Our older daughter started at Little Lamb when she was 4yo and has really loved it. She was dealing…read morewith anxiety and selective mutism, and the Little Lamb teachers were very accommodating. Our therapist worked with them to train them with selective mutism techniques and they were kind and responsive to our daughter's issues. She adapted great and has graduated from their preschool program, and she still goes there for their afterschool program. The school is no longer in the home in Albany but in a dedicated school facility in El Cerrito. The school building has a lot of space and a wonderful outside area. We also send our younger daughter there starting at 18mo and she loves it.

My children attended Little Lamb and it was an incredible experience. The administrator and…read moreteachers are incredibly kind, attentive, supportive, and really care about each child's individual needs and what works with their personality. For example, my oldest child is very mature, and the teachers found ways to have her be their little 'helper' and help lead the yoga class which got her more engaged and challenged. The teachers are also really patient and nice, and my kids always remarked that they liked them. The activities they do at school are very creative and I loved seeing all the art work and crafts that they brought home. The lesson plans are very impressive with songs, art, science, play, and I really felt like my kids were getting a well-rounded experience where they were learning and also having fun. The school is also top-notch when it comes to health and safety -- from applying sunscreen and hats, to taking temperatures at the door and hand-washing, which was very important to me. My children also flourished in their Mandarin language skills which was absolutely amazing to see. We have graduated and gone on, but we loved our time at Little Lamb and couldn't have been happier.

Prima and her amazing teachers got us through the pandemic and beyond. Our two boys would not be…read morethe learning hungry voracious readers that they are today without Cedar Creek. Her amazing staff took both of our boys from barely speaking toddlers to kindergarten prepared students. The team at Cedar Creek is a name and a place that I would recommend to any family that is looking for a preschools in Berkeley. They understand what developing children need to be ready for school as well as how to balance the needs of new parents who are trying to juggle work and children. The friends we made at Cedar Creek continue in our lives as mainstays of who we are and what we care about.

This was an incredible program that I found out about through word-of-mouth. My daughter was there…read morefor almost 2 years, and was so well prepared for TK and beyond. There are special classes, like art, nature studies, music, dance, etc and often times there would be guest visit from local groups (soccer, dentist). My daughter always had tons to say about her days and became so confident. There are also alumni picnics which is a great way to connect with other families. All that being said, the best part of Cedar Creek is the staff! The teachers are incredible, and there is very little turnover. The lead teachers, Cassandra and Prima, have been there for 15+ and 30+ years, respectively! I can't thank them enough for all they've done for my daughter, and I look forward to enrolling my youngest this winter.

Our family has loved New House Day School for our now 3.5 year old. We found Mabel after leaving a…read morechildcare center abruptly as it was not suitable for our then 2.5 year old. New House Day School has provided the social emotional environment we were looking for. We have been there for one year now, and our daughter enjoys the variety of activities offered like walks through the neighborhood, cooking, extended unstructured play time, water play, music class, play doh making, book reading, and much more. Mabel provides a warm, nurturing environment that is perfect for our sensitive daughter. She is also learning Spanish. There are parent potlucks at the school, which are fun for children and adults alike. If you are looking for a preschool for your child, look no further than New House Day School.

My second child is now attending New House, and I think that's the greatest testament to this fine…read morepreschool. It has the right amount of structure and the right amount of play. The staff is very energetic and very loving of all the children, and there is much emphasis on play, sharing, art and music. They have a large outside play area, as well as a separate indoor structure with plenty of things to keep the kiddies occupied. I have a strong feeling of confidence in the staff, and they are genuinely good people whom I trust exceedingly. What's more, they take kids from about 1-1/2 years old, and they do change diapers, so your child does not have to be potty trained to begin attending. School size is very small, about 20 kids per school year. School hours are 8:30am-3:30pm Monday through Friday, but not all children attend all days, so there are typically fewer than 20 kids on any given day. There are weekly trips to the Berkeley Public Library across the street, as well as occasional field trips by public transit. There are also field trips to Lawrence Hall of Science, and swimming lessons during the warmer months at extra cost. Dance and music classes are also offered in-house for an additional fee.

Our two kids began at Rising Sun at the beginning of 2022 in the older student classroom and we are…read moreso happy they found their preschool home here. Young children need a lot of care and attention with big changes, especially during the pandemic and we have especially appreciated the attention that the two teachers who work with the older students Miss Carolina (also the school head) and Miss Reina have invested in helping our kids transition back to a structured classroom. There is also a wonderful feeling of community among the students. I recently asked Miss Carolina how she managed to enroll children who got along so well. Demonstrating that commitment to working with each child individually, she explained that all students have the potential to succeed and that the teachers have a responsibility to cultivate skills and encourage children to get there. The community feeling extends to the school's parents as well and we hope to stay connected to some of our new friends for years to come.

Not for every child…read more We had a very poor experience. Our 2 year old attended for a few months in the Spring/Summer of 2019. Pros and Cons below. Pros: Clean, Good Activities/Materials, Felt Safe. Cons: -Very poor communication. We had to message them numerous times to confirm enrollment. A few months into attendance we found out we had never been added to the parent communication list-serve with health, safety and activity information. Payment checks were cashed weeks after given. -Not a good fit for high-energy children. We had numerous parent-teacher meetings over very minor issues such as "walking around during lunch vs. eating at table" and not napping. They were unwilling to accommodate a non-napper and we were asked to leave or go down to mornings only. This happened to another child while we were there too. If your child is at ALL spirited, I don't recommend Rising Sun.

Every time I walk into CCC I am struck by what an amazing place it is. The carefully crafted, HUGE…read moreoutdoor areas, the range of sensory/craft activities laid out each day, the abundance of activating pretend toys and environments inside. Just that alone would be enough. But then you have teachers who have been there for decades. You have the sense of community that arises from every parent pitching in to make this place special. You have my kid getting to build real, trusted relationships with 25 other sets of parents... We feel very lucky to have our 3.5 year old in the front yard this year. A co-op preschool (I am learning), is a unique thing. It's not hands-off. It's a commitment. But so far, that commitment is really paying off for us.

CCC is the most joyous place I have ever seen. You walk in and see children frolicking through the…read moregardens in complex pretend games, collaborating intently on building villages and rivers on the hillside with the water pump, snuggling and chatting with the many grownups who know and love them there. It is not infrequent that I get misty-eyed on just a normal pickup day, wishing that more of our world was this optimized for children's curiosity, exploration, and interdependence. Our child has grown by leaps and bounds in his three months here, becoming more empathic, more able to focus, physically stronger, more self-confident. He went from a kid who fought school every single morning to a kid who eagerly anticipates Mondays over the weekend. We were a little worried that he would get lost in the shuffle, with 25 kids to a class and rotating grown-ups on their participation days, but we have been struck by how deeply each of the teachers and other caregivers know him and are able to support him. The community as a whole is extremely welcoming and loving, and every time I go for my participation day I learn something that makes me a better parent (and by extension, a better person). So grateful to be a part of this school and can't wait to send our younger one when the time comes.

My child attended Via Nova for two years--as a "Grasshopper" and then a "Dragonfly". It's a warm,…read morevibrant community run with utmost professionalism, and I can't recommend it more highly. The program is bilingual (English-Spanish) with a child-led, play-based Reggio Emilia curriculum. The teachers have so much love and care for the kids, along with strong child development knowledge and skills to support and teach how to express needs and feelings and resolve conflicts. The classrooms were always calm yet energized with joy and creativity, and the backyard playground is perfect for the littles. I was continuously impressed by the school's directors. Every communication from them was clear and timely, the programs and field trips were well thought out, and I really just never had to wonder or worry about anything. It's more than six months since my child graduated from Via Nova and started kindergarten, but it's a testament to how much we loved the community that we still get together pretty regularly with the other families for playdates and birthday parties, and our cohort's WhatsApp group is still active with parents arranging impromptu hangs, sharing tips for summer camps, etc. We love Via Nova, and I recommend it to other families looking for a great balance between small/cozy and professional/reliable. Thank you, Via Nova teachers and staff!

My daughter went here for two years, ages 3-4. This place was recommended by her daycare and did…read morenot disappoint. Theresa is very attentive and responsive and Ms. Lupe + Ms. Siloni are incredibly patient, loving, and fun. The place is clean, and they really are focused on your child.

I was someone who was very nervous about sending my kids to daycare because of all the bad things…read moreyou see in the news and social media. I'm not someone who trusts my kids with just anyone. They had only ever been watched by family. After finally letting go of that fear, I tried this school. I in no way regret it. The children are great and friendly. The teachers are caring. The director is so sweet and addresses any concerns or questions I have. I'm very grateful to them for giving my kids a warm and welcoming environment to go to. They keep me informed of anything I may need to know, and I don't have to sit around worried. I don't usually write reviews, but I know if anyone is like me, they are trying to read reviews of where they are trying to entrust their children. I didn't see many while looking at this school, so it made me wonder why. I honestly almost passed it up, but something was urging me to find out more. This place deserves more praise and more recognition. I'm sure everyone has their own situations, but mine have been nothing but positive. So I'm hoping I can provide even the tiniest bit of comfort and encouragement to reach out and see for yourselves.

Pride and Joy was a very disappointing experience. I gave notice after 2 months of attending, but…read moreneeded to stick around for 2 months more due to P&J's rigid contract. What a long 2 months they were! P&J is run less as a student-centered preschool than a manager/owner centered business. Moilan is a nice lady, and I believe that she cares about the kids, yet to her own convenience. I don't get the sense that she does any kind of research on current trends in early childhood education, pedagogy, nutrition, or the benefit of building a parent community to support student social and emotional learning. Here were my main concerns: 1.) When I asked Moilan for the phone numbers of parents of kids who my son connected with, she totally blanked me and didn't give me that information. I get the sense that she doesn't want parents talking amongst themselves about their experience at P&J. 2.) I'm an educator with a PhD, and am a former professional dancer and stage performer. I offered to come and read stories to the kids, conduct dance and theatre classes, do some storytelling workshops, and so on. She clearly let me know that they have a strict schedule, and can't really accommodate parent participation. There is no parent network, no parent list, etc. available to parents. 3.) She provides kids lunch every day which is great, but it's pretty cheap food from Costco. She feeds them non-organic milk, non-organic meat (chicken nuggets), non-organic fruit and veg that is on the EWG's dirty dozen, and so on. I started sending lunch with my son, but he wouldn't eat it because he wanted to eat the low-quality food that other kids were eating. 4.) When my son came home smelling like perfume every day, I was concerned. The perfume would stay in his hair and on his skin for days afterward even after bathing him daily. I sent her 4 different peer-reviewed articles published by the National Institute of Health that had been cited over 400 times about the connections between perfume, fragrance and endocrine disruption. She didn't want to budge on the issue because she said, "I don't want to violate my staff by telling them that they can't wear perfume." Moilan also wears heavy amounts of perfume, and because she likes wearing it, I get the sense that she likes smelling nice even though her odor can potentially affect the health of the kids. On another note, Pride and Joy is clean, tidy, and the kids seem pretty happy, but I have no sense of what happens once I dropped my kid off. I didn't have a relationship with a single teacher. And, it was very clear that parent involvement in P&J is not welcome. If you're the type of parent who likes to drop their kid off and leave, doesn't mind that your kid is eating food that's chock full of pesticides and hormones, that your kid comes home smelling like perfume practically everyday, and have no time or interest in being part of a community nurtured and fostered by the preschool, then this place would be great for you!

Our daughter was enrolled at Ya Ya for a short period of time before starting TK, but it made a…read morehuge difference in preparing her for a school environment. We can't say enough positive things about Ya Ya and the team of teachers that make this place safe, friendly, and enriching for all who come here. He Lao shi has been working in child care and education for decades, and it shows! Her level of experience and comfort with dealing with a wide range of different challenges is incredible, and we owe our daughter's rapid potty training directly to her efforts. There's a diversity of ages of kids that attend, and although the program is intimately sized, the range of activities is impressive. My daughter would routinely come home and think about the activities that she did, whether it was making lemonade from freshly picked lemons, singing songs, or dancing. She also loved the food! The location is incredibly convenient, coming directly next to El Cerrito Plaza and a few minutes from the BART station. If you're looking for an incredible Mandarin daycare and preschool, you've found it!

Ya Ya Childcare has been such a wonderful experience for our family. From the very beginning, all…read morethe teachers has made us feel welcome and comfortable, and it's clear how much they truly care for the children. Everyone is friendly, attentive, and professional, which gave me so much peace of mind knowing my daughter was in such good hands. The environment is always safe, clean, and nurturing, which allowed my daughter to thrive and feel at home. One of the things that impressed us most is how much she has grown academically--she's excelled in Mandarin thanks to the thoughtful and engaging program they provide. It's been amazing to watch her pick up the language so quickly and with so much enthusiasm. Beyond academics, she has also grown socially and emotionally, gaining confidence and making wonderful connections. Ya Ya Childcare truly feels like a community, and I'm so grateful we found it. I highly recommend it to any parent looking for a safe, caring, and enriching place for their child.