Montclair Preschool and Day Care?
We are moving from Albany to Montclair in a month and need to find a preschool for our 3 year old (currently at Duck's Nest) and day care for our 1 year old (currently at a home day care). We need full-time hours, M-F. Any recommendations for loved preschools or day cares in or near Montclair? Any opinions about Smiles Day School? I've researched online, but would love some word-of-mouth recommendations from those familiar with the area. Thanks for your help!
May 19, 2018
Parent Replies
Have you checked to see if Duck’s Nest will allow you to transfer to the 41st or Telegraph campus? Neither is that far from Montclair.
I'd like to wholeheartedly recommend that you check out The Pumpkin Seed Childcare ((510) 633-2423). Our daughter started at the Pumpkin Seed at two and half and stayed until she went off to kindergarten at five. Damond and Jen, the incredible husband and wife duo who own and operate the Pumpkin Seed, played a hugely important part in her growth, development and frankly, in who she is as a person and as a student today (she's now about to start high school!). The influence of caregivers on young children in full time childcare is enormous and something I don't think I fully understood as a first time parent - I knew I had to choose carefully but I didn't realize the remarkable influence that others would have on my child. What I learned is that it truly does take a village to raise a child - the Pumpkin Seed is the very best kind of village and we feel so lucky to have found them. Not only did our daughter learn a lot from them, but so did we as parents. Jen and Damond are simply wonderful people. They're the parents of three outstanding kids, they're warm, open, communicative, down to earth, energetic and smart. Their years of experience is evident as is the tremendous amount of effort they put into what they do every single day. Give them a call, go for a visit and check out this marvelous gem of a "village" right here in Oakland. All the best in your search for childcare! :-)