Update: I posted this review before everything shut down…read morebecause of COVID. Luckily, we were able to stay with Lia and Apple Cheeks through it all. She did a *fantastic* job of wrangling our social bubble and keeping all of the families safe and feeling confident. I don't know how we would have gotten through the last year without her. We've decided to keep our son at Apple Cheeks another year to reduce our exposure. We feel so lucky that Lia is able to create a custom preschool curriculum for him and that he's continuing to flourish despite the pandemic.

You don't have to look much further than the smiling faces in the pictures above for thorough…read morereviews. Every morning, our daughter walks through the door with a smile on her face ready to play with her friends and to participate in whatever neat activities Lia's got planned for them. From story time to play time with lots of learning sprinkled in between you can tell Lia really connects with the kids. Beyond that, she really loves them and is genuinely interested in helping them grow in every way.

If I could give 100 stars I would! I second what all the reviews here say about this place. Amazing…read moredoesn't even begin to explain Cecy and the team at Tiny Footprints. My child attended from 18 months to 4 years old. I was incredibly apprehensive about starting due to separation anxiety, but they made him feel completely comfortable from day one.In addition to sending daily pictures and providing excellent communication, they truly support your child's growth. My kid is high energy and super active. Cecy met his energy with her own high energy--I truly don't know how she does it all! The learning program is fantastic. She met him exactly where he was at and used interactive games to teach. He was fully ready for TK when he left. They also do weekly library and park trips, plus walking trips to see the neighborhood.What makes Tiny Footprints truly special is the family atmosphere. All the kids become part of Cecy's family. The group of families is so tight-knit that they do playdates and movie nights on their own outside of school and "alumni" visit long after attending. Cecy also offers movie nights for the kids, after-hours care for date nights, and she even kept my son when I had a week-long work trip. We just moved away from the Bay Area last week, and leaving TF was so incredibly hard. We miss them so much already! If you want a safe, loving environment where your child will truly thrive, this is the place!

Our daughter attended Tiny Footprints for two years and it was absolutely amazing! From the daily…read morecheck ins, to the weekly field trips and holiday activities, our girl had a great time. Cecy and staff became family and if we could keep our toddler there until college we would lol.

Both of our kids went to Albany Sunflower Daycare and loved it there. Ms Helen is a very kind,…read morepatient and caring teacher who made our children feel at home. The daycare is located in a residential safe area, the house equipped with everything the kiddos need- large outdoor space, room for play and room for naps. I knew my kids are getting fed hot meals, getting their naps and lots of vitamin D outside. Operating hours are the best for working parents which made our drop offs and pick ups less stressful! We can't recommend Ms Helen and family enough for anyone looking for a daycare in Albany area. Mandarin language exposure was a huge plus for our kids even though none of us (adults) speak it at home. Thank you!

Both of my children attended Sunflower Daycare for several years, and we couldn't have asked for a…read morebetter experience. Ms. Helen is incredibly kind, patient, and attentive. She was wonderfully supportive during potty training, made sure the kids were dressed appropriately for the weather, and created a warm, nurturing environment. The daycare has a great outdoor play space, serves delicious home-cooked meals that my kids still talk about, and is exceptionally clean--my children rarely got sick while they were there, which is a feat in itself! Ms. Helen also has a strong background in early childhood education and incorporates age-appropriate learning, arts and crafts, music, and early academics into the day. By the time my daughter started TK, she was very well prepared. Since Ms. Helen speaks Mandarin with the children, both of my kids were also able to maintain their Mandarin fluency. One thing to note is that Ms. Helen is more comfortable communicating in Mandarin than English. This was fine for me since I speak Mandarin, while my husband usually communicated through email or Google Translate. We feel lucky to have found Sunflower Daycare. It felt like having a trusted family member with expertise in early childhood education caring for our children. I highly recommend it to any family looking for a loving, enriching daycare.

We're in love with Mustard Seed! We can't overstate how grateful we are for this incredible team…read moreand community. It really feels like there's a village helping to raise our family. Our eldest transferred to MSP from another daycare / preschool center during the summer term when she was 2 1/2. It was a difficult decision because there were things we loved about her first school (where she'd spent almost a year), but the switch felt right. We liked that MSP's physical space, level of enrollment, and staffing strategy provided more structure: with same-age classrooms, age-sensitive schedules, age-sensitive teaching approaches, and opportunities for mixed age play outdoors several times a day. We liked that our daughter would always have a primary teacher team focused on her, as well as opportunities throughout the day and week to build relationships with other teachers. We liked that she'd have a dozen peers close to her age, for a nice variety of personalities to befriend and grow with. And we liked that the outdoor space supports a variety of play types under a beautiful leafy canopy. It's all turned out beautifully. Judging by our daughter's energy at drop off and pick up, her transition to MSP was immediately easier than her previous transitions. Even in her first weeks there, it was clear that the structure made it easier for her to get through the day than at her previous school. In the past year and a half it's only gotten better. The vibe is relaxed and confident; they really know what they're doing and everything about the program feels intentional. The teachers are very thoughtful about helping our daughter navigate socio-emotional development and challenging social dynamics, and are happy to discuss strategies with us when we ask how we can support at home. Although her classroom teachers are primary, she has great relationships with all of the teachers in the play yard and they all know her well. She is developing strong social skills and has made wonderful friends. The community of families has been warm and fun for all of us: we regularly meet classmates at King School Park after school, the staff organizes incredibly fun family parties for holidays and more throughout the year--usually featuring Music Man Chano and his band, total celebrities for all ages!--and there's a meal train organized every time a new baby arrives. Lunches by Chef Miguel are expanding our daughter's palette and simplifying our mornings at home. We can't wait to start it all again with our newborn when she turns 18 months old!

Both my children attended Mustard Seed preschool. It's a…read morereally wonderful place run by people who truly care about children. Candace, the director, treats everyone like family. She's also a very insightful and creative educator. The administrative side of the school runs very smoothly and they are very accommodating of different schedules and constraints. My kids, now 10 and 12, still remember Mustard Seed fondly as a place where they were surrounded by loving teachers and great friends.

Fox and Bear is a gem in Berkeley. It is a beautiful place where you feel confident to leave your…read morebaby. It is a small community, it is like a small family well organized.   All the teachers are nice; they give you a lot of advice and most important they love kids! They do fun things for the holidays, birthdays and also small art projects. Their communication with parents is also excellent. I always appreciated knowing what was happening and their constant care and updates regarding the children ( especially during Covid 19 time ).  My little baby is so happy to go there every day. I' m so blessed to have found Fox and Bear.  Thanks to Olga and all the staff!

It might have been the time when we were there, but they kept changing teachers in the span of a…read moremonth. It made our kids feel very unsettled and without having experience at the day care, they felt isolated. The owner does not have as good information or control on what goes on in the day care every day. If there is conflict resolution, the teacher's are first, your kids are second, and you are last. I hope things have changed since we left a couple of years back. Some of the teachers were great. It's a nice spot and the food they had for the kids was good. The kids like to hang out at the park nearby afterwards - a good opportunity for littles to socialize. I would not recommend this day care.

Our daughter arrived at CEC around one year old from another school. She was in infant care at CEC…read moreand we immediately felt at ease. All the teachers were very caring (Luz, Louise, Angelica, Cameron, Aster). Two teachers tag teamed and once our daughter gravitated towards one teacher, that teacher became the primary teacher. There's also a procare app showing when our daughter ate, was changed, and it photos. The app easily allowed for communication between the teacher and parent. When our daughter moved up to the next level (2-3), it took about a week for her to adjust. She bonded with her primary teachers (Huiqui, Maria) and her cohort of friends whom she moved up with. She is thriving and happy to go to school everyday. What our daughter liked best about CEC were her teachers, friends, and fun things (walks, music class, painting). What we liked best was how CEC handled COVID, the generous care hours w/ few holidays, the ease of communication, the child- centric approach, and the kids night out giving parents a break every month. We can't recommend this place highly enough. It's a hidden gem with flexibility and little bureaucracy. Finding good care was such a sigh of relief!

We've had at least one of our children at CEC since 2015 and can't recommend it highly enough! Our…read moreoldest started when he was 1, our middle kid started when he was only six weeks old, and our youngest will be starting soon at four months. Ever since we started, CEC has been a wonderful second home and community for our entire family. Even in the classrooms with the youngest children (0-2), the teachers are attentive, creative, and engaged. Even the smallest kids spend time outside, and even go on "field trips" to the nearby park. There's painting and dress-up and dancing and stories -- all of those fun things you aspire to do with your small children but can't always summon the energy for are a regular part of the day at CEC. Starting in the 2-year-old room, the children take longer field trips, using the bus and BART, or walking. This year my kids have checked out the marina, gone to the library, gone to a play, gone to various parks, as well as the Habitot children's museum, Oakland Museum of California, and the Lawrence Hall of Science! I love how familiar and comfortable they are with using the bus and BART, thanks in part to their field trips. They also start doing cooking activities in the two's room, which has been a great experience for my kids. In the 2-year-old room, the teachers work with parents to tackle potty training, and they have the patience of saints. The program is Reggio-inspired (similar to Montessori, but with a less structured, play-based approach), and it's not uncommon to see kids joyfully running around in their underwear, or proudly covering themselves in mud or paint. It's the closest you can get to experiencing the liberated and liberating school environments of western Europe, as enviously portrayed on NPR and the like -- and also one of the most affordable center-based daycares in Berkeley. The teachers will even occasionally host all-night sleepovers at the school, for kids as young as 2 or 3; my two oldest kids have loved the sleepovers, and come back feeling very grown-up. For a more lightweight experience, most months there's a "parents' night out", where for an extra fee you can pick up your kids up at 9:30 PM, after they've had dinner, done activities, and/or watched a movie with their friends and teachers. Many teachers are open to babysitting outside of school hours, and it's been great having a potential pool of babysitters who the kids already know. Even though the kids are in age-based classrooms, they have a chance to get to know teachers and kids in other rooms. (My 4-year-old went through a period of checking with his 2-year-old brother's teachers every day to make sure his brother was behaving.) The "parent participation hours" requirement (4 hrs/month) are a way to get families involved, doing everything from chaperoning field trips, to doing laundry, to bringing fruit for snacks. (I've done mine by sewing dress-up clothes.) If you really can't make it work, there's a fee you can pay instead. We (and our kids) have made so many friends through CEC; three of our kids' teachers came to visit at the hospital when our youngest was born. We're sad to see our oldest (and his friends, and their families) moving on, but grateful that many of his friends still have younger siblings who will be around for a while yet. We're looking forward to four more years here with our youngest, starting soon!

We love Orkidz! Our now 2 yr old daughter started when she was 6 months old and we hope to keep her…read morethere until she starts TK. The women who work here are really the heart of the place and the care they provide is what has stood out the most to our family. Every teacher we have had the pleasure of interacting with has always been genuinely warm and loving with the kids. The well being of the child is always a priority and they constantly do everything they can to help foster an environment where they can thrive. Our daughter is a happy, confident, social? curious toddler thanks greatly in part to them. Between Zumba, yoga, and music classes, nature walks, trips to the park and the library, arts and crafts, gardening, and baking, these kids are never bored. Meals are also provided, which has been a huge time saver. We cannot recommend this place enough! Our daughter loves it and we're hoping our son will feel the same way when he joins his sister in February!

Updating my review - We have now sent all 3 of our boys…read morethrough Orkidz, and it has felt like a home away from home for them. Each boy has a different personality, and yet, each one felt supported and cared for at Orkidz. My perspective is that at this age (~2 to 5), learning happens readily when a child feels supported and safe. Orkidz teachers have always provided just the right environment for my little ones! They also offer weekly music, yoga/zumba, and nature walks, which are highlights. My sons have adapted to school very well following their preparation at Orkidz. We miss the teachers, and we're so grateful for their care over the years. You can't go wrong with Orkidz!

We love Ana's Daycare! We started with one kiddo going there for childcare and enrolled him when he…read morewas just under a year old. As first-time parents, we were quite nervous, but our little boy ended up looking forward to hanging out with his playmates. He considers one of Ana's assistants one of his best friends. It's been amazing watching his Spanish flourish -- he even scolded me at pickup once, "No ingles aqui, mama!" (I totally cracked up when it happened. ) For our second child, we brought her in at 6 months old, and she started walking at Ana's daycare earlier than she did at home! Some of my favorite things about it: - The healthy food being served - Family-run business -- I believe they've run daycares for three - generations - The indoor-outdoor play environment - Field trips for older children - Supportive, kind staff - Community events and gifts around Halloween, Easter, etc. - Fun art projects that my kids are proud to share with me - Cute photos of our kids sent to us randomly throughout the week - Teamwork and alignment with regards to potty training - They know how to manage my kids' hair better than I do! Our family adores Ana's Daycare. Our eldest is heading to TK soon, but our littlest one will keep enjoying Ana's until she ages out too. I highly recommend this daycare!

My son started attending Ana's Daycare (Berkeley location) part time when he was 12 months old. It…read morehas been really great! It's a cozy in-home daycare and it feels like a safe and nurturing environment. When I come to pick him up, he's always happy and playing outside in the yard, and the teachers are always engaging and playing with the kids. Something that I appreciate is that they feed the kids really well (every day they update me with exactly what he ate, and its always something nutritious and yummy). Also probably my favorite thing is the great communication with Ana - my son stayed home with me prior to daycare so we (both me and the baby!) were a bit nervous, but she sent me constant pictures and updates throughout the day showing him having fun, explaining what he's doing, telling me how much he napped, etc., and it made me feel really reassured. I recommend it!

We walked into Duck's Nest and were immediately taken in by the beautiful grounds -- redwood trees,…read morelarge play area with varied, inviting structures, a sand box our son loves too much. He's a Duckling, which is the youngest group. We've been happy with his teachers and the warm environment of his classroom. They immediately welcomed him into the fold. We get regular updates on class activities, including the garden (DN has its own garden and garden instructor; each class gets a day in the garden). Furthermore, teachers are responsive to questions, and proactive when issues arise. For example, my son said kids were being unkind, I talked to the staff, and they kept an eye out. We had follow up conversations to be sure he felt safe at school, especially in the play area. Each class is in its own house as the property runs from 4th street to 5th street, utilizing existing strictures. There is a chicken coop on site; French and Spanish classes are available; there is a regular music class in addition to the garden day. I can't speak to others' experiences or the other classrooms, but we are pleased with our son's and our experience.

Duck's Nest has been such a wonderful part of our lives for four years and we are eternally…read moregrateful for the school and the community. We've made great friends through the school and have always felt so confident in the level of care and learning that happens at Duck's Nest. Both my son and daughter went to the school and we had great teachers and a positive experience in all five of the classrooms we were part of. Each teacher brings their own stamp and style, and there is usually a nice mix of personalities and approaches on the teaching team. Some other things to love about the school -- the campus is beautiful and they have special teachers for garden/art and music, which was a big hit for both my kids. The hours are very friendly for working parents. Send your kid to Duck's Nest. It's the best!

My son thrives at Berkeley Hills Nursery School and we could not be happier! The teachers and the…read moredirector have 10 - 20+ years of experience. I trust them 100% as experts in their field to help nurture and develop my son. My son does well at this small school, with an intimate group of friends. Because of the low student to teacher ratio, the teachers are very familiar with my son as a unique individual. The director, Kathleen, is top-notch, easy to work with, and very involved with the kids. Kathleen makes our parent "tasks" easy: applying was free and simple, enrollment steps were clear, and daily communication is concise (made even easier through an app). I like that teachers lead activities for the whole group of kids. The play-based activities get my son moving and learning. For example, recently the kiddos moved through an obstacle course that helped them with balance, and fine and gross motor skills. They also do art, yoga, and walks in the neighborhood. Lastly, we have a strong parent community, with adult and family social events. We are so happy to have found this gem in the hills!

My daughter started attending BHNS this August, and she absolutely loves it! We -- parents and…read moregrandparents alike -- couldn't be happier. The facilities are wonderful and offer so many engaging activities for the kids. The teachers are warm, dedicated, and truly caring; so far, we have nothing but amazing things to say about them. We're also very pleased with the parent community that's beginning to take shape. BHNS has been a fantastic experience for our family.