Cottage Playhouse
Community SubscriberOakland, CA
The Cottage Playhouse is a warm, welcoming environment where children learn, grow, thrive and have fun. Our play based program celebrates each child's unique strengths, nurturing their curiosity, creativity and love of learning. With our personalized approach to pre-kindergarten essentials, small group sizes and a strong focus on social and emotional growth, we create a joyful space where children are supported and connected. They delight in art, dance, imaginary play, and music, plenty of time outdoors and the comfort of a home like environment. It is a special place where every child is given the time and attention they need to truly flourish and the families become part of a caring community.
We love Cottage!
Our son has absolutely thrived since starting last year. The small class sizes and caring, attentive teachers create such a warm and supportive environment—it truly feels like an extension of our home. We’ve seen a big change in our son since he began: he’s more social, more confident, and genuinely looks forward to going every day.
Even though we have a full-time nanny for our infant, we felt so strongly about what Cottage offers that we decided it was well worth doubling up on childcare (we could’ve had the older toddler stay home another year with the nanny, but we were just so charmed by cottage that when our next door neighbor recommended it, we decided to give it a try. That was last year and we’ve never looked back. In fact, we’re holding a spot for our daughter to join next year!
The teachers are simply lovely—compassionate, communicative, and genuinely invested in each child’s development. We always feel in the loop and know our son is in great hands. We couldn’t be happier with our experience.
My son started going there last July, when he turned 2! Cottage was a referral to me from a friend of mine whose son is now 17! That’s how long they’ve been around, and continue to shine. Michelle is the owner and Chalena is one of the other amazing teachers who takes care of our little precious kiddos. Everything about this place is so perfect! And I’ve seen my son grow immensely in the past year. I was home with him for the first 2 years and leaving my son in someone else’s care was hard- the minute he started going there I knew he was safe and I did not have to worry about a thing! Michelle even provides a week or so worth of transition so that the LO feels comfortable on day 1!
I echo so much of what Maia Spence has noted below, our sons are there together!
If you are looking for a safe and amazing place for your little one to develop and grow and not have to worry about thing this is the place for you!
Michelle is accepting under 2, and not potty trained.
Definitely RUN- she’s got openings and they’ll fill up fast!
Our daughter attended Cottage Playhouse from ages 2 to 5 and had a terrific experience. Michelle and Chalena have a great reputation in Montclair and this school was highly recommended by a family friend -- we were lucky to secure a spot on short notice.
Although shy at first, our daughter received positive reinforcement from her teachers and gradually became more confident. By her second year, she was encouraged to take more initiative and developed a number of close friendships with her classmates. She became known for helping younger students and taking them under her wing during her third year. The progression from being a bit intimidated by the older kids to leading younger students around the playground by the hand was so heartwarming to witness. Cottage really brought out the best in our child.
The parents' group is friendly and cohesive; you will know your child's friends and their parents, which is awesome. Turnover is minimal. One family moved over the hill but remains in close contact with all of us. "Come for the preschool, stay for the families."
Michelle graciously assisted us with the applications to a number of Catholic elementary schools. She also took an active and heartfelt interest in teaching our child the alphabet, writing, spelling, and some reading. The quality of our daughter's schoolwork (and her proficiency) improved dramatically over time as evidenced by her completed lesson books. Michelle is extremely insightful and recommended additional classes (dance, martial arts, swimming, etc.) to facilitate our child's development over a year before kindergarten started. This turned out to be very valuable advice. Chalena is an extremely engaging and passionate educator. All of the kids (ours especially) love her because she excels at promoting fun and good behavior at the same time. Ultimately, our daughter was accepted into her / our first choice of elementary school and we're very grateful to Michelle and Chalena for being a part of her childhood.
Our daughter's final year at Cottage Playhouse ended in July and we wholeheartedly recommend this school.
I don't know where to start! We have sent our 2 boys to Cottage Playhouse (my youngest graduating end of July). We feel so incredibly lucky to have had Michelle and Chalena in our lives to share their love, care, encouragement, patience, fun, guidance, attentiveness and warmth with our boys. The kids LOVED going to Cottage, each went from before the age of 2 until they went on to Kinder or TK around age 4-5.
Cottage is a special place and is hard to put into words. Its small size makes it feel so much more like a family where all kids of different ages support each other and play together. Michelle and Chalena have supported the boys in their learning from early on with letters, numbers, spelling, workbooks and math. The art projects are out of this world, frame worthy. My oldest was completely ready for Kinder and my youngest for TK.
Don't hesitate (RUN!) to send your kiddo to this amazing group of kids and teachers. We are extremely sad to say goodbye but feel so fortunate to have had our boys thrive in this amazing community.
THANK YOU MICHELLE AND CHALENA. WE LOVE YOU!
Archived Q&A and Reviews
April 2004
I'm thinking about enrolling my daughter in a small, home-based preschool, Cottage Playhouse, but am trying to find out more information on the place. I've checked the archives and there isn't much there. I visited the school a while back and liked what I saw. My daughter has just turned two and Cottage Playhouse seems like a nice, intimate setting for her. Has anyone had any recent experience with Cottage Playhouse and the woman who runs it, Michelle? Undecided mom
Regarding Cottage Playhouse, my daughter is there now. She loves it and we love it. It is a very mellow, caring, play-based environment. At first I was concerned that it wasn't going to be ''academic'' enough for my daughter in the long term, but I was wrong. My daughter will be entering kindergarten in the fall, and she has more than the required skills. She has learned to read and has learned some math, plus she has the fine motor skills (cutting and such) that are important in kindergarten.
My son went to an intense and--in my opinion--overly rigorous preschool. I didn't realize it at the time, but I think that environment was responsible for making him a bit of a perfectionist, with a fear of success/ fear of failure problem. It has taken us years to get him to mellow out and not be so focused on doing things perfectly every time. My daughter is much more relaxed and doesn't get so wiped out after a day of school.
I really can't recommend Cottage highly enough. It has been a great experience. The only two negatives I can think of are the short hours (8:30 to 3:00) and no parties or gatherings for all the parents and kids to get together. It would be nice if she had a spring open house or a fall pumpkin patch, so the parents could interact and see all the kids together more. But those are minor points. Mary
My oldest daughter who is now in Kindergarten when to Cottage Playhouse from the time she was 2 until she was almost four where I then put her in a more traditional preschool that was a feeder to her elementary school. we LOVED it. My daughter had a VERY difficult transition from a nanny to Cottage Playhouse (she went 3 days/week). Michelle probably still remembers it as her most challenging transition. But she and her staff were so loving and caring, we made it through, and had a great experience. They are very nurturing and loving. They do art projects every morning. The way they talk to the kids is great. My daughter adored Michelle. When I was pregnant with my second daughter, the oldest decided we should name her after one of the teachers, which we did do.
I was planning on sending my youngest there. She turned two in December, but there were no immediate openings. We would have had to wait until this Fall, and so I decided just to send her to the preschool that she probably would have gone to eventually anyway. I understand from Michelle that many kids now stay though until K, althought that was not necessarily the case when I was there. We are sad that it won't work out. Plus her hours have been reduced slightly, and logistically they didn't work well at all for those three days I work.
The down side? Not much. Most mom's were SAH, which I have no problem with as a part-timer, but I didnt' connect well with a lot of them, although they were perfectly nice. Not a big feel of community there (no picnics or family get togethers). And the hours are limited. They also dont' do outings or field trips.
Overall we loved it, we still see Michelle on occassion, and I would highly recommend the place. You and your child will love it too. Hilary
March 2003
There is a great licensed daycare in Montclair for children 2 to 5 years old: COTTAGE PLAYHOUSE. The woman running this program, Michelle Sosa, used to babysit my boys and she's one of the most loving and caring people I've ever met. She wants the program to be more of a preschool environment. She offers arts and crafts, outdoor play, and works on social and motor skills. The playhouse they have to play in makes me wish I was 3 years old again!
There is the choice of from 2 to 5 days a week. The phone number is 510-339-7772, and the address is
1701 Mountain Blvd,
Oakland, CA 94611.
Katherine (May 2000)(updated Mar 2003)
Jan. 2003
We have been really happy with Michelle Sosa at Cottage Playhouse. The preschool is behind her parents' house in Montclair, right next to the library. It's a sweet, kid-friendly environment. The school has 12 kids (aged 2 to 5) and 2 teachers. The emphasis is on play and socialization, although my daughter's counting and letter recognition have certainly been supported through the activities they do. Michelle is really spectacular in the way that she is respectful of children and cultivates that in their interactions with each other. It's been a great place for our family. Ilana
November 2002
I'd like to update information on the Cottage Playhouse preschool in Montclair
Michelle recently married and her name is now Michelle Sosa. The closing time for the school is now 3:00 instead of 3:30. Students may attend 2 to 5 days per week, and the time is 8:00 - 3:00 (no longer only morning or afternoon sessions). Thank you. Katherine
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