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.

Our son was with Carmen and staff for over 3 years and she is the best! He learned so much and is…read moreso independent and thriving in TK now!can't thank the staff enough! Love you all

Carmen's daycare is a hidden gem! She has been running a small home daycare for over 20 years. Our…read morechild attended her daycare from age 1.5 to 3 years old, and thrived there. Carmen is loving, nurturing and treats the children as if they are part of her family. She encourages each child to be themselves and follow their interests. The days are structured and predictable. She runs the daycare more like a preschool, and would have been an amazing preschool teacher and principal. There is a daily activity schedule, themes (often initiated by child interest) and lots of outdoor time. She helped with potty training, and her experience was invaluable. Her staff (Shayla, the other Carmen) are kind, funny and care deeply about the children they care for. I recommend Carmen to almost any family looking for trustworthy childcare in Oakland. If you are looking for childcare with a slick app, the latest toys and trendy ideology- this place is not for you. Carmen has her way that she does things because it works. Logistics: Pros: the extended hours were critical for our family with 2 working parents. She provides healthy food! Very reasonably priced and my employer's FSA covered some of the cost. Children and employees are vaccinated. Cons: The school drop off traffic can be hectic if you are on the same schedule as Sequoia Elementary School across the street. We left because we moved out of state. Our child is still asking about Carmen and misses her dearly. We are so glad she was part of our lives. Do yourself a favor and see if Carmen's daycare is a good fit for your family!

Our 6 month old baby girl has been with Binh Thi Kim Nguyen (Kim) ) for the past 3 months while I…read moreworked a contract job. I had to find childcare fast and was referred by a trusted friend. My contract is up in January and there will be an opening. If you are scrambling to find quality care for your infant, I highly recommend Binh. Her hours are 8-5 Mon-Fri and her home is open and airy with lots of toys to keep little ones active. She keeps a daily journal so you know naptimes, feeding times, etc. and my baby was always happy at drop off and pick up. I knew she was safe and well cared for in Binh's home. Binh only takes 4 children at a time so this opening is sure to fill fast. You can read many more recommendations for Binh on Berkeley Parents Network.

My child has been at Mitzy's for almost 2 years, since he was about 20 months, and it has been a…read morewonderful place for him. The whole space is lovely, and is somehow exciting and calming at the same time - very much in keeping with Mitzy's own way of being. All of the maestras are warm, caring, and communicative, and have supported my child through many things, including potty training and the death of a pet. They are also great at supporting social and emotional learning. The kids have lots of time for unstructured play but also plenty to do each day - all kinds of activities including arts and crafts, sensory play, gardening, special birthday celebrations and holiday-related activities. At the end of the day, the kids are thrilled to see their parents, but none of them seem to want to go home, and I always want to linger in the backyard for a while, too. Highly recommend this program.

I am so happy and grateful that I found SquareCare! My son started the program soon after turning…read more2. Until then, he had only ever been cared for by his dad, grandmother, and me - no babysitters or nannies - so being away from us was a big adjustment. From the very beginning, the team at SquareCare was incredibly understanding and supportive. Mitzy created a thoughtful transition plan that truly set my son up for success. At first, I was able to stay with him at school so he could get comfortable with the new environment and teachers. Then, we gradually increased the time he spent there alone. Finally, once we all felt confident that he was happy and secure, he began napping at school as well. Now, my son loves school and attends full days three times a week. Mitzy, Yessi, and Tiara are so patient and genuinely invested in his success. We're all so proud of his progress and growth. I highly recommend this program! The teachers are not only caring and wonderful with the children, but the environment is exceptionally clean and inviting. Plus, there's a bunny and chickens--such a fun and unique touch that the kids absolutely love!

Veronica is a gift! She's amazing with children, and caring of the parents. She's smart,…read morecreative, fun, and truly the best.

We LOVE Veronica!! I can barely put into words how grateful we are for her. We are so fortunate to…read morehave such a loving, warm and caring person care for both of our kids. She is truly amazing. My 2 kids are both VERY different. Veronica is perceptive to both of their personalities and supports their growth. She truly loves our kids like her own. Most importantly our kids have fun and LOVE it there! They go outside everyday, either on a walk or to the park. They have consistent routines and are continually engaged. They run to the door smiling and laughing - sometimes don't want to leave! I couldn't have asked for a better person to care for my kids. I am forever grateful for the loving care Veronica has provided for our family.

I love this school, it has an excellent school program. they always do different activities…read more the children learn Spanish very quickly. the teachers and administrative staff are very friendly.

Our children have attended OMES since Summer 2023 and we love the school! What especially sets OMES…read moreapart from other preschools is how welcoming and warm the teachers are - I see them care for my children as if they are their own. Karen and Jesus have done a wonderful job fostering a friendly and supportive staff/parent community that we love being a part of. Each day I know my children are engaging in fun and educational activities, and I love getting the daily updates on Brightwheel about their days. As a Spanish-immersion school, I'm incredibly impressed with the way my children have picked up the language and even use outside of school with other Spanish speakers.

We are so grateful to have found Mountain Boulevard Montessori School for our son. It's hard to…read morefind a daycare you can truly trust, especially when you're starting them at such a young age, but we immediately felt comforted by the staff's warmth and genuine care during our initial tour there. Our son started here at just two years old, and we have been amazed to watch him blossom over the years. The teachers and staff have not only provided a nurturing and loving environment but have also been deeply committed to the children's education. We've seen him learn and grow so much, and the curriculum has thoroughly prepared him for his start in grade school. Mountain Boulevard Montessori School is a truly special place, and we are so grateful for all the hard work they put in. We're so happy with our experience that we've already decided to bring our next child here when she is old enough. We couldn't recommend this school more highly.

I want to take a moment to recognize the Director Mr Dennis for his excellent customer service. I…read morereached out to a few Montessori schools with questions about their policies because I'm currently going through a custody battle. , the father enrolled our child in a Montessori school, and that school refused to provide me with any details--even after I made it clear there are no restrictions on custody. It made an already difficult situation even more frustrating, as it felt like they were siding with him or had been told not to share any information with me. Dennis, however, was incredibly helpful and went above and beyond . Even though my child isn't enrolled at his school, he took the time to clearly explain their policies and shared that all Montessori schools should follow the same principles. He emphasized that both parents should be treated equally and provided all the information I needed without hesitation. He even instructed me on what steps .which was incredibly thoughtful and supportive. Although I currently share 50/50 custody, if I had the choice, I would absolutely choose Mountain boulevard Montessori. It's clear that they genuinely care about the children and families they serve. They're not just focused on profits--they put people first.

We love AMA! This was the first preschool our daughter attended and we were blown away with how…read moreloving the maestras are. Our daughter has been bilingual since she started talking and AMA was the perfect fit to reinforce both languages. Our daughter was always happy to go to school in the morning and sad to leave in the afternoon. She loved the curriculum mix of circle time, independent play, and group activities outside and inside. The maestras were very attentive and gave us regular updates through brightwheel. This school, all the teachers, and other parents are very down to earth. We would absolutely recommend this preschool without hesitation!

We love having our son at a daycare that feels like home. The maestras welcome him every morning…read moreand make sure to update us throughout his day with the activities that they do. They are always very creative and make sure everyday him and his amigos learn but also have a fun time. Gracias AMA!

When we decided to look for a daycare for our daughter so that she would be able to socialize and…read morebe in the presence of other children her age, it was a struggle. Having her away from us was hard to imagine and we visited several places before meeting Kaamil and Child's Play. After our tour, we were convinced that Child's Play was the right place for her. The space was warm and inviting and the teachers made all of the difference! Communication was clear through the app, with daily updates and photos/videos so it always felt like we were aware of what she was up to throughout the day. Marcela, Camila, Blanca and Fifi cared so deeply for her and allowed her to grow at her own pace. We were with Child's Play for a little less than a year because our daughter just recently started at a new Montessori school, but her daycare experience here set her up for the easiest transition we can hope for. For any parents in the area, I highly recommend Child's Play!

Our child attended Child's Play for a year and it was such an amazing experience. As first time…read moreparents, we were nervous about having our little being away from us every day, but she instantly thrived there. The teachers are incredibly kind, fun, patient, and personable. From the get go, we knew she was in the best hands. Having updates and pictures sent to us daily made us still feel connected and a part of her day, and everyone who worked there made us feel instantly at ease. They were not only great with our little one but also helping us with the adjustment. Our daughter learned so much over her year there through the thoughtful curriculum and wonderful set up/amenities of Child's Play. It was all taught in a very organic and fun way, and she would have the best time learning new things daily. Often times when we would pick her up, she would want to stay and continue to enjoy all the fun Child's Play has to offer. Though we have moved out of the area, the Child's Play experience is one that we will always be grateful for. Our daughter still mentions her teachers, and had such a strong foundation as she has transitioned into next steps of childhood. We only wish our time at Childs Play could have been longer.

Casa de Los Niños Daycare has been a fantastic experience for our child and our family. He attended…read morefrom age 2 to 3. The two teachers, Marlene and Theresa, are incredibly caring and professional, creating a warm and nurturing environment where our child thrived. We saw amazing progress in our child's social skills and creativity, all thanks to the engaging activities and personalized attention they provide. Additionally we have an LGBTQ family and we always felt welcome and respected. We highly recommend Casa de Los Niños for its warmth and exceptional staff.

This daycare is truly excellent. Both our children, who are very different, attended for years and…read moreabsolutely loved it. They arrived every morning happy to be there and left in great moods at the end of the day. The staff are talented and caring and the owner is very responsive. They are Spanish Emerson but the staff also speak English. And to top it all off they provide healthy meals and snacks so no need to pack lunches! Unless you want to of course. We truly cannot recommend them enough.