Dolma Daycare
Community SubscriberBerkeley, CA
- 2021: Tenzin Paldon and her husband Gerelbat Zorigt have taken over the daycare from Tenzin's parents Dolma & Tashi Tsering and it is now licensed as a childcare center (license # 013423125, capacity=8 and infant center (license # 013423120, capacity=6)
Parent Q&A
Parent Reviews
Parents, please Sign in to post a review on this page.My 2 year old has absolutely loved being a part of the Dolma Daycare crew. She’s been going there since she was 11 months old, and every day comes home happy. She gets the opportunity to play and explore the world with other great kids under the gentle supervision of the staff. All the teachers treat the kids with love and respect. When’s she’s not there, our daughter spends all day talking about her friends and teachers. The communication through the app is great, and the teachers are super collaborative with us! We’re so happy we landed here.
My 2.5 year old has been at Dolma since he was 10 months old, and we feel so lucky to have found this wonderful place! The teachers show the kids so much genuine love and care, and my son talks about them like they're family. The places is really big and clean, there is an enclosed outdoor play space, and it's right across the street from James Kenney park where they spend some time in the afternoons. They send lots of updates and photos on the app, so we feel really connected throughout the day. I can't recommend Dolma more highly!
We absolutely love Dolma daycare, our youngest just graduated and started kindergarten but we sent both of our kids to Dolma’s from infancy up until starting kindergarten. Tenzin and Zoloo and all the teachers are kind, caring, and reliable and took such good care of our 2 kiddos for over 9 years. We also referred several friends who are equally as happy. They are organized and excellent at communication. The center is always clean and tidy, and we never worried about the kids’ safety on their watch. You get a daily log everyday, the kids are super well prepared for school, learning numbers, letter, solar system, writing, and more. They helped us so much with potty training too! The kids also get plenty of outdoor time as they walk across the street to James Kinney everyday to play in the grass and playground. We truly felt as though our kids were cared for as though they were family. We miss Dolma’s already and I’ll always recommend to anyone!
Our youngest attended Dolma Daycare for about 2yrs (he started around 3 and left for Kindergarten this year).
The love and care he received there was so appreciated, I mean, they really love the kids they care for. They helped with potty training!! (he was a tough one in that department). They have so many years of experience caring for kids of all ages. The space is clean, full of toys and activities, they go out on field trips daily to the marina.. They have "circle time" for the older kids, our son was totally prepared for kindergarten, knowing letters, numbers, planets, colors, how to write his name... He's a real handful and the incredible caregivers took it in stride. I cried on his last day, they have become family.
If you're seeking an in home daycare in Berkeley, and they have space, look no further. Dolma, Tashi and the rest of the staff are incredible. I miss them every day!
Dolma daycare has been such a wonderful place for our daughter these past three years. Recently her little sister joined as well!
The daycare is set up in a few converted rooms in a family home and is spacious and clean with great toys. There is also an outdoor area for trikes and games and the kids go to the park every day. Dolma and Tashi take such good care of the kids and my daughter always feels loved there.
They do circle time where the kids learn songs, letters, days of the week, etc. One day at three years old my little girl came home knowing all the planets! At three she was also able to write her own name, which she learned entirely at daycare.
Dolma and Tashi make the days fun for the kids and do big celebrations for holidays and birthdays. It's a special place and I'll be sad when it's time to move on!
Our Son went to Dolma Day Care and just moved on. He started just under one year old. Dolma is a wonderful, gentle women, I felt like he was cared for as though he was her own son. she loved him dearly, and he loved her.
The Day Care was always clean, Tashi and Dolma put their heart and soul into the school and the kids. I am an educator myself and so some things were very important to me and Dolma always listened to everything I had to say and made changes to accommodate my requests.
I read complaints about the TV, up until a year ago they used to show the kids leap frog videos or songs, but after we requested to only use them to play music with no image they stopped showing the kids videos and only used it for music. which I deeply appreciated. another example of how considerate they are.
They love the kids and they celebrate each child's birthday with a big party in school and they cook a fancy lunch for the party.
I am really happy that my son was loved and cared for by this wonderful family.
I am writing to unconditionally recommend Dolma's Daycare. Our son has been going to Dolma's since he was 6 months old, and our experience has been overwhelmingly positive. The love Dolma and Tashi have for the kids they care for is so evident. They are attentive, active, and, most importantly, flexible. They are never thrown off when our son is in a grumpy mood, but rather give him the extra cuddles and love he needs. They listen to our suggestions, but are also willing to offer their thoughts and advice when asked. The daily activities are varied, and I am confident that my son has a space to play and to learn. He comes home singing songs and babbling all the words he picked up that day. The space is incredibly clean and organized, and they provide detailed daily reports. As a working parent, I so appreciate dropping my son off at a place where I know he will be safe and loved. I would recommend Dolma's to anyone.
I write to recommend Dolma Day Care unconditionally. Our son has been at Dolma's for more than three years, since he was 18 months old (he would have started at Dolma's as a baby, but they did not have room for an infant at the time). This fall he will leave to attend TK, and we are so sad to leave the Dolma's family. Dolma and Tashi, their family, and excellent staff have loved and nurtured our son as though he were their own child. I have no concerns while we are at work that he is receiving the very best care and loads of affection while we cannot be with him. They have devoted a large space in their home to the day care. The area is clean, bright, and loaded with toys appropriate for all ages (which they rotate). They play welcoming kids' music over a great audio/visual system. They are well-organized and hold circle time (teaching about ABCs, numbers, shapes, animals, the environment, you name it) and plan an arts and crafts project for the kids daily. They work on writing as soon as the kids are able. They also made potty-training my son very easy because they encourage the children to use the potty and praise them for doing so. The outdoor space at their home has play structures and lots of bikes and riding toys. They older kids go for a daily field trip to the park on the little shuttle bus that Dolma and Tashi purchased - complete with kids' safety harnesses. The kids have snacks at the park and get to run off lots of energy. (The babies and little ones stay back with Dolma, who is wonderful about holding and cuddling them all day long.) On birthdays, they spring for a delicious lunch complete with pizza, noodles, yogurt, veggies, fruit, etc. Their hours (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) are very accommodating for working parents, which has been helpful for my husband and me when we have had work obligations early/late in the day. They hold regular "parent date nights," during which they will watch your child on Friday or Saturday evening. Their rates are extremely reasonable. I looked at many Berkeley day cares when I returned to work, and I sought information about all of them from the county. Dolma's was head-and-shoulders above the rest. We could not have asked for a better day care environment for our son. Best of all, Dolma and Tashi are the most loving and caring people you could meet. We really feel lucky to have found them and their wonderful day care. You would not regret choosing them to take care of your little one.
I enthusiastically recommend Dolma's. Both of my boys have attended over the past 5years, they started when they were 18 months and 6months. Dolma and Tashi are loving and thoughtful caregivers. They go the extra mile every day to provide a fun, safe, clean and caring environment. They do daily trips to the park on their fully carseated bus, circle time, dance parties, birthday celebrations and even potty training. They even offer extra parent's night out a completed times a month. The hours and vacation schedule are great for working parents. The space is bright and cheerful and equipped with lots of engaging toys that they rotate out regularly. Above all they are kind and loving and devoted to the well-being and happiness of all the children in their care. We have been very happy there and will be sad to not see them every week. I knew the minute I walked in I had found the right place. I can't imagine finding a family daycare that is more dedicated. I know they have some openings coming up as kids transition on to school.
We miss Dolma Daycare. A new job just recently brought our family to Santa Barbara a new town with new schools and nothing compares to the care we had at Dolma Daycare. Both my daughters attended the Dolma Daycare. They started when they were 2 and 3 years old. We shared 3 years at Dolma Day care. Tashi, Dolma, Tenzin, Tenzen dawa and Erica are family to us now. My husband and I still talk about the love that poured out of that beautiful school. They celebrated each child, treated each unique child with such kindness and care it was remarkable to watch. They were always aware if a child needed special attention and were never too preoccupied to spend extra time with that particular child. The other day my daughter said " mom every time I walked into Tashi and Dolmas house they always hugged me and we always had so much fun. " She is in first grade now and still talks about her memories at the Dolma Daycare. Both my girls tell me about their field trips to the airport, the museums and touring through the streets of Berkeley in the Dolma Daycare van. Tashi and Dolma instilled a love in my children that only came from the environment that they were fortunate enough to be a part of at the Dolma Daycare. I will never forget what a birthday was like at Dolma Daycare - decorations, streamers, songs, cake, strawberries, pizza, dancing, disco balls, birthday hats, the world stopped and celebrated you! They never even put two birthdays together because Tashi said that wouldn't be fair. :) I would tell them you guys do too much and they would just smile humbly and tell me this is what makes them happy. My girls would come home with new songs that they learned at music time, always beautiful art projects and preschool activities to make sure my child was reading for the next big step of Kindergarten. Words can not express my gratitude to the Dolma Daycare.They are the truest example of the love and laughter that children should be around on a daily basis. We thank you Dolma Daycare for caring so much about children. Your endless efforts to bring joy to children is beyond measure. Thank you from the bottom of our heart for providing a safe, nurturing home for my girls to flourish! With love The Krieger's
Dolma's is the perfect blend of a loving and personal family-run daycare and an well-organized and semi-structured "pre-school". We were looking for a new daycare for our second child when we moved to Berkeley, coming from a larger, more institutional daycare/preschool. I was really disappointed with many of the other family daycares I visited- sometimes they were only staffed by one person, which seemed downright dangerous, some of the play-spaces seemed dark and dingy, and I wasn't sure if my child would thrive socially just playing with a handful of the same kids everyday. They just didn't feel right.
The moment I walked into Dolma's and met Tashi and Dolma I knew that this was the perfect place for our child. Dolma, Tashi, their daughter Tenzin and the other staff exude warmth and care for the children and for everything related to the business. Their space is bright and super-organized with tons of different toys for the kids. They celebrate the children's birthdays and even just presented us with a personalized calendar filled with beautiful photos of my child. They organize stimulating activities each day and go on daily excursions to the park. I like that my son interacts daily with kids ranging from 6 months to 4 years, and his vocabulary has really skyrocketed, in part from these social interactions. In addition, Tashi has been diligently potty-training my son since 1.5 years.
I feel 100% confident leaving my child there each morning knowing that he will receive love and attention all day, along with daily guidance in his development. We feel very lucky and blessed to have our child at Dolma's and if you find a spot at Dolma's I am pretty sure you would agree.
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Oct 2014
Both our kids (ages 4 and 11 months) attend Dolma Day Care and we couldn't be happier with the results. From the daily outings to parks (on a small bus complete with car seats) to the pre-K activities to the birthday parties (pizza, fruit, cake, snacks - no need to pack lunch on those days, which is always a bonus) to the all-around love we see them giving to ALL the kids, my husband and I feel we couldn't have found a happier place for our boys. We got lucky and bypassed the waiting list with our oldest - they happened to be looking for a child exactly his age. And I'll also say that a friend who is a lawyer did a ton of research on Berkeley-area preschools (including calling the licensing division) and in her opinion Dolma's was by far the best day care around. We have not been disappointed and we'll be very sad to leave Dolma's when it's time for kindergarten. Jennie B. in Berkeley
Sept 2014
If you are seeking child care for your child you would be lucky to include Dolma Daycare in Berkeley (7th & Virginia). Dolma, Tashi, Tenzin and Erika have cared for my daughter since about 6 months and she is now going to pre-school. They have cared for her as if she were their own child and somehow they manage to do that for each and every one of the children in their care. They foster the most beautiful community and the children thrive in their care. My daughter is a bright, caring and independent spirit and they all share the credit in guiding her this far. Tracey B
Aug 2014
I have had my younger daughter at Dolma's since she was 6 months old. She is now three and I have had a wonderful experience. I highly recommend it - more than I possibly write. From having my daughter excited everyday, to teaching counting and letters, to being able to help when I need to drop my daughter early when my wife is out of town, they are consistently the best. My daughter loves the daily field trips as well. Little farm, parks and more. I feel lucky to have found Dolma and Tashi! Jared
April 2014
I would like to recommend Dolma Day Care. My daughter has been going there for 2.5 years since she was 1. My 1 year old son will be joining soon as well and I plan to keep both of them at Dolma's until Kindergarten. When I first started looking for a place for my daughter I visited at least 15 home-based places. Many were perfectly fine but when I visited Dolma's I knew it was the place for us. Their space is clean, bright, organized, welcoming. Dolma radiates kindness, and I've never seen her other than calm and smiling. Tashi, her husband, is constantly thinking about how to make the daycare better and is committed to serving the best interests of the children and parents. Tengen, their daughter, and Erica, family friend and assistant, are fun and patient teachers and caregivers. They rotate through lots of stimulating activities from field trips to little farm, to homemade play dough, to dance parties. They teach letters, numbers, shapes, colors, potty training and the list goes on. The family as a whole is warm, caring and dedicated. They encourage independence and confidence in the children, yet are nurturing and accommodating to the needs of each child. We really feel lucky to have found Dolma and Tashi!
April 2013
I would like to highly recommend Dolma's Daycare. Dolma's is a large family daycare, with family at the heart of their business. Dolma and Tashi have opened a significant part of their home to provide a large, vibrant, comfortable area for the children, including two large indoor play areas, an outdoor play area, a kitchen, and a sleeping area. Dolma loves and cares for the children as if they are her own, and is especially good at comforting the babies and toddlers. Tashi is constantly working to improve the daycare services. For example, he's made many improvements to the daycare space and bought a bus to transport the children to local parks and for short field trips. Their daughter, Tanzen, leads activities for the pre-school-age children, such as circle-time, writing and math practice, and art projects. Friend of the family, Erika, assists with all activities, including the end of the day dance party under the disco ball. For all of the effort that this family puts into their business, they have kept their tuition low. My son has attended Dolma's for almost 3 years, and he will continue at Dolma's until kindergarten. Why? Because of their loving and fun atmosphere, attention to the academic and social development of this age- group, and very competitive tuition.
Feb 2013
Our 4 year old son has been with Dolma since he was 1, and we can't say enough about how wonderful both Dolma and Tashi are.
We've come to think of them as family because of how much effort they put into taking care of him and all the other children. Our previous daycare (Elmwood area), while rated pretty highly both parents on BPN, was decent, but once we met Dolma and Tashi and saw their home, we knew that this was the place for our boy.
They take extra care in ensuring that the home is immaculately clean (literally able to eat off the floor); that the children are taught pre-school curriculum (he can read simple things and do arithmetics); and that the children have plenty of playtime outside (they bought a bus specifically to take the kids to different parks in the Berkeley area!!!).
Our son often asks during the weekends if he can visit Dolma and Tashi. We feel blessed to be a part of the Dolma Daycare family.
March 2012
My daughter has been in Dolma's daycare for nearly one year and we are all very happy with Tashi, Dolma and the other teachers! Here I enthusiastically recommend Dolma Daycare to you! We speak Chinese at home and my daughter could not speak English when she came to Dolma's Daycare. All teachers are very patient and help her with getting adjust to this totally new circumstance. Now my daughter is not willing to go back home with us and even say she want to ''take Dolma to our home''! Dolma and Tashi are dedicated people who work hard to run the daycare and they are tireless...They are sincere Tibetan with Buddhism faith. In all, the people there are reliable and friendly! When you visit the daycare, you will find it extraordinarily clean(!!!). They have inviting space for the children. They have two big playrooms and a spacious yard with sun-block roof, a lot of new and neat toys and a schedule that includes daily trips to the park(!!!), art projects, dancing, a music teacher, and circle time with a preschool teacher, who is able to teach Spanish. We feel we are so lucky to have Dolma daycare after we visit more than 20 daycares in Berkeley and Albany. Any questions, please send me emails or contact Tashi.
Nov 2011
I am writing on behalf of Dolma's Daycare in West Berkeley. They are looking for a part time preschool teacher. My son is currently at Dolma's Daycare and it has been a very positive experience. We love that they spend time doing art, reading, and plenty of playing. Dolma, and her husband Tashi, are very energetic, caring and thoughtful care givers to the children. If you are interested please call them at 510-558-7424. The rate is negotialble.
June 2011
We are wholeheartedly recommending Dolma's Daycare, if you are lucky enough to find an open spot! We had our 2 girls (now 2 & 4) there for the past 2 yrs, and unfortunately we had to move out of the area and leave their warm, safe and loving care. Both our girls have always been very happy there, felt secure, loved Dolma and Tashi, were showered with love and attention, and were every day engaged in their wonderful activities. As to the facilities, the simple fact that no shoes were allowed in speaks volumes to the attention they put into keeping the place spotless clean. The space is very large, with a room for activities (preschool, music, writing, drawing, painting), an area for sleeping, a huge room for playing, and a fenced in, shaded yard. They go on regular outings to the nearby parks, and have a wonderful summer trip to the zoo. We are so thankful for the devotion they showed our kids and for being like a second set of parents for them, and couldn't recommend them more warmly.
May 2011
My son has been at Dolma's Day care since he was 9 months old (he is now a little over two). We are so happy we found Dolma's. Here's what we love about them: 1) Dolma and Tashi are incredibly loving and kind people. My son is genuinely excited to see Dolma and Tashi in the morning, and in return, they are always happy to see him. 2) The children's area is always very, very clean. The space is well lit, there is lots of room and the toys and activities get switched out frequently. 3) Dolma and Tashi put a tremendous amount of effort into making sure that there are a wide variety of activities - the kids go to the park, to Little Farm, to the vivarium by fourth street (turtle mama! I saw a big turtle!!), to the Lawrence Hall of Science. They paint. They dance. They have circle time with stories. 4) My son seems happy there.
March 2011
I want to highly recommend Dolma Daycare in W. Berkeley. We moved from SF to Berkeley over 3 years ago with two girls aged 2yrs & 5 weeks. While I was on maternity leave I was tasked to find a daycare that would take both girls as splitting them was not an option. I looked in about 20 daycares all over Berkeley and the minute I walked into Dolma's I knew in my heart that I had found a safe, loving place for my girls. I was so lucky that Dolma & Tahsi could take both girls and they instantly settled into the daily routine. The daily schedule in Dolma's is filled with an enriched learning program that includes a pre- school teacher that comes daily and there is always art and coloring projects going on and daily trips to the park across the street. They have also newly introduced a school bus which they use for day trips to other parks in the Berkeley/Albany/Kensington area. All seats on the bus are fitted with a 5 point safety harness belts for even the youngest child. Give them a call 510-558-7424. Feel free to email me with any questions that you may have. Melanie
Oct 2010
Our daughter started at Dolma's Day Care at one year old, and thrived during her time there -- so much so that she often didn't want to leave at the end of the day, and would ask to see Dolma on weekends. Dolma and Tashi are kind, caring, friendly, and patient, and are continually thinking of ways to enrich the children's experience. They have created a beautiful, extraordinarily clean, and inviting space for the children, and a schedule that includes daily trips to the park, art projects, dancing, a music teacher, and ''circle time'' with a preschool teacher. It was the perfect mix of structured activities and free play. There is often music playing, but never any TV. We were amazed when our daughter came home knowing the days of the week and being able to identify numbers by sight, all of which came from her time at Dolma's. Additionally, Dolma and Tashi hold a great party for the parents and kids once a year, and really foster a sense of community there. We feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to have Dolma and Tashi care for our daughter. Julie
Sept 2010
Our son started at Dolma Daycare a year ago when he was 1.5 years old. We chose Dolma's because it was very clean, organized environment. The daycare is open before 8 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. We appreciated the structured schedule, which included play time outdoors and learning time with preschool and music teachers. But the determining factor in enrolling our son was the way he took to Dolma right away. Dolma and her husband Tashi are incredibly dedicated to the children and work tirelessly to assure that all are well cared for and loved. They go out of their way to organize special activities for birthdays and holidays, and even coordinate special outings and get-togethers that include families. The best testament is our son's eagerness to head to Dolma's each day and all the wonderful stories of his day that he relates when he gets home. We are very pleased with the learning and social skills he has acquired during his time there. We would highly recommend Dolma's to other parents.
Aug 2010
We too were looking for a one-day spot for our little one, now two, about six months ago. Dolma and her husband Tashi took us into their schedule and run the place as caring professionals. There are few teachers that exemplify their diligence, love and patience. They go above and beyond to ensure the kids are well kept, clean, and engaged, and include a yearly trip to the Zoo.
I'm always impressed by how organized they are, and how happy our child is to see her new friends at the park, and how somehow she always comes home with her hair combed and a bow, and a painting of the day, and a report card on how the day went. I highly recommend Dolma Daycare and feel very lucky to have found them! Brett
Aug 2010
My son has been going to Dolma daycare for the past 4 years. He will be leaving Dolma to go to an after school program. This is one of the best daycares for young children - infants/toddlers. Very clean, lots of activities, healthy food and loving care. You can't ask for more! They have a preschool teacher coming 4 days a week and a music teacher coming once a week. They keep changing the toys and upgrading the play equipment so that it keeps the children interested. The Daycare is clean and sanitized. It is a family run daycare on 7th and Virginia. Contact no. for Dolma Daycare is 510-558-7424. Thanks Dolma and Tashi for all the care you have provided.....
Ritu
Aug 2010
Our son is 3.5 and our daughter 1.5 years old. They have both been at Dolma's since they were six months old. What a loving, safe, nurturing place! Dolma treats the kids like her own and they receive so much love and kindness. I could not imagine a better place for our kids and we often say that even if we had a billion dollars and didn't need to work, we would still send our kids there. Its the best place for kids that we could possibly imagine. Michael
Contact: Dolma, 510-558-7424
April 2010
I want to highly recommend Dolma Daycare in W. Berkeley. We moved from SF to Berkeley over 2.5 years ago with two girls aged 2yrs & 5 weeks. While I was on maternity leave I was tasked to find a daycare that would take both girls as splitting them was not an option. I looked in about 20 daycares all over Berkeley and the minute I walked into Dolma's I knew in my heart that I had found a safe, loving place for my girls. I was so lucky that Dolma & Tahsi could take both girls and they instantly settled into the daily routine. In fact, my eldest daughter just left last September to go to Pre-K. The daily schedule in Dolma's is filled with an enriched learning program that includes a pre-school teacher that comes daily and they also have a music teacher that comes once a week. There is always art and coloring projects going on and daily trips to the park. I could go on and on about how great it is at Dolma Daycare, so please call them and find out for yourself - 510-558-7424. Feel free to email me with any questions that you may have. Melanie
June 2009
I was looking for a one-day spot for my active two year-old little boy last year and was referred by friends to Dolma Daycare. I was looking for a place that would get him ready for pre-school in a way. My first impression of the space was how clean it was and how much space the kids had to run around. They have a teacher come in for a few hours a day to read books and lead a circle time. I am amazed to see sit my active boy now sit for stories and songs when at birthday parties, etc... Dolma and her husband Tashi run the daycare in a professional yet loving way. There are ten to 12 children of varying ages max at any time and I feel that my son gets the attention he needs throughout the day. They are very kind about any special needs the children have also and very responsive to questions and concerns of the parents. I highly recommend Dolma Daycare and feel very lucky to have found a spot there!
Ani
May 2009
Dolma and Tashi have cared for our daughter from age of 18 months until now~3.5 years. Our daughter spoke no english and was terrified of strangers. We found out about Dolma Day Care from the parent of an alum who was moving on to preschool. As it turns out, we could not have picked a better place for our daughter. Dolma and Tashi have a wonderful nurturing and stimulating environment for young minds to thrive. They have a range of activities- from stimulative learning (coloring, alphabets etc.) to a teacher who comes in for an hour everyday to read, have circle-time, learn spanish words, and sing songs. They have a music teacher who comes in once/week to lead music time. Dolma's has a very clean environment, lots of new toys and books for the children and there is lots of arts and/crafts everyday! Summertime brings about water-play, excursions to the park and even a trip to the zoo! In short, a great loving, stimulating and nurturing environment for your child; if we have a second kid, we know where we will be sending the young one. Please feel free to call if you have any questions. Dolma:510-558-7424
Sandhya
May 2009
Our daughter has been going to dolmas for a year now and we have loved it! Dolma is the most patient person i have ever met. she really enjoys what she does and she does a good job. dolma, tashi(her husband), and her assistant chimi respect the children and their needs as developing beings but can also teach how to follow rules. my daughter has learned so much there, including how to get along with many other children. i would recommend dolmas daycare to everyone! their number is 510-525-4936. Contact: dolma or tashi, 510-525-4936
April 2009
Our son has been with Dolma Day Care since he was 8 months old. We visited other daycares at the time and found our son connected w/ Dolma instantly. Dolma and her family are very warm, loving and provide a nurturing environment for all the children. The kids are well stimulated with a variety of books, toys, art, music, dance and trips to the park on sunny days. Dolma also provides learning tools as they practice ABC's, numbers, colors, etc on a daily basis. They also have a preschool teacher with a Montessori background who comes in for circle times with songs, reading, music almost every day. Dolma's is a home based daycare with a large amount of space indoors and out everything is kept very clean and they are always making improvements, adding new toys and such to keep the kids safe and happy. My son will be 3 soon and Dolma is working on potty training with him which is going very well. There may be a few openings coming up this summer/fall for the children transitioning to preschool (including my son). Please contact them to inquire about openings.
Contact: Tashi, (510) 525-4936
Nov 2008
We are so grateful for all of the love, patience, care, and fun that Dolma and her staff provide to our daughter. We visited over 20 daycares and no place comes remotely close to what Dolma provides to her children. The daycare has 2 large play areas for the kids to explore in and is extremely clean. They have educational toys for various age groups and a daily structured schedule that includes a pre-school teacher who does a circle time where the kids participate in learning. Other activities include music time, painting/art, reading, writing, free play, dancing, daily walks or playtime at the park. There are celebrations for children's birthdays and other holidays, trick or treating at Halloween, and this year, a special trip to the zoo. Our daughter comes home having learned something new every day and is proud to show us her accomplishments. Dolma also makes sure that the kids stay clean throughout the day, combs their hair after naptime, and helps with potty training. I can not say enough great things about Dolma and Tashi. Please email me with questions or call them at 510.525-4936 or 510.588-7424
Mina G.
April 2008
You are in luck!! The most wonderful daycare has an opening! Dolma Daycare is a home daycare in W. Berkeley (7th & Virginia) run by Dolma & Tashi, a loving and fun Tibetan couple. The daycare currently has about 10 children from age 9mos-3yrs. They are looking for one full- time child age 16mos or older to start anytime. Dolma's is bright and filled with educational toys and lots of space inside and out to run and play. They have a fantastic Montessori-trained preschool teacher who comes every morning to lead the kids in circle-time for 1.5 hours. Afternoons always involve walks and playing outside and trips to the park across the street. Dolma teaches the children the alphabet/numbers/colors and helps them learn to write letters and numbers daily. I looked at 12 daycares and Dolma's was the shining star. We waited 10 months until a space opened and we could send our son there. Now our infant daughter attends as well. We couldn't be happier! Hurry and call for an appointment to visit with them --this space will fill quickly! Contact: Dolma and Tashi, 510-525-4936
Email me with any questions: holly h.
Sept 2007
I highly recommend Dolma's Daycare (510-558-7424). My daughter attended for over two years, from 3 months of age, finishing in September 2007. Dolma and Tashi provide a clean, safe, and loving environment where children learn, grow, make friends, and have fun. They are the best. If you contact them, they can provide my phone number for a reference. -- Eric
June 2007
Our wonderful Dolma Day Care has openings again starting in September for children 18 mos to 3 yrs. They are hoping to fill their spaces with boys to balance their gender ratio. Our son has been going to Dolma's for 1.5 yrs and we can emphasize enough how happy we are with the care he receives from Dolma & Tashi. They are gentle and loving and have endless patience with the children. The children just glow with delight in their presence and my son is excited every day to go and play at Dolma's. The space is large, clean, and bright. Music is always playing and the TV is never on. The children have multiple play areas and they go to the park every day. Tashi and Dolma are constantly making new improvements to the daycare --- one of the most recent has been hiring a preschool teacher who comes every morning for an hour to teach the children about circle-time activities. Please feel free to email me with any questions. We looked at 12(!) daycares in the Berkeley/El Cerrito area and none even came close to the quality we have found at Dolma's. Dolma Day Care: 510-525-4936 or 510-588-7424
Holly
Jan 2007
I wanted to unconditionally and highly recommend our family day care provider-- Dolma Day Care. Dolma and her BA-level assistant provide wonderful care to a lovely group of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The other parents are lovely, too! Our daughter, now 2.5, has attended since she was 3 months old. The quality of care is simply superb and provides ample opportunities for artwork, singing and dancing, reading, learning the ABCs and 123s, and trips to the park. The space is immaculate and toys are new and updated continuously. Dolma currently has an opening (rare!). Contact: Dolma Tsering, 510-588-7424
Nov 2006
Dolma Daycare has an opening for a toddler aged 1.5 or older. Our son has been going to Dolma's for two years and it's been a wonderful, nurturing, and loving experience for all of us. Dolma and her family offer all sorts of age-appropriate activities for the children and teach them important socialization skills about sharing, caring, and manners. They work with the older children to teach them ABCs, numbers, colors, potty-training, etc. The daycare area is spacious, bright, clean, and filled with toys of all sorts. They take the children for walks and to the park everyday in nice weather, and also have an enclosed covered patio for outdoor play. Most of all, Dolma's offers the children a safe, loving environment to grow and learn. Please contact Dolma if you are looking for a wonderful daycare for your little one Contact: Dolma Tsering, 510-525-4936
Nov 2006
There is an opening at my son's daycare for a child 1YO+ and I would *highly* recommend Dolma Daycare if you are looking for a small-med family daycare. My 17 month old son has been in their care since he was 4 months and they are his second family. Everyone associated with the daycare center-caregivers, parents, and children-are wonderful people and I have never had any concerns leaving my son in their capable hands. Dolma and her assistant are loving and gentle with the children, and are focused solely on keeping them safe, healthy, and in good spirits. The children are all well-mannered and sweet and we refer to them as our son's brothers and sisters. The spacious daycare area is clean and well-maintained, with a paved area for yard play. The toys and supplies are clean, up-to-date, and have frequent new additions. What it really comes down to is that I TRUST the people at Dolma Daycare implicitly with my son. I would not recommend them otherwise!
Feb 2006
I want to HIGHLY reccomend our day care, Dolma Day Care. I can't tell you enough how lucky we are to go to Dolma Day Care. Dolma and Tashi are WONDERFULL, kind, gentle, VERY polite, and my son is a part of their family.The house is immaculate, the toys are in great condition, they go to the park (weather permitting) and the kids are never bored. (AND THEY DONT WATCH TV!!!!!)Hope this is helpfull,please feel free to email m-e with questions. dolma day care:528-7424
Alex
Feb 2006
Our fantastic daycare provider, Dolma, has openings for more children in her home-based daycare. She takes children from 6 weeks to 3 years old. Our child has been with Dolma for 17 months and we couldn't be happier with the care that she provides. Dolma is warm, loving, and attentive. She does a great job of interacting with and teaching the kids, as well as giving us detailed reports on what our child has done that day. They play lots of games, sing songs, go for walks, and the kids all learn together. Dolma currently has openings for full- and part-time. As we say, ''Everyone should have a Dolma!''
Contact: Dolma, 510-525-4936
Jan 2006
Our family daycare provider, Dolma, has openings for infants and toddlers up to 3. I can't say enough wonderful things about her and, in my opinion, this is the highest quality family day care in the area. Her space is immaculate and she provides a warm, stimulating environment. The small group of tots she cares for are quite bonded. My 18 month old daughter loves it! Please contact Dolma directly.
Contact: Dolma, 510-588-7424
Hi! We sent our kiddos to Dolma Daycare for 9 years. Our youngest just went to kindergarten. Highly recommend!