I realized it may not be obvious- Tio and Tia is what we (and especially the kiddos) affectionately call Zoila and Chi!

We feel very lucky to have found My First Steps Daycare. It is a small in-home daycare with 4-6 children, ranging in age from 3 months - 3 years. Zoila and Chi are incredibly dedicated and really all the kids and their parents as if they were family. We started our first kid with them at 11 months during the pandemic. It has been a loving environment for him to grow and explore. He has now moved on to pre-school, but still gets excited about visiting them. They have come to every one of the kids' birthday parties and offered to be on call overnight to take care of our child when we were expecting our 2nd child. Tuition covers 10 hours per day of care and breakfast/morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack. They home make all of their food and are very conscientious about providing nutritious food that is texture appropriate for the child's age. Their house has indoor and outdoor play space. We strongly recommend My First Steps Daycare for your kid! read more

Zoila has been taking care of my son for the last 1.5 years. He started in January 2020 when he was a year old:). As a first time parent, I was nervous to send my baby to daycare but we've had a wonderful experience, and my son is thriving. 1) Zoila is knowledgeable, caring and attentive. I know she truly loves our son and the other children at the daycare. She sticks to a daily routine (breakfast, learning, play, lunch, nap, play) and talks to me about my son's development and milestones (sleep training, walking/running/climbing and potty training). She also talks to me about his temperament and how he interacts with others. 2) The food is delicious! Zoila is a wonderful cook and she makes everything from scratch. She's very thoughtful about the ingredients she uses - veggies, fish, chia, fruit, whole grains, legumes, etc. - and their nutrition. She provides two meals and two snacks daily. My son eats much better at Zoila's than when he is home with me! 3) Zoila is a native Spanish speaker. She predominately uses Spanish with the kids and my son can speak a few words / phrases (and he seems to understand it!). I know this is a great foundation for learning language. 4) My son is happy and engaged. There are a mix of ages at the daycare and my son plays with all of them (infant to 2.5 years). He started as the little kid and now he's the oldest:). We feel very lucky to be part of Zoila's family:). read more

We cannot recommend Zoila ("Tia") anymore highly. She is such a truly loving caregiver. My wife and I are not from San Francisco and don't have family in the area. But dropping our daughter off every morning with Tia felt like we were leaving her with a family member. Our daughter was always happy to see her, and sometimes didn't want to come home at the end of the day. Tio, Zoila's husband, was also very loving and helpful with the kids. Our little girl can't get enough snuggles with Tio. When it came time to start our daughter on solid foods, Tia was amazing! She waited until we had introduced a food at our home, made sure our daughter tolerated it well, then Tia would start to incorporate that food at her house. Over time, together, we worked more and more foods into her diet until she was eating all the delicious food that Tia makes. Everything is homemade and super healthy. Our daughter eats VERY well at Tia's. It is also a blessing not to worry about providing any food after our girl was done with breast milk. Tia keeps her house very clean and safe for little ones who are learning to crawl, walk, toddle, etc. She keeps an eye on each child's milestones and makes sure they are staying on track. She talks to the kids all the time and keeps them stimulated with a mix of Spanish and English. We really love that our daughter is hearing so much Spanish every day. Tia's house also has nice indoor and outdoor spaces, which is great to let the kids get some outdoor playtime. And if our schedules got wacky and we were running late, or had to drop her off early every once in a while, Tia and Tio were super understanding and accommodating. This is our second child. With our first child, we had him in a large daycare center and a different in-home daycare center. Having seen those other places, we could not be happier that we found Tia for our daughter's care. It is truly excellent. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have. read more

My son just "graduated" from Zoila's daycare, and boy are we going to miss it. Zoila and her husband, Chi, run an incredible spot for babies and young toddlers to grow and explore. They provide wonderful food, boundaries, flexibility, and love that I doubt we could find anywhere else. I feel so lucky to have cold-called her during my stressful search for a daycare in SF. They will always have a special place in my heart. read more

I can hardly begin to express in here what a blessing Zoila and her husband, Chi, have been in mine and my son's lives. I came to San Francisco with my son when he was two-months-old. For the most part, I was alone, with little to no support network, no source of income, and college seemed out of my reach. I was only 21, and didn't have any confidence in my abilities as a new mother nor any guidance. To sum it up, I was quite lost and exhausted, like many new parents are. I chose this daycare because it really felt like a loving home when I walked inside. My son started at 5 months old. By the third day, Zoila had my son on a consistent sleep schedule, for the first time ever. From that time on, my son fell asleep twice a day during his nap times without any struggle, and went to sleep at the same time every night. I couldn't believe it. (Finally, I could do things like take showers by myself, eat food with both hands free, or even just take a nap, too.) And that was just the beginning. Zoila really cares about the children's development, both physically and mentally. Every day she cooks and prepares a variety of nutritious, organic meals with no added salt or sugar. She doesn't just get children to eat their vegetables, she actually gets children to LOVE eating their vegetables. She also makes a point of regularly introducing the children to new foods and flavors. My son is now 3-years-old and has a broader palate than I do. I was able to start work feeling secure and knowing my son was in a safe, stable, and enriching environment. Zoila is consistent and firm with her rules, yet always gentle and calm. She teaches the children politeness, conflict resolution, problem solving, but also how to dance to music. She's so attentive and adapts to each child's individual needs. At pick up, I'd always get updates about the the day's events, the little relationship dynamics between the children, and valuable insight into my son's development; this amount of communication was so appreciated. While working and in school full-time, I never once felt out of the loop with my son. She was always happy to answer questions, give helpful advice, and work with me in helping my son reach his developmental goals. I could go on and on about things like how she would ask about my classes and how they watched my son after hours so I could take the night classes I needed one semester, or how she knitted a beanie for my son when he was growing out of his, or how when my son and I lived outside of the city for a few months, we'd woken up early and commuted an extra 3 hours a day by public transit to keep my son at her daycare because it was absolutely worth it. It's no wonder that previous families going as far as 20 years back come to her picnic reunions every year. (By the way, did I mention that her cooking is amazing? Learn a recipe from her whenever you get a chance.) Not just anyone can build a community like that. Zoila and Chi treat you like family. They're so much more than just professionals, they go above and beyond because they're genuinely good people. Now, almost three years later, we've come a long way. My son is starting life with a stronger foundation, I'm more than halfway finished with my education, and I feel much more confident and capable as a parent with all the knowledge and wisdom they shared with me over the years. The positive impact they had on us will be felt the rest of our lives, and I will always be grateful. If you'd like to talk to me, you are welcome to get my contact info from Zoila. I can't recommend her enough. read more

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Zoila and Chi, who go by Tia (aunt) and Tio (uncle), took care of our son for 1 year, when he was 11 to 22 months old. They were his second home and felt like grandparents since we do not have family nearby. They run a loving, supportive, and respectful daycare. My son was delayed in speech and walking and they encouraged him throughout his time there, helping him enunciate and holding his hands while walking down the stairs. Zoila is very communicative with the parents, telling me each day how he did, or if there was any problem or concern. Zoila cooks healthy, delicious meals for the kids, which can be a typical Peruvian dish, salmon, pastas, chicken and more, with lots of fruit and veggies. She even makes her own bread. When my son was congested, she would cook soup with ginger and garlic and put a sliced onion under his bed. The kids all eat meals together, which is nice. Finally, when our son comes home with dirt everywhere we know he had fun in their yard! Overall, we are grateful we found My First Steps and highly recommend it. Thank you for everything, Tia y Tio! read more

Zoila and Chi or as my kids call them Tia & Tio have become like family to us and was something we were searching for since our family lives far away. They welcomed in our twins when they were 10 months old and instantly my kids fell in love. They are kind, loving, engaging, set clear boundaries in a structured environment, and always put the kids first! Zoila cooks amazing healthy food fresh from her garden everyday for the kids and makes sure that they are eating a balanced diet. They have a great play area upstairs and downstairs that is always clean and inviting as well as a nice backyard area for the kids to play. Her rates are fair and totally worth every penny. We would never leave if we did not have to as my kids are so happy to arrive each morning and not ready to leave when I come back to get them. They genuinely are invested in your child and their learning, they get just as happy and excited when the twins meet a milestone as we do. There is nothing negative to say about this place and the exceptional care they provide to our twins each and everyday! read more

Zoila is the single most important person we ever met since moving to San Francisco. You might already know that she runs the only (?) Spanish-immersion daycare in the Sunset, and that she was one of the few people that didn't cut back their daycare hours after COVID. But did you also know that your kid will be eating organic, home-made gourmet food all the time, or that you'll have more flexibility for pickup and dropoff times than anyone anywhere else offers? Zoila has been the sweetest, most attentive and responsible person we could hope to take care of our baby. Search no more, you found her already. read more

We can't express enough how lucky we feel to have found Zoila and My First Steps Daycare. Finding a daycare in San Francisco can be a daunting task especially during a pandemic. Zoila or "Tia" as the children refer to her is a nurturing, compassionate and attentive care provider. It is easy to feel vulnerable as a parent during these times but Zoila put our minds at ease. Zoila welcomed our daughter into to her home and made us feel like part of her family. Our daughter had to opportunity to play and socialize with her peers in a small and safe environment that adhered strictly to all Covid-19 precautions. Zoila also provides healthy homemade meals and the opportunity for the children to learn Spanish in her care. Zoila and her husband Chi are central to our community experience and we will always look fondly upon our time there. Rest assured if you your child attends My First Steps Daycare they will be loved and safe in Zoila's care. Please feel to reach out if you have any questions about our experience. We highly recommend Zoila and My First Steps Daycare read more

If you are looking for a daycare that is an extension of your home, you have found the right place. Upon meeting Zoila and Chi (Tia and Tio), we felt immediately welcome and at ease. Their home is dedicated to keeping children engaged and safe throughout their day. The children are allowed freedom of exploration both inside and outside of their house in a way that is similar to their own home. This commonality helped ease the transition of being at home with mom and dad to daycare. Tia is truly another partner when raising your child. She notices subtle changes in behavior and alerts parents to keep an eye out. She understands child development and approaches behavior with compassion and consistency. When we were ready to potty train our daughter, she immediately adopted our schedule and method. Tia is an amazing cook. Our daughter loves Tia's meals and eats far better than we do! When the children have a cold, Tia prepares something with garlic, ginger, and bell pepper to boost their immunity. She offers a variety of fruits and vegetables to ensure that the children are nourished throughout the day. Tia's yard is full of fruit which she allows the children to eat. The children benefit from understanding where food comes from and appreciate how delicious simple wholesome food can be. Above all, Tia LOVES the children and their caregivers. She understands that entrusting your child with another caregiver is a huge responsibility and she treats those who enter her home like family. Our daughter adores Tia and will often ask for her at our home. My First Steps has truly been a godsend for two working first time parents who were just trying to figure it all out. We are forever grateful for the extended community Tia, Tio, and the other My First Steps families have provided. read more

Review for #2 - Please see first review from 1/31/2018 My youngest just graduated from My First Steps Daycare and we are sad to close our chapter at Zoila (Tia). She is like family and we are so lucky she raised our kids. We will all miss her homecooked meals which were more gourmet (and nutritious) than what we prepared. We are eternally grateful for the love and nurturing environment she provided our kids. Every morning my son still asks if she can go to Tias and I think that's the strongest testament that the children adore her. The bond is strong and will continue to keep in touch despite starting the next chapter. Please let me know if you have any questions and to chat live. I would recommend Tia in a heartbeat and without reservation. read more

Zoila is known as "Tia" and it truly is like dropping your child off with a loving, kind, generous, and knowledgeable Aunt who takes a deep interest in your child and ensures he/she thrives! Our daughter started at Tia's when she was 6 months old and is now 18 months. Tia is kind and we attribute many of our daughter's friendly social skills and good manners to Tia. Tia is also incredibly knowledgeable on development -- from sleeping to first solids to learning to talk -- Tia always has great advice. Our daughter also loves a range of foods thanks to Tia's amazing home cooked, organic meals. Tia is also great at keeping the kids engaged and often invests in new activities and toys -- our daughter has so much fun at Tia's! We feel so lucky to have found Tia (and her husband, Tio) -- we've recommended her to many friends! read more

Dear Prospective First Steps Daycare client, This letter is to give my highest recommendation of Zoila Chang and First Steps Daycare. We started our first son with her at 1 year old and have been with Zoila for a year now. We heard about her from word of mouth and we had no idea how to vet daycares at that time. We could not be more happy with how she has taken care of our son. She cares for the kids like they are her family. She fosters language development (bilingual), social skills, watches for developmental milestones like potty training when appropriate, and she has a passion for nutrition (she cooks healthy home-cooked meals and snacks for the kids). She implements a structured environment with regular and predictable meal times, nap times, play times, hygiene practices, which helps babies get used to a regimen. At the same time she is flexible with the parents/guardians (within reason) and is forgiving and understanding. She is compliant with the latest CDC recommendations for COVID, etc. While our first son has recently been accepted to preschool, we have been so satisfied with Zoila that we are planning on enrolling our second child with First Steps Daycare next year, as soon as he is old enough! read more

We love Zoila and feel so lucky to have found her. We were looking for a bilingual English/Spanish, play based program, and a warm, nurturing environment. We did not want strict schedules, high turn over, or academic programs. I toured dozens of daycares (a necessary evil in this beautiful city of ours) and My First Steps was our top choice. The homemade organic food was a total bonus! Our son has been there since he was three months old, and Zoila has lovingly guided us through all our first-time-parent anxieties: fevers, teething, night wakings, weaning, you name it. She took videos of his first attempts at crawling and helped me decipher some of his Spanglish babbles. "Tia" was his third word, after "Dada" and "Mama." Besides an exceptionally loving, calm, and nurturing environment, I have loved the way Zoila really "follows the child." She does not have any set curricula, but she is highly attuned to and supportive of the kids' multifaceted interests. When they go on a puzzle binge, she orders ten new puzzles to keep them interested. When they start building pillow forts, she stocks up on pillows of all sizes and colors. When they start singing "Twinkle Twinkle," she teaches them the Spanish version. She is a keen observer of children, and consistently offers appropriate materials to engage and encourage their natural curiosity. Now, my son is almost two years old, talking up a storm, nearly out of diapers, and a veggie connoisseur-- all thanks to Zoila. Tia is still helping steer all of us toward sanity, by sharing discipline strategies, recommending developmentally appropriate toys, and even helping him transition to preschool (sob!). I don't even want to think about where we would be without her loving, experienced guidance. I am happy to discuss more over the phone; please reach out to Zoila for my contact information. I give her my highest recommendation. read more

My First Steps Daycare - The annual reunion picnic! Typical Zoila: a baby in each arm. - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I'm so proud to be an alum of My First Steps Daycare. Although our time with Zoila/Tia and Chi/Tio was shorter than expected (our family ending up relocating out of the Bay Area), it was a very special time in our life as new parents with them in our support network (my son was there from 6-14 months). You see, Tia and Tio care deeply for your child, and treat you and your family as part of theirs. Zoila provides the children with tasty homemade food that is also healthy and made with organic ingredients, and for that reason I see my son developing a wide palette for different tastes, textures, and flavors. Zoila also helps the children develop relationships with one another. Some of my favorite experiences with Zoila are: 1) I appreciate her structure and firmness with the children, but she was still flexible to meeting individual needs, and has a good sense of humor; 2) She builds community. We were the first of our friends to have kids, and we have no family in the area. There are children's birthday parties, and an annual picnic, where alums (I'm talking like families from the last 10-20 years that still keep in touch), that we were welcomed into. This was mentioned in several phone calls to references and this was the number one reason we chose Zoila because she gave us a family and support network that we didn't have here in San Francisco. And 3) She really knows your child and has a very special bond with them. For me, this was the assurance and security knowing my son was just as loved and enjoyed by someone else while my husband and I were at work. This means she knows their cues and gives you insight about their development (such as age-appropriate toys). I was also happy to receive recommendations from her, whether from dealing with sleepless nights, to home remedies and sippy cups. Zoila exceeded our expectations and although we're sad to go, we plan on keeping in touch. read more

The search for infant care started when I was 7 months pregnant. By San Francisco standards, this was pretty late and I was starting to panic. Until that point, I was more focused on reading every pre-natal book and taking every pre-natal class available. It was time to focus on after the baby's arrival. I had phone screened several places and toured 3 other home daycares that were passable. But once I met Zoila, I immediately knew we found the right place for our daughter. Her home felt like a home-away-from-home and she had a gentle, confident way about her that I felt we would be partnering with a pro. This first foray in trusting maternal instincts was not wrong. Being a new parent has had its challenges, but having our daughter at Zoila's has undoubtedly eased the process. Coming into parenthood as what many describe as 'your most rewarding and most difficult job' as an absolute amateur with little family around us was daunting. By the time our daughter started at Zoila's at 5 months old, it felt like the equivalent of having the Michael Jordan of childcare and parenting join our team to guide us and show us the way. She had already gone to the 'championships' so many times in successfully raising her own children and taking care of so many other children. Zoila has been a rock--constant and reliable--for which we are so grateful. As difficult as it was to return to work full-time, I could trust her implicitly and not have to worry about my daughter being well cared for. She was instrumental in encouraging me to keep pumping during year one. Without her introduction to a wide array of wholesome foods it would have been near impossible for 2 exhausted full-time working parents to now have an adventurous eater who goes for the vegetables without prompting. Her introduction to the world of puzzles, books, music, outdoor play and potty training has been outstanding. Not to mention her leadership and guidance in cooperation, conflict resolution, rule-following, etiquette, and encouraging a community among the parents that has been so enriching to our daughter and our lives. We will always look back on these early years and thoughts of Zoila will not be far in how she helped us along the journey. read more

I just called...was just greeted with a "hello" and had to make sure this was a daycare. The lady seemed confused as to why I was calling. There's definitely a communication issue. I tried asking questions but got "thanks for calling." read more

We have been so fortunate to have had Zoila as our daycare provider. When our son was a few months old we started touring daycares and we were quickly drawn to Zoila as her dedication and passion for children was very clear. We took comfort not only in that Zoila and her husband have decades of experience caring for children, but also their cozy home environment would allow Keanu to feel like he was in a second home. When Keanu started daycare with Zoila at six months old, I could rest assured he was in good hands - she keeps logs of babies' (less than a year old) diaper changes, feedings, and naps so you know exactly what is going on. She prepares all the older children for the arrival of a young baby and all the toddlers know how to keep their distance from babies and be gentle if they are close. The mixed age set up also has tremendous advantages in that the little ones are encouraged to learn from older kids and older kids begin to learn their big sibling roles. The small size of Zoila's daycare also provided some reassurance for us that Keanu was getting the attention he needed. On numerous occasions Zoila would note kids' interests and buy toys or do activities around those interests. She really makes all the kids feel loved and included, and it's no wonder they all call her 'Tia.' She truly treats all the kids and families like actual family. She throws birthday parties (halted during COVID, hopefully will happen again soon) and creates a broader network of families. For my son's first birthday (before COVID), many current and PAST families were able to attend, which is a testament to the bonds she makes. And oh my god her food. She creates super healthy and varied meals, and now my son will try and eat almost literally anything - fish, broccoli, you name it, he eats it. AND she gets all the kids to sit at a table together. She provides structure that kids thrive on, and is firm in a loving and healthy way. I also love that she runs a Spanish immersion program - my son was counting to ten in Spanish by a year and a half (probably didn't know what it meant, but still). Now at almost two and a half he knows greetings, basic pleasantries, and can count to twenty in Spanish. Zoila also is so generous - there were a few instances that family emergencies came up and she was quick to volunteer to watch Keanu, even if it was on a weekend or evening, and I know she has also done this with other families. She gives you plenty of advanced notice on the rare occasions that she has outside obligation (for example, renewal of her CPR certification). She is truly a gem, a keystone in the community. I feel so privileged that our family had the opportunity to have her in our lives, and as Keanu moves on to another school (due to age), we look forward to keeping her and the community she has built in our lives as long as possible. She and her husband (Tio, the "baby whisperer," you'll see) has played an instrumental role in raising Keanu in these early years and I know that Keanu has benefitted tremendously. read more

Our son has been going to "Tia's house" since he was an infant. She provides homemade bread, fresh organic fruit, and home-cooked meals for lunch every day. All organic, nothing processed. She believes routines are important for kids, and ensures they follow a steady routine every day, with educational activities, potty training, and plenty of play time. The kids love going there, and we're extremely grateful for the loving, nurturing environment she provides. She doesn't provide a daycare, she provides an extended family. Thanks Tia! read more

Nothing is more precious than our little one, and no one I would trust more to care for my daughter than Zoila & her husband. Deeply caring, clean, healthy & freshly made food are just some of the great things about this daycare. They're truly a wonderful family that makes kids feel at home. I've been to other daycare where I certainly feel that it's a "business" and therefore somewhat impersonal. With Zoila, you feel like you're leaving your kid in the hands of your own grandmother -- it's that distinction that makes this daycare special. I'm happy to provide more feedback, please contact Zoila for my contact information. read more

Zoila has taken care of our now 2.5 year old daughter since she was six months old and we could not be happier! The kids call Zoila "Tia", which means "aunt" in Spanish. And she really acts like a member of the family. She is warm, loving, attentive, and thoughtful. She prepares homemade, mostly organic meals and snacks. I'm sure our daughter gets a wider variety of healthy foods at Zoila's house than at home since Zoila is constantly creating new recipes. In addition to taking care of the children, Zoila and her family host birthday parties for all the children each year. Our daughter loves Big Bird, so the theme for her 2nd birthday party was Sesame Street complete with balloons, huge posters of Sesame Street characters, party hats and plates and a customized cake. Zoila has also been very flexible in terms of our daughter's schedule to best fit our needs, and certainly goes above and beyond in that regard as well. read more

We looked at several child care options when we needed to find full-time care for our then-6-month-old son. And we were so happy when we found Zoila's daycare - it stood out in so many ways. Zoila takes a whole-hearted approach to her job of caring for children. Some family daycares are just a basement room with some toys, but Zoila's entire house is set up for the kids - so they can play in the living room, and eat at the dining room table, and have fun in the toy room downstairs, and explore the backyard. Zoila has high-quality, developmentally-appropriate toys and books in every space where the children play. She prepares amazing home-cooked, organic, healthy, and delicious meals for the kids, and encourages them to try new foods - which they're happy to do, because everything is so tasty! She has a strong routine for the kids that includes a balance of play time, meal time, and quiet time, which enables the children to feel comfortable and know what to expect. She pays attention to each child's interests and strengths, and she teaches them to respect and care for each other - so that when our son was a toddler, his 3-year-old friend looked out for him, and now that our son is the big 3-year-old, he looks out for the babies. Zoila's is so much more than just a day care - it really is an extended family. Our son has strong friendships with the other children there, who have all known each other since they were infants, and beyond that we know Zoila's family, she knows our family, and we know the parents and siblings of the other children too - as well as the families of many alumni, who keep coming back for the birthday parties and annual picnic that Zoila holds every year. A great family daycare! read more