We are on our second year (4th if you count toddler play time. *Hi teacher Nick!) at MCPC with my son and 1st (2nd?) year with my daughter. Pros: Phenomenal parent support, wonderful community, great skill building, socialization models for the kids. Inclusivity, diversity and cultural exposure, nature and mental/physical enrichment are all here, disability support physical and neurodivergent. Cons? This is a true co-op Parent involvement is required. The parents are running the school under the guidance and tenure of a past parent turned director. At least 25% of your life is this school once you join. You will work once a week per child.(Two child cap*) The kids will be here three hours a day so when you leave it will feel like you are coming right back. Second year you get a board job, more work! So, is it worth it? For our family, yes!!!! The memories, the involvement put you right in the front seat of your child's development and education. I feel like I am attending the school and relearning how to problem solve and function on my own. The experiences here are priceless. We don't want to leave! read more

Montclair Community Play Center - Chinese New Year dragon dance with handmade dragon! - Elementary Schools Near Me - Oakland, California

This is our third year entering MCPC. We absolutely love the community...our kids are loved by the teachers, we're able to make friends with the other parents, and one of the best perks - we are all involved in parenting the children from a similar socioemotionally grounded approach which makes playdates so fun and easy. Any parent can step in at anytime and the messages our kids receive are loving and consistent. And the Director Jolie as well as Teachers Jamie and Nick are just rockstars. I feel a lot of confidence when I'm out at the playground, I feel that I can work things out with my child and ask about his plans and intentions and come up with safety guidelines together. It's helped so that he's able to re-engage with children and meet new friends rather than just decide they're done playing. I could go on an on about what I've learned alongside my kid at MCPC. Highly suggest attending their Toddler Playtime classes that run year round in the afternoon (18-36 months) and/or the annual Info Night in January if you're interested in preschool. read more

We are now heading into our 2nd year of MCPC for our soon-to-be 4 year old child. Not only does he love this place, but we do just as much if not more. If you are looking for a stellar play-based school for your child with strong commitments to inclusivity and community, then I encourage you to check out MCPC. While MCPC may require more involvement than a more tradition pre-K program, I believe that the experience and community your family will gain is well worth it. We have fallen in love with this school, its people, and its mission. read more

Our child old started MCPC this year and loves it! Here has what really stood out for us: The teachers really take each individual child's needs into account. They're knowledgeable about child development and emotions, and really incorporate this into their curriculum. I've learned so much from them as I've watched them interact with the kids, and how they help the kids manage conflict. MCPC was one of the few (if not only) preschools we looked at that allowed the child to go at their own pace for drop offs and adjusting to a new setting, which was huge for us. MCPC also provides the space for community and we've only felt welcomed there. read more

This school will exceed your expectations. My daughter did two sessions of the toddler program and turtle camp before starting preschool there this year. Being able to progress from the toddler program(adult and child) to turtle camp(drop off once a week) to preschool(up to 5 days a week) really helped with her transition and made me feel much more confident about her starting school. The teachers are so patient and explain why they do what they do every step of the way. They are truly invested in nurturing the children and helping them navigate through a new social landscape. As a co op all of the parents work one day a week at the school. Through that I have learned so much from the teachers and kids and am a better parent for it. The ratio of adults to kids I think is always 1:4 or 1:3. Art, playground, sand box, water table, sensory play, dress up, reading books, snack station, and play doh are available everyday in addition to an ever rotating list of fresh activities. Oh and they have chickens! I love that my kid comes home worn out from having fun and learning new things. If you are looking for a great community experience this is it! read more

We're on year 3 of MCPC with kid #2, and are so thankful to have found this school and its community. If you want a preschool with a co-op model (being involved and watching your child flourish is a gift), a wonderful curriculum, supportive/warm teachers and a beautiful setting look no further. They've adapted splendidly to COVID, making everything safe and appropriate for enrolled children and their families, and I am so grateful that my kids get to be in school in person. read more

MCPC (Montclair Community Play Center) is an amazing cooperative preschool. My three year old started in the fall of 2020 amid COVID, wildfires and incredibly stressful times for everyone--yet the teachers and parents created a nourishing and stimulating environment where I've witnessed the kids grow into a caring community through play. The love and support that has been shown to both me and my child has far exceeded my expectations and I would highly recommend MCPC to anyone looking for an exceptional preschool experience for their child. read more

We had two kids go through MCPC and it's one of the places that we think of as the most special thing we've gotten to do. We are super excited to do it with our third kid in a few more years. MCPC asks a lot of you as a coop preschool. In exchange, it returns even more. Parents need to work one day a week in the classroom (8:30-12:30) and work some jobs at the school (like field trip coordinating or doing some maintenance). With 25 kids, everyone working a day a week, it means there are 5 parents plus two teachers at the school every day. It creates a certain amount of magic, the community is so authentic. All the kids know all the parents and everyone learns a common way to work through problems. It relaxes every interaction at the school and after it. Play dates are so much easier when everybody knows how to work together. Kids have deep relationships. The teachers are phenomenal and create a caring and thoughtful environment. Kids and parents learn problem solving and I'm my best parent for the days following my work day at MCPC. So many of our best friends worked with us there and our kids connect so well too. It's hard to imagine a place that captures the magic quite like mcpc. It's a modern village like something out of a movie. I'd recommend it to every person who can find a way to manage the time commitment. It's made my family closer and I love it. read more

We sent two kids to MCPC (second one graduated class 2020) and can't say enough about how good our and our kids' experience was. The thoughtfulness of the school structure and kids' experience was simply amazing, month after month. This is a result of the school having been around for decades, the incredible attention and dedication of the teachers, and the hard work and fresh ideas of cohort after cohort of new parents going through the coop experience. It's a tremendous investment of time with tremendous returns for us and our kids! read more

MCPC is a beautiful play center with a variety of activities and spaces to play and explore. My child and I were enrolled in 2 Toddler Play sessions: Fall/Winter 2016 and Winter 2017. Both teachers were wonderful, kind and helpful. They were organized and prepared every single time. I also liked how parents cleaned up after class while the toddlers played. I personally think it is a great way to build community. Parents helped each other when tasks required more than one person. To help clean up be organized, MCPC has job cards explaining the cleaning tasks. If you are looking for a nurturing place for you and your child, I highly recommend the Toddler Play program at MCPC. read more

I found the Toddler program through a neighbor, and almost three years later I am still thanking her! My son will graduate from the Preschool program in June. We never want to leave! My son has flourished at MCPC. The teachers are thoughtful, supportive and patient. Their knowledge and advice have really helped us become better parents. It is a co-op of 25 families, all working together for the benefit of the children. It is the "village" everyone tells you it takes to raise a child! read more

I have two sons that have been through the toddler program and have found the school a lifeline. MCPC is an exceptional early education experience for little ones to learn through play. We jokingly called it "Pre-Pre-school" due to it's structured play with creative art projects, gross motor and fine motor activities, sensory stations and sing-a-long. It was their first experience with "circle time" and a teacher that wasn't there to "entertain".The teachers offer educated guidance and support (and not just for the kids!) As a new mom I gained so much from the experience and found a social outlet as well. I highly recommend this gem of a school. read more

Toddler, Bridge K and now Preschool! My family has been involved in all 3 programs and just love this school. Each program is simply amazing. The newest program, the Bridge K program has the most grounded, thoughtful, funny, loving, understanding teacher you could hope for. She just "gets" kids. She is like the rainbow that brings these kids from preschool to kindergarten. The "bridge" that I think SO many kids really honestly need and thrive. Many philosophies agree that until 6, academics, sitting in desks for long periods of time etc. is not the best idea. Playing, learning, socializing, discovering, exploring is for 5 year olds! This is not for children that are "behind", or "shy" or "too young". This program is for everyone. read more

We love MCPC! My daughter has been in three toddler play sessions and she loves it so much. She has such a great time with her friends and teacher Nick! Every week there are several different sensory activities to explore and art projects to create. There is so much to do, she asks to go to MCPC almost every day! I love watching her learn, and I learn so much myself. Teacher Nick always has excellent suggestions anytime I have a question. Every parent I've met is just as happy, that tells me a lot. I've met a few preschool parents and they rave about the preschool program too. All of the MCPC teachers that I've talked to are so kind and thoughtful. You can really tell they love what they do! read more

I can't say enough. My child has grown as a little person and I've grown as a parent. The teachers are so good at knowing how to handle any situation, be it big or small they show patience and love with our kids every day. The friends she's made and the tools she has to tackle growing up have made choosing MCPC one of the best decisions I've ever made. read more

I enrolled my 4.5 year old in the Bridge-K program. While he was the youngest in the class, I do not regret it at all. All of the teachers at the facility are fantastic - but I have a special place in my heart for the Bridge-K teachers. They truly make a connection, including making an effort to get to know your child before the school session even starts. It's a fantastic teacher to student ratio, and the activities offered have enchanted my child. From everything from discovering his true love of art, to learning that Pluto is no longer a planet I have been thrilled with this play based bridge to Kindergarten. I give a big thank you to the teachers for making this transition in his life so happy, and for helping him prepare for the big move to Kindergarten. I would recommend this school - and especially the Bridge-K program to anyone. read more

I've had all 3 of my children attend MCPC. My oldest also attended the Toddler Program. My kids are now thriving in Oakland public schools. I love that mcpc is play based; they learn valuable life lessons that stay with them throughout their childhoods. They learn about compassion, sharing, friendships, empathy, using their imagination and motor skills. They were absolutely ready and prepared for Kindergarten after graduation. The high teacher/parent to child ratio is invaluable and the long time teachers are incredible loving and caring. It's an extremely well run co-op, with great systems in place. Highly recommend! read more

Montclair Community Play Center - the MCPC sign inside the school - Elementary Schools Near Me - Oakland, California

This place isn't all it is cracked up to be. The toys are a little dangerous. They must be watched at all times or someone may get hurt pretty bad. Studio Grow, Play Cafe or even Habitot are much better places. read more

I found MCPC a couple of years ago looking for something to do with my then toddler. We ended up enrolling for two consecutive toddler sessions and fast forward, here we are about to graduate from preschool. I found MCPC to be an amazing place for kiddos AND parents as well. Kids (wether in toddler program or preschool) get to do an array of activities every day. Every day at preschool they get to do something different from the day before so they are never bored. It is also great that they have lots of field trips during the school year and also have guest speakers that come to the school to them about different topics. The school offers a lot of incredible things for the kids to enjoy and learn from all the time, for example; open play indoors or outdoors (rain or shine), the chicken hatch (once a year), multiple bike days at lake temescal during the year, mini-science projects, international week, lots of art and lots of mess for the kids to make!!! ... these are just to name a few... The teachers and the Director are amazing and incredibly skilled. One of the things that I like the most about MCPC is that kids learn conflict resolution skills since day 1 and parents also learn a lot of guidance to get kids to think for themselves. I also like the open communication with teachers and parents. MCPC has been overall an amazing experience for our whole family; my kid enjoys having mom work at school once a week and I enjoy being so involved in his early education :) Will definitely recommend MCPC to anyone who is looking for a preschool and a great place to build community with amazing families. read more

We were lucky enough to be a part of the MCPC family for one year and it forever enriched our lives and made us better parents! The school philosophy emphasizes self-directed play, empowers children to use their voice, and helps develop important social and emotional skills. I was really impressed by their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion which was not only shown in the application process but in the children's activities, parent education, and more. The teachers were a fantastic resource for everything from behavioral intervention to engaging activities to try, and they always made time for me whenever I sought their advice. Teacher Jolie, the director, is a particularly amazing person who understands the hearts of children so well and has the ability to make any kid who comes through MCPC feel special. I always trusted my child was not only in loving hands here but trying out new skills we could never do at home (I mean, they sometimes have a zip line, it's awesome!). Like any co-op, there are a lot of commitments, but it was more than worth it for us! Take a tour and see for yourself (check their website), I think you'll love it :) read more

I'd like to make a plug for the pre-school my son attends. He attended two other pre-schools prior to Montclair Community Play Center and it's wasn't until MCPC that I realized just how dissatisfying the other two schools were. MCPC has been a wonderful school for our son (who is in the Bridge-K program), and a great community of people. The two Bridge-K teachers are terrific. They are knowledgeable about the developmental milestones of preschool children and are continually developing that knowledge further. Before our son even began at MCPC, one of the teachers came to our house and spent an hour with him, focusing completely on him and what he wanted to do. That attentiveness has continued throughout his time in the Bridge-K program. At his previous pre-schools, our son cried nearly every day at drop off and when asked at the end of the time there about how the day went, he'd respond, "fine" in a heartbreakingly apathetic way. At MCPC, however, he has come out of his shell so much. Drop-off is no longer a traumatic experience. He has friendships that he talks about and projects/themes that he is enthusiastic about. When asked about his day, a common response is that it was "super great." Hard to beat that. Check it out. read more

My 2 year old and I are enrolled in their current toddler session and having a good time. Lots of great toys, activities, songs and learning. Good spot to meet other moms/families in the area and connect for play dates. Gabriella ran our session and she was friendly, attentive and in tune with the kids. They even have three chickens in the back. read more

I am so happy to have found MCPC. My 4 year old son started the Bridge K last fall, and he absolutely loves it. He had never been to daycare or preschool, and I wanted him to get some school structure and socialization before he can start kinder. My son has a birthday in February, but the director can meet with a child to see if the bridge k program will be a good fit for them. I was a bit worried on the first day since my son can be a little shy and weary of a new environment, but he ran in and didn't look back on his first day and did not want to come home at pick up time. Their playground is amazing--so much fun! Teacher Anthea is great with the kids and has such fun projects everyday. There is structure in the day, but she totally keeps the fun in it. She does a home visit before the school year starts, to meet with each kid, which is awesome and helped my son feel more comfortable with her at school when he started. Field trips are great fun too. Bike day, pumpkin patch, Lawrence Hall of Science are a few. I really can't say enough great things about MCPC's Bridge K program. I am so glad to have found it and have my son go there. I know he will be ready for kindergarten. I highly recommend it. read more

MCPC is a truly inspirational early education experience, providing endless opportunities for kids to engage their natural curiosity. The projects are bold - yes, your child will wield a hammer, act in another child's play, suddenly know a lot about labyrinths and reptiles, make candles and pottery, and will come home at some point completely covered in paint. Having experienced first-hand the toddler program, the preschool, and the extraordinary new Bridge K program, what stands out most for me about MCPC is the warmth of the school. The teachers truly get to know and love each child. The focus is on children learning to include each other, to work together, and to accept each other for the unique people that they are. We have had an incredibly positive experience. read more

Director and teachers are excellent. This is my son's second year of preschool, and he loves going to school! He is disappointed on the weekend because he would rather be at school playing with his friends! I am always amazed and thrilled with the creative curriculum and hands-on activities the kids experience every day. There is now an added bonus of some Spanish during the day, and my son is really absorbing it. MCPC is a co-op, which requires parent involvement. If you can be a part of this early child development with your child, I highly recommend MCPC. This preschool offers a great community of parents, kids and a support network I will always appreciate. read more

My son loves loves loves going to "school" like his older brother when I take him to the Toddler program at MCPC. He becomes extremely cooperative the moment I say let's get ready to go to MCPC...it's funny to see, and makes me feel good. Once there, he gets to play with what seems to be 6 or more set-up stations of activities, and play areas with all sorts of toys and activities imaginable. He goes home with at least an art project, a full stomach from snack time, having paralleled played with friends, done a circle time, and I feel like I've been a great mom which is priceless! read more

M.C.P.C. has been wonderful for our family. When we first found it we fell in love with the place, It has everything a child can desire, from play structure, messy art, toys, chickens, snack, books, sandbox, costumes ,puzzles, etc... It has everything that, if I was a child I would love to be there every day!, and not to mention the teachers. We started going when my daughter was maybe 2 years old at the time in a cooking class that they were offering for Toddler time in the afternoons. My daughter loved the place and teachers(Jolie). When it was time to look for Preschools We knew were we wanted our child to be, so I went to the open house Orientation, love the philosophy of the school, teachers, and involvement that the parents have with in the whole school community. Right away we knew that this was the place for our child. I, as a parent have learned so much from the teachers, and guest speakers we have every month. My daughter learned how be social, share, found her passion for art, how to be vocal of her space, how she feels about things and was ready for Kindergarten. Now our 2nd child is attending M.C.P.C. he loves it, he gets really proud of his art work he brings home, he sings songs he learns from circle time and speaks some Spanish that he learns from teacher Susana. M.C.P.C. is the best thing that could have ever happened to our children. Thank you so much for all you do for our children!!! read more

We count ourselves among the lucky ones that had the blessed opportunity to be part of the MCPC preschool program. It's a wonderful program, crafted in accordance with my dreams. Dreams that I carefully constructed over the years of envisioning an ideal first school experience. My own Waldorf preschool experience as a child, my years teaching in OUSD and creative dance, my years researching just how I wanted my child to be "schooled", or not. But that's not the most of why we feel lucky about joining MCPC when our child was 3. It's really his Year in the incomparable Bridge K program that will have a lasting impact on his school experience because we chose to give him an extra year to be a kid and be totally respected for his "kidness". We chose an extra year of play. An extra year of having incredibly attentive and caring teachers who pay close attention to his development. We chose an extra year to be close with him and spend time playing with him before he is in school 6 hours a day. I'll be honest, it's a lot of work for us parents. But it's most definitely the work that I will not regret because it gave our child the gift of time to be fully himself as we can only be when we are young. read more

My son is in the Bridge-K program here at MCPC. I cannot say enough about how wonderful this program is and how happy my son is here. He did go to the preschool and honestly I was not ready to send him into the big, scary world of kindergarten. I have not regretted my decision for one second. He has gotten another year of being a kid. Teacher Anthea is amazing. The activities that she comes up with for them to do continue to amaze me. This past week was planets and while having fun doing art projects and going to the Lawrence Hall of Science, the kids were learning. They learn through art, music, discussion, dance and play. Anthea does an incredible job of preparing for kindergarten, but not taking away any of the fun. She does the calender everyday, there is a letter for each week and centers that are very similar to what they will be doing in K. I feel like after this year in MCPC's Bridge-K program, my son is going to be more then ready for kindergarten. I honestly cannot say enough how happy we are here as a family. My son cannot wait to go to school everyday and he begs me to stay when I pick him up. read more

MCPC is a warm community of 25 families! After moving from SF, I got lucky to get a spot. Now with my third son, we are in our 4th year there. This was our forth educational co-operative preschool and by far the most organized, clean and student-centered. I loved the slow transition my sons got from home to school. I got to be there one day a week and they went 5 mornings. The teachers do everything to make transition work: home visits, summer camp with just younger kids, no pressure to quit diapers, and kids can be a "helper" following the teachers around for as long as they need. The curriculum is diverse, inspiring, creative and there's never one right way for kids to behave. Their self expression is welcomed. Parents get support and education by participating with other families in tasks that help the school. The environment is awesome. playstructure, sandbox, chickens, open nature area, redwood trees, bouncy swing... never gets old. It has been a beautiful way to share the transition to school. We will never forget it. read more

My 3 year old daughter loves MCPC! Five days week she goes to bed excited because I tell her tomorrow is a school day. My only regret is not finding them sooner, to take advantage of the toddler program. Highly recommend. read more

I absolutely loved MCPC's Toddler Playtime program. It was a lifesaver when my active 2-year-old boy needed to expand his horizons, and I needed an afternoon activity to keep myself sane as a stay-at-home mom. The teachers were warm and loving, and the activities were perfectly designed for the age group. We both ended up really looking forward to it every week! read more

My daughter just "graduated" from the Bridge Kindergarten program at MCPC today, I cannot say enough about what this program and these teachers have given her. She is a late December birthday so didn't make the cutoff for kinder this past year. Initially, I was bummed, she was ready. But in retrospect, this year was such a gift. Anthea the teacher has new art projects for them EVERY DAY! They do pre-literacy work but have fun doing it. She (the only girl in the class this year) has found her inner voice and is confident and compassionate. The physical environment is fabulous.. Play structure, art area, nature area, weekly walks to the library, a daily helper and "center" time where they do quiet work. This program gives them tools for emotional literacy, communication skills, self control and time to play and imagine and space to be a kid before the pressure of kindergarten. The only downside is that is have big shoes to fill this Summer while she waits for kinder in the Fall. Luckily I know she'll continue to have the MCPC community of families to hang with this Summer. Do your kid a favor and check it out! read more

I had heard great things about MCPC so I enrolled and got 3 of my friends to enroll too. None of us like it. The play area is NOT safe for kids under 2.5. The outside area has steep hills and the playground is elevated a few feet off the ground. So there is a steep drop-off onto concrete. The parents are required to clean-up after class. This includes vacuuming, taking out the trash, sweeping, spraying down the tables, putting away the toys etc... While I was distracted cleaning my 19 month old son was playing at one of the tables close to the edge of the elevated playground. He fell and face-planted onto the cement. He now has a scar on his nose and his upper lip. My friends' kids have fallen too. Whenever we are there I'm worried about my son falling, getting a splinter on all the wood or choking on all the small objects they have out for the kids to play with. They have marbles and the other day had popcorn kernels. The entire class is free play. There are plenty of other play spaces in the area like Studio Grow or Habitot and you don't have to worry about your kid falling or choking and you don't have to clean!!! Stay away if you have a kid under 2.5. read more

My older daughter is an alumni of the preschool program and we, as a family, count the days until our younger one can attend next year! I cannot say enough good things about our experience at MCPC. Not only our daughter thrived at the school, but we as parents received much needed guidance and training on how to be better parents! Being part of a co-op is a decent amount of work, but oh so well worth it! The teachers and are just fantastic, extremely knowledgeable, nurturing, warm and caring. My daughter, like very individual kid at MCPC, was always made to feel special, loved and cared for. Most importantly, she enjoyed her 2 years there in the play based environment, not burdened with heavy academics that other curricula emphasize. She graduated to be an expert in conflict resolution, compassionate and always a kind friend. She is now in kinder and we cannot thank MCPC enough for how ready she was to embark to the "big kids' school" read more

My son is now 5 and in the Bridge K program and I cannot say enough good things about it! He has a fall birthday and was eligible for OUSD transitional kindergarten, but after visiting several, I couldn't imagine him anywhere else but MCPC. In the Bridge K program, he is learning his letters, can write his own name and is learning patterning and other pre-math skills, and all in a gentle, nurturing and developmentally appropriate way. He loves to learn and explore and I believe it is the bridge K approach that keeps his interest and curiosity going. He is learning great kindergarten readiness skills at MCPC, like opening his own lunch containers, putting on his own jacket and shoes, raising his hand and keeping quiet during rug time. All of this is done with incredible patience and kindness from the Bridge K teachers, Anthea and Jaime. He still has plenty of time at school to work on his social and emotional skills, run around under the redwoods, feed the chickens, build legos and create art masterpieces. It's his 3rd year at MCPC and it has all been wonderful! read more