• Owner: Judith Rawner
• Phone: 510.290.7641
• Email: judith@hhpreschool.org
• Neighborhood: Lincoln Av.
• Zip: 94602
• License #: 013419881
• Capacity: 14
• Website: http://hhpreschool.org/
• Bilingual:
• Ages: 3 -5 years

I'm looking for some recent reviews of Holding Hands Preschool in Oakland. Thanks! Searching

Judith as the director is very organized, creative and a pleasure to be around. Very kind and patient with the children (and parents!). All of the teachers are wonderfully patient and kind and the kids love them.

We were searching for a small school with a very high teacher to student ratio, preferably in a ''home'' environment with a wonderful ''backyard'' style outdoor space. There are 15 kids total (never 15 all on the same day though due to part-time students) and 4 teachers. We wanted a high quality environment with respect to the learning environment (equipment, toys, art supplies, etc.) We wanted some structure yet play based. Judith incorporates the best of all the different types of learning approaches into the school. The moment we met Judith (the director) and toured the school we fell in love. Each day has a comfortable (and dependable) structure or '''rhythm'' for the children with art, cooking, gardening, art appreciation, science, dance and movement, language (Korean right now). Also a part of the environment is learning letters and numbers, how to write their name (or ''mommy'', etc.)....and let me give an example of the ''play'' part of learning for learning to write... the kids don't simply sit at a table with a pencil and paper learning to write their name, it rather just simply is a part of their day by putting their name on art projects, etc. with the help of the teacher on hand. Over time, they learn it! And, like magic, they learn their ABC's and 123's in the same manner...just by doing puzzles, and other toys or by having each letter be the ''theme'' for the week. Speaking of themes, each week has a different one ranging from animals, letter, events, etc. My daughter's favorite theme day from last year was ''P'' week with a pizza and pajama day!

The outdoor space is lovely with two wooden play structures, a slide, tire swing, child sized tables and chairs, sandbox, chicken coop, garden (which the children tend and harvest) many fruit trees and flowers...it's wonderful. The art projects the kids do on a daily basis are beautiful. The art supplies are abundant and well maintained, the toys and puzzles are all very high quality. The classroom decor is as though an interior designer did it, very creative and nice to look at...it changes often. She'll always have photos up of the kids, too. The parents plan field trips for the kids, a few every year. Judith and the teachers plan several ''parent'' breakfasts and even a ''parents night out'' and ''day out''. They have full-time and part-time available, and when my second baby was born we were able to drop our daughter off for additional days as needed...she was very accommodating during this transition in our family. Obviously, I could go on! All the kids are very happy there, my daughter loves the teachers. Feel free to contact me for more information. Jennifer

I would love to hear a review of Holding Hands preschool from a current family whose child attends preschool there. My son is too young this year, but my older child will be attending Aurora, right across the street, so I am interested in seeing whether Holding Hands would be a good fit for us. Anything you can tell me about the school's director and teachers, philosophy, and what the daily routine is like would be great. Thanks so much.

I would like to know if anybody have any experience (pros and cons)they have had at Holding Hands preschool in Oakland. I am impressed with the School Director's achievements/school philosophy and I'm planning to put my daughter there this coming September. Thanks. Excited Mom

We are considering Holding Hands preschool in Oakland for our 4yo daughter and would appreciate any feedback. Thanks. Andrew