Berkeley Parents Network: Children's Garden Montessori (El Cerrito, CA)

Berkeley Parents Network

Children's Garden Montessori (El Cerrito, CA)

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Preschools > Children's Garden Montessori

Editor Note: there is another preschool with a similar name: Children's Garden Preschool in Alameda

Sept 2009

I would like to recommend a wonderful preschool in El Cerrito, Children's Garden Montessori School. This is a home based school with wonderful outdoor space. Our son started when he was two and has been there over two years now. The teachers worked with us to transition him gradually. All the teachers are amazing and bring different strengths to the school. It is a very nurturing and loving environment. The children are exposed to new and interesting subjects and art every day. Whenever I drop off my son or pick him up, the children are calm and happy. He is learning so much and bringing home amazing skills, such as putting his toys back in their place, drawing, writing, music, dance. I highly recommend this wonderful school. Natasha

Dec 2007

Re: preschool for daughter who isn;t potty trained
I have a preschool recommendation...Children's Garden Montessori in El Cerrito. I am sure they will take a four-year old who is not yet potty-trained if they have space as they had a developmentally disabled child who was not potty-trained and was older. It is such a sweet, gentle, nurturing environment. The director is Alaina Benner. The contact number is 510 232 3089.

May 2007

Re: Montessori Preschools in Kensington/El Cerrito
Children's Garden Montessori in El Cerrito is a great play based Montessori school, if you are still looking for other options. It's a small school for 2-5 year olds with lots of activities from art to science to dance and music. I would describe it as Montessori based rather than strict. Although the school is small, there are many teachers that bring their own uniqueness and interests to the curriculum. My son loved it there for 3 years. Adria

Re: Part-time affordable non-coop? (Jan 2005)
I would like to recommend Children's Garden Montessori. It is a home-based day-care/preschool with about 20 children (not all there at the same time - I think there are about 12 kids there at any given time) in north El Cerrito. The director/owner is very experienced, the other kids & families are great, and the staff is very nice. There is a lot of space for outdoor play, and quite a variety of toys, art activities, books, etc.. and they bring in someone to do dance/music/movement type activities as well. It is not a co-op. Our son has been there for almost 2 years now and has thrived. I think the cost works out to about what you are looking for (we pay for 4 full-time days a week, so it is hard for me to recall what the price is for 2 or 3 mornings a week). She may not have any openings right now, but space does open up periodically. If you are interested, contact Alaina Benner at 510- 232-3089 or feel free to contact me for more information. Good Luck! Heather

August 2002

Children's Garden Montessori in El Cerrito is fantastic. My good friend and I visited more than 10 different preschools before we chose it for our two 2-year-old boys, and being teachers as well as moms, we're both *very* picky. CGM is a beautiful, nurturing, and very safe place, with I think just the right balance between stimulating and comfortably cozy. The flowers, fruit trees, and bunnies top it off. Their number is 510/232-3089. Colleen

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