I waited a couple of months after starting daycare before posting a review, and now that our son has been at Orkidz for over two months, I truly can't say enough good things about it. There is a reason this place only has 5-star reviews! As a first-time mom, I was extremely anxious about leaving my son with caregivers outside of family. What I didn't expect was that the wonderful teachers at Orkidz would start to feel like extended family to our baby. Before enrolling, I had heard plenty of horror stories about daycares where staff seemed disengaged or unhappy in their jobs. That has absolutely not been our experience here. The women at Orkidz genuinely LOVE children, and it shows every single day in the warmth, patience, and care they bring to the classroom. We toured several daycares before Orkidz, but the moment we walked in for our tour with Ms. Sheila, we were sold because no other place could compare. We were amazed with the facility, their library, their beautiful outdoor space, and the impressive commercial-style kitchen where they make yummy food for the kids. As for our son, I had prepared myself for difficult drop-offs and lots of crying. Instead, after a brief moment of confusion on his very first day (not sadness or separation anxiety because the teachers got to distracting him right away!), he settled in and adjusted to daycare immediately. He loves being around his little friends, is excited to go every morning, and is all smiles every time we come back to pick him up. Our son loves all the teachers, his face lights up when he sees them every morning, and he is especially attached to his primary teacher, Ms. Azadeh. They also have fun and engaging classes and we absolutely love the daily updates and pictures! In just a couple of months, we've already seen our now toddler become more social, curious, and comfortable around other children and adults. He also eats so well there and they have a variety of homecooked meals that I could never replicate. If you see a spot open at Orkidz, consider yourself lucky and save the spot as soon as you can - you will not regret it! read more

We have had a wonderful experience at Orkidz. My first kid started in 2022 and my second kid started earlier this year. The school is very clean and the teachers are thoughtful and kind. They incorporate a lot of fun activities ie art projects, science, yoga, dance, music, walks to jewel terrace park, etc. They serve healthy food and snacks. We are incredibly grateful for Orkidz and all the teachers! My kids are always quickly running inside. I highly recommend! read more

We had such a great experience with Orkidz Preschool for both of our kids. We were nervous transitioning from home care but the teachers made it incredibly smooth. Teacher Amal and Nila from the downstairs class were especially wonderful. When our kids moved upstairs, Teacher Fakhria and Soheila continued that same level of attention and kindness, which made us feel so comfortable. It was also great working with Teacher Sheila who is now the director. The pricing was very reasonable and included meals, which was a big plus. They also helped with potty training (huge win!). We're really thankful for the care our kids received. read more

We have sent both our children to Orkidz and are very happy with the care they have received. It is a convenient and clean location that serves healthy homemade lunches to the children. The teachers are loving and caring. It's a wonderful addition to the community. read more

I've been working at this preschool for about three years. The place is full of love and warmth. What makes it special here is not just teaching or care, but the love and positive energy that everyone shares. The kids, with their smiles and play, fill our days with joy. The owners and our director, Sheila, with their big hearts, are always supportive and inspiring. As a teacher, I'm really happy to be part of this kind and caring family. I'm also very thankful to the parents who trusted us and gave us the most precious treasure of their lives. read more

After having a not-so-great experience at another daycare, we are so grateful to have found Orkidz Preschool. Our 3-year-old is thriving because of the care and attention she receives from all the teachers and staff. Teacher Nila and Teacher Rasmya are absolute angels - the thoughtfulness and attention to detail that is put into the school curriculum, enrichment activities, and daily photo updates is incredible. This place truly goes above and beyond for their kids. read more

Our daughter started at Orkidz about seven months ago. At the time, we were choosing between Step One and Orkidz, but ultimately decided on Orkidz based on our positive interactions with the staff--especially Director Sheila--and the strong first impression the school made on us. Looking back now, we're so glad we made that choice. We couldn't be happier with our experience. A common concern we've heard from friends with kids is how often their whole family gets sick after starting daycare. Thankfully, that hasn't been our experience at Orkidz. The facility is exceptionally clean, spacious, and well-organized. The staff follows excellent hygiene practices, the children are encouraged to wash their hands regularly, and they spend plenty of time outdoors--all of which contribute to a healthier environment. The teachers are incredibly nurturing, attentive, and genuinely passionate about early childhood development. We always feel informed and reassured through daily updates, shared photos, and quick chats during pickup. Our daughter absolutely loves going to Orkidz and frequently talks about how much she loves her teachers, Nila and Rasmya--that joy speaks volumes. The activities are thoughtfully planned to be both educational and fun. From story time and arts & crafts to outdoor play, yoga, and music sessions, every day brings a new adventure. We've seen tremendous growth in our child's confidence, language skills, and social development since she started at Orkidz, and we credit that to the incredible team. If you're looking for a place where your child will be loved, supported, and inspired to grow--look no further. Orkidz is truly the best place for your little ones. read more

We just started our 8.5-month-old at Orkidz and we couldn't be happier with the decision. We expected some separation anxiety, but all the teachers are so wonderful at distracting her and keeping her busy with songs and playing. I love that they provide homemade meals and she comes back happy and fully nourished every day! The school is extremely clean, they take advantage of all their outdoor space, and the teachers are very warm and welcoming. We're so looking forward to her going through all her preschool years here. read more

Both of my kids attended Orkidz for the last 4+ years. I can't speak highly enough of the place - they took care of my girls through covid and beyond, showing them love and care like they were their own children. The teachers made me feel warm and loved, and my kids grew and thrived as they learned letters, numbers, math, yoga, and the eponymous "nature walk" on Friday. If I had more kids - I would send them here. read more

We absolutely love Orkidz. The teachers and staff are incredible and they have a great curriculum with meals and snacks provided. All the staff really care about the children. Highly recommend! read more

Orkidz is a wonderful preschool, and I highly recommend it. We've been sending our child to Orkidz for over a year now. The outdoor space is excellent; the yard for the kids to play in is big. And the play structures themselves were designed by Ms. Mahta's husband, who is an architect! The outdoor spaces also include a beautiful garden, with some edible plants that the teachers include in the daily homemade lunch! Speaking of which, lunch is provided -- you don't have to pack your child a lunch. And the lunches themselves are quite healthful; there is a sample menu on the Orkidz website. I'm not sure how they got our picky eater daughter to eat her vegetables at school, but we are grateful for that. Other helpful things about Orkidz: there is much less built-in vacation than at other preschools. The kids have a huge variety of enrichment activities, including music, yoga, nature walks, craft-making, art and science, library time, etc. Orkidz really does a LOT to care for the kids. Sometimes a local dentist comes and talks to the kids about the importance of brushing teeth, and sometimes they *really* go above and beyond by scheduling a pediatric eye assessment! Of all the great things about Orkidz, the teachers are the best part. It's clear that the teachers care deeply about the kids and take excellent care of them. The teachers create an environment where kids really thrive, with playtime, science experiments, learning the alphabet, making seasonal crafts, and many other fun activities. Dropoff almost always goes very smoothly -- our daughter is always excited to see her teacher in the morning, and our daughter has clearly strongly bonded with her teachers. We are very, very grateful to Orkidz and especially all the wonderful teachers who have helped our daughter thrive. I highly recommend Orkidz. read more

We love Orkidz. The teachers are caring and experienced - with low turnover, they really get to know the kids, provide specialized attention, and develop bonds. They maintain a beautiful and calming environment and provide lots of enrichment activities (yoga, music, dance) alongside the regular nature walks, outdoor play, art projects, and reading readiness. I'd recommend them to anyone. read more

This review is long overdue: we love Orkidz so much and you will love sending your toddlers here. Our oldest has been here for a year and half now and I wish we had her start here right when she was eligible at 2 years old. We came from a tumultuous daycare situation previously where the teacher turnover rate was so high and inconsistent. Being at Orkidz has redeemed all trust in a daycare system. Our girl used to cry going into daycare for months but after a couple of weeks at Orkidz she started walking right in by herself. The shock and relief in our hearts can't even be put into words. All the teachers here are so caring and treat all the kids as their own. There are teacher parent conferences twice a year which is super helpful to track how your toddler is doing. I don't have to prepare lunch or snacks because they provide everything necessary during the day. It's hard to be a working parent and full time mom but Orkidz makes the day time care so much easier to bear with. They just remodeled their outdoor play structures and communication with Orkidz leadership has always been smooth and easy. You will not regret sending your kids here! read more

Our time at Orkidz has been great! The teachers are kind and clearly love my daughter. They are organized, good communicators and my daughter always comes home with new crafts. When she started there, she didn't know how to write her name and now she can write the entire alphabet! We're sending our other daughter there soon b/c now they take younger kiddos. So grateful for Orkidz! read more

We love Orkidz Preschool! Our son has been attending for over six months and we love his teacher Ms. Amal; he has clearly bonded with her. It is a play-based preschool that provides three meals a day!! They have a monthly schedule of daily activities with art/craft projects, music, reading, outdoor play and nature walks every Friday. They send a daily photo via an app that we enjoy so much. We were so lucky to find an opening in December starting in January right when I was having to return to office. We arrived for an information session/tour with a few other parents and met Mahta, the wonderful woman who owns and runs the preschool for an informational evening tour. We loved the space and the convenient location and most importantly, we got a very good impression from Mahta. She understands what it's like to be a first-time parent looking for a preschool. We felt very strongly that we could trust her. She has very good judgement, is direct and reasonable and we have a lot of respect for her. We had toured and interviewed at several preschools where either there was a waitlist or the schedule didn't provide enough coverage or the location/distance was difficult or the contract was predatory (Montessori Family Preschool - yikes!). We were so fortunate to find Orkidz. read more

We want to share how grateful and appreciative we are of all of Orkidz attention, care, energy, and adoration for our daughter. In the past year she has developed into a more responsible, caring and funny toddler because of their time and thoughtfulness in her schooling. This year she's more confident in the 3 year old class and bravely trying so many new independent activities after school and on weekends. When she comes home from school she immediately wants to play preschool and she's the teacher and her parents or dolls are the kids. She LOVES going to school everyday and misses teachers on breaks. We're so happy to have found this school and so thankful for their care and support in raising our daughter. read more

I cannot express how much we are happy with the orkidz preschool and our son's development there. They have all type of classes to help your little one with the early development and getting ready to school. The teachers are very nice and helpful. The environment is very inviting and it didn't take long time for our son to get used to school, even though he had worse experience before. Thanks read more

Orckids was a second home to my toddler. A few months into pandemic parenting, with no childcare, and full time jobs, we got lucky and found a spot for him at Orckids when they were allowed to reopen. Ms. Mahta and Teacher Sheila immediately made it a warm and comforting place for him. It was only a week when he would just waltz in and barely say bye to us at drop-off. It's a great space with an awesome outdoor area and varied curriculum. He loved music class, yoga, and the guinea pigs. We also loved getting photo updates in the HiMama app every day. The other teachers (C & A) were also great and we loved hearing stories of what happened each day from our son. We definitely would have kept him enrolled until TK but we moved out of Albany. read more

Having your first child at the start of Covid was not easy, especially as a solo parent needing to work full-time; but this place has helped us find our routine and a level of comfort in my own abilities. It's been a lonely journey trying to figure out what's best for my child but in addition to providing a caring environment for my LO, they've also been there for me as a parent. They take the time to answer my questions, provide guidance, and tell me about my son's day. When my son turned 2 years old, I had toured a few daycares but was thoroughly impressed by the cleanliness, openness, and variety of activities available at Orkidz. He was fairly quiet when he started but after ~3 months he's so talkative and is so much more expressive when other people are around. He loves telling me about all of his teachers, the friends he's made, and what they do together. I've been very happy with his development both educationally and socially. I never realized how hard it could be to let your child go into the care of others until I had to; and I am so thankful to have found Orkidz to provide him a nurturing environment to grow. read more

I learned about Orckids Preschool through a friend, as the owners also operate Sunflowers Home Daycare in Oakland. The testimonials and reviews of this daycare are excellent- children thrive. I toured the space two weeks ago and it is beautiful. The school has been thoughtfully designed by people who clearly understand child development. Everything is brand new and pristine. There is plenty of space to learn and play both outside and inside. I'm looking forward to the opening in late July. read more

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I can't recommend Mahta enough. Orckids is a beautiful facility, with caring teachers and a ton of fun. The curriculum is thorough and - through play, movement and music - kids learn way more than they need to know before kindergarten. When my son started kindergarten this year, the head of school proclaimed "he must have gone to an excellent pre-school, he knows a lot." In addition to preparing our little ones for school, Orckids creates friendships and community. My son has made lifelong friends and went into his new environment with confidence and social skills. My son can be cautious when undertaking new activities - the staff at Orckids meets him where he is at, supports him in taking risks, and helps him thrive. He is certainly more confident and adventurous than he was two years ago. The multi-cultural, multi-lingual values at Orckids are what I was seeking in a pre-school. I want my son to be a citizen of the world and to experience all the diversity that our beloved East Bay has to offer. Finally, the food! My "cheese pizza and nuggets ONLY" kid was eating salad, lentils and healthy foods that he would never try at home! Everything is lovingly prepared and largely organic. I can't recommend Mahta and her team enough! read more

Our kids (3 and 5 yr old) love Orckids! They plan something fun and educational for the kids each day. Music Monday, Yoga Tuesday, Wed is science I think, Thu cooking (smoothie, for example), and free play Friday. The teachers are great at planning something more challenging for the older kids, and easier projects for the younger ones. Mahta and all the teachers are caring, and I appreciate that they are serious with good hygiene, making sure that kids wash their hands often. Parents are kept in the loop with daily activities and photos via app. Orckids has updated their protocol at drop off and pick up since reopening. The facility is clean and well maintained, overall a safe environment especially important during this time. Before coming to Orckids, we attended a larger daycare/preschool in San Francisco. Our transition was easy. Kids are happy and we highly recommend this preschool. read more

Wonderful facilities, teachers, and activities. Good safety protocols. Also, Mahta cooks great food for the kids!

I have loved the warm, welcoming, and stimulating environment at Orkidz! I enrolled my then 2-year-old at Orkidz a year ago because I needed childcare with consistent hours and a quality learning environment at a price that fit within in our family budget--this is a tall order in the Bay Area. But I have sincerely enjoyed the experience that we've had over the last year and a half, even as my daughter has advanced to a new classroom. The teachers provide new activities every day, work with families to address kids' needs, and have formed strong caregiving relationships with our daughter. read more

We knew at the tour that this would be a warm, caring learning environment for our shy oldest son. Teacher Mahta was patient in letting him take his time joining the tour, enticing him with the sizeable toy collection. Sure enough, a year and a half later, we have two boys happily enrolled and learning away. I really appreciate the kindness and patience of the teachers as our little guys figure out which hand to write with and navigate their first real friendships. Life can hold many emotions for preschoolers, and the Orkidz team fully supports parents and kids! Oh, and they use an app to share daily photos, activities, and meals, which is the highlight of my time at work :) read more

We couldn't be happier with Orckids. The staff are kind, caring, and committed to seeing the kids thrive. They have special activities each day (like field trips or yoga) and rotate the books and materials for the kids regularly. The facility itself is beautiful -- warm, clean, inviting, full of natural light and natural wood. We interviewed the owners extensively and walked away with full confidence in their experience, not to mention their passion and commitment to the preschool and the kids. In fact, we checked out several schools and this one stood out by far. Truly a gem here in Albany. read more

Orckids Preschool is the place you can trust and rely on, either for its hardware or due to its software (teachers). The facilities are new and very clean. The teachers are loved by kids. The preschool is managed by Mahta and Mehdi and assisted by experienced staff. They are all super nice. They think beyond just the child care but also the best welfare of the kids' families. We were new to the town and had to overcome hurdles like any typical new resident. Mahta and her team helped us by accommodating our needs. In the past year, my three-year kid was able to settle down, build confidence, and get well along with other lovely cubs. We strongly recommend this place. read more

Ms. Becky is such a wonderful person. Very trustworthy and caring with my kids. I worked in El Cerrito for years and struggle to find a place close to work without any referrals. Finding this place gave me peace if mind and knowing my kids were im a safe place learning while I was at work. Being a working mom is stressful and finding someone to trust to take care of your children is such a relief. read more

Our son has been going to Orckids ever since it opened and it's been a great experience! They have tons of engaging activities throughout the day and I'm not sure how they manage to get him to nap every time he goes. He is an extremely active boy who is very sweet, but definitely has some strong opinions :) Ms. Mahta, the owner and director, is so good at what she does-- extremely kind and caring and skilled at providing structure/enforcing rules. We've toured a number of preschools and our son has been enrolled in a couple (had to switch due to moving). This one has a beautiful facility, great activities, and most importantly, lots of warmth. read more

Orkidz Preschool - Preschools Near Me - Albany, California

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Orkids pre school is a fun place to be! I went there with a friend to visit and the place looked clean and neat and well established. The principal was warm and friendly. Their preschool program introduces the children to lifelong skills that will help them be to be successful in school. Their schedule involves, circle time, group work, social interactions, dance time, and music time. The owner explained that they also give children a chance to develop individually by providing activities that help them become problem solvers and lifelong learner. Sounds good to me! read more

This is a wonderful preschool. I have my two kids enrolled at Orckids and they enjoy the teachers, fellow students, and curriculum. The school lesson plan is very organized and has interesting and engaging topics for the kids. They do fun activities like cooking, yoga, arts/crafts, and music class. The facility itself is also very nice and clean, with a great outdoor area which has fun equipment and play structures. My kids love the snacks and lunch as well! Finally, I appreciate the safety protocols and adaptability of the staff and teachers during this difficult time. I highly recommend this school. read more

We had our 3 year old attend for the last part of summer and had a wonderful experience here with Vicki and her assistant watching over a small class. They were very flexible with our admittedly inconsistent drop-off and pickup, and never gave us any reason to be worried or angry. Our daughter loved going there and we will definitely remember our short time while it lasted. read more

My 2 year old daughter goes to Orckids and she loves it. Martha is very patient and dedicated to caring. Orckids provides three meals a day, which Martha insist only organic and healthy ingredients. Indoor and outdoor playroom is spacious and all facilities are brand-new and clean! I toured a several daycare centers and from my experience, Orckid is highly recommendable! read more

We had our 2 sons for about 2 months. It's new and clean. And director Vicky and teachers are really warm and faithful. They are really good. My kids were very happy going there. I totally recommend this place. read more