Little Inti Daycare
El Cerrito, CA
My daughter attended Little Inti in El Cerrito (near EC Plaza BART) through 2019. It's a home-based daycare/preschool, very affordable relative to most others. I know that some of our beloved teachers moved on and since COVID started it has just been the owner looking after a small group but she's been in business for many years and I expect she will expand again as things open up. The kids were well-cared for and well fed, went on field trips, had weekly music with an outside teacher and all things considered it was a very relaxed, flexible environment.
I don't know how many days off is too many for you as most seem to take all the federal holidays as well as various "breaks", but we've been happy with Little Inti in El Cerrito. It has real hours for working parents (8-6) and it's a good group of nice families and caring teachers. If you're looking for a "curriculum" or "philosophy" of some kind this isn't the place, rather it's a real play-based school that does an excellent job of socializing kids and feeding them wholesome food. Good luck.
I just wanted to leave a fresh review about Little Inti Daycare in El Cerrito. My daughter Lidya is going to Little Inti since last year. I cannot thank enough to all teachers and Becky (owner and manager) for their incredible care and efforts. I have tried a couple of daycares and preschools before I found this hidden gem in El Cerrito. Lidya had turned into two and I was looking for a place that she may be happy and safe like at home. I think the secret of Little Inti is 'Love'. They really care for the kids as if they are their own children. What you could realize as soon as you step into their kid-paradise garden, all you can see and hear that happy, laughing and playing kids, which I, very surprisingly, could not find at other places that I have visited.
And their philosophy and methods: perfect! Kids learn daily manners, rules and all other small but important things related to life, without even realizing it. From potty-training to eating problems, pickiness, you can just forget about all of them. Lidya had all of them before starting to Little Inti. Now. her transformation is like a miracle. I cannot thank enough for the patience, kindness, and care of all the teachers working at Little Inti.
Last but not least, Becky is doing an amazing job in the management of this place. There are always great surprises waiting for you, as a parent. From their daily trips to the museums, libraries, Little Farm or beaches to the regular classes of music, swimming, and taekwondo. There is always something new in the school, either a new playhouse in the garden, a new toy, or a new educational activity. They never miss a day of celebration. Just as an example, last Mothers day, Lidya brought a photo of her, with a frame painted by her as a gift to me. They did it at school. Amazing teachers, excellent management. Now, thanks to her teachers, she speaks and understands a little Spanish, in addition to English and to her native language.
Becky, is not only taking very good care of our children here in Berkeley and in El Cerrito but is also helping the families and kids in Peru. I really do not know where she is finding all this energy and time for everything.
They provide breakfast, launch, and snacks. all of them are so delicious and actually very popular even among the parents :) we just ask for the recipes to cook it at home. They cook all the meals and snacks at their own kitchen with very high-quality ingredients. No kid can resist their delicious food at their cutest-ever dining area in the garden.
The flexible schedules they provide is a very rare feature for a daycare. From 3-5 half- days to 3-5 full days (from 8 am - 6 pm- great for working parents). They are open to sudden needs as well, with an extra drop-in possibility- a life-saving characteristic for a parent. And Little Inti has very reasonable rates, in addition to all these.
I am grateful to Becky and all the teachers for everything. I recommend Little Inti with my whole heart.
Little Inti Daycare, it's in El Ceritto just a few blocks away from the high school. She normally takes kids from 2-5 years old. My daughter has been there since she was two, she'll be five next summer and we have absolutely loved being there. She also makes home cooked food and snacks for the kids everyday. I can't recommend her enough.
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Feb 2014
We (my husband, my 16-month-old son and me) came from France to Berkeley for a year in November 2012. No family, but just this great friend who told me how Little Inti was a great place where her daughter had spent some time. I feel sooo lucky and sooo grateful to have met Rebecca, Jessica, Pattie, and Norma since! Such a relief to know that your kid is happy and safe, especially when you start a new life in a new place where you hardly know anyone!
The first time we came in to meet Rebecca, my son disappeared in the play room and no longer wanted to leave... No 'adaptation phase',he felt comfortable from the first day on, even if no one was speaking his mother language at Little Inti! He has always been happy to go there every day, who would not have been? He learned Zumba, played outside, had many friends & various toys to play with, had music lessons once a week, visited many museums and parks in SF and around, received yummy food, could sleep what he needed. Me & my family also enjoyed a lot the pictures on FB, & my French friends got totally jealous of my son's daycare! We're now back to France, and he misses his many friends to play with. He really learned to share and play with other kids, which is not an easy task for a 2-year-old boy. I wish Rebecca would have traveled with us!
Oct 2013
I stumbled upon Little Inti while taking a walk one day, Becky and the kids were just getting back from the farmers market at the El Cerrito Plaza and they all looked so happy to be out and about. I absolutely loved the idea of my son being able to enjoy being outdoors as much as possible and not have to stay inside a house/school all day. Becky takes the kids all over the Bay Area to explore and have fun as long as the weather permits. Not only does she provide the kids with fun field trips throughout the year, she also coordinates swimming lessons during the summer, has fun art projects, teaches them their ABC's and numbers, and helps you potty train! She provides them with a hot breakfast and lunch and an afternoon snack. She is flexible with part-time schedules which is how we started out before going full-time.
My son was at Little Inti for a little over 2 years and loved it. Becky helped me get a handle on his rough-play style and didn't give up on potty-training him even though it took him quite some time to fully give up the diaper.It was sad for us to move on but it was time to move on to preschool with the rest of his buddies. I highly recommend Little Inti if you are looking for a place where your child will be well-taken cared of, can enjoy the outdoors, learn, and make great friendships along the way. -Happy Little Inti Mama
Oct 2013
We had to move out of the Bay Area and leave our beloved Little Inti behind. Our daughter loved her friends, the dynamic atmosphere (lots of trips, walks, new experiences, a mixed age group of kids from all different places), and just the right blend of fun, play, dancing and structure. We were looking for, and found in Little Inti, a loving bilingual environment, easily accessible by public transportation, where she could grow in both English and Spanish while getting lots of hugs. Tia Becky and her team do a fantastic job---Becky puts her heart and soul into Little Inti and is always making improvements, cooking yummy meals, finding new adventures, updating the space, and generally keeping it fresh and interesting for the kids. She constantly posts pictures so when we were slogging through work we would see videos of our daughter at the beach or the Discovery Museum or dancing with her friends. Becky helped us through the transition from home to daycare when my daughter was 17 months, coaching us on how to support her positive behavior.
Aug 2012
Thanks to wonderful experience at Little Inti's daycare/preschool. My son who is 2 3/4 yrs old has learned to be more independent. He is taking turns, sharing toys, talking with his friends and is having so much fun!! Looking for the right childcare can be difficult, but we have felt very lucky that our friend recommended us Rebeca Quintana (Little Inti Childcare provider) as her daughter has been very happy there. My son,Ivan, adjusted very fast and he loves playing with his friends there. The place is safe, very organized, and clean. Tia Becky - that is what my son calls Rebeca, makes delicious home cooked meals. Rebeca shares all the fun they have via pictures on facebook, so parents don't miss all those precious moments. She has one lovely assistant, Jessica, and they both treat my child with respect and love. Rebeca is always active, and plans many field trips. She takes them to local parks, museums, Little Farm, Steam Train, Farmer's market, Alameda beach, and other fun places! She also teaches your child ABC's and Numbers. If you want a piece of heaven while you can't be with your child, Little Inti is the best choice you can go for! I feel great that my child is in such a good hands! Highly recommended and 5 star service! One of the happiest Little Inti's mom
July 2012
I highly recommend Little Inti Day Care to all of the parents at BPN. My Daughter started attending 2011 and with the dedication of her providers (Rebecca, Jessica and Omar) she has enhanced her literacy skills, is now completely potty trained and has developed great social interaction skills. Rebecca is an excellent child care provider and gives the kids an opportunity to explore and build community. Throughout the year my daughter has been exposed to age-appropriate activities which all promote her skills in reading, writing and math. Some of the field trips she has attended include Farmers Market, Swimming Lesson, and Story time at the Library, Gymnastics, Petting Zoo and many adventures on Bart to different museums/zoos. I appreciate Rebecca's day care structure as it allows my daughter to have a great learning experience. Not to mention that Rebecca cooks delicious and nutritious hot meals. Also the staff is all bilingual in Spanish. I can't thank them enough. It sounds incredible but it is true; Aracely comes home counting, singing, and talking about dinosaurs which shows me the individual attention she is receiving. Every day I check my FB and see post of my daughter's activities; I can't ask for more. I am so grateful! Thanks Little Inti!
Rosa
Jan 2012
My family is moving out of the area which means that we are leaving our 18 month old son's beloved day care provider: Little Inti Day Care in El Cerrito. Leaving Rebeca and Jessica is going to break our son's heart. He absolutely everyone at Little Inti, which is why I am sharing our wonderful experience with BPN.
Little Inti has been the ideal place for our son. Unlike many day care places that give kids outdoor time in the home's yard, Little Inti does much more. I'll be honest, when we first visited the day care we wondered about the outdoor space, as the home has a small patio in the back. However, we quickly learned that the interior space is utilized well and that they are constantly on the move. The patio is used very effectively for outdoor projects/play, but most of the activities involve hands-on and interactive activities, dance, play or the four-seater strollers or the family van.I love having my girlfriend call me after she's seen the Little Inti crew at the read aloud program or at the local farmers market. They also go on trips more often than other day care provider. If your child likes exploring and learning new things, Little Inti is the place for you. Oh, and I have to say that having a bilingual staff is the cherry on top. Gisela
August 2011
Rebeca is an excellent child care provider for children 18 months to 5 years old, who makes sure that each day is full of fun and active things to do that challenge the kids and help them grow. She takes them to the Farmer's market, parks, the library, story time at the local bookstore, music class, swim class, gymnastics, and more. At her daycare the entire lower floor of a house is devoted to the children: a dining room with a tiny dinning room table and little chairs for them to eat the delicious breakfasts, lunches and snacks she makes for them (and sometimes with them!), an indoor and an outdoor play area - both full of arts and crafts, toys, games, play areas for cooking, mud areas to dig, etc. Rebeca also makes sure that the kids are learning how to respect and be nice to one another, learning to share, play together, older children are encouraged to help and include the younger ones, etc. I have been so impressed by her that I cannot recommend her highly enough. Please feel free to contact me for more details. Laura
Dec 2008
Dear Becky at Little Inti Daycare We wanted to make sure you know how grateful we are for all you've done over the years for D. and know more recently for M. You've taken care of our kids with as much love and care as your own. You've provided such good foundations for our kids . D. has begun Kindergarden totally prepared academically, emotionally & socially thanks to you . We miss your healthy ,nutritios , & delicious meals for D! We wish you all the best with little inti and look forward to M. and D. continuing visits with you !
All our love & gratitude ,
Caron, Ned, D & M
August 2008
My daughter's day care will have an opening this Fall and I want to let the other BPN members in the area know what a great opportunity this is for their families. Rebeca (''Tia Becky'') treats every child like a loved and respected member of her own family. The kids have a weekly routine that includes walks to a number of parks in the area, the farmer's market, and even swimming and martial arts classes. She takes advantage of the museums and libraries in the area where the kids have fabulous adventures exploring their surroundings as a small group. The children learn to cook and eat together in this emergent, play-based program and, thanks to Becky's loving guidance, treat each other like siblings. We could not be happier with her program. N. H.
Contact Rebeca at 510-415-1495
July 2008
We would like to express our gratitude for the wonderful care our son received for two years from Rebecca Quintana. She is highly professional, organized and most importantly, an absolutely reliable person. She is gifted and talented for childcare. This childcare is truly a safe home away from home. She offers the kids different daily activities including swimming, bowling, walks in the parks, cooking, and various academic study activities. She develops the children's social skills. You can be sure she will draw out the best in your child. Oxana and Greg
Contact: Rebecca Quintana, rsquintana [at] comcast.net
July 2008
My four-year-old, who's not quite old enough to go to kindergarten in the fall, needs a few new buddies at his awesome daycare near the El Cerrito BART station (lic# 073406217).
Rebeca Quintana -- or, as my son calls her -- ''Becky, the best teacher in the world'' is kind, loving & full of energy. She's open 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and during the day she takes the kids on all sorts of local adventures: to swimming lessons, Memorial Park, the Farmer's Market, etc. They eat well, do art projects and ''workbooks,'' nap in the afternoons and play like crazy. Check with Becky about the youngest age she'll take -- I forget... but I definitely remember that she potty-trained my son with only minimal effort on our part! All for under $1000/month (currently $945/mo)!
Visit Becky's website at www.littleintidaycare.homestead.com for pictures and more info. Or call Becky -- I think she has two openings for the fall. Contact: Rebeca Quintana, rsquintan [at] comcast.net or (510) 415-1495
beth
Parent Reviews
Parents, please Sign in to post a review on this page.