Happy Times Child Development Center · Preschool, Vista
Happy Times Child Development Center is a licensed child care center in Vista, CA, licensed for up to 39 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2016. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 3 times and investigated 3 complaints, 1 of them substantiated. The state issued 6 citations, 0 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for building & playground safety (3 of 6). 1 citation came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #39 of 53 centers in Vista and has more citations per inspection than 79% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
(a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: (1) To be accorded dignity in his/her personal relationships with staff and other persons. This requirement is not met as evidenced 1 The director will provide an all staff training on personal rights and strategies to deal with children with behaviors that do not involve restraint. by: Based on interviews conducted, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that staff wrapped their arms around a child to restrict the childs movement which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. 8
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in several spiders webs were found on the outdoor play equipment which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 1 out of 5 staff had not completed a TB test which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 2 out of 2 persons missing Mandated Reporter certificates in file which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. There was a container with scissors on top of a cabinet next to children's library area that were accessible to children in care.
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. The wood jungle gym was splintering and needed to be treated. The roof/cover of play equipment was broken with jagged edges and a bicycle with ends of handlebars exposed, no rubber covering.
Complaint investigations
Staff inappropriately handled children in care
How often are complaints about daycares in San Diego County substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Other licenses at this address
Common questions
Does Happy Times Child Development Center take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children. An infant center is licensed separately at the same address (listed below).
Has Happy Times Child Development Center had any serious violations?
No Type A citations since 2021. It has 6 Type B citations, listed above.
Have there been complaints about Happy Times Child Development Center?
California investigated 3 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 1. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Happy Times Child Development Center compare with other daycares in Vista?
It is tied for #39 of 53 centers in Vista by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 79% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Happy Times Child Development Center last inspected?
Sep 3, 2025. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does Happy Times Child Development Center cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Happy Times Child Development Center for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in San Diego County, which includes Vista, was $1,013 a month for preschoolers (about $1,280 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Happy Times Child Development Center?
The licensee is Sauceda, Maria & Sergio, and the administrator listed with the state is Belen Esteban.
Licensed centers nearby
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700 East Bobier Drive, Vista · ZIP 92084 away · 16 spots About typical Montessori School of Vista
505 Civic Center Drive, Vista · ZIP 92084 away · 52 spots Too few inspections to compare Happy Times Child Development Center
755 Civic Center Drive, Vista · ZIP 92084 away · 22 spots Among the most cited Discovery Preschools, INC - Vista
1280 E Vista Way #1, Vista · ZIP 92084 away · 72 spots More citations than most Discovery Preschools, INC - Vista
1280 E Vista Way, Vista · ZIP 92084 away · 28 spots About typical
Citations are quoted from California Department of Social Services inspection and complaint reports. Type A citations are the state’s most serious category (an immediate risk to children’s health, safety or personal rights); Type B citations are a potential risk. A citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall. Complaint allegations appear here only when the state substantiated them.
To read the full state reports, search facility number 376701248 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.