My son started 2nd grade this morning; my reflections after dropping him off reminded me of his…read moremost beautiful school beginnings at Redwood Garden preschool. There is so much going on in the world to cause anxiety and insecurity, but each morning that my partner or I would drop our son off we felt that he was entering into a protected and enchanted space. We learned so much from Lauri about how to move through our days and months with a rhythm that our son takes comfort in. There are so many rich traditions that the school celebrates, and our son's crafts from his two years at RG still hang and remind us of those sweet years and the community we gained being a part of Lauri's preschool. Many others have mentioned it, but Lauri's ability to see my child and delight in his individual gifts and personality traits was so appreciated. We don't have family close by and I felt that my son had another caregiver that loved him and cared for him as family do. Redwood Garden will always bring back joyful memories for me, and I'm so grateful that we found RG and Lauri.

Between our two sons, Redwood Garden has been a wonderful part of our lives for almost four years…read more Teacher Lauri provides a warm, safe, and nurturing environment for the children. Each day follows a rhythm and a pattern, so the children always know what to expect. Transitions are managed through songs. Lauri lovingly provides the children with boundaries. She is a true professional. I know we have been very lucky to have her all these years! I have Lauri to thank for my children's love of being outside on a rainy day, appreciation for rainbow chard, and many beautiful songs and sayings that have become a part of our family's vocabulary and culture. Lauri holds a few parenting nights each year, and I always come away feeling inspired and recharged by the wisdom she shares.

Prima and her amazing teachers got us through the pandemic and beyond. Our two boys would not be…read morethe learning hungry voracious readers that they are today without Cedar Creek. Her amazing staff took both of our boys from barely speaking toddlers to kindergarten prepared students. The team at Cedar Creek is a name and a place that I would recommend to any family that is looking for a preschools in Berkeley. They understand what developing children need to be ready for school as well as how to balance the needs of new parents who are trying to juggle work and children. The friends we made at Cedar Creek continue in our lives as mainstays of who we are and what we care about.

This was an incredible program that I found out about through word-of-mouth. My daughter was there…read morefor almost 2 years, and was so well prepared for TK and beyond. There are special classes, like art, nature studies, music, dance, etc and often times there would be guest visit from local groups (soccer, dentist). My daughter always had tons to say about her days and became so confident. There are also alumni picnics which is a great way to connect with other families. All that being said, the best part of Cedar Creek is the staff! The teachers are incredible, and there is very little turnover. The lead teachers, Cassandra and Prima, have been there for 15+ and 30+ years, respectively! I can't thank them enough for all they've done for my daughter, and I look forward to enrolling my youngest this winter.

Our daughter attended LET for three years, and she truly thrived there. The warm, nurturing…read moreenvironment and wonderful teachers helped her grow into a happy, kind, and confident child. Staying for her TK year was the best decision we made. It was amazing to see the Montessori philosophy in action during that third year. Her confidence and independence blossomed. It was clear that the teachers prepared her well academically (early reader and a strong curiosity for learning) but more importantly, social-emotionally. What's more - many of the alumni still stay in touch, a reflection of the wonderful experience so many families had. The LET community has been an integral part of our daughter's early years, and we will always be grateful.

So fortunate to have found this little gem. We found Little Elephant Too in Berkeley online when we…read morewere moving from India to the Bay Area last year in 2022. Fortunate to have fallen in love with this cute cozy and calm space for our daughter! She has so much fun here, loves her teachers and her friends We have been enjoying being part of this community, talking to the parents and bonding over birthday parties at the park or potluck gatherings in school. Amazing memories we will cherish forever! If you ever want to gift something special to your child, gift them montessori education for their early childhood

If you are lucky enough to end up at Dandelion, not only will you and your kiddo be welcomed into a…read morebeautiful, caring community where your whole family will grow in learning how to support little ones (all while saving money), you'll also get to witness the magic of a play-based curriculum. It was absolutely incredible to see how much the kiddos learned week to week, from independent skills like cleaning up after themselves and learning how to participate at circle time, to exercising their agency in deciding what projects they'd want to work on that morning or afternoon, and who they wanted to work with. The teachers are nothing short of masterful when it comes to gently supporting the kids' growth edges while letting the kids lead the way. I loved seeing the kids create little shops for their mud pies, or learn to take turns on the tire swing, or gather around as one of the older kids read them a book (which inspired my son to learn to read). I wholeheartedly recommend this wonderful school and community to anyone looking for childcare for their little one paired with a magical learning experience and welcoming community involvement for the whole family!

Dandelion has been an incredible experience for our family. Our kid loves it and we have been able…read moreto see him blossom and grow in ways we couldn't imagine. The teachers are all fantastic, and dedicated to the children. The community is very supportive as well. Being able to participate has also helped us as parents learn and grow so much. Couldn't recommended it enough.

June 7, 2026 Parent of a new Walden grad here. Walden's…read morepriority is to foster a love for learning and to support children in a nurturing environment through arts, academics, and community. Walden is simultaneously a safe place for children to try new things and a competent and professional environment where students receive individual attention to progress objectively. As a professional in healthcare, I had my initial concerns about not having grades, but I've since been converted, seeing how positively the kids interact with their teachers and each other. 1. Coursework: a. Reading/Writing: The literature they choose is level appropriate in difficulty and has content that spans the globe, sparking discussion about issues the kids may not be exposed to in their East Bay lives. b. Math: My child is advanced in math and likes solving puzzles, and he was shown good habits for organization. Many American kids struggle with math, so in my opinion the pace of the class is a little slower than my child could have gone. But I think they need to teach to the class's pace, and they do a great job of showing math's applications in the world to make it both fun and practical for the kids who are more math-averse. c. Science: There is didactic and experimental material in life and earth sciences. Every year, the whole school does science projects, where students pose a research question, design a study, collect data, and then present a poster to the whole community on science night. d. Social Sciences/History/Current Events: Students learn about both US and world events and reflect on the shared points of humanity. During drop-offs or pick-ups, I might have had news radio on in the car, and my son would inquire about or contribute to conversations about Palestine, for example. There was a period of a month or two where there was a ceasefire, and my son was so initially overjoyed, followed by sadness when the ceasefire was broken. It is through true caring about the people involved that he wanted to know more about the complex history of the region and do what part we can to promote tolerance. e. Spanish: The kids read books aloud, sing songs, and explore cultural themes in Spanish-speaking culture. Their dia de los muertos celebration of ancestors is a powerful event. f. Visual arts: The art room has weaving, drawing, painting, sculpture, beadwork, digital and analog art. Student work is all over the school. g. Drama/Movement: Students learn to be confident in front of others and express themselves through their bodies. h. Music: Each student's vocal range is documented, and they work on pitch, rhythm, instrumental music (recorder, mallets). They have opportunities for performance for the community. The Upper Group puts on a Broadway style musical theater production each spring - a truly spectacular event, with live accompaniment from a pit ensemble. 2. Community: One central theme of the school is how volunteers from the community can make beautiful and incredible events. Highlights include a winter gala, a spring fair with games, prizes, food, music, and a darling cake-walk, where children pick out a cake to take home. Parents meet each other and the kids through the community events. Sleeves are rolled up to keep the campus clean and events bright. 3. Field Trips: They go to plays, dance performances, on 3-day camping trips, museums. We shed many tears of joy throughout our Walden experience and give it the highest recommendation for yours.

We absolutely love Walden!!! I have 2 kids that attended Walden from kindergarten to 5th grade, one…read moregraduated in 2023 and the other just graduated in 2026. Walden is a truly amazing place and my family is so lucky to be a part of it. The community is tight knit and always supports each other. The students are prepared to succeed in middle school and beyond by integrating arts and academics, while also being taught how to advocate for themselves and stand up for each other. The teachers are kind and understanding and know how to support your child in their individual learning style. The kids feel loved and seen as who they are . When a new kid joins they get immediately accepted into the community, which is something so special about Walden. I was a teacher for 7 years and coached teachers at numerous schools, and I can confidently say Walden is the best one. My kids are obsessed with Walden and are so grateful that they had the chance to go to school at Walden for many years. I highly recommend Walden for any student.

Every time I walk into CCC I am struck by what an amazing place it is. The carefully crafted, HUGE…read moreoutdoor areas, the range of sensory/craft activities laid out each day, the abundance of activating pretend toys and environments inside. Just that alone would be enough. But then you have teachers who have been there for decades. You have the sense of community that arises from every parent pitching in to make this place special. You have my kid getting to build real, trusted relationships with 25 other sets of parents... We feel very lucky to have our 3.5 year old in the front yard this year. A co-op preschool (I am learning), is a unique thing. It's not hands-off. It's a commitment. But so far, that commitment is really paying off for us.

CCC is the most joyous place I have ever seen. You walk in and see children frolicking through the…read moregardens in complex pretend games, collaborating intently on building villages and rivers on the hillside with the water pump, snuggling and chatting with the many grownups who know and love them there. It is not infrequent that I get misty-eyed on just a normal pickup day, wishing that more of our world was this optimized for children's curiosity, exploration, and interdependence. Our child has grown by leaps and bounds in his three months here, becoming more empathic, more able to focus, physically stronger, more self-confident. He went from a kid who fought school every single morning to a kid who eagerly anticipates Mondays over the weekend. We were a little worried that he would get lost in the shuffle, with 25 kids to a class and rotating grown-ups on their participation days, but we have been struck by how deeply each of the teachers and other caregivers know him and are able to support him. The community as a whole is extremely welcoming and loving, and every time I go for my participation day I learn something that makes me a better parent (and by extension, a better person). So grateful to be a part of this school and can't wait to send our younger one when the time comes.

Our son will be transitioning to kindergarten this upcoming school year (2025) and he is…read moreemotionally ready because of his time here at Little Beans. He went from not really having much interaction with other kids (prior to preschool) to joining and making a best friend and plenty of other friends. We love the picture and videos of all of his fun and special moments. It's allowed us to feel involved in his day even though he's there all day. The teachers are absolutely wonderful and kind and genuinely loving. I appreciate the continuous updates I receive and the feedback. Any time I have a concern (of my son's behavior), they're always so quick to respond. Their communication has always been wonderful from discussing potty training, greater independence, getting him to eat, delayed language and so on. He comes home so happy (and tired which is a good thing). I love that they spend so much time outside instead of sitting in a sterile classroom environment. Heather has been so easy to work with from the first time we contacted showing interest to the end. I highly recommend Little Beans

Little Beans Preschool was the best choice we made for our 3 year old boy. He loved the school…read moresince Day 1 and was always happy talking about his new friends and teachers. He literally told me when I picked him up after school "Mama I like the beans school. Can we come everyday?" And in the morning when we have breakfast he'd ask me "Mama are we going to school?" If it is a weekday and I say yes, he is so happy "Yayy!" If it is a weekend and I say no we will go on Monday, he is a little bummed. I was joking with his dad that this never happened to us when we were kids because we were always dreading going to school. I am especially thankful to Heather and all the caring teachers who helped our son make such a smooth transition. We love the picture updates showing all the fun activities our son learned at school. The Yoga camp was so fun that our son was teaching (showing off) his yoga poses to his grandma. Other important factors setting Little Beans Preschool apart include plenty of outdoor time, individualized attention, reasonable fees, professionalism in Admin and Management, etc.

I can't say enough good things about my family's experience at the New School. Its wonderful…read moreteachers take the work of creating a loving, safe, child-centric environment seriously, providing just the right balance of support and independence for kids as they discover themselves, their peers, and the world around them. The New School is great environment for working parents, with hours that reflect the reality of the work day, camps on days when public schools are closed, and a delightful summer program full of field trips, swimming, and ample play. We also really loved how the New School eased our transition to kindergarten by giving my child a familiar place with his longtime friends to go every afternoon. The fact that BUSD buses kids there from many elementary schools was a huge convenience, especially given the intense demand for afterschool care in Berkeley.

Amazing after-school for our 6 year old. Wonderful community, excellent teachers and care-givers,…read moreand a lovely place.