• Alameda
• Castro Valley
• Danville
• Fremont/Newark/Hayward Area
• LaMorinda Preschools
• Pinole/Hercules/El Sobrante
• Pleasant Hill
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• San Francisco Area
• San Leandro
• Stanford
• Walnut Creek & Concord

Hi, I'm looking for recommendations for preschools in Castro Valley for my soon-to-be 3 year old for next fall. I prefer a play-based, part-time program. Thank you,

Danville

Hi , We just moved to Danville last year and barely know anything about the area .We're looking into preschool programs for 3 year olds for the fall. I'd love to hear any thoughts or experiences - both positive and/or negative - that moms have had with either Autumn creek learning center in Danville or Stratford School in Danville. If anyone knows of a place they would recommend, will you please pass it on to me? Thanks so much! Kate

I would highly recommend that you consider Tri Cities Children Center for your young one. Our son, now eleven, attended there from eight months until he left for kindergarten. It has several facilities in our area: Newark,(at the Ohlone Campus site); Fremont (on Grimmer); and I believe one at Logan High (for young mothers) and Milpitas. There may also be a facility for children with special needs as well as a twenty four hour facility for the employees of NUMMI. They take children from 3 mos.???, have a sliding scale, provide meals, diapers and "will potty train". I believe they are open from 6:00 - 6:00, and have age segregated classrooms, lots of play facilities, toys, books and learning materials. There is also an abundance of hugs, love and soft warm fuzzies. The Grimmer facility, the largest, was comfy and "like home". Our son loved it.

After a horrible situation with an "in home provider" I sought out a large facility, with specified programs, curriculum and activities. It was also critical for me that the center was "fully accountable" to someone other than themselves. All state required guidelines and regulations are enforced and the children reflect the healthy diversity of our area.

I was delighted from the first day I met with the staff and toured their facility on Grimmer until our son's "graduation", when there was a tear or two on my face. (I'm mushy about these things as you can probably tell). I also served on their Board for several years and have the highest respect for not only their programmatic services but the business side of their operation. Friends who currently have their children at Tri Cities continue to be very pleased with it.

Tri Cities' main number is 657-2920.

I wonder whether someone has had any experience with childcare centers for a 2-year old at Stanford University or in the surrounding community. The three centers I have found out so far are Bing nursery school, Stanford arboretum children's center, and children's center for the Stanford community. I would like to hear both recommendations and bad experiences for these three centers or any other centers nearby. They all seem very expensive. Any information on good but more affordable centers is much appreciated as well. In addition, what are some alternatives to nanny care or large children's centers? Any suggestions for Montessori schools near Stanford?

When I attended college at Stanford and had a newborn daughter, I found a good child care provider in Redwood City, just 15 minutes from the Stanford campus. So, one option is to look into childcare provided by someone from their home. I too looked into the childcare centers at Stanford, but found them too be too expensive and many did not have space available at the time. Also, I know that there are several individuals who live on-campus in graduate student housing, Escondido Village, who provide in-home childcare. I would suggest for you to go to the Bulletin Board located in Tresidder Union where many babysitters/childcare providers post listings. Another option is to call mothers' organizations, to get referrals. I think there is an organization called Redwood City Mother's Club or something like that, and they provide a childcare network of mom's who provide childcare in the Redwood City-Woodside area. This is how I located our sitter. Good Luck!

I also did that research when choosing grad. schools. The lack of affordable childcare I could locate was a big part of my decision to not attend Stanford as well as other schools. If you are a student, you might want to look at what grad students actually do there for their childcare needs, especially babysitting arrangements in their housing complex. Good luck.