Toddler Daycare Recommendations - Berkeley
Hello -
We are moving to the East Bay (targeting Berkeley/Rockridge) this summer, and will need childcare for our almost 3 year old. We are currently living in the DC area, and I am assuming that childcare is as competitive (if not more so) in the East Bay, so I'd like to get on some waiting lists now as we will need care starting in the late summer/early fall.
It's easy to do online searches to find daycares, but it's so difficult to distinguish the great from the good from the probably not for us options solely online. Where we currently live, we were lucky to have a strong parents network that we could tap into for recommendations and advice, so I'm hoping to find that here.
What we're looking for:
- Smaller class sizes
- Very fun and engaging atmosphere
- Lots of outside time and activities-based play
- Loving, caring providers
- Not super concerned with a lot of book-based curriculum- we want our kid to be active and happy
- Centers are fine
- An exceptional in-home would be a possibility
- Outstanding safety precautions, especially COVID-related
- Connected parent community (it would be great to make some friends with other parents, since we'll be new to the area)
Thank you very much in advance for your suggestions and advice!
Parent Replies
I can't recommend Blue Skies for Children highly enough. Fantastic, dedicated and knowledgeable staff, thoughtful curriculum, lots of outdoor time. We've been there through COVID and there have been no cases among students or staff, and they've communicated very well through the entire experience.
https://blueskies4children.org/
Blue Skies for Children, in Oakland, is great. Both my kids went there and it meets all your checklist items. Lots of great play-centered activities for the kids. It's not in Berkeley, but not too far away.
We have been happy with Rockridge Montessori. Our almost 3 year old has been there since August. We like the socio-emotional learning bit. He can tell us he is frustrated or angry and understands that they are different. The teachers have pointed out behaviors to us to look for at home and suggested how they are addressing them at school. We live in Berkeley but my husband and I both work in Oakland.
Our two kids (ages 2 and 4 yo) have been attending Panoramic Learning Academy since the beginning of the year. We've been very happy with Renée and so have the children.
Check out Skytown Preschool in Richmond. Due to limited covid precaution numbers it’s currently full but they are opening up a second pod in the fall It check all your boxes, it’s a coop so chocked full of community, currently all outdoors due to covid and entirely play based. I think they are Reggio inspired. Our 3.5 year old has been thriving there.
It’s not the city you’re aiming for, but if your plans change and you are closer to El Cerrito, I highly recommend Tiny Footprints Daycare. Our son started in January at 20 months. They are pretty booked right now, but you could look into it for the future. Cecy, the owner, meets all your criteria. Since we joined during covid, it’s been slower to meet all the families but we have WhatsApp group chat for group announcements with Cecy and she is very into making everyone feel welcome and connected. She also speaks English, Spanish, and Italian. She usually has at most 13 kids. We couldn’t be happier and neither could our son.
Good luck in your search! It’s a very good idea to look very early.
Our children attend Little Elephant Too! Montessori in Berkeley and it checks all of your boxes. My 3.5 and 5.5 year olds have both been there since July after the pandemic interrupted our other childcare plants. The school has consistently exceeded expectations. Communications from the director related to Covid and health have been EXCELLENT. My girls absolutely love it at school, the teachers are warm and caring, tons of outdoor time, and a child-led learning approach. If the Montessori learning approach resonates with you and the hours meet your needs, I highly recommend setting up an intro with the Director, Natanya. I know they're enrolling for the fall. Bonus (for you) - they have a Rockridge location if you end up there :)
Garden Day on Parker (and Acton) is wonderful. Both our kids have gone through the program, can't speak highly enough about the school. Play-based, supportive and nurturing, excellent outside space, with a wonderful community. It's usually fully enrolled due to word of mouth, but might be worth reaching out to Jenny, the director. Could be a great fit.