Preschool/daycare with openings near Lake Merritt
Hello!
I am very last minute looking for a play based preschool or daycare for my 2 year old. Ideally located relatively near to Oakland's Lake Merritt are, but willing to travel a little for the right fit. I'd love to find a place that has great outdoor space that is used often. It would be great if the program has an emphasis on teaching social and emotional skills, equity and participating in our community. Activities in cooking, dirt digging, music and drawing also a plus :)
If you know of a preschool that has openings? (or that is worth contacting to see if they have openings). I would love any feedback.
Thank you!
Feb 28, 2024
Parent Replies
I HIGHLY recommend Bloomers Preschool. It’s over behind Edna Bower Middle school. It’s a home based, play-based/reggio setting. My daughter has been there 1 year +. Looks can be deceiving-they rent the home and the landlord hasn’t updated anything except the windows in the last 30 years…But Carolyn, Carrie, and Ben are fabulous. They have openings, last I heard.
That sounds exactly like New School, other than the location - it's in North Berkeley. My kids loved their time there.
We love Temple Sinai preschool! It's play based, close to Lake Merritt, and covers all of the areas you described. It is a Jewish preschool (with a discount for Temple Sinai members) but you don't have to be Jewish to attend, so you might still consider it. I think they have openings as a new kid just joined our daughter's class.
We love https://childrensworkshopoakland.com/
My family LOVES Broadway Children's School of Oakland, located at 394 Adams St in Adams Point. It's a play-based preschool with an emphasis on social-emotional learning. My house is full of my kids' art projects, and the school regularly celebrates different cultural holidays such as Diwali and Lunar New Year. The teachers are phenomenal, just so caring, and they meet the kids where they are. Mine have grown so much since they started attending BCSO. As a plus, they have song time and outdoor time (including dirt digging!) every day, and cooking (making apple sauce, for example) a few times per year. I can't recommend Broadway Children's School of Oakland highly enough!
https://www.broadwaychildrensschool.org
I am just chiming in to strongly agree with the poster who recommended Bloomers in Glenview. In my era (ages ago) it was more of a daycare for younger kids and I think we actually had to move our son when he reached about 3.5 or 4. But we absolutely loved this home based school and Carolyn, the owner and teacher is a GEM. So kind, so intelligent, wise and knowledgable about kids. Looks can indeed be deceiving - don’t judge it by appearance, but our son thrived there and my parenting improved! I have so many fond memories.