A longer overdue review. Selecting preschool/daycare for our son was one of our toughest decisions…read moreat the time. We were not comfortable with other facilities, and were growing incredibly nervous. When visiting Small Size Big Mind, we were quickly impressed and relieved. The owner and staff immediately gave us comfort, confidence and relief and our son was enrolled until ready to start pre-k at a nearby school. We have fond memories and stopped by many times since, to donate, say hi, and reflect. An amazing experience that we'll always cherish.

In selecting a preschool for our son, my husband and I toured many facilities in Alameda. We found…read morea lot of them to be cookie cutter and lacking something special. The second we first toured SSBM2 we were in love. The campus offers a whimsical and creative atmosphere and our son instantly fell in love with all of the handmade playground and classroom features. It's clear a lot of thought and love went into the design. The owners and staff are also a continued selling point for us. All of the teachers seem to genuinely love what they do and consistently provide an engaging experience for the children. My son comes home every day talking about the new things he's learned and it's been amazing to watch how quickly he's grown intellectually, socially and emotionally since starting in July 2019. Overall we can't recommend this school enough!

Our son attended Golden Bay for the 8 months prior to starting TK. He had a great time there, and…read morelearned a number of important things about the transition between daycare and school. Golden Bay's structure and team provided him with the right experience to prepare him for his next steps. All of the staff is very professional, caring and understanding. Highly recommended, especially if you are planning on attending TK in the school district, as your child will have more experience in a class-like setting, which will make the transition process more familiar and less stressful.

My two little ones love there, especially my daughter love there so much that she doesn't want to…read morego home every time we pick her up. When she wakes up in the morning, she would tell me that she likes her teacher so much and wants to be with her. I am also so happy to see my son started to write, and his teachers are so patient in helping him manger his emotions. Teachers there are so loving and patient, they also inspire kids to write and read. I can't say enough good things about here and just feel very grateful.

It is a great feeling as a parent to be able to work each day and leave your precious child with…read moresomeone you can trust to take the best care of your child. Our child, now nearly 2.5 years old, loves going to Yanyi Daycare & Preschool. The preschool has fantastic solid daily routine: healthy home cooked meals, nap time, circle time and time outdoors.

I am so grateful for this wonderful preschool! My daughter has been there for almost two years and…read moreshe has thrived in this loving and fun environment. Thank you, Yan Yi, for always ensuring that my daughter is safe, happy, well fed, and having fun with you every day.

Both my kids went to Alameda Park Academy. Unfortunately we had to move and change daycares but I…read morewould highly recommend this daycare/ preschool. Sandra the owner is very attentive and great with communication. She follows through on all requests. They provide all meals and even accommodated my request for vegetarian options both times The teachers are all very good, even at the old Otis location where my daughter went few years ago.My son recently went to the Park Avenue location and very easily adjusted to the teacher Helen. He was always happy to see her and stopped crying at drop off within couple of days. The teachers put in a lot of effort and are very friendly.

Our daughter is 16 months and absolutely loves Alameda Park Academy. Sandra, the director, runs a…read morevery organized school and is super responsive. Everything is straight forward and I trust Sandra to provide the best care for my child with her keen judgment and retention of experienced teachers. Our daughter instantly bonded with one of the teachers (she loves all of them but especially Teacher Ling) and goes to her voluntarily and happily every morning, which warms my heart as a mother and leaves me guilt-free to work and enjoy my day without worrying about my child. Our daughter has never been bitten or injured by another child, which is a huge relief! Also, our daughter loves the food because she comes home with a full stomach everyday. I like how they serve breakfast snack, lunch and dinner so it makes it easy on the parents. The kids are happy here and I would recommend Alameda Park Academy to all families, especially if you have a child reaching milestones early on who could benefit from being in a mixed class with older kids rather than just peers. The kids learn quicker with the mixed ages with language, rules, etc. and it gives a chance for the older kids without siblings to take care of the younger ones too (great socialization!).

I can't say enough wonderful things about this Mandarin immersion daycare! All four of my kids have…read moreattended here over the years, starting from when they were infants, and it's truly been one of the best childcare experiences we've ever had. Teacher Rebecca and her wonderful assistants made us feel completely at ease. As any parent knows, it's hard to leave your baby in someone else's care -- but I quickly realized how lucky we were to have found this place. They are so warm, patient, and genuinely caring. They know each child so well and cater to their individual personalities. The program is such a great mix of Mandarin language exposure, play, and learning. My kids picked up so much Mandarin naturally through songs, stories, and daily routines. The teachers make learning fun and meaningful, and the kids truly love being there. My daughter transitioned to TK recently and had a hard time leaving Bay Farm Happy Bees. The daycare itself is clean, organized. The outdoor play area is huge -- with play cars, little houses, play kitchens, and lots of open space for the kids to run around and use their imaginations. Meals and snacks are healthy and home-cooked, which is such a plus. My kids always tell me about what they had for lunch and how yummy it was! Communication is great--we get regular updates about what the kids did, ate, and how they slept, plus photos and videos that absolutely make my day. It's so nice to see them smiling and having fun while at daycare. They also take the children on regular little outings to the nearby park and library, which gives them a chance to explore and learn outside the daycare, too. My daughter loved the circle reading time at the library! Most importantly, I've always had total peace of mind knowing my children are safe, loved, and cared for. That's something you just can't put a price on. Teacher Rebecca has become like family to us, and I'm so grateful for all the love and effort she's poured into helping my kids grow. If you're looking for a warm, safe, and enriching Mandarin immersion daycare with a very experienced childcare provider, where your child will be happy and thrive -- this is it.

My 2+ year-old toddler has been with Rebecca for more than a year now. He really started to thrive…read moreand progress when we placed him here. He has really developed a strong bond not only with the daycare staff and family, but also with the other children there. He is very secure and happy going there, and when we pick him up. Moreover, Rebecca is very communicative about his progress and whatever needs come up, so we feel really good about a solid caregiving partnership with her. We feel so fortunate to have found Happy Bees and cannot express enough what a wonderful, safe, and happy environment Rebecca has created for the children.

I am very happy to be writing this review for Ivette's Day Care in Alameda. I wholeheartedly…read morerecommend Ivette's daycare to any parents in the Alameda/Oakland area looking for high-quality childcare. I'm writing this review as my son is "graduating" from Ivette's and starting TK this week. Everyone comments on how ready he is to start school, and I know that is due in large part to the amazing foundation Ivette has given him! The daycare is located in her beautiful Alameda home, where the children's playroom is a bright sunroom overlooking her garden. Since the pandemic, Ivette has intentionally focused on having a smaller class size with a maximum of 6 children on any given day. This was great for us, as I really wanted to send my son to a smaller daycare where he would get more individualized attention (not to mention, less exposure to germs). Ivette's home is spotless -- the cleanliness, combined with the smaller class size, will keep your children healthy and I can attest that the kids here get sick far less often than at a traditional childcare center. One of my favorite things about her program is that the children spend plenty of time outdoors. Ivette takes them to nearby parks almost every day, which was very important to us--we wanted our son to have lots of opportunities to play outside rather than spending all day indoors. Ivette does art projects with the kids most days, so we have a beautiful collection of artwork that our son has made over the last few years. Ivette's curriculum teaches the children letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers and colors -- so my son could identify all the letters in the alphabet at just 2 1/2 years old! We are infinitely grateful for Ivette's warmth and consistency and for the nurturing, safe environment of her home daycare. I also appreciate her affordable rates and flexibility to accept part-time students. Our son has also made good friends with the other children and I anticipate that we will stay in touch for years to come! If you are a parent in Alameda, I recommend Ivette's daycare without reservation.

Finding a place you can truly trust is a daunting task, but Ivette made the transition so easy for…read moreour family. The environment is absolutely beautiful--it feels like a botanical garden, which makes drop-offs so peaceful. Max is always happy to attend, and he has been thriving since he started. The communication is top-notch, and it's clearly a clean, safe, and nurturing space where the staff genuinely cares. We feel incredibly lucky to have found this place and highly recommend it!"

Alameda Montessori Children's House (AMCH) is truly a special place, and I cannot recommend it…read morehighly enough. When our family was deciding where to enroll our son, we visited many preschools. While we appreciated something about each one, none felt quite like the right fit. Some classrooms were too large, some environments felt chaotic, some teachers seemed less engaged, and others felt more like daycare than a preschool with a thoughtful curriculum. Then we found AMCH, and it felt like a dream. From the moment we walked in, we noticed the difference. The classrooms were beautifully organized, warm, and child-friendly. There was a wonderful sense of calm throughout the school, and the teachers were welcoming, kind, engaged, and genuinely happy to be there. We immediately knew this was the environment we wanted for our son. Needless to say, we chose AMCH, and I could not be more grateful for the experience. Watching our son grow and thrive there was incredibly rewarding. The staff provided him with structure, encouragement, and, most importantly, so much love and care. What makes AMCH especially remarkable is its staff, in particular Xina Laoshi and Ms. King. This dynamic duo is truly exceptional. They provide a wonderful bilingual Montessori-style curriculum while creating a classroom environment that is calm, engaging, nurturing, and joyful. They have an incredible ability to connect with children and meet each child exactly where they are. They put so much thought and effort into getting to know each child as an individual. They truly learn who your child is--what motivates them, where they may need support, and how they can help them grow. You can see this firsthand during parent conferences. It is clear that they genuinely know your child, and their developmental assessments are incredibly comprehensive and thoughtful. They provide detailed insight into each area of development, which made us feel that our son was truly seen and understood. We saw the impact of that care even after our son graduated from AMCH and started elementary school. We were so proud to see how well prepared he was. He was thriving academically and transitioned successfully. The hardest part for him was leaving behind his beloved teachers and friends. Xina Laoshi was incredibly thoughtful during this transition. She welcomed him back in the afternoons with open arms so he could spend time with his old friends and even told us that he is always welcome to visit. That gesture meant so much to our family. She truly made us feel that we would always be part of the AMCH family. The communication from the school is also outstanding. We received weekly updates recapping what the children had been learning and what was planned for the following week, along with weekly photos that gave us a glimpse into our son's days--learning, exploring, playing, and having so much fun with his classmates. The amount of thought, time, and effort that goes into keeping families so informed is no small feat, and it truly does not go unnoticed. It is clear that these updates are created with genuine care and intention, and they gave us such a wonderful connection to our son's experience at school. As parents, it meant so much to feel included in his learning and to see all the little moments that made his days special. Another unexpected highlight was the food. The meals provided are fresh, healthy, and delicious. They gave our son opportunities to try foods he otherwise might not have been willing to eat, and we loved seeing him become more adventurous with what he ate. More than anything, what stands out about AMCH is the genuine care and love they give to every child. From the lead teachers and classroom helpers to the cook, Vincent, and everyone else who contributes to the school community, every person plays a part in creating such a warm and nurturing environment. They care not only about the children, but also about their siblings and families. You can feel that this is a community built around supporting the whole family. AMCH is so much more than a preschool. It is a place where children are nurtured, encouraged, respected, and genuinely loved. We feel incredibly fortunate that our son had the opportunity to spend his early years there. I cannot recommend Alameda Montessori Children's House enough. I sincerely hope other families have the opportunity to experience the warmth, care, and magic of this school. AMCH will always hold a very special place in our hearts--it is truly a gem.

ACMH is an exceptional school led by Xi Laoshi, a dedicated and talented Montessori educator…read more Xi Laoshi has created a positive and loving environment where children learn how to respect themselves, one another, and their surroundings. All of the staff are extremely patient and skilled at helping children process their emotions. Guest teachers come regularly to teach mindfulness, art, and martial arts. The classroom is bright, inviting, and filled with a rotation of interesting activities, and the outdoor space is large and filled with vegetables and fruit trees that the children help plant, care for, and enjoy. Lisa NaiNai prepares the most delicious and nutritious lunch for the children with a menu sent out at the start of each week that would make any fan of Chinese/Taiwanese food want to partake. My daughter came home everyday excited to tell us about all of the interesting things she did that day and excited to show off her math and Mandarin reading and writing skills. We feel so lucky to have been a part of this community for the last 1.5 years and could not recommend it more highly for parents seeking a school where their children can thrive!

I feel incredibly fortunate that both of my children were taught by Ms. Suzy at Le Petit Z…read morePreschool in Alameda. My son started with Ms. Suzy when he was only 2 years and 2 months old and stayed with her all the way until kindergarten. My daughter started even younger, at 1 year and 8 months, and also remained with Ms. Suzy until she was ready for kindergarten. Looking back at all those years, one of the things I appreciate most is how well prepared both of my children were when they entered public school in Alameda. They didn't just learn academics. They developed independence, confidence, social skills, curiosity, and a genuine excitement about learning. Ms. Suzy has an incredible way with young children. She is caring, patient, and creates an environment where kids can learn through a Montessori-inspired style while still having fun and being children. I also loved that my kids were naturally exposed to Spanish and different cultures from such an early age. My daughter absolutely loved going to preschool. She was always learning something fascinating and would come home excited to tell us stories about what she had done that day. My son made me appreciate Ms. Suzy's talent even more. At home, getting him to sit still for anything was practically an Olympic event. Then I visited Le Petit Z for a school activity and couldn't believe what I saw. He was engaged, listening, participating and learning with the other children. Seeing Ms. Suzy and her team working with the children firsthand gave me tremendous respect for what they do. Even years later, both of my kids still talk about how much fun they had growing up under Ms. Suzy's wing. As a parent, that means a lot to me. Preschool is such an important part of childhood, and I'm grateful that their memories of those years are so positive. I've recommended Le Petit Z Preschool to many new parents in Alameda over the years, and I continue to do so today. For families looking for a small, loving, Montessori-inspired preschool in Alameda, the East Bay, or the greater Bay Area, I strongly recommend visiting Le Petit Z and meeting Ms. Suzy. Our family will always have a special place in our hearts for Le Petit Z.

My almost 3 year old has been attending Le Petit since she was 18 months old and has really…read moreblossomed here. The teachers are professional, kind, and most of all - LOVING. They are so amazing at what they do. I truly feel so spoiled my daughter has been taught, and nurtured, at this school during these precious years. There are only 12 children; it is a very intimate environment, which I love and appreciate a lot. It is evident my child is happier, smarter, and more socially intelligent because of her experience here. I'm getting emotional even writing this review because of how special they've made this phase of life. I'll be sad when this stage of her education continues to PreK, but for now I am soaking it in and feeling very grateful!