Fox and Bear Daycare

Community Subscriber

Berkeley, CA

Facility Type[?]:
Home Daycare
DSS Facility License #
013422301 [view license]
Owner:
Astrid Sanchez
510-704-3299
foxandbeardaycare [at] gmail.com
Location:
Berkeley
94702
North-West Berkeley
Maximum Capacity:
14
Language(s) Spoken:
English,
Eritrean,
French,
Italian,
Russian,
Spanish
Ages Served:
12 months - 54 months
Hours
8:00am - 5:00pm
Additional Services & Features:
Afternoon option,
Pre-K program,
Year-round,
Sibling discount,
Subsidized program,
Breakfast provided,
Lunch provided,
Snacks provided,
Organic options,
Vegetarian options,
Special diet support,
Potty training support
About the Program:

Boutique Italian and Spanish language immersion program. Curriculum is Reggio Emilia-inspired, and daily enrichment activities include  music, soccer and yoga lessons. Children also participate in art projects, library and park time, free play, and more.

Parent Reviews

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Olga and team at Fox & Bear Daycare are amazing. We had our son start at the daycare when he was 4 months and he remained there through preschool and even into Kindergarten, due to the pandemic. We feel incredibly fortunate to have had the chance to enroll our son at Fox and Bear Daycare and highly recommend them for child care of any age.

I enjoyed getting pics daily, allowing me to see my little one grow even while working. There were so many activities which they adapted for all ages - art, outdoor play, soccer, dress-up, games, puzzles plus multi-cultural holiday fun throughout the year. With the pandemic, they adapted a space to allow for the "bigger" kids to be in virtual class from Fox & Bear (kindergarten for our lil' one), so I could work from home without distraction. Such a blessing!

Beyond all noted above, there's a special touch that Olga provides. She is well educated in young child development and learning, but I mostly valued the heart she brings to the care. She loved my boy like a son and truly became a part of our family over the ~5 years she cared for him. She still remembers him and reaches out on his birthday, despite us moving away. She's simply a beautiful person inside and out who will put her all into ensuring little ones will thrive while in her care, as well as far after they've moved onto to big kid school.

Fox and Bear has helped our child flourish and grow over the last 2.5 years. My partner and I are not Spanish or Italian speaking, but our kiddo has a great time nonetheless. The teachers provide regular updates throughout the day and send weekly emails summarizing the amazing artistic and emotional development exercises they practice with the kids. Their approach is gentle and nurturing. They provide home cooked meals! We've formed friendships with the other families. It's a great community here and I greatly recommend Olga and her team.  

Fox and Bear was a wonderful preschool for my children from 3-5 years old. The staff were well-trained in Reggio style education, they were caring and loving, and my children eagerly went to school every day excited to see their friends. My daughters came home daily having eaten some delicious food with vegetables (that they wouldn't eat at home) full of stories about the creative projects they were doing at school, learning about the world around them through directed and free play. The thematic units that encouraged exploration and growth were so fun to hear about and even more impressive to see in the art shows they would put on for families. We graduated from F&B last year and my girls are still asking about their teachers and friends, and we still keep in touch and see each other. Olga and her staff run a professional, warm, and communicative preschool focused first and foremost on children's well-being and creative development - I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I can't express enough how incredible our experience has been at this daycare. It's not just good; it's the absolute best, and I mean it with all my heart. We stumbled upon this gem by chance, and it's been a blessing ever since.
Firstly, the atmosphere here feels like home. It's warm, inviting, and comforting. The moment you step in, you know your child is in the right place. They provide hot, delicious meals daily, which is such a relief for busy parents. The teachers are simply wonderful. With years of experience under their belts, they bring a level of care and expertise that's unmatched. What's more, they've been with the daycare for years, which speaks volumes about the positive environment.
The owner, Olga, is an incredible person, she genuinely cares about every child and family. It's not just a business for her; it's a passion to provide the best care possible.
Moreover, they celebrate holidays and teach important values like friendship and sharing. It's not just about academics; it's about nurturing well-rounded individuals. Every day is filled with learning, fun, and laughter.
Our experience at Fox and Bear has been amazing. If you're looking for a daycare that feels like family, provides top-notch care, and fosters a love for learning and friendship, look no further. This place is simply the best, and we're beyond grateful to be a part of it.

They say that it takes a village to raise a child. When you send your child to Fox and Bear, you find that village. I was lucky enough to find Fox and Bear when I moved to Berkeley with my toddler.

I immediately liked Olga and her lovely home. She was welcoming, warm and was so understanding. I was so surprised to hear she cooks all the meals for kids AND was ready to accommodate my child's first needs!

The Fox and Bear team did a spectacular job from day 1. I never once worried about the safety and well being of my child and was able to return to work care free. They are experienced at handling the tears and tantrums that inevitably come with starting daycare and handle it like pros.

They do so many activities with the kids and speak three languages. My child learnt something new every day! They've developed a love for yoga and also eat raw veggies now?!

This is of course apart from the support the Fox and Bear team has provided me. I always felt like I was leaving my child with family rather than a center. 

Pricing is extremely reasonable for the area it is in. If you are considering sending your child to daycare, there is no better place than Fox and Bear.

I'll always be thankful to Fox and Bear for all the support and love they've given us 

We LOVE LOVE LOVE all things Fox & Bear.  We joined the daycare when my child was 2, after attending 3 other daycares that left a lot to be desired.  F&B is a dream. intimate, skillful, creative, loving care goes into every day.  My child is thriving! I am too, thanks to the invaluable partnership the staff has provided to me as a sole parent.   My kiddo is now 4, fluent in English and Spanish with strong comprehension and expression in Italian too.  I can not think of one thing I would like to be different. F&B has to be one of the best daycares/preschool's in the area.  If you are offered a spot here, you should grab it.  It will be one of the best investments you can make in your child's and your families future.

Fox and Bear is perfectly described as a gift. The teachers and leadership are extremely capable, warm, and attuned to the children. The curriculum is truly progressive, in that it puts play and community first while welcoming the whole child into the room as a true individual. We've feel very well supported along critical milestones in the developmental journey--from separating from mom and dad for the first time to learning to use the potty. 

Our son bounds into school each morning, and regularly tells us that he loves "my school." At the same time, he's learning how to be a member of a group, how to navigate conflict, plus how to speak Spanish and be familiar with Italian, too. 

We looked at MANY other schools before choosing Fox and Bear and we're so grateful that we did. There's no website or advertising, it's all word of mouth and the waitlist is not insignificant. But if language immersion alongside trustworthy and joyful care from a seasoned team with basically no teacher turnover is what you seek--get in touch. You won't be sorry! 

Fox and Bear Daycare has been our greatest gift in the last 5 years. We sent our oldest daughter when she was just a baby. Olga, Glenna, and Astrid blew us away with their love, attention to so many details, the community they created for the kids, and communication. We felt like the luckiest family in the world to have found them! I reserved a spot for our second child the day after I got a positive pregnancy test. :) Olga was the first person to know that I was pregnant (before anyone is our family) because I was so eager to assure that our second child would have the same gift of their care at Fox and Bear Daycare. 

Throughout the pandemic they were incredible. They took every precaution to keep our children and themselves safe, while also offering a loving and warm environment. They were completely up to date on the all CDC, state, and city rules, and communicated all this with us regularly. By that point both of our children were going to Fox and Bear Daycare daily. Our older child is 5 and loved spending time with the other kids close to her age. They formed such a close knit community between them. She got just the right balance of academic and play time with her peers. Our younger daughter is two and spent time with the younger crew of kids. Both of our children skipped into school at Fox and Bear Daycare everyday, barely kissing us goodbye because they were so eager to be there. We loved the language immersion and it's been wonderful for our children and our family. Olga is an amazing communicator. She sends us regular updates during the school day and is very accessible whenever we have questions or updates. We don't know how she does it! 

We can't speak highly enough about Fox and Bear Daycare and the family they have all been to us!

Fox and Bear is a gem in Berkeley. It is a beautiful place where you feel confident to leave your baby. It is a small community, it is like a small family well organized. 
 All the teachers are nice; they give you a lot of advice and most important they love kids! They do fun things for the holidays, birthdays and also small art projects. 

Their communication with parents is also excellent. I always appreciated knowing what was happening and their constant care and updates regarding the children ( especially during Covid 19 time ). 
My little baby is so happy to go there every day. I’ m so blessed to have found Fox and Bear. 
Thanks to Olga and all the staff!