incredibly approachable and hands-on, and they’re always generous with advice and thoughtful suggestions. It’s very clear they truly care about the children and families. They also have kids of their own who are slightly older, which makes a big difference — they genuinely understand what parents are going through, whether it’s developmental stages or navigating school applications and next steps. Their guidance has always felt practical, empathetic, and grounded in real experience. The environment is nurturing, intentional, and supportive, and we trust them completely with our kids. We couldn’t recommend FWM more highly to families looking for a strong Mandarin immersion program with caring educators who truly understand both children and parents.

Our son started at Fun with Mandarin when he was two years old and grew immensely - socially, emotionally, and language skills. It was his first time in daycare. He made some of his first friends and developed secure bonds with his teachers. Our son would sing the songs in Mandarin at home all the time. We appreciated that they teach the children life skills to foster independence, like putting on his coat by himself. We are so grateful that he had this experience at Fun with Mandarin. Binbin and Ben are the directors and are there everyday. At pickup, they tell you about your child’s day, including what was covered in their curriculum, how much he/she ate at lunch, how long nap was, etc. They are incredibly dedicated to creating a quality environment for the children’s development and making it a great experience for the families.

As parents of two kids and long-time San Francisco residents, we've experienced firsthand how competitive and pricey the SF preschool market can be. After being on the waitlist for Fun With Mandarin Preschool for a year, we finally switched our children here from another preschool--and it was absolutely worth the wait. Here's why we're so pleased with this school: 1. Daily Updates from the Directors Bin Bin Laoshi and Teacher Ben are incredible directors. Their enthusiasm and genuine care for the children are evident in every interaction. They provide daily updates that are transparent, thorough, and insightful, keeping parents well-informed about what's happening with the kids. Their level of organization and effort is unmatched, ensuring every child and parent has a positive experience. 2. Focus on Safety and Health Safety and health are clear priorities here. While their illness policy may feel a bit cautious, it's completely understandable--they're protecting the well-being of all the kids. As a result, our children have been much healthier here compared to their previous preschool, which we truly appreciate. 3. Native Mandarin Teachers The teachers are native Mandarin speakers, which creates a fully immersive and authentic experience for the kids. 4. Effective Curriculum The curriculum is outstanding. Our oldest child started speaking much more Mandarin after joining and passed the native speaker Mandarin proficiency test for SFUSD! The directors clearly understand what parents are looking for, especially those aiming for Mandarin immersion public schools. They offer a wealth of resources to help parents navigate the SFUSD application process. 5. Frequent Photos for Parents As a parent, there's nothing better than seeing happy snapshots of your kids during the day. Fun With Mandarin sends lots of photos, which makes us feel even more connected to their experience. 6. Safe Outdoor Play Space The kids get plenty of safe outdoor playtime, which is so important in a city like SF. 7. Aligned Break Schedule Their break schedule follows SFUSD, which is convenient for families with older siblings in public schools. 8. Most Importantly: The Kids Love It At the end of the day, the kids adore their teachers, have fun, and come home happy. That's the ultimate measure of success for any preschool. A few minor notes: 1. Pick-up and drop-off can be a bit hectic since the school is located on a narrow and busy street. There is a dedicated pick up and drop off curb that's protected though so that does alleviate some of the traffic. 2. They don't do field trips currently but they did pre-COVID. They are thinking of potentially adding it back to their routine from what they've told us. Overall, these are small issues, and the value Fun With Mandarin Preschool provides far outweighs them. Our kids are thriving, learning, and having fun every day. If you're considering a Mandarin immersion preschool in SF, we wholeheartedly recommend this one!

We have loved our time at FWM preschool and daycare. Our son attended the school starting at about 2.5 years old, and our daughter has now attended the school for a few months too. Binbin Laoshi and Teacher Ben did a great job with onboarding our children, giving us plenty of text and picture updates throughout the first day and week, and even sending us home with a printed photo collage after their first day of school to get them excited about going back. In the first few weeks, we quickly felt very comfortable at this school from the constant communication we received. From there, we have appreciated the constant communication through the Brightwheel app, personalized text chain with the teachers, and seeing Binbin and Teacher Ben every morning and evening at drop off and pickup. We really trust the school and everything they're doing to ensure the healthy development of our kids. Both our kids have really thrived during their time there - learning healthy habits, interacting well with other kids, and becoming fluent in Mandarin. We really appreciate getting daily updates about what the kids learn at school too. Our kids are excited to go to school every day and sometimes even ask to leave our house to go before it's time! We are very sad to be leaving this school as we are moving, but we are so happy with this strong foundation they've received at FWM for their future years of schooling. Thank you Binbin Laoshi and Teacher Ben!

Our experience with Fun with Mandarin Preschool has been so amazing that we didn’t hesitate to enroll our second child as well. After sending both of our kids to FWM for nearly three years, we can wholeheartedly say it has been an incredible experience for our family. The staff truly make this place special. From Binbin Laoshi, Teacher Ben, Chen Laoshi, Ren Laoshi, to all the other wonderful educators, we’ve consistently felt their positive energy and professionalism. They are not only skilled educators but also deeply caring and attentive to each child’s unique needs. Every teacher creates a warm, nurturing environment where kids feel safe, supported, and excited to learn. What truly stands out is the genuine connection the staff build with the children and their families. They go above and beyond to ensure every child thrives, and their commitment to fostering both language development and social-emotional growth is evident in everything they do. We’ve been amazed by the progress our children have made—not only in Mandarin but also in their overall confidence—thanks to the talented and compassionate team at Fun with Mandarin. We can’t recommend them highly enough!

We absolutely love Fun with Mandarin. Binbin and Ben run a fantastic Mandarin immersion school, which we were interested in even before our child was born. We were fortunate to secure a spot for her when she was just 20 months old at the new Capitol Ave location. We feel incredibly lucky because this site offers well-lit indoor spaces, spacious outdoor play areas, and customized furniture for kids. Now, after nearly two years of being part of the Fun with Mandarin community, I'm delighted to say that our child thrives there. She has developed and grown not only in language skills but holistically. The school introduces a new theme every couple of weeks, where they learn new songs, engage in cultural activities, and create art. Our child has also formed close friendships with other kids. She genuinely enjoys her time there, has a deep affection for her teachers, and eagerly looks forward to going to school every day. The teachers provide detailed notes about our child's day during pick-up and share photos throughout the day via the app. We are overjoyed to have found a safe and happy place for our child.

My daughter has been joining FWM for 2 years. She loves to go to school and learns a lot from the school. She meets lots of friends and loves the teachers there. It's nothing better than seeing her smile every day at school and listening to what she learns from school. She learns Mandarin very well there. Binbin Laoshi and Teacher Ben are very patience and caring. So glad to have her joining the FWM school.

Binbin & Ben run an amazing school! Our son loves going every day and asks about his teachers and classmates on the weekends. We are not native Mandarin speakers (my husband and I don't speak any at all), but our son has learned to speak & understand Mandarin fluently -- he got a perfect score on the SFUSD proficieny exam. He even teaches us how to pronounce words. His English & Mandarin skills are top-notch because of the instruction & support he gets at Fun with Mandarin. Aside from pure language skills, he loves all the play time he gets with his friends, both inside & outside, and proudly brings home a new art project every day. Binbin & Ben are extremely kind, communicative, and care deeply about all their students. I cannot say enough great things about our experience with Fun with Mandarin!

We cannot recommend Fun With Mandarin highly enough. Our son has grown immensely in the two years he has spent at this wonderful school. Starting with absolutely no understanding of the language (we have no Chinese heritage in our family and do not speak it at home), our son recently tested as fluent in Mandarin by the SFUSD. And even more important than the language skills, we appreciate the thoughtful curriculum and loving environment provided by Binbin Laoshi, Teacher Ben, and the other great instructors. This school emphasizes positive social values such as being considerate of others, taking responsibility for yourself, celebrating diversity, and protecting the environment. And we have loved getting to know the other wonderful families who have also discovered this special place. Fun With Mandarin has been the perfect preschool for us, and we highly recommend it for anyone looking for preschools in San Francisco.

Teachers are the most important aspect of development, when it comes to learning languages. This is exactly what FWM creates for the children. Binbin Laoshi pours her heart into each and every child's personal growth from the moments beginning with the school tour to the transition to kindergarten. The attention to detail in the curriculum nurtures well rounded growth while encouraging independence in a safe and comfortable environment. Daily updates and specialized attention to individual children growth areas allows for parents to really focus on their own during school hours. It is truly special to be a part of this program.

Our 2 year old daughter has been attending FWM for almost a year. She has loved her experience in day care, also my little son will be going to there soon. My daughter learns lots of important life skills which prepare her for elementary school. BinBin Laoshi, Teacher Ben and other teachers have created an excellent learning opportunity for kids to learn practical skills, arts and language. My daughter is looking forward to going there every day. I would highly recommend FWM to others looking for a fun Chinese immersion learning environment for their children.

My son attended Fun with Mandarin starting in August 2022. I couldn't be happier with my decision to choose this school. They offer a unique and valuable learning experience for children by teaching them in Mandarin. The curriculum is well-rounded and focuses on developing the whole child, including social, emotional, and cognitive development. Bin Bin Laoshi, teacher Ben and their team are experienced, caring, and skilled at working with young children. They use a variety of teaching methods to engage and challenge the children, including games, songs, and interactive activities. The outdoor play area is also well-maintained and provides ample space for the children to run and play. Communication from the Bin Bin Laoshi has been excellent, with daily updates and photos on my child's progress. I have noticed significant improvements in my child's language skills, both in English and Mandarin, and in their overall confidence and social skills. Overall, I highly recommend this Fun with Mandarin to any parent who wants their child to learn a second language while also receiving top-quality care and education. The school is truly exceptional, and my child loves going there every day.

Our 3 year old son has been attending FWM (capitol location) for almost a year. He has loved his experience in preschool, and I would highly recommend FWM to others looking for a fun Chinese immersion learning environment for their child. The teachers take a lot of care in making learning fun. Each day they prepare engaging and hands on lessons for the students, and have taught them a lot about the holidays, growing up, and other topics. Each day, my son comes home with a cute craft that I display on our wall, and sings the latest Chinese songs he has learned at school. FWM also focuses on social emotional development, and bin bin laoshi really helped my son adjust to his new school experience. As a parent, I love getting a daily update on how my child is doing, with lots of photos of the day's activities. It is tough to run a preschool in a pandemic, and I am so appreciative of the staff, bin bin laoshi, and teacher Ben for creating such a warm environment for our kids to thrive!

My daughter started preschool at FWM in August of 2022 at 3.5 years old. I could not be happier with our decision to put her in FWM. The directors and teachers have been so attentive, kind and supportive in every way possible to make my daughters first school experience a great one. Not only is my daughter becoming fluent in Mandarin (which is a foreign language to us) she has been thriving in all areas of development. She is more social. Her communication and vocabulary has flourished. She has a love for art bc she is doing so much at FWM. Every day she comes home with her lovely artwork. She's constantly singing new songs in Mandarin that she learned from FWM teachers. We just love hearing her little voice belting these songs. It's just adorable. FWM is an amazing school. They care about my child's safety, health, education, emotional development, creativity and overall they care about my the children in their care. I am grateful to have found such a safe haven for my daughter.

When our son was about to turn 18 months, we started to research on a reputable and professional daycare/preschool where he can develop healthy habits and routine as well as continuously grow and flourish alongside kids his own age. I had started calling up every single daycare/preschool in SF and the Peninsula and reserving orientation. At the same time, a friend of ours heard that we were ready to send out little one to daycare and immediately referred FWM where her 4 year old daughter had been attending for years. Orientation/Enrollment process: Binbin Laoshi and Teacher Ben were extremely professional (both with extensive early childhood education and preschool background) and helpful from the minute we started communicating throughout the acceptance and initial attendance phases and beyond. Our son had enjoyed the orientation tremendously and we were very much impressed by the newly built facility with modern play structure/furnitures, the detailed presentation, the well planned learning activities and the teacher to child ratio. By the time we walked out the door, we were certain that FWM topped the other 8 daycares that we had visited in the city and peninsula. Soon after, we were lucky to be accepted by FWM and set on a start date. First day: We were given detailed instructions and materials to prepare our son for the first day and week of school. Surprisingly he did extremely well as we can see that he had put trust in Binbin and Ben teachers from the orientation and had mentally prepared himself when we repeatedly told him and showed him photos of the school that he will be spending his days at. Of course it really helped that he also had a beautiful impression of FWM at the orientation and had enjoyed playing with all of the toys, books and especially both outdoor and indoor play structures. First week: The first week passed like a breeze. We dropped him off around 9am and picked him up around 1pm for the first few days and then extended pickup to after his nap 3:30pm after a few days. Finally after 2 weeks we were dropping off and picking up at normal hours. Fast forward to today: He's going to be 2 and a half at end of this month and has grown SO MUCH over the past year in FWM! Under the loving care of the teachers at FWM, he's regularly speaking Mandarin phrases and at times full sentences at home. Nowadays he's been singing mandarin songs by himself from beginning to end! I'm very impressed with the way he's showing interest in everything, self initiating tasks and opening up to try new food and activities or learning new tricks from friends at school. We're now starting to work on potty training and with the fantastic cooperation and guidance from Binbin and Ben teacher, this will surely be accomplished too! Sending him to FWM was the best choice we made for him!

This is an amazing school which takes the objectives of high-quality, the children’s comprehensive development, and the children’s well-being very seriously. Everyone there consistently has a warm, positive vibe. The school is truly unique in the top-notch expertise in Early Childhood Education, and we can definitely see why it has such a good reputation, with so many families interested in the program. It is not only suitable for families who are interested in Chinese culture and language, but also suitable for everyone who values that expertise and high-quality support for the kids’ overall development and well-being. The school amazes us by offering such a wide rage of fun interactive and engaging activities every day in ways that constantly feel new and fresh. My child joined FWM at the age of two. We have been seeing his progress each day with the love and support from the school. We are seeing that the teachers really support and encourage the kids’ good behaviors and self-help skills, and we are impressed by the progress in terms of self-feeding, potty-training, putting shoes on and tidying up toys after play, etc. In terms of language, he loves singing nursery rhymes and other songs that he learns from school in Mandarin, such as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” He is engaging more and more in conversations with us everyday in Mandarin, and loves saying “I love you" to us in Mandarin every day, for which we give credit to the tremendous love the staff there show to him each day. We are very grateful to this wonderful school and the wonderful staff at school who are truly early childcare experts and caring, talented, and responsible teachers. Thank you for passing on the learning of Mandarin, Chinese culture, and the integration of this with strong support for comprehensive development all in a fun and effective way!

I feel very lucky to have chosen FWM for my son. My son never went to daycare or preschool before the age of 4. FWM is the first school in his life. Maybe I sent him to school too late, at first he resisted going to school almost every day. Fortunately, every day, Binbin Laoshi will discuss and share with me the difficulties he encountered in school; how their team of teachers helped him; and give us some suggestions on how to help my son adapt to his first school life faster at home. Now (since October 2022) my son look forward to going to school every single day. Every day after school, he would be very proud to show me the handicrafts he made in school. Talk to me about his life at school every day. He also learned how to make friends with the help of his teacher. Teachers will not only provide help, but also teach him how to do what he can independently. We are so grateful to the team of teachers in FWM for everything they have done for my son. He is making progress and getting better and better every day. We so highly recommend.

We did an extensive search for Reggio Mandarin immersion programs for several months and finally found Fun With Mandarin as they were opening up their new campus on Capitol Ave. I didn't think having it all could be possible - a Reggio inspired curriculum, Mandarin immersion that is fun and doesn't force kids to conform, a beautiful space (I'm talking two floors, big open windows, lots of outdoor space), and caring, thoughtful, engaged, teachers - but with Fun With Mandarin it seems to be! The other school we were seriously considering was PSK and I think there are a lot of similarities between the schools (minus the cost). We've been here for over 6 months now and could not be happier. Binbin and Ben Laoshi run a tight program. The kids do arts and crafts everyday with recycled materials. They have access to a walled-off large outdoor space which seems like is as big as the school building. They follow a monthly theme which the kids pick and they get to create, touch, draw, sing, write, color, dance, etc, all of which are documented through pictures and daily updates provided via a classroom app. Ben and Binbin Laoshi and the staff are incredibly attentive to our child's learning and social needs. They seem to really care that he continues to learn and grow and have fun. And the staff seem to be happy there too - we asked specifically about teacher retention and they have great teacher retention rates. Our child came in with no Mandarin exposure and I was floored at how quickly he picked it up - now he's constantly teaching us and correctly our terrible Mandarin. I truly did not realize how quickly kids can pick up languages, and I have Ben and Binbin Laoshi and their staff to thank for it. I am truly grateful to them for giving our child the gift of a second language.

Our son attended Fun With Mandarin from 24 to 28 months. Though it was a short stay, it was a great experience! Bin Bin Laoshi, Teacher Ben and the other teachers (Lei Laoshi, Ouyang Laoshi and Shu Laoshi) were so supportive of our son during the transition to a new preschool (his second). Under their care, he really flourished in his Mandarin. It was so fun to have him come home and teach us a new song in Mandarin almost every week! The space is beautiful, spacious and filled with light. FWM was really great about sharing plenty of photos every day. They were also great at encouraging him as he mastered potty training and generally helping him take more responsibilities, such as putting on his own shoes, etc. as he became a “big boy.” Last but definitely not least, Teacher Ben and Bin Bin Laoshi are extremely responsive and communicative. We really appreciated it! We heartily endorse Fun With Mandarin!

Fun With Mandarin came highly recommended by friends, yet still managed to exceed all expectations! Our daughter has absolutely been thriving at FWM! When she started at FWM, she was only 20 months old and had very little prior interaction with people outside our family due to the COVID shutdown. We were initially worried how she would transition to FWM, but there was no issue and she warmed up to the teachers immediately. Binbin Laoshi, Teacher Ben, and all of the teachers are amazing! They are nurturing, always highly engaged with the children, yet also age-appropriately intellectually stimulating. Our daughter always looks forward to going to school, and is always in good spirits at the end of her fun days. With their strong guidance, our daughter has developed into a kind, healthy, active, creative small human, who has excellent language and social-emotional skills. Her Mandarin is quite impressive as well! Also, the school highly values parent feedback, and is extremely open and communicative. They have been very conscientious about health and safety during the COVID pandemic.