Daisy Child Development Center
Community SubscriberOakland, CA
Previous owner Eva Lissette Barahona License # 013418977
Parent Q&A
Parent Reviews
Parents, please Sign in to post a review on this page.My son started at Daisy mid-year after our beloved in-home daycare closed pretty suddenly. Daisy took us in (along with 5 other kids from our daycare) with warm open arms. We have loved Daisy and our son has thrived there. Their large outdoor area was a huge selling point for us (along with the goats and chickens), and the kids love it so much and spend as much time as possible out there. Our 4-year-old has lots of unstructured play time and some structured classroom time where they read, have circle time, art, yoga, music, and much more. He comes home happy and tired — truly, what more could we ask for! Communication with Irfan and Fey is timely and focused on our son's needs. Irfan has gone out of his way to connect about our family and make sure that our needs are met. I highly recommend Daisy and would be happy to connect with other parents who would like to learn more.
We’re very lucky to have found Daisy for our daughter. She has been attending for almost 3 years and will be heading on to TK this fall. We couldn’t be happier with our experience. Fey, Irfan, and all the teachers are incredibly caring, nurturing, and attentive to each individual child. From the beginning, we’ve felt a strong sense of community and deeply appreciate the safe, supportive, and stimulating environment they’ve created. From interacting with goats to music and yoga, we’ve seen our daughter grow exponentially, both academically and emotionally. We’ll definitely miss Daisy, but we’re fortunate to have formed close bonds with other parents and will continue to stay in touch. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun, nurturing, small preschool with an amazing community.
Our little one has been at Daisy for less than a year and has been flourishing! From socializing to physical confidence, we've seen a lot of development and we're excited to see that continue in the Cloud room. The teachers are attentive and kind, the director is communicative and direct, and the whole place feels very personal with a lot of character (someone mentioned the goats and chickens below, I believe). We are excited to send our younger one there soon too. Also, this might seem small, but doing the drive twice a day I appreciate that the location is very convenient to the highway.
As our daughter eagerly awaits taking the big step into kindergarten in the fall, we must stop and appreciate all the wonderful staff at Daisy (Ms. Fey, Irfan, & Mr. Ronny) who have so thoughtfully contributed to her education, and more importantly her social and emotional growth. Over the last 3 years he has been prepared for new and larger group settings, she has been equipped with the basics of writing & numbers, & she has been primed to be a confident and inquisitive member of the classroom through all the attention and support she has received. This will be our second child through Daisy, both beginning at 18MOS and continuing through the summer before kindergarten. In both experiences the teaching staff have been truly wonderful and loving and caring. Also in both experiences, the parent groups we’ve had the opportunity to get to know have also been wonderful. From playdates, to ballet, to weekends at the Exploratorium, it has been delightful to get to know a lot of truly fantastic people, some of whom we’ve stayed in contact with +5 years later. Daisy creates itself as a hub for education, growth, and community. I can’t recommend them highly enough, if you're looking for a great, small pre-school, Daisy is most definitely worth a tour.
We've had a great experience at Daisy. Our LO has been at the school for over a year and about to graduate to go to TK. We've seen her growth in social skills and confidence while she is cared for and make friends. The staff is caring and the school has a big yard with a large play structure and farm animals (chickens and goats). They have yoga time once a week which has provided her with physical development that her ballet teacher has complimented (skipping is not common prior to 5yo).
Irfan and Fey are strong communicators and great at working with your family. Our LO is a covid baby and naturally reserved. It took her 7 months to break out of her shell and the staff were there every step of the way to build her a safe space. They send picture updates of the school and are responsive to inquiries. We hope to place our 2yo with the daycare soon.
The center has about 20-30 kids and half the time the older kids are split into groups to learn pre-k lessons. The other half of the time kids are socializing in the big yard.
I reviewed Daisy when we were newer, a long time ago! My kiddo is now about to graduate, so I want to post an update that confirms how great our experience was from start (my kid was 18 months old) to near-end (she's now almost 5!).
My spouse and I have loved being Daisy parents, and our daughter loves going to Daisy. She's made the most incredible group of friends, learned so much (both STEM education and importantly, social learning) and our family has made friends for life with the other families at the school.
Irfan and Fey let kids be kids, and at the same time, don't limit their expectations for what a child can learn and be capable of. They genuinely love all the families in the community and I feel so safe and cared for sending my child there. We started in the early months of the pandemic, and health and safety were always held paramount.
I am so sad our preschool days are coming to an end; it has been such a great experience. I recommend Daisy without reservations to families looking. A lot of the current cohort is about to head to elementary school, so reach out today about getting a spot!
We have had two kids at Daisy and I cannot say enough good things about Irfan, Fey, and the other teachers. Not only are they amazing for the kids, in a beautiful tiered lot with goats and chickens, but they have been incredibly flexible with us as parents as well. They are affordable, conveniently located, caring, and all around amazing!
Our kiddo is graduating from Daisy after two years there. We are so grateful to Fey and Irfan for the environment they have created. Our kiddo is more than prepared for kindergarten and it is in all thanks to them. Love the way the handle discipline, very gentle and constructive. They also have yoga and goats! We already miss this place!
We had a great experience with Daisy. We were in a bit of an odd situation mid-move and needed care for just a couple months, and we were able to work something out to accommodate us. The play area is very large, and they even have some goats and chickens the kids can interact with some times. In that toughest phase in the beginning where our toddler was getting used to her new day care, she got a lot of 1-on-1 attention and we received frequent updates to put us at ease. If we lived nearby longer we'd absolutely stick with Daisy.
We absolutely love Daisy. Our little one is so excited to go each day and really loves the staff. Fey and Irfan are such great supports to the kids and parents. Their genuine kindness and compassion make the kids feel loved and cared for. I've been very impressed with their response to Covid and their efforts to keep our kids safe. They have Spanish lessons, yoga instruction, and lots and lots of outdoor play time. We are so lucky to have found Daisy.
I can't say enough good things about Daisy. My daughter has been there for two years and she loves it there, she is thriving and I know it is a direct result of being in the kind and nurturing care of Daisy's staff. I feel they genuinely care about all of the children in there care and work really hard to create a strong sense of community and accountability which I think is so amazing. I am also super impressed by how they have navigated all of the different and ever changing challenges of the pandemic, while always keeping safety as a priority, which has been such a huge relief as a parent.
Hi, our daughter just graduated to kindergarten but before that she was at Daisy Child Development Center, near Mills College. I highly recommend Daisy. It's a wonderful preschool with a huge outdoor space where the kids play often. (There are even goats and chickens!) The staff's endless patience and love really helped the kids learn social and emotional skills, too.
We feel so lucky that we found Daisy. Irfan, Fey, and the rest of the staff truly care about each child, and they've created a great environment where the kids learn and grow--and have tons of fun.
My daughter started there in summer 2020, at the height of the pandemic, and Daisy's safeguards kept everyone safe. That's also a credit to the strong communication, trust, and sense of community among the school's staff and parents.
Our daughter is graduating to kindergarten now and we're going to miss Daisy so much!
My family has been connected to Daisy since 2016. We've stuck with them (and they've stuck with us!) through thick and thin. My oldest kid, who's now in third grade, finished his preschool years here, and made two friends who are still his best friends to this day, even though all three attend different elementary schools.
My youngest started the day he was eligible (18 months). He's now SIX and has been attending zoom Kindergarten from Daisy all year long. He knows the Daisy campus like the back of his hand; he knows the goats and the chickens, he knows each of the small and big yards (there are three outdoor areas, including a large playyard with fun equipment).
Pre-pandemic they enjoyed yoga and lots of fun extracurriculars, and at least annual field trips. But Irfan and Fey pivoted admirably in pandemic times, and have kept us all safe while remaining flexible so our kids could continue to play together.
I highly recommend Daisy for any family with a child between the ages of 18 months-4yrs! in fact, can't recommend them enough! I enrolled my daughter there at 19 months during the COVID re-openings. While although there were many uncertainties during that time, Irfan, the director, put our worries at ease with his attention to safety and care for the children, which is always top priority.
Irfan and the staff are very communicative with daily updates when necessary, pictures throughout the days and clarity on expectations from the families and students.
My daughter absolutely loves being there, and oftentimes it’s a challenge to pull her away from her friends and the outdoor area in the afternoons. Over the the last 4 months, she has developed tremendously with her communication skills and vocabulary, social/play skills, and academics (shapes, colors, words).
Our experience at Daisy has surpassed our expectations. We are, unfortunately, relocating out of state, and the saddest part about moving is having to unenroll my daughter. I would have loved to have seen her grow and learn under the care of the staff at Daisy over the years.
Our experience at Daisy has gone beyond our expectations in the best ways. I recommend it highly!
2020 has been a rough year, and sending our daughter to Daisy is the one thing that has been really great this year. We were at another daycare pre-COVID, and I thought I was happy with them, but after changing to Daisy in late May, I have to say it was a totally different experience, and I'm so glad we switched.
The director Irfan, his wife Fey, and another longtime teacher, Ron, are the only teachers right now with the reduced student attendance. I've been incredibly impressed by how they've treated my kid, and how they value safety above all. The love they show my daughter is like family.
They are highly communicative, sending photos throughout the day, and answering parents' texts and calls, and sharing how my daughter's day was. Irfan and Fey made us feel welcomed, reassured about how seriously they are taking the public health situation, and how serious they are about earning the trust of parents.
Our previous daycare was nothing like that! The director and teachers at the daycare we used before Daisy never told us about her day, rarely responded to calls or emails even with important questions. Daisy's teachers have made it clear there is no question too small, or unimportant. Fey and Irfan go above and beyond to earn and keep our trust, again and again.
I'm hugely impressed by how much my daughter is learning. She started at 18 months old and has made leaps and bounds with her learning colors, shapes, letters, and better listening, and kinder social interaction.
The outdoor space is fantastic, and they have goats, chickens, and other animals that the kids get to interact with.
If you're looking for a daycare that prizes the safety and happiness of kids above all, Daisy is a great choice! The director and teachers are incredibly caring. They show immense respect for the families that go there, and expect those families to respect one another too, and to be mindful every family's background, resources, and structure is different. Truly, nothing in 2020 has brought me more happiness and peace of mind than enrolling my toddler at Daisy, and the happiness my daughter gets from school is without measure. I would be so happy if she can go there throughout preschool and TK.
Irfan and Faye (the directors), along with Nikki (our daughter’s teacher), and all of the teachers and helpers at Daisy are some of the nicest, most caring people I’ve ever met. Their primary goal is the safety of all the kids, which they take very seriously. The directors regularly help out and interact with the kids, so it feels like there’s a nice comradery between everyone. Most of the teachers speak very good English, but some of the helpers do not, like most daycares. In the morning Nikki is there, but sometimes when we pick our daughter up at the end of the day, she’s with a helper who is a little harder to communicate with, so it’s great that the directors know what’s going on in case we need to ask a question, and if they don’t know they find out, as they really want the parents to feel supported and comfortable. They’re also incredibly knowledgeable about child development and what works and what doesn’t after running Daisy for 7 years. Many of the staff have been there for over 15 years, which is really reassuring as a parent. They’re also very transparent about what they think might help (Irfan suggested having our daughter walk more at home instead of carrying her), and what to expect about starting at Daisy, which was really helpful as a first-time parent. Irfan told my husband and I that it would probably take our daughter 1 month to acclimate to Daisy, and us 3 months, which was true. I had a lot of fear and anxiety in the beginning, as I was home with her for the first year, and then jumped back into a demanding job where I couldn’t drop her off or pick her up, so I felt like I didn’t know what was going on. But Irfan and Nikki really supported Lucy by slowly increasing the hours she was at Daisy, paying special attention to her, and encouraging us to bring in any soothing objects (stuffies, a blanket, etc.). They were also very supportive of me during this time by always being available to talk or text, sending pictures of Lucy, and by encouraging me to speak with other parents who had gone through what I was experiencing (having a child start at Daisy around 18 months). Overall, Daisy has been an incredibly positive experience for my daughter, my husband, and I. I feel so lucky and thankful that our daughter is able to go to a daycare under the care of such smart, positive people, where she’s safe but also encouraged to play, be creative, and interact with other kids. Daisy is very special place and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of it.
Both my kids attended Daisy and have loved it. The staff is caring and positive, most have been with Daisy for many years. Kids have lots of enrichment, from yoga and music to goats and carpentry. I appreciate the relaxed environment that honors kids for who they are. It feels very secure with a locking gate and an attentive staff. Daisy is a wonderful place!
On walks through a quaint neighborhood street, I would admire the building that resembles an Italian villa set into the hillside. I knew of Daisy CDC from a coworker that lit up when sharing that their child attended more than a decade ago and with a previous owner. Sounded good when the time came for me to find new care for my 2 year old. In panic-mode from a bad experience with a previous provider that left me feeling anxious--and yet a winning lawsuit, I 100% flipped into being calm, relieved, and excited for my son. It was then, that I found this wonderful, happy school. First with Daisy, Irfan's greeting was super chill. He is a supportive business leader and loving husband to Fey, who is likewise full of positivity and kindness. As a team directing, the school is mindfully active and loving. There's plenty of rooms for the kids to grow into. And, the teachers amaze me! As regular people, they are smart with ideas and highly organized. As leaders, they all gain the kids' respect while being relaxed and playful. There's great storytelling and creative art/craft/building lessons they incorporate into the holidays and calendar schedules. My son speaks Spanish and knows yoga poses! The yard is huge with things to climb, dig, run around. It's both shaded and sunny, and you'll find animals! It's impressive to see all the care for goats, chickens and the gardens happening there. You'll want to volunteer to help in anyway, because of the welcoming vibes and fun activities throughout the year. The overall feeling of Daisy CDC is easy and trustworthy. There's superb communication between us all and the motivation of growth is obvious in the kids' attitudes and that of the friendly parents at the end of the day. I really love this place and the people involved.
Daisy CDC has truly been a wonderful place for our 3 year old to learn and grow. We loved their play based curriculum, and the emphasis on healthy snacks and food. Being relatively new parents, finding a safe and nurturing place for our only child was intimidating. But, Daisy makes it easy to drop off our child and trust he is in good hands. We are now moving out of the area and are super sad about moving our child to a new school, but if we had stayed we would have kept our child there through TK. Hands down, a wonderful community and a wonderful place for young children.
Like previous reviewers, we can't say enough good things about Daisy. We have two children there, one in the Galaxy Room and one in Cloud. We started about a year ago and have seen our 3 (now 4) year old blossom enormously in that time. He came from smaller, daycare environments and is definitely more on the reserved side, personality-wise, but he acclimated very quickly to Daisy. We're thrilled with the development we've seen in the past year, and with the level of care given by the directors and teachers. The preschool classrooms strike a nice balance between play and "work," and the transition from Rainbow (the 3-year-old classroom) to Cloud has been great for our son-- he's gone from lots of art projects, carpentry, and playtime to all of that plus some more structured "classwork" time mixed in, and he loves it. I'm delighted to see him learning to write and read, and I feel it's helping prepare him for the transition to kindergarten. Our younger child is absolutely thriving in Galaxy, which is a paradise for the little ones--- they sing and dance and do art projects all day. They also learn about animals and gardening and all kinds of other outdoor things-- the playground and outdoor spaces are wonderful at Daisy. Finding a good fit (preschool, daycare or otherwise) can be challenging for any family, and we couldn't be happier to have found Daisy CDC.
My daughter started Daisy at 18 months and is now almost 3 and we have been so happy with our experience there. The teachers are awesome! They are both nurturing and loving while at the same time not afraid to make rules and stick by them. I like that the school is mixture between play and classroom learning. I love that the children are doing circle time, learning letters, shapes, etc. and also cooking, gardening, dancing, music, yoga, and Spanish. You can really tell the kids are learning! And they are also taught to be kind and respectful to each other. I love how all the teachers have different styles that really compliment each other. The space is also amazing, there are 3 separate outdoor play areas, animals, and a small garden. We feel so lucky to have found such a great community at Daisy. I can tell my daughter is truly experiencing the joy of learning about the world around her. Also many important social skills such as; learning how to take turns, enjoy the company of many children, and be confident. I feel so lucky we found them!
We have had our daughter at Daisy since she was 18 Months old. In the early years, the nurturing, love, attention, and empathy she and the other kids received from the teachers was worth its weight in gold. My daughter is shy & slow to warm up, but the teachers always engaged her, hugged her, and facilitated her transition in the morning, and she is now a much happier individual (and student) for it. Three years later, she is more than ready for kindergarten. The TK program Ms. Fey heads has prepared the class with the basics of writing, numbers, and letters but has also given the confidence to be successful in their next school. The carpentry classes, science projects, gardening time, chickens & goats, Spanish, and yoga classes are all icing on the cake. It’s the attention each student gets, the personalized instruction, and a genuine consideration and kindness that makes the school a truly wonderful place.
We have been delighted with our experience at Daisy. It is a loving, responsible, friendly, and vibrant environment with happy well-managed kids, empathetic instructors, in a lovely campus not far from Mills College. When we enrolled our son a year and a half ago at the age of 3, he was a reluctant talker due to a mild speech development issue, and we were a little nervous about how he'd do in a preschool environment. Since starting at Daisy he has blossomed into an extrovert who engages anyone he's introduced with confidence and joy and that has everything to do with the compassionate attention they provide to each child's specific needs. I also feel that they're educational development is at exactly the right pace, introducing structured learning in an almost quiet way that the kids seem to view as a simple extension of the many fun preschool activities that are available at Daisy (carpentry, yoga, dance, art). It's a very special place and we feel lucky to be a part of it.
We brought our 4-year-old son to Daisy after about 2.5 years at another local preschool. We made the move because the other preschool didn't have a well-defined pre-K program and we wanted him to have a bit more structured learning. We toured a Montessori school and felt that was too rigorous (you could hear a pin drop in a room of 20 three-year-olds). We toured Daisy and felt it was the Goldilocks mix of unstructured play and purposeful instruction. What sealed the deal and made our decision easy was when Irfan (the school's director and co-owner with wife Fey) told us their order of priorities:
- Each child is safe
- Each child has fun
- Each child learns
- Parents are informed and happy
Those priorities, in that order, told us we had found the right place for our son. Daisy has lived up to those priorities in the ~3 months we've entrusted them with our son's welfare and development so far. I wholeheartedly recommend them if you share these same principals.
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Nov 2015
RE: Preschools in Upper Dimond/Glenview
I would like to recommend Daisy Child Development Center. It is actually a bit east of you on the 580, but extremely convenient right off the freeway where it merges with 13. Current reviews on Yelp are extremely mixed due to some political issues going on there, but I strongly believe that it is a very good school with loving and caring teachers. There is fabulous outdoor space with several play structures, sand pit, a garden, chickens and ducks, and places to ride bikes, do art, play with trains, etc. There is one classroom for 18 months-2 year olds, three classrooms for 3-4 year olds, and a wonderful TK class. Tuition is quite reasonable, they provide care from 7:30-6:00, and include breakfast and two snacks per day. The curriculum is play based with structured activities as well. My son is so happy there and loves his teachers. There is wonderful diversity among both kids and teachers. Check it out. They have plenty of openings right now as a number of kids left for kinder recently, as well as some unhappy parents who wanted a more stringent curriculum and moved their kids. If you appreciate a loving, play-based preschool, it is worth a visit! Happy Daisy MomJune 2014
I'm curious to hear some current reviews of Daisy Child Development Center in Oakland. I believe they went through an ownership change at the beginning of this year after many years with the previous owner, and I'm curious how people are feeling about it at this point. Thank you for any information! curious mom
We love Daisy. My daughter has been there since she turned 2 and is now getting ready to leave for kindergarten. The teachers are wonderful and the community is very friendly. My daughter has made lots of good friends and has grown so much over her time there. The ownership change was a little rocky due to some communication issues around a teacher leaving. Some families left, but the situation seems stable now and the new owners are really working to keep everyone in the loop. We won't hesitate to send our second daughter to Daisy when the time comes...nothing but good things to say about our experience there. Daisy fan
April 2013
Re: Oakland preschools with great outdoor spaces?
I suggest you check out Daisy Child Development Center. We have a super active boy and outdoor space was important to our choice of preschool. They are a play based school with a progressive vibe. The main play structure was parent built and therefore unique. They have a garden and chickens. It is a larger school with four classes but the wonderful teachers make every child feel special. We loved everything about Daisy. http://www.daisycdc.com/ Happy Daisy Parent
March 2011
Re: Pre-School Recommendations in Oakland/Berkeley
I would like to recommend Daisy Child Development Center. My daughter went to Daisy from the age of 18 months until she went to Kindergarten and loved it the whole way through. It is a play based pre-school and in addition they do a pre-K program with the older kids before they leave for Kindergarten (my daughter was totally prepared for Kindergarten when the time came). The staff is diverse and multi-cultural, the atmosphere is very warm and family like (it is actually owned by a family who all work in the business in some capacity). Their physical space is spectacular, large building and a great deal of outdoor space that is varied and interesting. Take a tour, it's just a great place and I still feel very lucky that my daughter had such a wonderful pre-school experience, it was a great foundation for her. If you are driving from Pleasanton to Oakland it is super convenient. It is right off the 580 where it intersects Hwy 13 with easy on and off access to the freeway. Brooke
Jan 2011
Re: Nurturing preschool for very active son
We changed preschools in order to find a better fit for our high energy child. We couldn't be happier. Check out Daisy Child Development Center, in Oakland, across 580 from Mills. The teachers are great at seeing each child's gifts and recognizing that each child has challenges and that it is their job to assist the child. It is a play-based program and has lots of room for kids to be kids. Great playground, too. http://www.daisycdc.com/
mama of high energy kid
Oct 2008
Re: Full-time, playbased, preschool near Glenview
I have the perfect place for you - Daisy Child Development Center, located near the intersection of Hwy 13 and Hwy 580 in the Oakland foothills. It has everything you want. My daughter went there from 18 mos until 5+ years and we both loved it. Call the director Eva Barahona at 531-6426. Brooke
Hi Sarah, I would definitely check out Daisy Child Development Center... a wonderful play based daycare/preschool. http://www.daisycdc.com/ 5016 Daisy Street located right above 580 where it intersects Hwy 13 My daughter started in the toddler room at 18 months a year and a half ago and loves it there. The teachers are extremely loving and dedicated, and there is a great community of families there. I plan on enrolling my son as well in 9 months. Hope this helps! YJ
Jan 2008
Re: Looking for preschool openings in Oakland
Look at Daisy Child Development Center (5016 Daisy Street) located right above 580 where it intersects Hwy 13. I live in the neighborhood and my daughter has been there for 3 years. She has really thrived at Daisy and will be going to Kindergarten this fall very well prepared. It is a play based pre-school with very dedicated and loving teachers and a great community of families. The Director is Eva Barahona 531-6426. Good luck in your search. b
Jan 2008
We're considering Daisy CDC for our 2 yr old toddler, who's been at home with mom until now. We'd really appreciate any comments from parents of recent or current students at the schools. Thank you very much!
My son goes to Daisy Child Development Center and I can't say enough good things about the place. http://www.daisycdc.com/
They have a play based curriculum, but don't let the seeming looseness of the structure fool you. The kids are learning. We started our son at Daisy when he was two, so he started in the toddler room. When he got there, he went through a language explosion, which was great, because he wasn't speaking a lot before that. We love all the teachers in the toddler room and have been just as pleased with the teachers in the preschool room. There is a big emphasis on socialization in the toddler room, which is so important for that age.
When you get to the preschool room, in addition to the regular pre school stuff, they have a Kindergarten boost class that the 4 year olds go to three days a week. They have a music teacher and a movement teacher come in once a week. They also have the librarian from the Dimond Park library come and read once a month. Most of the teachers have been there a long time and the director is wonderful.
My kid loves going, and continues to progress emotionally, socially, and intellectually. So give em a look! Jen
Nov 2007
Re: Preschools with Male Teachers
Daisy Child Development Center at 5016 Daisy Street in Oakland 510.531.6426 www.daisycdc.com has two incredible male teachers, Ron Dickinson and Mark Stewart. Our son currently attends Daisy. A large part of our decision to send him there is the presence of these men, in addition to the wide-ranging experience of the teachers, the warm and caring attitudes all employees and the incredible diversity and strength of the parent community. Note that the website is a bit outdated - it's in the process of being updated, but will still provide some great basic information. Happy Daisy parent
May 2007
If you live in the Laurel/Redwood Heights/Mills area and your girls are over 18 months, I would encourage to you check out Daisy Child Development Center. I have been INCREDIBLY PLEASED with this preschool. They have a lovely staff and the Director is wonderful! Website - daisycdc.com Nina
Feb 2007
We are considering Daisy Child Development Center in Oakland for preschool for our daughter, who will be 3 in the fall. (She's now in a family day care with 3 other little ones.) We really like what we saw when we visited there and love the philosophy on their website. We'd be grateful to hear from families there now or recently. One qustion is whats the difference between the upstairs and downstairs preK rooms, and do parents have any input as to which room their child is in? And how much individual attention do children get? Coming from such a small daycare the class of 20 seems big to us. Do parents get reports on how they napped, toileted, who/what they played with? We'd also love to hear overall reviews of the school. Thank you.
In response to your questions about Daisy CDC: We chose Daisy for a few reasons; one of them is that we are raising our son bilingually and there are many Spanish-speaking teachers there. The other and probably more important, was that it reminded us of the places where we went to school at that age - they were focused on a lot of arts and crafts, music, story-telling, etc. To be frank, it's kind of one of the last of the hippy schools and is true to most of the negative and positive associations accompanying that label. They are not as organized as I wish they were, and the communication with parents leaves something to be desired. If you want to know about napping and food and activities, you need to ask. The flip side is that the teachers are highly unique and encourage thoughtful and original play. Yes, there is some choice between the classrooms, but a lot of it has to do with where there is a space. Good luck! j
Feb 2005
We're considering Daisy in Oakland for our 3 year old boy. I'd like to hear the experiences, positive and negative, of families who've attended. Thank you. Mara
I would highly reccomend Daisy Child Development Center. I have 2 boys, 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 and they have both been at Daisy since October 2004. Having moved them from a very ''institutional'' center in SF, we were a bit concerned with the facility at first. It has a much more ''shabby'' look than we were used too. I have to say, the teachers have more than made up for our concerns. Both of our children love it there and are doing great. Our older son, who was allowed to just play with the trains all day at his other school, has now learned to write the alphabet and is starting to read. He is also turning into a very creative artist. The staff there is very attuned to each child and they work with them to expand on their interests and skills. Also, we have found a great sense of community among the families that attend the center. This is fostered with regular center work days, parties, and potlucks. I am constantly impressed with the teachers who show up on weekends to have a holiday party with the kids. It really shows me how much they care about the children.
March 2004
Re: Preschool for Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder
I know one family has enrolled a child with Asperger's at the preschool my son goes to, Daisy Child Dev. Center in Oakland. Most of the kids are Neuro-typical, but they seem sensitive to meeting a wide range of needs. They actually say in their materials that they welcome special needs children, which is a nice change. They seem committed to it, and by and large we are very happy with the program. It's worth chatting with them about in any case. Here is their contact info: 531-6426 anon
Nov 2003
Re: Seeking smaller preschool for shy 3 1/2 year old
I think Daisy, where my child attended, would be a good fit for a shy child. Though it is actually fairly large, it "feels" smaller. They have done a really good job nurturing a few children with special needs in their classes and recongnizing and valuing each child. The Galaxy room has two VERY experienced teachers, and I think they would be very straight ahead whether they thought it was a good fit.
Sept. 2003
Re: Preschool Openings for Jan 2004
I know that Daisy Child Dev in Oakland (Redwood Heights/Mills area) has openings. I have a child who started there this August and we have largely been very pleased with the program, and she is very happy to be there every day. It's got good place space outdoors, very experienced staff, and a very homey feel. Lots of kisses, hugs and a diverse student and teacher population. Contact information: Daisy Child Development Center 5016 Daisy Street Oakland, CA 94619 510-531-6426
August 2003
Re: Urgent Need for Preschool
I just enrolled my 3 year old son 2 weeks ago at Daisy Child Development Center. I believe they have openings beginning in September(I was told they have kids leaving for Kindergarten)
My son is loving it. It is a developmental preschool (learning through play) as opposed to academic. Culturally diverse, one teacher teaches Spanish to the children, and one plays music on her cello at playtime in the afternoon. They have chickens and 2 pet snakes, and an organic garden. They take kids in at all stages of potty training. They have 2 teachers per class, one is the Galaxy Room, one is the Rainbow room, and they have a younger program that is separate. The number is 510-531-6426. It is located at the V of Hwy 13 and 580.
Maybe this will help you or some of the other families. I will answer anything I can, but we are new to the school..so I am still going on early impressions. I searched several schools in person before choosing this one, so I know how hard it is. They do tours in the mornings at 8:30 and 9am with the center director Eva. Hope this helps!
May 2003
Does anyone have recent experience with Daisy Child developement Center or the Geranium Cottage at Mills. I saw some older posts, but am interested in more recent experiences. We went and visited Daisy and got a good vibe from it, but I am interested in other opinions. Thanks. Mom
Friends of ours send their two kids to Daisy and rave about it. Sorry I don't have more info, just wanted to confirm your positive vibe! Christina
1999
My daughter attended Daisy Child Development Center on Daisy Street located in the V where 580 and 13 meet. She was there from age 2 1/4 to 5 1/4 and liked it very much. They have arrangements for parttime, including half-days. Since it's been over a year since she attended and change can happen fast, I'd recommend visiting and observing to see if it suits your needs. It's rather large with lots of activity, which suited my daughter, but that may not be for everyone Cathy
A few weeks ago I posted that my daughter's preschool, Sunflower House, would be closing, and that we were searching for a new place. It's been a hard search which has confirmed what I had felt before: Sunflower House was a really special place! But I have found a place that I think will be good for my daughter--Daisy Child Development Center. I thought I'd share a brief accounting of some of what I found in my search, including updates to several of the recommendations that I got from the UCB Parents website and other parents (thanks for writing!). If you are interested in more information (I have some pretty detailed check-sheets that I made up), e-mail me directly, and I can fax you copies of my notes. dawn
Daisy Child Development Center 5016 Daisy, Oakland (near the intersection of 13 and 580) 531-6426 Eva and Joanna, co-directors
I am in love with the people here! I met both directors, and the two teachers for the Galaxy Room (the downstairs classroom where my daughter will attend). They are very loving and obviously cherish the kids. Opportunities and creativity abound. They apparently "have it all"--music, art, books, dramatic play, multicultural activities, large play area, with slides, swings, grass, sandbox, an organic garden (the kids help!), bunnies, chickens etc etc. They have field trips monthly, and strongly encourage parent participation (2 hours/month, or you can buy out of this for $20/mo). The ONLY concern that I have is the high child:teacher ratio, which is 9:1 for preschool (each preschool class has 18 children and 2 teachers). But I think their usually high experience level will make up for this. Toni (a woman) and Ron (a man)--the two teachers in the Galaxy room--have worked together at Daisy for 7 years. 80% of the staff have been there for 8 years. The cost is reasonable (I think), though the price structure is a little opaque (there is a separate "materials fee" and the parent involvement time, in addition to the regular tuition). Prices are higher for toddlers and preschoolers who are not yet potty-trained. There are two preschool classes, a 12-child toddler class, and a separate infant-care facility. As I write this, there are still 1 or 2 openings in the Galaxy room.
One measure of how comfortable we were there: The day after our visit at Daisy, we drove to Sunflower House for a regular day of daycare. When we pulled up, my daughter looked outside the car, and said "Not here--Daisy!" and she began to cry, because we weren't going to Daisy immediately! Dawn
From: Mary
Re: Laurel/Redwood Heights preschool
Check out Daisy Child Care on Daisy Street, you can get the number from Bananas. We just recently put our baby there. We got LOTS of good references from other parents, and feel the place is a good start for our daughter. The staff is friendly and well-trained, the environment is good.
I'm glad you asked this question! We recently toured Daisy for our kiddo who will be 18 months in Feb and are curious to hear experiences from others as well.
I know you asked for first hand, and this is not that, but I know a few folks with kids there who love it and highly recommend it!