Part-time morning preschool for 2-year-olds in West Contra Costa?

Hello! I am looking ahead to the fall when my daughter will be newly 2 (her birthday's August 17) and thinking by that point she and I will be ready for her to start spending a little more dedicated time as part of a group of kids under adult supervision that isn't mine. I had my eye on Mama Bear's Play Care in Pinole (almost literally down the street from us!) but the owner's just closed up shop to go do other things. Is there anything else out there that meets my rather fussy specifications? 

1) In West Contra Costa (El Cerrito, San Pablo, El Sobrante, Richmond, Pinole, Hercules...) 

2) Open to mornings AND part-time enrollment -- I'd be looking for something like 2 mornings a week, ideally home by noonish.

3) More open-ended/play-based than academic -- we've done some mommy-baby classes at East Bay Waldorf, I love almost everything about Waldorf early childhood stuff, and I'm not particularly excited about heavy-duty "school readiness" at this age.

4) Doesn't require kids to be fully potty-trained. My daughter will be just BARELY two and I don't want to put that pressure on us!

Is there anything out there? I've looked a bit at Berkeley Rose (day is longer than we'd like + too far), Gay Austin School (a bit pricey + a bit far), and Little Earth Seeds in El Sobrante (day is longer than we'd like, + I don't care for the enforced EC approach). Would love to hear if others have found places that work for them!

Parent Replies

New responses are no longer being accepted.

I loved the City of El Cerrito's Teeter Tots program the year my daughter was 2 (5 years ago now). Very good intro to "school", socializing/sharing toys, age appropriate activities, and very affordable. You can go 2 or 3 mornings a week, 9-12.

Check out Sunshine Playschool in El Sobrante.  They offer part time, but it is kind of expensive.  Our kids went to Mama Bear's before my husband went back to work and loved it there.  I looked all over for somewhere that gave me the same warm fuzzy feeling I got from Mama Bear's, and Sunshine was the only place that came close.  Kids don't have to be potty trained, it's play based and has an amazing outdoor space.  They are open from 8 am to 5:30 but seem very flexible in making the day you want for yourself.  Our son goes 9am to 3pm, but some other families seem to leave around noon.  The warmth, attention, and sensitivity of the teachers has just blown me away and it is a truly magical place.

I don't 100% know the specifics of these places, but both are highly recommended.  Karen's Kiddos and El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative.  Both in El Cerrito.