So, it looks like there haven't been many reviews of Daisy in the last 2.5 years, I guess I'll say a few things. This review is partly about our experience and our children's experiences -- we have had two kids there over a span of years -- but I thought I'd share suggestions for parents who are considering Daisy: (1) Take any strong reviews posted near this one (late-September 2015) with a grain of salt, as the school's management now appears to be trying some small-scale bribery to get good reviews posted. A sign recently appeared on the parent sign-in/sign-out booklet saying "put an endorsement for Daisy on Yelp and Berkeley Parents Network, and it will count as your monthly chore." (Parents at Daisy are required, each month, to either complete a "chore" or opt to pay a fine/fee instead -- not huge $$ but not trivial either.) I don't know how strong an incentive this particular "deal" is for parents in general, but still: reader, beware! 2) Realize that the information on the school's website (as of this date) is stunningly inaccurate, effectively erasing key changes in Daisy's recent history. For instance: a) The About page, in the very first paragraph, says "Led by Director Eva Barahona, ...". Not true! Eva WAS the director, and her family owned Daisy for many, many years. Eva was an excellent teacher and director with deep expertise and extensive experience, and a lot of what was great about daisy in those years flowed from Eva and her very stable staff. But in 2013 the school was sold to new owners Fey (wife) and Irfan (husband), who have minimal background or experience, and have proven quite weak in important skill areas like communication and organization. b) The Teachers and Staff page lists Joanna P. Lamnouar as the Curriculum Administrator. Also not true! Joanna WAS the curriculum administrator, and her role was crucial. She really understood young children and the complex ideas and practices that make up a progressive, play-based curriculum. She helped teachers develop and enact that understanding, and was a huge contributor to making the structure and essence of the school live up to its mission. However, Joanna left the school not long after the new owners took over, and there has been no equivalent staff position at the school since then. c) Of the 16 people listed on the Teachers and Staff page overall, 9 of them (more than half!) are no longer at Daisy. This includes: - The two music teachers listed, who used to visit and perform/play with groups of Daisy kids at regular intervals, have not been part of Daisy's program for quite some time. - Two of the classroom teachers (Annie Liu, Lily Gaitan) listed are now working at other preschools in the area. - 5 others no longer work at Daisy for other reasons. d) The Daisy Community page mentions a "monthly Parents Meeting, which we strongly encourage our parents to attend." There is no such thing. Since the new owners took over ~2.5 years ago, I recall exactly two official meetings with parents. In both cases, these happened because of the urging and organizing efforts of concerned groups of parents. (3) Do your homework by talking to parents whose children have RECENTLY been at Daisy. Include parents who have chosen to stay as well as parents who have chosen to leave. In the same vein, pay attention to the dates on parent testimonials here (or BPN, or Next Door, etc.): The nature of what Daisy is and how it is run has changed substantially since Spring/Summer 2013. (4) Find out (if you can) what exactly the background and qualifications are of the teachers and the owners/directors, as well as how administrative decision-making is done. We parents had consistently understood Fey to be the director for some time, but at the most recent parent meeting Irfan referred to himself and himself only as the owner/director, and every statement he made about decisions regarding the school began with "I" (not "we"), with no indication Fey (who remained almost completely silent during the meeting) was involved at all. (5) Spend time talking to Fey and Irfan in person, since they are intent on running the school themselves, with no plans to hire a more experienced director, or even to replace the office assistant they once had. In particular, if Irfan remains heavily involved in directorial decisions or day-to-day activities with kids, decide how you feel about that. (I personally find him self-important, condescending, and a poor listener whose own voice takes up way too much space in any "conversation" he engages in.) I'm putting 2 stars because the fact that my children generally enjoyed their time at Daisy, having good friends and warm relationships with particular teachers (though almost all are now gone), has rapidly been eclipsed by huge teacher turnover and serious problems I see with the school's leadership. If something changes to get the school on a different and better trajectory, I would reconsider this. read more

Daisy Child Development Center - "Add an endorsement for Daisy CDC on Yelp or Berkeley Parents Network & it will count as your monthly chore" [Terrible photo, sorry.] - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Oakland, California

My daughter has been attending this school for 2.5 years and it has been a great experience for our family. She has thrived and even was placed into their TK program slightly ahead of schedule due to her curiosity to learn. I feel that with kindergarten on the horizon she will be prepared! The campus has a great outdoor space and her teacher TK Vickie and previous preschool teachers Nikki, Ghada, and Vo have always been so warm and welcoming,guiding her through all the ranges of emotions a little one experiences. The head of school Fey and Irfan are like an extra set of parents offering a nurturing environment. Great experience for us! read more

Thoughtful child development at its best. It's that word--thoughtful--that I think best characterizes what is so good about Daisy's. The first time I dropped off our daughter (instead of my wife doing it), the co-owner Imran noticed me and introduced himself, and gave me a tour. Everything about what they do there, from the games, sports, crafts, education--it's all carefully planned and developmentally appropriate. And note: no TV's anywhere! This was important for us, and you'd be surprised how hard it is to find a preschool/day care where the kids aren't in front of a TV at some point. But the absence of TV's is one more sign of how the staff at Daisy's are committed to excellence in childcare, because as all parents know, it's easier to plop kids in front of a screen than to interact with them constantly or provide them worthwhile activities. But that's what you get at Daisy's, which was a big reason why we chose it. Finally, the other big factor (on top of the deep intentionality and absence of TVs) was the overall atmosphere of love and care that's apparent with every teacher and classroom. We'd had a few nannies before, and talked to friends about nannies, and of course not all childcare workers truly love kids. Some are just doing it as a job. But at Daisy's there is a clear sense that these people are here because it is their chosen vocation. They treat childcare with the great importance it deserves. P.S. Also recently found out that the Kinderboost program, to get five-year-olds ready for kindergarten, has even better results than those of nearby private schools, for example one that rhymes with Bread Joyce. Great news if you have a soon-to-be-kindergartner! read more

I love this school! Both of my boys attended Daisy, my oldest for two years and youngest for three years. The staff has very little turnover and communicates openly with the parents regarding the progress of the children's development. As a dual working household we needed a school staffed from 7:30-6:00. Usually we don't use the full time, but often it comes in handy. We also appreciate the hot breakfast and healthy snacks. As a working mother I worried about being away from my children, but it really takes a village to raise healthy children and I trust the Daisy community. read more

Daisy CDC, is a great place for children to play and learn about their world. They have the freedom to try things their own way and at a speed that's comfortable for them. Children experience hands-on science & math, worked on their fine & large motor skills, practice their balance & coordination's and test their ideas, experienced being a leader & a helper. They experience cause & effect, developed their attention span, practice problem solving, and worked on the very important life skills of negotiation and conflict resolution. All of this learning is possible because they have long period of time to play!!! In addition to playful- learning Daisy CDC It's a safe and loving environment for their own growth and the Teachers are extremely dedicated and they get to know each kid individually not just as a group. Daisy CDC is a model for our son of community and importance of being involved and giving back, in addition to being a Fantastic preschool. read more

My daughter has been going to Daisy Child Development Center for about six months. We moved her away from a home day care situation after she developed severe anxiety. We were more than a little worried that our daughter wasn't going to fit in at a larger school. Our daughter settled in nicely at Daisy and is doing great. She actually prompts to go to school now. The staff is very patient and willing to listen whenever I have issues or questions. There is very little turnover in teaching staff. My daughter has only good things to say about them. When my daughter complained about a particular child being mean to her, I sat down with the administrators and explained the situation. The problematic behavior ceased. My daughter has had no complaints since. Daisy has a large play yard in a very accessible neighborhood off the 580. They have fun activities everyday for the kids. Lunch is not provided but I like packing my own kid's lunch so I know what she is eating. I also know when she failed to eat lunch because I see the remainders in her lunch box. So, this has really turned out to be a positive. When I say good bye to my daughter in the morning, I am confident that I will pick her up and she will be all smiles. Most days, she is not interested in leaving. read more

What makes a childcare or preschool great? There are many ways to measure, but the most important measure for me is how my child acts when he gets there, how he acts when I pick him up, the growth I see in him as a result of his time there, and the quality of the people who interact with him all day. Our 2-year-old son (who is in the Galaxy room) has been at Daisy for 5 months. He asks about his teachers when he's not at school. He runs to each one and gives them a big hug when it's time to go home. He talks excitedly about the soccer class he just had, or lifts his shirt to show me the stamp he got on his belly after yoga class. When he arrives at school, he brings his teacher (or teachers) a flower from our garden. If we forget the flower, we have to find a replacement. At home, he sings songs from Daisy, shows off his yoga skills he learned at Daisy, repeats helpful social emotional skills he's learned from Daisy (e.g. saying "I didn't like that!" when he's upset). He can go to the park now and play and share with any child easily - a true testament of a kid who is having a successful childcare/preschool experience. We came to Daisy after having a terrible experience at another daycare, and were moved to tears at the genuine caring of the owners and the staff. They were incredibly helpful and kind during the transition. One day during the first week, one of the directors, Irfan, noticed that my husband looked concerned after our boy had a tearful drop off. He called my husband an hour or so later to check in and let him know that our son was having a wonderful day, and that he recognized that worried look on his face and wanted to reassure him. Personal touches like this go a long way in my book. ALL of the teachers participate in the lives of ALL the kids at Daisy. Our boy has as much affection for the teachers in the other classrooms as he does for his own teachers. They all know him and care for him. The teachers are real gems, all of them. I considered the couple of negative reviews before attending, and I spoke to parents who were enrolled at Daisy before jumping in. To me, it sounds like the change in ownership was hard for some longtime Daisy families. I don't know what the center was like before the turnover, but I do know that it's wonderful now. If I had to nitpick small things I would change, I would love for the snacks and breakfast to be a bit more nutritious (they are fine, just not amazing), and I would love to hear more from the teachers about what the kids do during the week. The teachers post Facebook photos sometimes (in a closed, private group), where you get glimpses of the magical activities they take part it, and I always find myself wanting to know more! Anytime I ask about specific questions or concerns, I get all the information I need, but a more regular update might be nice. In all, we feel so incredibly lucky to have landed at Daisy, and to have our son to be so well loved there. read more

We have sent our child to Daisy for from ages 3-4.5 (Rainbow and Cloud classrooms) and have loved the whole process- sadly now it is time to move on to kindergarten! What we most appreciated about Daisy: the play-based environment, the flexibility (i.e. adding or removing a day here or there), the additional activities (yoga, spanish, woodworking, field trips, parents coming in to do art or cooking projects, etc.) the warmth of the teachers and the owners (Fey & Irfan), and easy parking! I don't have any critiques of the school- I feel really lucky to have been able to send our kid there and get them off on the right foot. My child is super confident now because of the right right social skills (not to mention academics) for kinder. read more

I I have been very happy with Daisy and I can tell that my little son loves it too. Not only is he happy, but he is thriving. My 2 year old has an amazing vocabulary and surprises me with his intelligence every day. My son loves his teachers and I feel that they are fabulous. They have wonderful communication with the parents and are very accommodating. I really enjoy that there is no TV and a majority of the time is spent outside playing. I also love the Yoga, music, soccer and other small classes for the kids. This is a fabulous environment for my son and I am very appreciative of everything Daisy is doing to teach him and help me read more

Don't let the negative reviews discourage you from enrolling your child at Daisy CDC. Every business has their bumpy roads. The important fact is that the owners/director do listen to parents personally (one on one) and they are willing to take the time to listen to any concerns. Change does not happen overnight, but I can attest that they are making the changes to improve (even with the help of supportive volunteer parents). The owners have good intentions for the children and the staff they employ. That's all that matters! Also note that every parent that posted negative reviews did state that their children were happy and enjoyed their time while at Daisy! Again, a happy child is all that matters. My child was in the Star Room and then transitioned to the Cloud Room. What I liked the most was the fact that the Cloud Room specifically has a very low student to teacher ratio. We viewed this as something very important to us given that our child has a speech delay and the teacher can give more attention to helping. As a parent who has a child currently at Daisy: here are my top 5 likes about Daisy. 1. Teaching staff is warm, friendly, and loving. 2. The play environment is fun. 3. They give the children a variety of activities/projects to choose from to explore (play time, cooking, painting, woodworking, yoga, exercise, nature exploration, songs, etc.) 4. A great community of parents. 5. Great communication - teachers and the director spend the time to talk if you make the effort. They don't mind taking a few minutes to recap your child's day. If you are deciding on a daycare/TK program, I would highly advise visiting/touring Daisy CDC and also talking with parents who have their children enrolled here. It wouldn't even hurt to ask the children attending too! read more

My daughter attended TK at Daisy this year and we could not be happier. She is fully engaged with her class and teachers and feels seen, heard and respected. Ms. Vickie and Ms. Aja, the TK teachers, have created a wonderfully open learning environment that has encouraged lots of thoughtful discussions and classroom projects... If the kids show an interest in a particular topic then there's a point made of delving deeper... Creating cities that take up half the classroom, discussions of patterns, animal habitats, aeronautics, different cultures, family norms, etc. The outside play space is wonderful, really gives the kids space to run and play. All the teachers and staff at Daisy, not just the TK teachers, are wonderful and provide a loving and supportive environment for the kids. We love daisy and will miss it when we go to kindergarten. read more

Moving into a new city with a new baby brother in the middle of a pandemic was surely a taxing scenario for my 3yo daughter who knew nothing but quarantine life--and finding the best local pre-school in which she might acclimate to society was just one heavy brick in the wheelbarrow of daunting tasks ahead for her parents--us. I'm very glad we found (and settled our worries with) Daisy. In a matter of days, my daughter was noticeably "contented" about being separated from her parents, in a matter of weeks her limited vocabulary and dictation was markedly improved, and in a matter of months, all my fears that I didn't make the best choice for her disappeared. She loves the staff at the school, and for every time I worry that she is too much of a handful (and that I've failed at making a society-ready child), I am always reassured that she is doing just fine (often even receiving texts with photographical evidence that the melting down toddler I just dropped off is smiling and playing 5 minutes later) and I can see she is in very capable, loving hands from ALL of the staff at Daisy. I can confidently say this is an environment that fosters growth--academically, psychologically and physically. They are also diligent in caring for the health of each student/family--requiring masks and weekly COVID tests and communicating well via text/FB page should anything out of the ordinary arise. Trusting someone (and deciding whom) to watch over your child is possibly the most difficult task I've ever met, and I'm happy to report that we chose wisely here. Looking forward to sending our son here as well when he is of age. read more

This is a shout out to the teachers at Daisy. While there's been a lot of talk about the changes in administration and high turnover, I wanted to make sure the hard working teachers were given their dues. I have nothing but good things to say about the hands on educators they've had in the past and have today. Nikkie, Annie, Lilly, Gedda, Ron, Asia, they're all phenomenal and I'm so grateful for their love they've shown my son. I know I'm leaving people out (purely for time's sake) -- but I appreciate them all. And the friends my son and I have made, I hope will last his lifetime. read more

I love this place. My 2 yr old attends Daisy currently and my daughter graduated from here and is now in Kindergarten at SPES. They have been good to my kids and have been instrumental to their growth and development. The owners are very involved, present, and care a lot. The teachers who have cared for my kids - Nikki, Aja, Vickie, Elizabeth, Carla are just outstanding. I wish they provided lunch and that they had earlier hours, but this is often the case with many other comparable development centers in the Oakland area. They do provide snacks and in the events that I've been running late or early, they have been reasonable and flexible. Do beware of the neighbor across the street - he has a problem if you park in front of his house and will confront you and/or complain to the owners. He's a real jerk. So while this place isn't perfect, I don't think there is such a place out there that exists. So my conclusion is that Daisy is damn good and has been great for our children. It's not for everybody but it certainly met our needs. read more

My son has been at Daisy since he was 18 months old, and is now 5 and in the fabulous TK program. He has received excellent care and play-based education the entire time, and is thriving in his small, close-knit TK class. The teachers are knowledgeable and caring - Miss Vickie and Aja are amazing, but even those not in charge of my son's classroom support him as a person, and are invested in his development. I'm a Stanford and Berkeley grad who was driven hard by over-achieving parents, so I'm extra committed to letting my son learn by playing and connecting socially with other kids. He has done this in leaps and bounds in his years at Daisy, for which I am deeply grateful. We will miss the Daisy community when he goes to kindergarten in the fall. read more

My son has attended Daisy since he was 18 months old and now at 3+ years old, we are grateful we've found a place that nurtures both his emotional and intellectual development. My son LOVES his teachers and his classmates and talks about what he does with them during the day, at home quite often. As parents, we've seen measurable progress in his ability to name shapes, colors, sounds of the alphabet, etc. He's in the midst of pottery training and the school has been very patient with all of us during this process. My now 7 year old daughter also attended Daisy for a year, right before Kindergarten. She thoroughly enjoyed her time at the school as well and because of Daisy's Kindergarten Night, we were able to ask questions to former Daisy parents whose children enrolled in various schools throughout Oakland. This process helped introduce us to my daughters current school (St Paul's) and for that we are extremely grateful. read more

We have had both of our daughters attend Daisy over the last few years and they love it. It means the world to drop off and pick up our girls happy. There is a lot of parent participation and field trips. We have met a lot of great families and have had some amazing birthday parties with the Daisy crew. My girls also like the yoga and dance and soccer classes at Daisy, and the chickens, turtles, walking sticks, butterflies, etc. But really it's all of the teachers and the directors that make Daisy special, and their love for the kids shows with both the big things (kids happy at drop off and pickup) and the little things. read more

I love Daisy, especially the teachers there. This is a great place, with caring, loving, wonderful staff. I have two daughters full time at Daisy-- a 2 year old who just transitioned to Galaxy Room, and a 5 year old in the wonderful TK program. Miss Vickie and Aja, the TK teachers, are just outstanding and lovely. I feel that they really listen to kids and my daughter will be better prepared for kindergarten from her time at Daisy. TK is a small class were your child will get lots of attention. My eldest daughter comes home with tons of science facts and questions, the latest about insects and volcanos. Vickie encourages kids to think for themselves and be curious about their environment and the world. And both of my kids come home with lots of art work. There's Spanish lessons -- and yoga on Fridays -- too. Like other parents mentioned in their comments, I would also like for Daisy to offer lunches, but they do provide snacks and they are very accommodating and flexible if you are running late to pick up your kids. I also really like the director, Fey, who is very involved, always available to speak with parents and seems very committed to improve the school as much as she can. She also spends a lot of time in the play areas with kids and knows the children well. Overall, I think this is a great community and school for my children. I recommend it! read more

I enrolled my daughter in this "school" in the beginning of June and it was definitely the wrong choice. We only stayed for 3.5 months because after some time, it became very clear that they had zero curriculum in place. All this place is, is a day care center...it is not a pre-school. I feel like i was misled during my tour to believe that they were preparing the children for school. The sad reality is that it is one giant recess all day long. We then met with the director and teachers who stated that they were getting ready to put a program into place, but it was clear that they were not very organized and didn't really know what they were doing. Once we made the decision to look for a new school, it became very clear very quickly that Daisy is in desperate need of a a director who has credentials in Early Childhood Education. The current owners do not have these credentials and don't seem to want to take the advice from the teachers who actually know what it takes to run a school. read more

There isn't a whole lot more I can say about Daisy's downward spiral that hasn't already been said by other recent reviewers. From the lack of communication skills of the owners, to the lack of curriculum, I agree with it all. Actually, I will add that I found the dismantling of the Kinderboost program particularly upsetting, given my son should've started Kinderboost this fall. The Kinderboost teacher, Miss Vickie, is now heading up the brand new TK class, so Kinderboost essentially got kicked to the curb. The owners decided sending worksheets to the other classrooms in place of spending several hours a day with the amazing Miss Vickie was an appropriate substitute. It's not. To add insult to injury, I saw recruitment emails for the TK class in early January 2015. To me, that indicates the creation of a TK class was in the works for quite some time. Failing to let parents know the Kinderboost program as they knew it would be defunct is unacceptable! This did not become common knowledge until around August after upset parents demanded a meeting with the owner and were filled in at that time. The news spread by word of mouth from parent to parent as opposed to getting an email, letter, phone call or SOMETHING from the owners. Had I known the changes that were coming, I would've moved my son to another school long ago. Yes, Daisy is more affordable than some other schools in the area (though I wouldn't exactly call Daisy a school). However, the school my 4 year old son now attends, as well as others I toured, are giving the kids and parents a lot more for their money. Daisy became a disorganized mess under the current ownership and in my opinion, a glorified babysitting service. I was hesitant to post this review because there are a few really great teachers still working at Daisy, despite so many leaving. However, the ineptitude of the owners overshadows that. A horde of families have left Daisy in the past few months. Clearly, the request for positive Yelp and BPN reviews to get out of monthly parental involvement coincides with the exodus. I saw the request on the sign in/out binder, which another reviewer photographed, and thought it was very telling and in very poor taste. read more

This is a tough review to write. Our daughter attended Daisy for two years, and there was a time we really loved it there. Over time we watched the wheels slowly come off and finally we had to leave. We became part of a large exodus of students this year when it became clear management was not up to the task of running a preschool. First the good. We have loved lots of our teachers, and there are still some great teachers there. The other parents were warm and community oriented, and we made some great friendships. The location and facility are good too (we live just down the street which was super convenient). Now the bad. There has been a prodigious turnover in teachers. We had some wonderful teachers in my daughter's classroom, but they all now teach at other preschools. There are some great teachers left in other classrooms, but I wouldn't hold out hope that they'll stay much longer. The problems at Daisy rest with the owners Fey and Irfan, who also direct the school. The parents tried to get together and ask for some concrete changes to Daisy management, but after a difficult parent/management meeting it became clear nothing would change. Here are some of the issues that were discussed in that meeting. We asked that the owners to improve communication with parents. Teachers had left without notification to parents, there were changes to the school calendar without proper notification, there were changes to important curriculum without notice to parents, and Irfan has taken on directing duties at Daisy, without any notice that this was happening. At our meeting Irfan introduced himself as the owner/director, and Fey, who we had always been led to believe was the director, was not introduced at all and said very little at the meeting. A change in director is a big deal, and we were shocked. We asked for better communication going forward. Irfan said that they would not hire administrative staff (he said he wanted to put his staff resources only into teachers), but that he would try to do better with communication. Five days later we learned that our daughter's favorite teacher had left Daisy when we ran into her outside school. She said she had given management 30 days notice, but the parents had heard nothing from management. That was the moment we decided to leave Daisy. We also addressed issues of curriculum at Daisy. Management had changed the popular Kinderboost program, which used to bring four-year-olds to separate room for several hours a day to work on pre-k like activities (with Vickie, a great teacher). We learned, not directly from management, that Kinderboost had been changed so that the kids would no longer go to learn with Vickie. Instead, worksheets would be sent to each classroom and the four-year-olds could work on Kinderboost material if they want to. There used to be popular music class. They had two musicians that would come in and play music with the kids, my daughter loved it (and still remembers it). We were never told that they had canceled that program by management. When parents asked what had happened, we were told that they had canceled music because the kids weren't interested. Management assured us that the kids could still participate in "self-directed music and dance." I could go on, but I think you get the idea. We went from loving Daisy, to feeling that maybe it will get better, to a real sense of unease, to having to find a new preschool for our daughter. It's a shame and I really do hope that Daisy changes management and thrives again. I'll take down this review if that happens. read more

My child does not attend this development center but I'm in the process of looking for one. I have called this place 2 times and also emailed but I have not received any response. Do I need to go there in person to schdule a tour? I have to give 1 star because of their lack of communication. Maybe when someone contacts me I can write a better review until then I'm not very happy. read more

CAN WE GIVE 6 STARS ? My daughter has been at Daisy in the Star room (the little guys) and then went to Rainbow room (wow, the big guys room). I could not say enough good things about this school and I will probably forget half of the magic elements I should talk about so JUST GO SEE FOR YOURSELF !! They have so many activities, I am even having a hard time remembering : yoga, carpentry, soccer, dance and movement, walks, field trip, potlucks ... Every single teacher rocks ! We love the diversity in terms of staff and families/kids. They are loving, caring, speak several languages to kids, all have a large set of skills. I think I toured all the daycares/preschools in the area and this is the best option ! I keep bringing new families, friends, neighbors and they all love it too! The staff and directors are really open to discussion, brainstorming, finding solutions when your kids might be facing challenges. They provide breakfast and healthy snacks during the day. The yards are amazing, they keep improving the play structures and adding more treasures. They have chickens, ducks, geese, do gardening and learn about nature. Art, art, art. My daughter brings amazing pieces of art all the time and the classrooms are running out of space on the walls for exhibitions (like our walls at home :-D). I have peace of mind when I leave my daughter every morning as I know she will be taken care of like nowhere else. Even when mornings are hard, they will support her during transition time and at pick up she will say that she had an amazing day. Isn't that what every single parent is looking for for their little ones ? THANK YOU DAISY SCHOOL !!!! WE LOVE YOU !!!!! read more

I joined Yelp just so that I could write a glowing review of Daisy Child Development Center. My godson attended Daisy for over a year, and my son has attended Daisy for three months. For both children, the experience has been transformational. My godson graduated from Daisy in 2010, and he still talks lovingly of his teacher and his classmates. My son has grown tremendously in the program, gaining confidence in his abilities and bonding with his classmates and teachers. I was especially happy with how flexible the Daisy administrators were with my unique situation. I always felt supported and nurtured, and I could see that my boys were, too. We named our dog Daisy after the center, so Daisy will always be with us. A special thank you to Johana for being so supportive over the years and to all the teachers who have helped my boys grow. You are amazing! read more

Our son has been attending Daisy for the last 10 months and he is thriving both socially and developmentally. I am constantly amazed by the varied, topical and interesting activities organized by the kind, capable director, Fey, and wonderful, attentive teachers. My son recently came home talking about the upcoming lunar eclipse in such detail that I had to research it to be able to add to the conversation! He's a very active 3.5 year-old who benefits from playtime in the incredible 'big yard' as well as their weekly neighborhood walks which always culminate in an adorable race, most recently in Halloween costumes) to tire them out before nap time (a video of this and more are available in multiple posts to a private Facebook site for parents). Additionally I've noticed his focus and attention span have been improving through carpentry and creative crafts projects that come home with almost daily. The curriculum also includes experiments to grow, cook, taste and learn about food; mural painting; learning about and how to care for animals; how to safely use tools to build and create; how to care for your body (yoga/dance/etc.) and tons of creative and imaginative play (dress-up, play-kitchen etc.) My son is in a classroom of mixed ages (3-5) and he's learned so much from the big kids while also figuring out how to be helpful to the littler ones. I appreciate the mix of practical and play-based activities. When we drop him off, our son runs to hug his teachers and waves at us over his shoulder. On more than one occasion he's also asked us to come back later when we come to pick him up. On the weekends, when we turn into a particular street he know leads to school, he asks excitedly if he's going to 'Daisy school?'. We're thrilled with Daisy and the way our son is cared for as well as challenged with new activities. I only wish they also had a daycare for our infant! read more

We started our daughter at Daisy at 18 months and she loves it there! Her teachers, Ms Nikki, Ms Vo and Ms Lisbeth are incredibly kind, patient, and nurturing. There are two great play yards, a wonderful balance of indoor and outdoor time, and some fun projects the classes work on. Weekly yoga and music classes are included and fantastic! Thanks to the Facebook page for parents, you get to see what your little ones are up to. Daisy is great at building community with parents through potlucks, field trips, and evening yard time visits. The owners, Irfan and Fey are invested in the facility, the families, and above all, the children. So glad we found this place! read more

I want to express my gratitude and love for this school. My son has been attending for 6 months and I have seen a lot of growth and development in him since going to Daisy. The teachers seem passionate and involved, and the directors are doing their best to improve the school In many ways. I have read some of the negative reviews and cannot speak to how the school was before. I did visit the school over a year prior to enrolling my son, I have to say I was less impressed on my first visit and more impressed on my second visit. Kaisan was older the second visit and immediately loved the play yard, complete with climbing walls, train table, bikes, bowling, sand box, painting and much more. The children have so many great choices I love that the school has chickens, ducks and a garden. The children get to do carpentry projects as well as art and lots of other fun things. It's a free play, Childs choice learning style and I really like that. Some of the other schools I looked at felt very rigid and I prefer Daisy's style. Some of the negative reviews I read complained about certain programs being canceled. I think those parents should consider volunteering once or twice a month to bring the elements they want to see. Daisy is the most affordable preschool of its caliber available, with a massive amount of space and a lot of potential. I am also attracted to the element of flexible parental involvement, because I am a busy working parent, and my schedule doesn't permit for some of the more expensive, short day co-ops. I value parental involvement and think it should be enjoyable and voluntary. I recently did a gardening project with the kids and it was very fun for everyone. Choose something you really enjoy and find the time in your schedule to bring it to the school. One improvement I could see is more clear communication to parents and a more active, more organized parental involvement program. I would also like to see some parent potlucks/gatherings to meet more of the parents of children my son loves to play with. read more

My daughter has been with the school for about two years. They are super supportive, strong on education and showing kids how to be independent. They love the kids as much as if it's their own. They offer educational festivals and field trips and extra curriculum. read more

Daisy's a wonderful place. My son, who is now 4 and a half, has loved it since he started there more than a year ago. It feels like every week he comes home with an unexpected new skill, whether it's unprompted reading of the letters on a stop sign or telling me the Spanish words for colors. The teachers, the location, the other children and their families, and the owners/operators (Fey and Irfan) are all great. I can't recommend Daisy highly enough! read more

I have been affiliated with Daisy for over 8 years. My nine year old started attending Daisy right before he turned two. He moved from the Star room to the Rainbow room before entering kindergarten. My five year old was in the Star room, then Cloud, and now he is in Transitional Kindergarten with Ms. Vickie. My long journey with Daisy includes the time with the former owner (Eva) and the current owners (Fey and Ifran). Daisy has, and continues to be, absolutely wonderful for my family! We picked Daisy because it is child-centered and play based. A play based education allows students to develop their executive function and learn the very important skills of conflict resolution, problem-solving, and finding and using ones voice. The teachers have and continue to be excellent at supporting students to grow intellectually and socially. The quality of teachers have been consistent my entire 8 years at Daisy. My own parenting skills grew as I picked up tips watching the teachers guide, nurture, and educate the Daisy children. When the new owners took over, I will admit I was worried. Eva and her daughter Joana were amazing educators; how could anyone take their place? Luckily, qualities that I appreciated about Eva and Joana are qualities I found in Fey and Ifran. I have always found Fey and Ifran to be warm, good listeners, responsive, and understanding of the students developmental needs. Fey, in fact, has done many things to improve both the physical structures and curricular program of Daisy: The big yard now has 1) A safer play structure, 2) Two new structures that provide needed shade, and 3) A water fountain. Fey and Ifran have also improved the curricular program. Fey started the Transitional Kindergarten program with Ms. Vickie (one of the best teachers you will ever ever ever meet). The TK program includes physical education and Spanish. The pre-schoolers also have access to more sports and small mini-classes taught by teachers (carpentry, for example). These were not part of the curricular program before Fey and Ifran became the owners/Directors. I was not aware that the music program is no longer offered, but I have faith that Fey and Ifran will bring it back if there is demand. It seems that most of the complaints have been associated with communication. I'm sure that Fey and Ifran can do better--most people can. I've never had any issues with communication. My recommendation is that you visit the school. You'll either feel the magic or you won't. We felt the magic 8 years ago and still do. My children loved and still love Daisy. The parents are amazing and kind. The community is vibrant. A visit to the school will give you way better information than Yelp reviews. Without a doubt, Daisy deserves a visit and consideration. It's a special little place in Oakland. Go check it out. read more

My daughter has been at Daisy's since she turned 18 months in November, and it has been a wonderful experience! When I started looking for childcare options for my daughter, I thought I would probably end up going with a nanny share since my daughter was the kid who would cry when I would leave her with friends. But I heard about Daisy's from a friend in the neighborhood and thought I would check it out. I'm so glad I did! From the beginning, my daughter loved Daisy's and the wonderful teachers there. She now cheers when we pull up in the morning! We have been very impressed with all of the teachers we've encountered, and it's obvious that Fey and Irfan care deeply about their students, teachers, and school. The facility is great--lots of great play areas for all ages and (indoor and outdoor) classroom pets ranging from chickens to turtles to fish. The teacher to student ratio is great (there are 5-6 kids in my daughters classroom, depending on the day, and usually 2 teachers), and my daughter always seems extremely happy to be there even at the end of the day. Daisy's was also much more affordable than a lot of the other nanny shares and day cares I looked at, and even at the youngest age (classrooms age from 18 month-TK) the kids are learning a lot but also having a lot of fun. I'm a little puzzled by the bad reviews, and can only chalk them up to the fact that change is usually perceived as loss (even if the change isn't bad), and it sounds like a lot of the poor reviews were coming from parents who were there when Daisy's transferred ownership. I don't at all agree with some of the negative things said about Fey and Irfan; they seem to be to be sincere, kind, and compassionate. I was put off at first by the requirement of parent involvement, but as it turns out the things they ask of us are usually pretty small and easy to do, and I'm glad to help out. I'm not sure what to make of the parents who were so turned off by being asked to put up Yelp reviews. We all know the businesses can thrive or die because of Yelp, so I'm happy to help report our experience to others. Daisy's has been great--so much better than I ever imagined a day care could be--and we're so grateful that our daughter has gotten to spend some time there! read more

My daughter has attended Daisy school for almost three years. Coming from being at home with myself or a close family member for the first 2.5 years, we were very concerned how she would react to a daycare situation. Luckily, we found Daisy and have been extremely happy with the love and care that she has been provided by the teachers and everyone involved in the Daisy community. It is play-based, and gives the kids a lot of freedom to explore and play and interact. My daughter has gained a lot of confidence and academically she is being well prepared for kindergarten next year. They have a program for the older preschool children called Kinderboost where kids work on their letters and numbers, as well as learning about habitats and history. Daisy starts accepting children at 18 months in their Star Room, which is very loving and caring for the little ones. Daisy also offers a popular Transitional Kindergarten class. Daisy is a great school and I highly recommend it. read more

I am joining yelp specifically to post this review of Daisy Child Development Center, especially after reading the negative reviews that have recently been posted. I am NOT writing this review because I was bribed as one reviewer suggested nor I am I doing this to get out of our "monthly chore" (which is essentially parental involvement through volunteering or donating specific supplies, very common at other preschools AND elementary schools). In general, people are more apt to review a business when they have something negative to say or if they feel they have been wronged, than they would be if the experience has been a positive one -- so I am going to take the time to highlight all the positives of this wonderful little school. WE LOVE DAISY. This school came highly recommended to us by former and existing families when we were looking for a more full-time pre-school for our younger daughter (our older daughter went to a school that only offered part-time hours). After touring the school, our daughter cried because she didn't want to leave -- that didn't happen at any of the other schools we toured. Other things that we appreciated about this school prior to enrolling: - Tuition: As many parents know, preschool is not cheap. We found that Daisy was the most affordable out of comparable schools. - Diversity: This is reflected in both the students and staff, something very important to us. - Enrollment Process: We were turned off by the enrollment process typical of other preschools -- the essay writing, the letters of recommendation, the competitiveness of trying to secure a spot, the rigidity of the enrollment window. Daisy has a flexible year-round enrollment process that we found refreshing. - Space: From the specific classrooms to the play yard to the garden, the school really felt like a place that would grow with our child as her developmental and physical needs changed. - Curriculum: We know from experience with our older daughter of the long, structured days of elementary school, so it was essential that preschool we selected was a play-based school that allowed our kid to be a kid. Daisy offers that and more. There is a set weekly schedule / daily curriculum and within that framework of activities, the children are allowed to make their own (supervised) choices. We have now been at Daisy for a year and while I cannot speak to the differences other families have seen since the change in management, I can speak to our experience thus far which has been entirely positive. The growth in our daughter over the past year has been fantastic to see and hearing her recall her day at pick-up never gets old. From the work she brings home, to the cooking, gardening, carpentry projects they do throughout the week, I am continually impressed with what our little 3 year old does at this preschool! The teachers at Daisy truly love the students and what they do.They are some of the most dedicated, caring people and it is evident when you see them with the kids. It has been sad to lose some of our favorite teachers (it is not true they all left to teach at other preschools due to management) but as we have gotten to know the new teachers, we found them to be just as dedicated and caring. We cannot recommend this school highly enough and if any prospective families would like to have a more candid conversation about Daisy, please feel free to reach out! read more

My wife and I are very proud and happy to have our son attending Daisy. Since he started at Daisy over a year ago, we have experienced nothing but a caring, nurturing, and personally attentive staff to his needs. I cannot respond to the criticisms leveled against the school, but my/our interactions with Fey and Irfan have been about helping our son as much as possible. We have appreciated that tremendously. Karla and Rosa of the Star room have and continue to be excellent teachers who first worked with our son and continue to keep him engaged even though he has moved onto Rainbow. I believe there is always room for improvement, but we have been very happy with our overall experience at DCDC. read more

my son just started Daisy a few weeks ago and so far we are very happy with the way he is treated and how excited he is to go to Daisy for the day. I think the owners have huge hearts and really care about how the kids are feeling. the teachers are also very nice and warm. The day is a good mix of projects and free play so its not academic in nature, but clearly the kids have opportunity to learn and build social skills. They keep the facilities very clean and organized. There are plenty of rooms to play in and the yard space they have is terrific. So far, so great at Daisy! read more

My child has been going here for a few months now since she was 18 months. We were nervous about starting a new daycare, but the teachers in the Galaxy room knew exactly how to make her feel comfortable. She loves the activities they have planned like yoga, circle time, and arts and crafts. I really like how all the kids play in the same yard too because she learns a lot from the older kids. Since she started she's learned to count to 10, recite her ABC's, and comes back almost every day with a new word. Last, but not least, I love how they have animals in the classroom (a guinea pig and stick bugs) and in the play yard (chicken). I would have absolutely no reservations with recommending Daisy to new parents. As a side note, I would like to respond to a recent review which I believe unfairly and inaccurately criticizes Fey and Irfan. My experience with both of them has been nothing but professional, friendly and kind. I really appreciate how Irfan is always in the play yard at pick up time talking with the parents. I don't know of any daycare center where the director are so easy to access. Moreover, I don't think there is anything untoward about Irfan's friendly interactions (both me and my wife feel this way). The previous reviewer used a word that I believe is inflammatory, rather than informative, and only serves to promote a false narrative (the word choice is also very disrespectful to not only Irfan but to other parents who gladly take their kids to Daisy everyday). Furthermore, that same reviewer seems to take it a step further and wrongly assumes a recent staff change was somehow due to the management style, completely without any proof other than their unverified assumptions. Regardless, take what you want, but, again, my wife and I feel absolutely comfortable and beyond happy with our choice of daycare (I think the tuition is more than fair as well). The one and only criticism I do have is that I wish the teachers did document our daughter's naps and lunch time experience. I understand that it may be difficult/ impossible for the teachers especially with all the kids in the Galaxy room (even more so since I volunteered a couple of times and know how crazy it can be :-)) and so that it why I am not deducting any stars because of this. read more

We are one of those people who find daycare placement last minute because we called just when there was an opening! Yes, we also only researched Yelp to find a daycare, as well. We were instantly won over by the cool and personable daycare providers who seem like the kind of people we would normally want to hang with. Our daughter started at 2.5, and attended Daisy for more than 1 year. I attribute all her positive social skills to the Daisy environment. The teachers were cool and patient with our overly zealous and excitable daughter, Zoe learned to be affectionate and caring with others, and she made tons of friends. Alas, we are leaving the country and are currently hanging with my folks in SoCal for a few months. We all miss Daisy, I even miss picking and dropping her off just to hang a few moments with the best day care providers we have ever met. read more

Daisy Child Development Center has an awesome program social and emotional development. We found this center through a Bananas referral and we've been so grateful. Our son Nico started in the toddler program, named the Star room and from day 1 he was engaged in the program. We were amazed how the teacher knew to work on his vocabulary by always engaging him with questions, what do you want to work on today? For a long time, he wanted to study the classroom pets (turtle and fish). He learned many animal names that lived on farms and around ponds from the school environment. He moved from a few words to sentences in months. Today, he's a part of the Rainbow Room and recognizes alphabet letters and loves the calendar routine. Most important, he says he has friends at school. We are very happy at Daisy! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Daisy. I have had my two kids attending for over a year and I am incredibly happy with them. As a family of two working parents, it is incredibly difficult to find a daycare with realistic hours. Beyond this, they have been the most amazing at giving my two children a place to thrive in building relationships, explore art, and most importantly learn by having fun. Their facilities are large and they have truly caring and nurturing staff. The children have great relationships with their teachers, while still remaining very respectful of them. In the afternoons they have Catherina and Mrs Vo. . . .two amazing human beings. Catherina welcomed my daughter and within a week, she knew her name by heart and was saying she loved her. This reinforced my decision. Mrs. Vo is the teacher for my son's class and she is so maternal it made my son's early transition to the Galaxy room a breeze. My daughter's class gets pre-k classes with Nikki and she has come home with these amazing explanations about our galaxy and the development of a butterfly. Nikki finds a way to get through to the children and makes learning fun and exciting for them. Needless to say that I am very happy with this daycare and I truly do feel the staff are a part of our family, as they are helping us raise our two kids. read more

Let me start by saying that we're all entitled to our opinions and we've all had different experiences with childcare providers. As parents, it's up to us to make informed decisions about where we choose to send our children to school and to do our due diligence in conducting reference checks with current and past parents of preschool. I would also hope that a reasonable parent would also further investigate any callous and slanderous claims made on Yelp as the things posted on here are one-sided stories. With that being said, attacking business owners based on ethnicity is outrageous. So is complaining about things such as how monthly payments are made and the qualifications of the teachers and owners. All things that was noticeable and easy to investigate at the time of enrollment. I could not be happier with our experience at Daisy. My son is in the Cloud room and has the most amazing teacher, Miss Ghada. She is loving, kind, and super supportive. I get daily updates about my son's day - both the good and bad. If there is ever an issue, she communicates clearly and helps us set expectations so we work together in partnership to ensure that issues (behavioral or emotional) are being dealt with accordingly. The curriculum in the classroom is awesome, engaging and age appropriate. My son participates in art, science, free play, yoga, music and dance. Yes, he comes home stinky and dirty which to me, is a sign of a successful day! He's also learning an incredible amount things such as writing his name, identifying letters, and just will tell me random facts about apples or animals, which he credits to Miss Ghada for teaching him. I really have enjoyed watching my child grow and thrive under Miss Ghada's care. The owners are doing their best to provide a safe and loving environment for the kids. It's wonderful to see so much positive intention. Your tuition goes towards the activities such as yoga, soccer, music and dance so you don't have to pay "extra" for your child to participate. My son LOVES yoga and it's been delightful to see him come home and teach us what he's learned. The outdoor play area is amazing! There's a lot of parent involvement and expectations, which I think is great. It's really building a little community of Daisy families. Negative reviews are what they are but Daisy is a little gem. The owners and staff are committed to building a wonderful community and we couldn't be happier we're there. We just wish we could keep Miss Ghada with our family forever! read more