I am a nanny for the most adorable 2 year old and her parents signed her up for the Messy Makers…read moreprogram. From the moment she walked in she loved it ! Ms. Amy has an enchanting backyard that is child friendly and beautiful. She understands child development and introduces age-appropriate activities for the children that cover all the domains: cognitive, social emotional, physical ( fine and gross motor skills), and language and literacy through a variety of open ended art experiences. The activities are child chosen and she even reads a book and offers a yummy snack during the duration. The other parents are friendly and it's a wonderful learning time ! I have my masters in early childhood education and have been in the field for 30 years and believe me your child will love this !

Great time at Messy makers! We did a drop in class while my daughter had a week off of daycare…read more Usually the classes are on weekdays--ideal for stay at home moms or Nannies to take kids. I suggested to Amy to do weekend classes for working moms, she mentioned she would think about it. Overall, nice class where the first 10-15 minutes are free play in stations such as painting, kinetic sand, playdough then there is an actual class where everyone does the same thing and then there is story time and after that kids can jump on the trampoline. Most of the kids in the session I went to were younger than my daughter so come in with an open mind! Your 2 or 3 year old may be the best listener in the world, however if all the other kids are not paying attention, you might not get your desired art project. I think my kiddo liked the trampoline the best :) Overall a cool class, if you sign up for a whole session it's approx $30 a class. Once again, come in with an open mind, your kid is not gonna roll out of here being the next Piccaso.

Allison is a wonderful art teacher and my daughter really enjoyed taking her art classes for the…read morepast year. She is a kind spirited person and really awesome/patient with kids of all ages. Her classes are fun and creative. My daughter always had something beautiful to bring home, and alot of them are hung up in her room at our new place :) Art classes can get expensive but i find Allison's fees to be very reasonable and it is for an hour and a half...Unfortunately we moved out of SL and the classes had to stop, if we were any closer, i would sign my daughter up for her classes in a heart beat! There is a beautiful garden and a play structure right in front of her school, another plus!

Mulford Gardens is a sweet lushly vegetated, pergola blooming playground, outdoor venue, and art…read moreschool tucked off a side street on the industrial section of San Leandro. I saw a sign for a children's art camp and took the opportunity to enrich my little peanut who goes through paper like a bag of Doritos with a little formal instruction. The camp lasted a week, three hours daily, and concluded with a celebratory art show and family friendly picnic. The instructor, Allison, is a talented life long artist from a family of artists, who currently runs the day to day functions of the park along with the school in the rear building. She is amazing with rowdy smocked children running amok flinging actual paint and canvases--not washable fingerpaint, but wear your play garb for a genuine, stain inducing introduction to techniques of fine art. My daughter came home with a bagful of illustrations of every animal known to man, a finished canvas, and a memory of an experience she wants to repeat again. Fortunately, the school offers both after school programs during the year and multiple sessions in the summer. Additionally, there are adult classes--one in the late afternoon and another on Wednesday evenings that I recently decided to dip my 'haven't painted in 20 years palette' into. It's been a fabulous three classes so far. A traditional art curriculum with warm ups, exercises in charcoal still life's, cross hatching, scratch etching, and sustained work on oil canvas. Allison knows when to give guidance and when to let you figure out brush strokes on your own. I'm learning to ride my "artist" bike all over again and enjoying every challenging, creative moment. I highly recommend this obscure little school in San Leandro. I hope it grows like the garden it's situated in.

Kid: I love Miss Patrice and Studio Time so much. I really learn a lot and can't wait to go there…read moreagain! Mom: My daughter just LOVES her Studio Time art class, it is by far the best part of her week. She's so happy and she feels so proud of her work. I'm so touched by it. So much positivity and creativity abound! Miss Patrice is a magical fairy and her magnificent instructors are fabulous with the kids.

Today I took a class with Patrice in her fantastic studio. The classes are very small and…read moreintimate. I worked on a Day of the Dead Teatro for Dia de los Muertos. It was fantastic. I am sad the class is over and more inspired to create than I have been in a L.O.N.G. time. I can't wait for her holiday gift making classes. She also offers classes for kids (morning/afternoon/saturday), call early to register early, because space is very limited and the offering is like nothing else in Alameda.

Love this place! We've been going for years and have a very full collection of works our kids have…read morepainted. We're slowly building a collection of vases and dishes that my spouse and I have decorated too! Painting our pieces outside is such a peaceful experience. One of our favorite parts of coming here is seeing Nina - she's always so friendly and energetic.

My wife and 10-year-old niece had fun painting pottery at Brushstrokes Studio in Berkeley. This is…read morea neat little place/concept. My sister told me they used to come here, then stopped for a period of time but have recently returned for multiple visits because my niece's friends got them back into it. This is a cool spot because you can drop in without a reservation and paint pottery. The studio fee was $18 per person (includes all the paint and supplies you need) plus the cost of the pottery item you choose. My wife chose a Small Nesting Tray ($23) and my niece chose a Rectangular Pen Cup ($18). After 10.25% sales tax, the visit cost $81.20 total. You have to come back at least a week later to pick up your finished pieces. We sat outside on the back patio. This is a humble studio. The complimentary water ran out so I walked to a nearby cafe to get some. There was also complimentary Kirkland Signature green tea. The restroom, located outside, is tiny. Nice staff. The vibe is inclusive and family-friendly.

My daughter went here and we absolutely loved it. Caring and attentive teachers (you can't beat the…read moreteacher to student ratio), clean classrooms, creative play based instruction, and most importantly, proving an environment where my shy daughter felt safe. We took her out of Rising Start and placed her here and cannot be any happier with our decision. Side note, my daughter was well prepared for Kindergarten after attending Seedling.

Wonderful preschool! I sent my oldest here and my youngest just started in the fall. The staff is…read moreextremely well qualified. The location is safe and secluded, with an awesome outdoor play space. It's a great blend of academic preparation for elementary school with a more creative play based approach. The owner is a pediatric expert, I always feel incredibly safe sending my little ones there. The director, Kristyn, is very responsive and even went to the school over 30 years ago!

Switching my son to Starlite from Castro Valley was one of the best decisions I've ever made…read more Pros: 1- Best value in the Bay Area for daycare hands down no arguments. 7:30am -6pm drop off with breakfast/lunch included. Wow! Price is less than HALF of competitors. 2. You can pick up and drop off your child anytime during their normal hours of operation. Very convenient for people who need to beat traffic or work non standard hours. 3. Great student to teacher ratio (around 8) 4. The school is super safe and has an indoor playground that's secured. 5. Extremely diverse with kids from all corners of the world. 6. All meals, drinks and snacks are included and they can also potty train your kids if needed. 7. All the teachers and staff are super friendly as long as you follow the rules! I saw some bad reviews that mentioned being charged for not signing in and out your child... ummm you are parents, follow the rules for your kids safety!!! LOL I can only imagine what type of parents they are. Cons: 1. Too far from my house (personal issue) 2. Parking can be a nightmare during busy pickup and drop off 3. Communications with some of the teachers can be a little challenging, but they are always really sweet and we always manage to get the message across lol Finally, for the price they charge you, I can overlook some of the small inconveniences.The parents that nitpick every little thing have champagne taste with a beer budget. All I expect of any daycare is to make my child happy, safe and well fed, which Starlite did and then some. My son loved his teachers and was never bullied or mistreated in the 3 yrs he was there. He actually misses school since Covid started.

My son was hit here by staff. Owner would not or couldn't tell me who his instructor was…read more He was so young. Luckily we pulled him out for Covid.... then he got old enough to tell us what happened investigation went nowhere. Do not send your kids here. Reported it only to learn to substantiate this another adult has to witness it -- children are not believed by the system.

Yellow House Playschool is such a gem in the neighborhood! Jan has created a warm and welcoming…read morespace where kids can learn, play, and explore. The chickens in the yard are always a huge hit - kids love feeding them and learning about nature up close. It really feels like a nurturing little community and it was hard to leave when my daughter aged out. Couldn't recommend it more!

*more like one zillion stars*…read more All 3 of my children attended Yellow House Playschool and each experience was perfection. After decades of running YHP, Jan has it down to an art. My kids absolutely adored her and I felt confident each time I dropped them off that they would be loved, safe, enriched, entertained, and happy. Jan also has the best teachers on staff with her. The space is filled with creative toys that encourage pretend play and inventiveness. She serves nutritious food and does adorable crafts each day. I also loved the tight-knit community of parents at YHP. All the kids attended each others birthday parties and we are still close friends with many of the families we met there, years later. My kids talk about how much they miss YHP all the time. I'd like to give a special shout out to Jan's character. One of my children has learning differences and I was so worried about their transition from being home with me to entering preschool. Jan did not hesitate to take my child in and manage their extra needs with grace. We also had a devastating health issue arise in our family when my third was at YHP and Jan single handedly kept me afloat some days. She truly cares about her YHP families

I have two children, 7 and 12, who have been attending KKC since they were babies. They went…read morefull-time until school age and now attend for after-school pick-up and care which is a life saver for parents that commute. I've always felt safe with my kids here, it really has been like a second home for them. The daycare is clean, staff are all professional and Ms. Thelma is so sweet, she's like their aunt at this point! The kids really enjoy all the holiday parties and summer field trips to museums, water parks, zoo etc. 10/10 I'd recommend KKC!

Amazing daycare. My son has been going here for about 4 years and they do it all. Provide 3 meals…read moreand snacks. The kids do curriculum, take field trips, have themed parties, and transportation is also provided. My son absolutely loves it and has made a ton a friends. They also help potty train the kiddos which was a big help for me as a new mom. They have daycare packages the kids can bring home to work on tracing and writing letters and numbers, and they do many art projects. The daycare is always clean and well kept and the assistant ms Thelma is really amazing with the kids. The owners Keishna and Eugene are great with communication regarding days daycare is closed. The environment is safe and there are many activities indoors and outdoors for the kids to play and burn energy. Overall an amazing establishment. They really work with you here. Would highly recommend.