Lamorinda Performing Academy

(41 reviews)

3.4 mi

Rebel Art School is a gem. We held our daughter's birthday party here and it was such a treat. The…read moreonline reservation was easy. I recommend booking in advance since spots fill up quickly. I spoke with Alex to ask questions and she gave me an idea of what to expect for the party. She even decorated the birthday table in the theme colors that we wanted. Alex and her assistant handled all aspects of the art project from the setup, to the demo and explanation, to preparing the artwork for take home. It was so nice to be able to relax and take photos and admire the art making process. The party was well planned and we had time to complete the artwork, eat lunch, and have dessert. Everyone had a blast.

I am so incredibly grateful I found this place! I'd been searching for a ceramics class that I…read morecould take with my mom, who has some cognitive impairment, and this school has been a total blessing. The teachers here are phenomenal. They are kind, incredibly generous with their knowledge, and created such a welcoming environment for both my mom and me. There is a really nice variety of workshops too and I'm hoping they add even more for evenings. I recently took the holiday linocut workshop and had the best time! It wasn't just about learning a new craft; the vibe was so social and upbeat. The teacher was wonderful and the other students were a blast to hang out with while we worked. Their approach to teaching really builds your confidence. For the first time, I actually felt like an artist rather than just a hobbyist. The atmosphere here is creative, supportive, and fun. I'm constantly checking their calendar for new classes and workshops to be added. Check them out if you or your kids (or your mom!) want a community as well as an art school.

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Lafayette Studio

(3 reviews)

2.4 mi

Lafayette Studio is wonderful! Classes are small and allow lots of opportunities to ask individual…read morequestions. The space is lovely and air conditioned in the Summer. There is a great variety of classes and teachers to choose from. Parking is easy. Great company of fellow local artists. Doug and Jody are very responsive to any questions you might have and run the Studio efficiently. You can also pay a monthly fee to come and go and use the studio as you like. Great for beginners and experienced artists alike.

Great location, studio space, instructors & fun group of artists! There is also monthly studio…read moretime for rent. Check it out!!

Marcy Wheeler Studio

I have been attending classes at Marcy's art studio for over three years. Marcy is a gifted and…read moreexperienced painter and a wonderful teacher. She provides the right amount of guidance on the use of color and techniques based on individual needs and it is a delight to hear her insightful perspectives on art and painting. Her classes are open to advanced, as well as, beginning painters. Marcy has created a positive atmosphere in her studio with extremely talented, creative painters ranging in experience and age who are generous in sharing information, are encouraging, and provide supportive and useful critique.

Painter and painting teacher Marcy Wheeler has set up shop in a new studio in Walnut Creek. She…read morecontinues to mentor art students at all levels, providing each of us with just the help we need to reach the next level. She is an amazing teacher. Most of her students paint in acrylics, but a few use oils.

Kala Art Institute

(18 reviews)

9.5 mi

I don't consider myself a natural artist, but after taking Introduction to Silkscreen with Emily…read morehere I feel like a spark of potential was finally lit. I thoroughly enjoyed the flexible after-work hours where I could relax and concentrate on just a few set tasks that go into making a screen and prints. The small class size felt both intimate and collaborative. I also loved how the teacher provided great materials to experiment with and Kala had all the necessary equipment. I'd love to come back and take more silkscreen later in the year!

Kala has some great art programs. One of them is Drink and Draw, a post-work evening activity that…read moreinvolves drinkin' an' drawin'. It's a rare opportunity for working folks who love art (but never get to do it) to be artistic and creative. We also hoped it would be an opportunity to meet people, relax, unwind, drink some wine, and hang out... but we discovered one fine weekday eve that it was lots of Draw but very little Drink. There are some serious art students in Berkeley! The art instructor was knowledgeable, talented and inspiring, and brought some great materials for us to use - handmade paper, high-quality ink, brushes. We did have to supply some of our own stuff, like scratch paper, pencils, erasers. She taught us new techniques and was very hands-on. A few completed projects even looked frame-worthy. Kala offers great programs if you want to do art in the evening. However, if you actually want to hang out with friends, catch up, and Drink with your Draw, you may want to go to a bar. Just sayin'...!

High Schoolers viewing exhibition in Kala Gallery

Building

Electronic Media Center

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Sewing With Joy

(1 review)

3.4 mi

I am really annoyed that yelp removed my original review because this is a legitimate review. I…read moretook classes with joy and so did my daughter and she deserves the review I gave. I am active on yelp and have reviewed multiple businesses so it's crazy yelp would move my review just to charge a buck. Do the right thing yelp and give customers a voice. Sign your kids up with her cause she's really patient ang a great teacher.

From the owner: Learning to sew gives children the opportunity to be creative and produce colorful, attractive and…read moreuseful items. The items are made by hand or machine and can be kept or given as gifts. Progressive projects in crafts clothing and quilting will be offered along with clothing repair and alterations. Projects initiated by the teacher will be billed to you. Some projects like clothing need to be selected and paid for by child and parent. Small Group 1hr class 4 children 7-teens $19.00 For more information enrollment please call Joy Parsons at (925) 300-6494.

The latest creation by my daughter.

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Picassos at Play

(5 reviews)

3.9 mi

I signed up my 5 YO for a winter break week-long half-day art camp. This was our first time trying…read morea holiday camp, or any type of camp for that matter. What enticed me was the options: full day all week (minus Christmas Day), half day all week (minus Christmas Day), full day singles days, and half day single days. I also really appreciated the diverse artists that they were studying about, and the mostly, new (to me) art projects that they were doing. Most of the projects seem to have general guidelines but each person's art was unique to them (i.e. not cookie cutter, I do-You do, etc.) While my son originally didn't want to attend and was content going to his regular afterschool care, at pick up after his first day, he said, "I had a GREAT time at art today!" On day 2, on the way to art camp for drop-off said, "I LOVE art camp!" He has been excited to go to camp everyday so far so I am excited to check out future offerings!

My 6-yr-old has been taking art classes here for a few months and absolutely loves it! Courtney is…read morea wonderful teacher with a strong background in art and design in tech. She keeps the kids engaged, thinking, and having fun. We plan on taking the Junior Picassos next, which has more of a STEM focus on design thinking. The location is spacious, inviting, and convenient (above Rooted Coffee in Pleasant Hill). My son asks me to go there all the time for their drop-ins too. Couldn't recommend it enough!

ABC Art Class

(7 reviews)

12.3 mi

After moving up here from the South Bay, I looked to enroll our daughter into an art class and…read morethere were absolutely no regrets with Ms. Neda for so many reasons. 1. She is so talented in art and in the way she teaches art. Very detailed and easy to understand. 2. She's very encouraging in the way she uplifts her students and she engages them well. 3. The program is very flexible. If you have to miss a class, it can rollover. She's very understanding of personal agendas. I was very skeptical of how the zoom art lesson would be but Ms. Neda has two screens on at the same time. One for her drawing and one on her, which makes it very helpful for young kids to follow along. My daughter absolutely loved attending class and she had so much fun! Thank you, Ms. Neda for making art so fun and enjoyable!

I have a son that loves his virtual online ABC Art class . He enjoys learning and is always…read moreencouraged to create from his own ideas and not just copy the instructor. He also loves the instructor because she dresses up as different characters and surprises children at each class. It is lots of fun specially if your children are between ages 5-12. I am planning on taking her class myself for oil painting . I hope this helps you all.

Neda Oromchian Founder & Instructor

Group Classes

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Neda (instructor) & Melissa ( Helper)

East Bay Art School

(1 review)

9.9 mi

Three years later and both my boys go here. Saturdays she has classes now until 9:30 to three,…read moreSundays 9:30 to noon and other days by appointment. My kids tell me she is good because she is critical when she needs to be to help them with their work.

Makers Art Studio

(9 reviews)

12.7 mi

Gosh, I really hate to only give 3 stars but I really want to be honest about what you get when…read moreconsidering Hawaii Fluid Art for your child's birthday party. 1. $350 for 10 kids. $30 for each additional child - I was totally ok with this price but after booking, I found out that's for 1 hour. Who throws a birthday party for only one hour? If you want an additional hour it's an extra $150. Felt like a bait and switch -- I went back on the website to see if there was a disclaimer about parties being only 1 hour -- there is, but it's very discreet. It should definitely be more clear so there aren't any surprises. 2. The art project takes quite literally 5 minutes (no wonder only one hour is included...). While I'm sure the art is going to be beautiful, I would go as far as saying this was boring for a crew of 7 year old girls. After all of the instructions were given it was truly.. 5 minutes of fun... I quote the birthday girl.., "mom, we poured paint in a cup and then poured it in paper. That's it." I really wish there was something else to make the party a bit more fun and engaging. Play a game? Sing? Literally anything to extend the fun. The art itself is simply not enough to justify having a party there.

The young lady at check in was very friendly and knowledgeable. She was so patient explaining…read moreeverything to our daughter. Our daughter had a great time creating beautiful art. We will definitely be returning.

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Dance Fusion

4.0

(4 reviews)

2.4 mi

My daughter absolutely loves Jackie! Jackie is absolutely amazing with all her students, you can…read morereally see she takes the time for each one! Hip hop class is remarkable my daughter can't stop won't stop dancing and practicing all her new and old moves! This is the first time my daughter has ever been super excited to go to dance and super pumped after she leaves wanted more! Highly recommended this studio! Thank you Jackie!

The older dancers lead by bad example, not respectful.read more

Little Genius Academy

4.7

(61 reviews)

2.5 mi

Our son has attended Little Genius Academy for over a year and will be graduating to TK this fall…read more Before we leave, I wanted to take a moment to leave a glowing review for this incredible daycare. We are so grateful to the teachers and staff, who are genuinely dedicated and truly care about the children. From the very beginning, we felt that our son was in a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment. Some of the things we especially appreciated were the convenient hours (7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.), three meals provided each day, washing of sleeping bags and water bottles, and the wonderful variety of daily activities, including sports and music. We were especially fortunate to have Ms. Celi as our son's teacher. She updated the parent app every day with incredible detail about the children's activities, curriculum, and plenty of photos. It gave us so much peace of mind to know what he was learning and experiencing each day. Communication with both the teachers and staff was always easy, and responses were consistently prompt and helpful. We'd also like to recognize Ms. Delen, our son's fellow dinosaur-loving teacher, who made learning so much fun, and Ms. Tina, who greeted us every morning with a warm smile that always brightened our day. Finally, we want to give a heartfelt thank you to the entire staff who showed our family so much understanding, compassion, and grace during a very difficult season in our lives. Your kindness and support meant more than you know, and we truly couldn't have made it through without you. We are incredibly thankful to have been part of the Little Genius Academy family. Thank you for loving and investing in our son. We will always look back on our time here with gratitude.

My son is at LGA for over a year now and I love this school. I love the app updates showing his…read morepotty times, nap times, meals and school activities. To our surprise, many schools do not use an app. The extracurricular activities are so engaging - I like that they bring an outside coach to engage the kids in sports, Mr. George for music, and Ms Brittany for reading. The meals are also great. My son is open to eating a variety of food as a result of the meals serve at the school. In terms of academics, my almost 4 year old can count to 40, knows the ABCs and write his name. All in all, LGA makes life easy for parents, especially working parents. Even the morning drop off procedures are so quick and seamless. Between my older daughter and son, we've been at multiple schools in the area and I can say that LGA is our favorite.

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Nanny's House Child Care & Preschool

(24 reviews)

0.3 mi

My daughter attended Nanny's House for two years before starting kindergarten, and we couldn't have…read moreasked for a better experience. Marta is amazing, so loving, caring, and truly invested in the children. My daughter always looked forward to going, made great friends (both boys and girls), and not once said, "I don't want to go to school." I love that Nanny's House is play-based but also incorporates academics, reading, music, art, and plenty of outdoor time. Thanks to Marta's guidance my daughter was already reading before kindergarten began. I highly recommend visiting Nanny's House and meeting Marta. You'll see right away why it's such a special place.

Our daughter started at Nanny's house when she was 3 months old. When I was 4 months pregnant with…read moreher I started researching facilities and make sure they were highly rated by the county. You'd be surprised how many come up with one violation or another. Nanny's house was violation free. I interviewed with Nanny (Marta) at her old location. There was instant chemistry. She has this organic and warm feel about her exuding positive energy. She has such a love for children and animals. She has a small and super sweet dog and maintains chickens in a chicken coop feeding the children fresh and organic eggs in the morning. There was a wait list but we made it through as we planned in advance. When we got in, it was like getting into Harvard... our first choice school! When I was at the hospital after giving birth, she sent a sweet care package of flowers, a balloon and a teddy bear for our little girl. Such a nice touch! What school does that? Our daughter spent all years leading up to kindergarten there, even into the pandemic. She worked so hard to keep everyone safe and healthy. It was a crazy time, but always her mind was on how can she protect the children. She was open to feedback and worked to customize her program to meet families on preferences. She has a life sciences program that's outstanding. The kids not only learn all the fundamentals in the classroom, but the learn to garden, they learn about life cycles, they learn cooking (supervised of course). Most importantly they learn how to manage emotions and social interactions. We also had our son join Nanny's House when our daughter was 3 years old. He also joined at 3 months of age. The infant program has a maximum of 4 babies in it all 3 months to 1 year 11 months. With the location being her home, it doesn't have an institutional style feel. I live nearby and as he was a baby during pre-covid, I was allowed to come by to nurse in person when I needed to. The family get togethers were some of my favorite memories at Nanny's house and I still stay in touch with the other families to this day. Halloween and her Christmas holiday party were a blast, along with a formal graduation celebration. One thing I helped Nanny's house bring into the program is a mobile app called Kidz Note that updates the families on what is going on each day in the classroom or infant room. She provides photos each day and often videos. Her reports let's you know what's going on with eating or and if there are any boo boo reports. It also allows for parent-teacher communication. We treasure our memories at Nanny's House. Our daughter still talks about Nanny's House to this day and wants to visit soon. For anyone who is looking for a very personal full time daycare and preschool experience with long hours 7:30a - 6p with all meals covered, this one's for you!

Planning a garden and watching it grow together.

Singing for Santa 2017

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Singing with Nanny and Mrs. clause breakfast with Santa 2017

Creative Montessori Preschool & Daycare

4.6

(22 reviews)

3.8 mi

Our son has been with Creative since he was just 6 months old, and we couldn't be happier with our…read moreexperience. Silvia and the entire staff treat him like family, which gives us so much peace of mind while we're away. Their love and dedication truly shine through. Since joining Creative, our son has flourished in so many ways--physically, emotionally, and in his speech development. Now, at 20 months, he amazes us daily with new words and songs he's learned, as well as important life skills like picking up his toys and throwing things in the trash. The learning environment they provide is incredible! Beyond his development, we've also noticed how social and personable he has become, which we largely credit to the nurturing and interactive atmosphere at Creative. We are so grateful for Silvia and the entire team for fostering such a loving and enriching space for our son. Thank you, Silvia!

My son started at Creative Montessori at age 3.5 years old. Due to Covid he had been home the whole…read moretime and spoke no English prior to attending school. Ms Silvia and other teachers have been so patient and helpful. My son has grown so much in every aspect and loves going to school every day. Highly recommend.

Preschool & Pre-K playground

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Gan Ilan

4.6

(17 reviews)

0.9 mi

We've been part of the Gan Ilan community for the past three years, and it's hard to put into words…read morejust how special it is. Our son spent two wonderful years here before transitioning to public elementary school, and now our daughter is thriving after a year in the toddler program (she started at 18 months). What makes this preschool stand out is its truly play-based philosophy and the emphasis on outdoor time. The kids spend so much time exploring the beautiful property--rain or shine--and it's clear how much they learn through play and nature. And I so appreciate how they come home happy, fulfilled, and absolutely exhausted every day! The teachers are absolutely incredible. They are warm, attentive, and deeply invested in the kids' growth and well-being. Our son grew in every way during his time here--physically, emotionally, socially--and we watched his confidence blossom. But more than anything, we're grateful for the community. Through this school, we've made lifelong friendships with other families, and our kids have formed strong, joyful bonds with their peers. It's a place where children and parents alike feel connected, supported, and engaged. We couldn't imagine a better place for our kids to begin their educational journey.

We have two children now at Gan Ilan and we have had such a positive experience. The teachers are…read morewarm, knowledgeable and communicative. The kids spend so much time engaged in creative play, especially outside in the garden. The school makes a wonderful effort to build community among families and we have made so many close friends. We are so happy with the quality of this school and its Jewish programming and will certainly be staying there when our next child is ready to start preschool.

Our summer camp kiddos, ages 18 months through 5 years, will be having so much fun in the sun next month! Sign-ups are still available.

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Daily activities

Old Firehouse School

4.1

(19 reviews)

0.1 mi

Old Firehouse School is Exceptional!…read more We sent both of our children to OFS after moving to Lafayette, and it was a wonderful experience for our family. The dedication of the staff is truly what sets this school apart. We especially valued the model where teachers, like Liz, Pam, and Zahara, continue to work with the students as they grow. This consistency and the deep care they show for the children is evident every day. Our kids absolutely loved their teachers. We are huge fans of their kid-led, project-based learning approach. It allows the students to drive their own education. Just as important is their focus on emotional education--teaching kids practical ways to understand and manage their feelings, which is a key skill for life. Alex and Michelle are fantastic leaders, and the entire team deserves praise. We have nothing but great things to say about OFS and highly recommend it.

I have had at least one child at OFS since 2021. It is an incredible community and the director…read moreAlex is a thoughtful, bright, measured, and caring leader. We have loved all the teachers we've worked with and were first drawn to OFS because of the Reggio Emilio method they practice. This approach centers around a single primary caregiver for the majority of a child's time at the school. Our oldest has come out of OFS with incredible social emotional skills as a result of this model. We still have our son there and will be sad the day we have to leave. This is not the closest school to our home, but we trust the staff and we can't imagine going anywhere else.