Our experience at this center included multiple incidents involving biting (some resulting in bruising/visible injuries) and hair pulling. While I understand these behaviors can happen in group care, the frequency of incidents raised concerns for us about supervision. We previously attended another childcare center prior to relocating, and the number of incidents we experienced here within the first three months exceeded what both of our children experienced over four years at our prior center combined. I also noted that the state childcare licensing website lists multiple incidents and investigations for this center, some of which appear similar to our experience. I encourage parents to review the inspection reports and complaint history for additional context: https://www.ccld.dss.ca.gov/carefacilitysearch/FacDetail/013412625 read more

Ever since my two kids changed schools, they no longer get hurt (e.g. no more bites or bruises/bumps from falls). The worst was when our son was bitten by the same kid (3 years old) 5-6 times and had his face scratched and bloody and KC did nothing even though that child had 30+ other incidents in a span of 8 months! Total bullshit. Also, I don't recommend this place if your child has allergies. Several parents have pulled their children out after realizing they are horrible with tracking allergies since they always have new or part-time teachers so there's no consistency. Also, they feign ignorance when the child moves up to the next class at the same center and puts it on the parent to tell the new class teachers about the allergy. When they are short teachers, they've asked for volunteers to not bring their kids to school while charging full tuition or take the first 4 infants because they only have one teacher available. Most recently, 7 (!) teachers called in sick and the center had to close at 3pm. What a total nightmare for parents who have to go back into work! You certainly don't get what you pay for here (e.g. dilapidated yards, lawns, playground, equipment and dirty rugs - the photos on Yelp are not of the actual center). The one thing that we enjoyed was the app and the photos and videos everyday. But it was at the cost of premium tuition pricing, inconsistent teachers and injuries to our kids. Not worth it - there are plenty of other daycares, especially in-home ones that are much more affordable and smaller ratios that cater to the development of your child. My son did enjoy Ms. Shirrell in the discovery preschool classroom who potty trained him. He still mentions her from time to time. Ms. Lakea in the infant room was also a favorite. The lack of updates on the part time, temp, student or sub teachers (i.e. warm body they could find) and failure to retain good teachers is not because of COVID or the general shortage of educators - it's because this place and regional manager (Jen) sucks. Most of the good and long time teachers were chased out by a former director in 2021 (Jen's horrible hire) and most of the good families left shortly thereafter. Ms. Patti, the director, does what she can to turn water into wine, but one person can only do so much on their own with limited resources and help. read more

Both boys went there for many years. We are very happy with the Harbor Bay KinderCare.

Our daughter has attended KinderCare for over six months now and we couldn't be happier with the level of care, attention and support she receives every day. The entire team, especially Ms. Anna, Ms. Andrina, Mr. John and Ms. Ebony, has created an environment where she feels nurtured and encouraged to learn and grow. They go above and beyond to connect with her, fostering her curiosity and making each day exciting and engaging. We also love the KinderCare app, which keeps us in the loop with regular updates and photos. It's wonderful to share in her accomplishments and see her daily interactions. The nutritious meals prepared by Ms. Raquel are a highlight, and Ms. Patti's (Center Director) leadership is extremely valued. We couldn't be more thankful for the team that makes our daughter's experience at KinderCare so special. read more

We love Harbor Bay Kindercare! My 4 and 5 year old sons were on summer break from their primary preschool. Unfortunately, my husband and I would not be getting such a break from work and needed interim childcare. I reached out to KinderCare and was thrilled when Kendra, the director, informed us that she had space for our kids during this time. Though I was confident that KinderCare would be a good fit for our boys, I was still really nervous because it's so different from their small, home-based preschool and daycare. The concern was that they would have trouble adjusting. I think I called to check in 30 minutes after dropping them off on their first day and was grateful that the staff kindly indulged the anxious mama. It was such a relief to see two happy little boys when I picked them up that first day. I was also very pleasantly surprised that there is a parent portal I could sign into every day to see photos and reports on their progress. I looked forward to getting those updates daily. We were very pleased to see that they had structured and varied activities that were both fun and educational. As parents, we also appreciated the extended childcare hours. I didn't feel like I was rushing to drop them off and pick them up. The staff and teachers are exceptional. Ms. Adora was always so pleasant and communicative when we checked in at the front desk. (there were also a couple others who kindly greeted us, but I'm unfortunately terrible at names) Our boys were in Ms. Margot and Ms. Sam's classes. They were so warm and welcoming towards us and our boys. I could tell from the interactions that they truly care about the children and we are so grateful that our boys were in such good hands during their time at KinderCare. It's so reassuring to know that if we need care again in the future we can count on Harbor Bay KinderCare. read more

Harbor Bay Kindercare was great for our family as we settled into a new area. We loved the app and consistent updates throughout the day, and the photos. The staff was always pleasant and our child enjoyed their time here. Ultimately we changed daycare's because this was out of the way for our morning/afternoon commute. We would highly recommend Harbor Bay Kindercare! read more

Both my kids have been at KC since they were infants. They have thrived and learned valuable skills and relationship building from their teachers who genuinely cared for their individual needs and provided them with safe and nurturing environment. The timings of the center, nutritious food for the kids and Ms. Patti's (director) leadership are highly valued! read more

As you can imagine, it can be extremely nerve wracking sending off your infant/first child off to daycare, let alone during COVID! My older child was at KinderCare Harbor Bay since being in the infant room and up to the preschool class. Her younger brother joined the infant room when he was 4 months old and moved his way up to the 18 month old toddler option class. The center was clean, followed recommended CDC and county guidelines, and was very professional regarding keeping up with licensing guidelines. What we valued the most was the amount of love and affection that the staff showed to our kids, my husband, and myself. The 0-5 years are so crucial in social-emotional development and it is safe to say that my kids have healthy attachments to us, their teachers, and classmates at KC! My 3yo has learned so much at KC and I have no worries about kindergarten readiness. The communication between the staff and directors (Miss Kendra, then Miss Patti during our time there) was stellar! We moved across the Bay to the peninsula last week and we didn't realize how hard it was to say goodbye to the teachers and directors on the last day of pick up. We actually waited close to our end date to make the announcement to the teachers to minimize the blow and it sank in when we cleaned out the kids' cubbies. We really felt like it was family there and even made friends with some parents through our kids' classmates. We had several options for childcare but opted to transfer to Downtown Palo Alto KinderCare because of the familiarity of the KC program and trust in their quality of childcare. We especially love the app- grandparents check in on it daily to see pics of the kids! read more

We have been with KinderCare since Ziah was 8 months old and he is now 18 months old. We consider them our second family since this was the first daycare we've ever had. We had the tour Pre-COVID and never looked back. The adjustments they made for safety reasons during COVID times was not easy and I was sad that I didn't get to have the full experience with KinderCare. The teachers are friendly and excellent. Ms. Kendra has been very helpful with onboarding and transitioning us from one class to another. The app is a nice touch to keep up with daily activities and communicating to the teachers. Even though we are giving them 5 stars, there's always room to improve. I'm not sure if it's because of COVID, but I definitely would like to have more progress updates on our child. There are some missing pieces in the onboarding and transitions, but it's not a major concern. I think it's better if they over-communicate and continuously check in would help in the beginning of any change. Overall, I would still highly recommend them and I wish we could stay. We are considering going to a different KinderCare when we move if they have room for us. I really wanted Ziah to grow up with his second family, but life happens. I wish them the best and hope to be reunited in the near future! read more

So I first reached out to Harborbay Kindercare around March 2021 to scope out a preschool for my son. When I called the number listed, I reached center Director, Kendra, almost instantly. She was very kind and took time to answer my questions and give me details of enrolling a child. Soon after, she helped schedule a Zoom virtual tour of the center due to COVID (no in person tours understandably), and further answered my questions, my husband's, and also met my son over the video. After that, I called Kendra pretty much once a week with questions I kept forgetting to ask, and everytime she answered her phone and was kind and patient. And this was me calling from March to May! She sent me enrollment forms and I went to the center and met her to drop them off. I did not end up enrolling my son, because we decided to keep him home awhile longer. However, even before starting my child, I felt heard and taken care of. Which personally, puts me at such ease knowing that this center and its director and staff, obviously are diligent, kind, hard working people that I feel comfortable leaving my son with. I have nothing but great things to say about Kindercare. Highly recommend this center!! read more

My daughter is now 2 years old. She's been at Harbor Bay KinderCare since she was 4 months. We continue to love the eachers and program. read more

Harbor Bay KinderCare - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Alameda, California

I'll start by saying ABSOLUTELY T/F NOT. Toured this location today and first off it smelled so damn bad in there. Like i get it, there's groups of kids wearing diapers in the building but they need a more efficient way of disposing diapers and freshening the rooms. Second, we walked over to the infant area and there was like 10 babies just laying on the floor. It just didn't seem ideal, and there was only one worker in that area. Then, when I realized men were working as teachers I immediately asked if they change diapers. When they answered yes it was followed with "but everyone here has been fingerprinted" mmm ok? I still don't want a grown man changing my little girls diaper. I don't care if he was fingerprinted. That's just weird. It was an immediate NO for us. The female staff seemed nice but Men changing a little girls diaper would never sit right with me, no offense to them. The place didn't look/smell clean at all. The only thing I felt was clean, were the table tops. Everything else looked dirty, ESPECIALLY the floors. I also feel like they have too many children and not enough staff. I wouldn't expect to see any major growth in my child if I placed her in this childcare location plus I would be worrying about my child every second she was there. It doesn't give that "peace of mind" a parent needs when you are leaving your child in someone else's care. So if you're searching and you love/care about your child and their growth/safety please KEEP SEARCHING! read more

We have been part of the KinderCare family for almost 3 years now and have been so pleased with the love, support and education our children are receiving. My oldest started shortly after turning 1 and is now in the Preschool classroom. She has always loved going to school and we are so thankful for the welcoming atmosphere that KinderCare and the teachers at Harbor Bay have fostered. My husband and I have been impressed by the curriculum for her age group and want to give major kudos to her teacher Ms. Amy for keeping her engaged in learning and encouraging her creativity. Ms. Amy is even sending homework packets each week that our daughter is excited about, and it's a great evening activity while I make dinner! This fall we enrolled our son at KinderCare in the infant room. The teachers and especially the Director, Ms. Kendra were very supportive in this transition. Sending an infant to daycare during a pandemic was a difficult decision but one that was made easier based on the relationships and the trust we had with the Harbor Bay staff. They have handled a difficult time with COVID well and remained patient, kind and transparent. I'm confident our children are happy and well cared for at school because of the love and support they are provided. The updates in the KinderCare app help too! :) We are very thankful that we have partnered with such a supportive community to help care for and teach our children. read more

I absolutely love kindercare harbor bay and highly recommend it! My son goes full time for the last year and loves it he has learned so much! The teachers are amazing and kind and the activities are so fun for the kids. They are always stimulated all day with new lessons to learn! I did a lot of research and tours prior to picking kindercare but was still nervous to drop my first kid on the first day, the director Kendra made me and my son feel so at ease starting and provided updates every day on how he was doing! They really do treat the kids as their own and provide daily updates in the app so I can see if my son ate, napped and what he did that day! They helped support us to help my son learn more words and really do work with you as a team for providing the best care! read more

The team here has been wonderful navigating through changing COVID protocols, staffing changes and transitioning our child from staying at home to being in care first part-time and then full-time. The teachers generally seem to care for the children, the facility is clean and organized and everything has been done very professionally. read more

First time mom here, as you can imagine, I was nervous at the thought of sending my then one year old to a new place, let alone somewhere where he would be gone all day. KinderCare has made this transition very easy. It took a few weeks, but now my little guy runs to his teachers and gives them hugs and blows them kisses at pick up and drop off. They serve breakfast, lunch and snacks through out the day and I don't know how they do it, but they get all the kids to sit down at the same time and eat so nicely together. They spend lots of time outside, where the kids get to run around, play, listen to music and chase bubbles. The staff has been wonderful, especially during these crazy Covid times. Very communicative and as accommodating as one can be during a pandemic. I would highly recommend KinderCare to anyone looking for a daycare for their little ones! read more

Horrible they charge $150 yearly $30 late payment which is every Friday but considered late if not paid by Wednesday morning of the following week. Which they never give you that time if you are late. Push my payment up with out an agreed upon updated contract. Teach your child nothing. Playground has wholes and dirt not suitable for your 2 year old. Has a teacher working there after putting her hands on children. My sons been there since April 28, 2021 now they want you to pay a mandatory $150 for the summer as well starting this Friday. 4c s and Davis street don't help with these fees. You would think if your on a low income program to get help with daycare payments you wouldn't be charged all these fees and to top it off even with the program I still pay $280 a month plus have to constantly bring diapers and wipes cause they'll use your supply on other children. Everyone's constantly sick and still brings their children to school coughing nose running. My child gets sick I make him stay home til he's better still get charge full amount send him back to school guess what just to pick him up and he's sick all over again. Time to take action because I've contacted director and no help read more

We've had our daughter at Harbor Bay KinderCare for two years now and are very happy with our experience there. When we drop her off we know she is safe and happy, which makes it easier to focus on our own professional lives while we're away from her. Once we make it back to her at the end of the day she is almost always smiling, laughing, playing and/or running around with her friends. Her security and enjoyment there is undeniable. Patti and Kendra do a wonderful job of running KinderCare; both are open, accessible and attentive to our needs as a family and, most importantly, our daughter's needs as a preschooler. Additionally, every teacher we've had at KinderCare has been kind and caring, and our daughter is constantly talking about them with us after we pick her up. Again, this is everything we hoped for when we enrolled there, and we appreciate KinderCare's work, dedication and love more than we can express. read more

We have been sending our daughter to Harbor Bay KinderCare for about 2 years now. In those two years, I have been consistently impressed with the level of attention and care each individual child gets. She loves her teachers so much and I love the open communication we, as parents, get from the center. The KinderCare app is updated everyday with photos and videos of what her class is doing and any messages we send to her teachers are always answered promptly and thoroughly. The last year has been such a stressful time for families, but the safety precautions put in place at KinderCare have truly given me peace of mind when I needed it most. At the end of the day, I know that I'm picking up a happy and thriving child! read more

They take extra care of my family and my child. I couldn't ask for a better place for my daughter to feel safe, loved and more eager to learn from other than with Patty Balance and her troops- they truly are my baby's home away from home and I thank them for the special care they give not only to her but with my whole family and all her peers! If I could give ten stars, I would read more

I rarely write reviews but I felt others needed to know about this place. I took my son to Kindercare last week for a tour. The other children seemed ok, but they are clearly short staffed and the director was insanely rude to me. She completely ignored my son and spoke at me like I was buying a used car. The interior of the daycare seemed old and tired and the exterior (where the outside toys are) is dirty, unkept and has toys everywhere, even when there are no kids playing. If you're looking for a day care in Harbor Bay, keep going down the street to Bright Horizons at Gardner. They are kind and professional and cared about my son. read more

I can't believe how long it's taken me to write this review. I've had both my daughters at this daycare facility for well over 3 years now. Both my daughters absolutely LOVE all their teachers and the 2 directors. I love that this is not just a daycare for play, but an actual learning facility (curriculum and all). My children come home excited to teach me the things they've learned in school everyday and I get to see pictures of my girls learning said things via the mobile app. I have no doubt my older daughter will be ready to start kindergarten in the fall due to the experience she's gotten here. As many other parents with children know, it is very hard to leave your kids once you go back to work. You miss them terribly and hope the people overlooking them care as much for them as you do, and I have always felt this was the case. I was weary about the set up coming back once COVID happened (I work in healthcare), however, I constantly feel like their health measures and practices are up to date and as stringent as they can be abiding by the CDC guidelines. Both my husband and I have nothing but the best things to say about Harbor Bay KinderCare, the facility, teachers, and directors. You'd be missing out if you pass up the chance to send your children here. read more

My child has been attending KinderCare in Harbor Bay for the past 3 years. They've been like a extension of our family in how much they communicate, educate, and take care of my child. I've been very impressed with how they have adapted to the COVID restrictions and have felt comfortable sending my child there after they reopened. The staff is warm, supportive, and still maintain a lot of professionalism when needed and appropriate. read more

We've been sending our daughter to KinderCare since she was five months old, and just started sending our son as well. The teachers take great care of both of them -- it's obvious she loves going there and loves all of her teachers. Both kids really started to blossom there and their development sped up (not that it's always a good thing -- I was hoping our son would slow down and not crawl at 6 months)! The staff is great to work with. When our daughter first went, I asked them to do cloth diapers and they were willing to do it (which is rare, I hear). We stopped because it was a pain to bring them home each day. When we started potty training around 20 months, they were also willing to work with us and with their help she is mostly accident-free before two. I also can't say enough great things about Patti and Kendra, the director and assistant director. They have been really supportive and understanding with things we've needed help with. I highly recommend KinderCare to my friends and acquaintances. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about the Infant Room. I was a complete mess about leaving my daughter in daycare, and all of the women who work there are kind, caring, loving, and totally attentive. And, I swear the babies can feel it. My 8 month old is so happy and tired from play at the end of the day. read more

If I could give this place a negative star rating I would. Staff was very unfriendly. I was never greeted upon entering or leaving. The lady behind the counter just looked up at me and went back to eating her meal. I later learned she was the Assistant Director. She didn't know who I was but I told her I was there to pick up. She pointed me in the direction of a classroom without asking who I was nor checking my identification. I could've been some shmoe off the street. There is a lack of structure that pervades this center. Naps are irregular concerning time of day and length. Sick children are seldom sent home. Infants are mixed with older children for the convenience of the teachers. If they are that short handed either hire more staff and/or utilize substitute teachers. The infants are just stuck in chairs or swings so that the older children won't trample on them. Numerous times I've seen infants asleep in their chair/swing, head cocked incomfortably to one side, left unattended when they should've been moved to a more ergonomic position. Teachers are rotated in and out of classes to the detriment of the child. There is no regularity and special needs children are at a disadvantage as the new teacher assigned to the room must start all over from square one. I heard of an instance when a parent's child was not fed for an entire day because of teachers rotating in and out. The director has not responded to any of my complaints. I was highly disappointed with the service and safety of the children. I strenuously recommend any parent to seek child care at one of the many other locations in the area. read more

I didn't even think to look this place up on Yelp. If I did - I would have NEVER have taken my son there. Clearly they are short staffed. I do agree that attention given to new parents or even every parent is close to none. Every time that I spoke with the Assistant Director she would be distracted by other parents or other kids. Which is EXACTLY how they treated my son. Obviously he was not getting the attention he should have been getting. At 17 months I would think watching these active toddlers is VERY IMPORTANT. According to their incident report my son got upset and decided to bang his head on the bookshelf. They then gave my son ice and plenty "TLC" tender love and care. They should be given TLC at ALL TIMES we are talking about babies for crying out loud! At the end of the day they give each parent a Daily Communication Report to show what your child did all day, when diapers were changed, when and what they were fed. That day that I picked him up. My son's report was accidentally given to another parent. No information was given to me for my son that day. Was he even fed, changed, or anything? Unfortunately, these is that one decision that will help me look into where I put my son into day care from now on. Please choose wisely before you decide to bring your child to this place! They neglected to care for my son the way they portray they would - I'm sure they would treat your child the same! read more

Let me preface my comments with my issue is not with Kindercare but with this specific location. My daughter is now in the Mountain View Kindecare and she is doing great! My daughter was at this facility for several months. We had a few problems during that time, mostly due to what I viewed as under staffing. Some of my daughters items were lost and her feeding schedule was erratic to say the least. There were times when the teacher in the infant room would have as many as 7 kids by herself (way over the cal limit). On two of these occasions the assistant director was in the front office filling out paperwork when in my opinion she should have been helping with the children. The "learning plan" they sell you on is over stated. It was a moderately priced babysitting service. I believed I could drop my child off there and she would be adequately taken care of until I returned. Things came to a head when my daughter was bitten on the face by another child. The child who bit her was a toddler and had no business being in the infant room. Often times at the end of the day or for lunch breaks they will bring bigger kids into the infant room to be taken care of my the staff there. I wont even get in to how ridiculous that is in of itself. I also wont get in to the reason my child wasn't being watched while she was "playing" with a bigger kid. Here is where the water gets muddy. The skin on my daughters face was slightly broken and she had a bad bruise made up of several teeth marks. They treated her with antiseptic and iced the bruise down. The kicker is they didn't contact my wife or myself for over two hours. The excuse we were given was the teachers in the room had to cover breaks. In our opinion the teachers in the infant room had no intention of ever informing us that our daughter was hurt. If it weren't for the fact that she bruises so easily I believe they would have not mentioned it at all. Needless to say we took our daughter out of the daycare and contacted the corporate office. We were given a song and dance by the corporate rep and the regional manager about how they were going to follow up on the matter. They never did. read more

My 3yr old daughter went to the Pittsburg Kinder Care. She has gone there for one year. Because of life changes I've had to move her to a daycare near Oakland/Alameda area. Originally I wanted to keep her in the Kinder Care community and just transfer. The curriculum is great. The food is included in the tuition. The hours are great for a full time worker. What I didn't like is the tuition and the set up of the "classrooms". The tuition is about $200 more than I pay in Pittsburg. I understand the cost of living is higher in alameda but the higher cost in combination with the set up of the classrooms, I didn't think the added cost was worth it. The classrooms are not in traditional rooms. It is an open layout with small 2 ft tall removable walls. We all know toddlers can be loud and curious and I knew this set up would be disruptive to the learning process. There are other daycares in the area which are more affordable, better layout, and smaller ratios. read more

Like most mothers needing to return to work from maternity leave, I had the daunting task of finding childcare for my infant daughter a few months ago. At this point in my life, there was no more important decision than who to entrust with the care of my child. I utilized local childcare resources, checking online resources such as CARE.com and online reviews, and made appointments with a number of different providers; in-home as well as daycare centers. Some of what I saw scared me frankly. After calling to get basic information regarding their program, I was encouraged to stop by (no appointment necessary). About a week later I did and was able to meet with the director Theresa, see the environment and observe the interactions of the staff with the babies. The environment was bright, colorful and spacious and there are lots of play areas with soft edges that provide ample room for babies to discover/explore safely. Oh, and for me, importantly, there were separated from the toddlers who have their own room. KinderCare was the best choice. My daughter has been there just over 2 months, and is flourishing. She is in a safe, warm and nurturing environment where she's not just in great care, but where she's exposed to learning opportunities too (from her teachers and by observing the other babies). I get daily written communications about her day which help me understand how she's doing, what activities they did, etc. My daughter is happy when I drop her off in the morning, and happy when I pick her up. That to me is a very good sign! I've even walked into the center to sign in and can hear her giggling as she plays with one of her teachers. The directors Theresa and LaTrina have always been very friendly and are happy to answer questions or discuss concerns (not that I've had any). The core infant teachers; miss Cindy, miss Valerie and miss Ann are the the best. They're attentive, nurturing and playful and do such a great job with the babies. If I were a baby, I'd love it there too. read more

Do yourself a favor and sort by date. Go on - I'll wait... Okay, as I'm sure you've noticed, the recent reviews are all stellar. While I can't speak for issues in the past as we've only been taking our daughter here for 6 months, I can say that we were wary of this place because of those older reviews. Under the current management, I can assure you that if you're on the hunt for a childcare facility, you should absolutely give this place a shot. Come down, talk to Patti, take the tour, snag a parent and ask them questions. The level of genuine care that is exhibited here is outstanding. The caregivers are all AMAZING. Patti is truly one-of-a-kind; an absolute rockstar. Without going into too many details, they have all been more than accommodating to our daughter's medical needs. Most facilities wouldn't have taken us. Harbor Bay Kindercare took us with open arms and they continue to surprise us with their high level of care. Concerning the older reviews, I'd like to address some concerns you might have... - Yes, the staff tends to run at the maximum limit for child/caregiver ratio. This has never been an issue from our perspective. I've spent lots of time at Kindercare and I've never seen any child being neglected. Because they work in teams, someone is always looking out for the little ones. - I've heard parents say they wished they got more detailed reports of their child's daily activities. This hasn't been an issue for us, but I can only speak for the infant room. Tangible development is more of our concern and we've seen nothing but that. - I've heard people say the rates are high. When we were looking around, the rates seemed to be in the middle for "corporate" childcare facilities. Accordingly, the rates are higher than private childcare solutions, but surprisingly not by much. Also, you know, it's the Bay Area - I'm just glad I didn't have to sell a kidney to afford putting our daughter somewhere. If I sound like a shill, I assure you I'm just an incredibly happy parent who couldn't imagine our lives without the amazing Harbor Bay Kindercare team. As with any review, take my opinions with a grain of salt, but do yourself a favor and at least check them out. read more

We love Harbor Bay Kindercare. We started our son there when he was four months old and he is now over two. The infant program is what really drew us to this place. The teachers are nurturing, playful and attentive, and they adapt to the children's own schedules for eating and napping. Our son had a difficult time transitioning from the infant room into the slightly more structured toddler room, but his teachers worked with him until he was ready and comfortable in a new environment. The Center serves wholesome, nurtritious meals and worked with our son on his transition from milk, to solid food, to table food. They are also patient and wonderful with potty training, making it a process he enjoys and looks forward to. The kids get plenty of playtime both inside and out, and enjoy educational songs, stories, games, and crafts. You get a little feedback form at the end of each day telling you what your child did, when he ate, napped, went to the bathroom, and his overall disposition. We recently moved our son to a preschool closer to home and were very sad to leave Kindercare. Happily, Kindercare welcomed us back on a weekly basis while his new preschool is closed over the holidays. I'm delighted to say there have been many positive changes just in the short time we've been gone, including more consistent teacher-child ratios, and more fresh fruits and vegetables on the menu. The Center is now under new management, and any deficiencies called out in previous negative reviews seem to have been addressed. This center is clean, bright and does everything by the book. The teachers and kids are always smiling and happy to see us. They're open late (until 6:30) which makes this place convenient for commuting parents. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to other families. read more

I wish there were more stars to mark. This place is a 100 in our book. My daughter has attended this Kindercare for almost a year. I was a little apprehensive at first because our last experience with Kindercare in San Diego was HORRIBLE. This place is a complete 180. The director, Ms. Patty, is amazing. The Friday before my daughter started, three months old, I had a breakdown in Ms. Patty's office and she was AMAZING. Caring, comforting, understanding - totally non judgmental. We went and met the teachers in the infant room again (I met them when I was still pregnant and of course didn't remember any of them). Tears in my eyes holding my daughter tight. Everyone was smilies, happy, the babies were happy. It was a perfect setting. The next Monday I dropped my daughter off for a couple of hours while I had a little "mommy" time and still called in to check on her. The staff was great. Gave me a complete run-down. The teachers in the infant room and a number of teachers in the school that we have got to know are extraordinary. I could not ask for better people to care for my baby. We had an emergency this past week and the staff reacted perfectly. (My daughter was rushed to the ER in an ambulance from the day care. Ms. Patty went with my LO, held her, made sure she had the lovey that she enjoys). We are leaving the state this year and it saddens my heart that we will be leaving this amazing staff. If I could take them all with me, I would. They love my daughter as their own. They are willing do what is best for her instead of "merely following policy" (which we have run into with other day care centers in the past.) Patty's management of the center, her leadership is reflected in the care and professionalism her staff exudes with the children. They listen and work with the parents. I can't say enough good things about this Kindercare. Your child will be well taken care of here. read more

KinderCare has been a great place for my daughter. She started in the infant room at 4 months and then went to the toddler room when she was about 1. The teachers are so loving and give all the children so much attention. My daughter absolutely adores all of her teachers and gets so excited when she sees them in the morning. My daughter has dietary restrictions and the school has been so great about it. I prepare her food for her every day and she always gets it. KinderCare is one of the only schools that was so accommodating to her restrictions. Ms. Patti does a great job running the school! I feel so fortunate to have found such a good school for my daughter. read more

We have been sending our kids to KinderCare for 6 years now; first our daughter when she was 3 months old until she graduated to kindergarten, and our son who is now in preschool. Being working parents, we are grateful each day to be able to drop off our kids at a place where we know they will be safe, loved, and nurtured. Our oldest has grown in confidence, is extremely social, and has been breezing through kindergarten, thanks to all the teachers who established a strong educational and emotional foundation during her 5 years at KinderCare. Our second looks forward to seeing his teachers and friends every morning (drop-off is a breeze) and always eagerly gives a report of all the fun he had when we pick him up. Not only do the kids have fun and learn social skills, they also follow an age-appropriate educational curriculum. At three years old, we were surprised to find out our son could sound out the words from his sister's kindergarten homework. KinderCare has been a second home to our kids and we are forever grateful to the directors (Ms. Patti and Ms. Kendra) and the many teachers who have been the village for our family. read more

I would highly recommend Harbor Bay Kindercare in Alameda. Both my kids (now 6 and 4) have gone to Kindercare since they were about 4 months old. The teachers (Ms. Amy, Ms. Margot, Ms. Jennie, and many others) and directors (Ms. Kendra, and Mr. Patti) are fantastic, and my kids love them. I appreciate all they do from teaching my children to learn words and sounds, to teaching them the alphabet, learning to write letters, potty training and so much more. The social skill my children have gained from being around the diversity of teachers and other children has been amazing. My husband and I have felt comfortable with our children at this daycare center from day 1. This was a huge weight off our shoulders. The safety precautions they have taken from COVID to many other illnesses have been outstanding. read more

If actions speak louder than words, let this be your guide: I've entrusted KinderCare with all three of my children since they were 4 months old. The day I dropped off my youngest, it suddenly hit me that my whole life was under that one roof and I turned to the director and she also realized what a big deal that was. She gave me a big hug and I knew, as I have always known, that my children were in good hands. The most important thing for me is that my children feel loved by their teachers. I realize this standard is beyond simply feeling safe and cared-for, but it's what I've come to expect from KinderCare. Even though my children have been out of KinderCare during this pandemic, they talk about their teachers every single day and we have stayed in touch with them. We miss them dearly and I can't wait for the reunion. Moreover, KinderCare understands that taking care of the parents is just as important as taking care of the children and I have always had excellent communication from the directors and teachers alike. My experience with KinderCare has far exceeded by expectations. I can't recommend it highly enough. read more

We are so lucky to have found Harbor Bay Daycare. Our daughter has been in the care of this center since she was 4 months old (she is now 18 months old). We have been very impressed with all of the caregivers at Kindercare. They take wonderful care of the children and you can truly see the bonds that they form with each and every one of the kids. Ms. Patti runs a wonderful operation at Kindercare. She and all of the staff are friendly and very accommodating. I can't say enough great things about Harbor Bay. We are grateful that we never have to worry about leaving our daughter here when we go to work. read more

If you're looking for a place for your kids for them to feel safe, loved, cared for and most especially to get them ready for the "big" school, KinderCare is that place! We moved to Alameda last year and didn't realize how challenging it was to look for a preschool that my daughter will enjoy and will fit our budget. I had inquired and talked to Ms. Patti about availability and was told that there was a bit of a wait. We went ahead and checked out the place and we loved it -- my daughter did too! We told Ms. Patti about my daughter's unfortunate experience at one of the preschools in Bay Farm and after the school tour we were told that she can start the following week! Ms. Patti is always available when you need to talk about your child's schedule, events, etc. or just to say "hi"! She has a very friendly staff! My daughter is in the Preschool class and she is having the time of her life! She loves her teachers! They are strict, which I like, but can be silly with the kids too! Sometimes I stay for a few minutes during drop off and pick up and chat with them and they share stories about my daughter -- good and those we needed to work on -- which I truly appreciate! I see how they know each and every child and try to cater to their different needs. It can be difficult at times but I see nothing but smiles on the children's faces! Every time I pick up my daughter and I see how much she's enjoying school, I know that KinderCare has already prepared her for the "big" school. And for that, I am truly grateful!!! We love KinderCare! read more

I've visited a few daycare centers for my child who was 21 months at the time. When I walked into KinderCare, I felt like the staff was super friendly and warm and nurturing and had smiles for us all the time. The always said hello and took a minute to wave to my little guy which made it somewhat easier to leave him because that is hard enough as it is. Although my child had extreme separation anxiety, they always met us at the door or right after they were done with whatever they were doing including the poopy diapers [and yes, they do use gloves] and have a lot going on and made sure that my son got many many hugs all day. now my son loves it there and runs inside. it took him a long time before that happened with many different ways of saying good-bye in the morning [believed me i tried everything], but EVERY day the staff were always on hand to help him out. Now, that is dedication. All that and also they are clean, the environment is colorful and and soft children's music make it very inviting to the kids. Also, as a note, they are wonderful at handling 'incidents' of hitting, unappropriate behavior with explanations and kindness. The staff is always fun to say good-morning to say hi to or chat with in the evenings. I love and appreciate so many of them for everything that they do! Thank you all so much!! :) read more