The Jumping Tree
Oakland, CA
To see Department of Social Services records on this facility, click on its DSS Facility License # below.
- Jan 2019: We assume this daycare has closed since the facility license number can no longer be found in the State's database.
WWW.TheJumpingTree.com
Children learn and grow their best when they feel free to do so at their own pace. We believe that we can find what makes each child thrive by using an array of teaching theories and developmental theories.
We all learn through personal and social adventures as well as exploration. This means we will explore space, watch lava run down a paper mache volcano, dance in the rain, play with mud and have sword fights... our imagination can take us anywhere!
Jumping Tree provides a nurturing and fun environment for little ones! I enrolled my daughter last summer when she was 2, and she's been there for a year now. She has truly blossomed in Kassandra's care. Not only has my daughter's vocabulary exploded and her numeracy skills advanced, but she has gone from timid and shy to confident and outspoken! Kassandra is AMAZING with children - she's down-to-earth and warm and fun. The transition into any new care situation for a 2-year old is hard, but with Kassandra's hugs and reassurances, my daughter knew right away that she could trust her, and that has been invaluable. Now she genuinely likes being at Jumping Tree, and she doesn't want to leave when I go to pick her up! We did a parent-teacher conference a few months ago and we learned about our daughter's progress on cognitive skills, gross and fine motor skills, as well as social aspects - great to have those insights from a more developmental perspective. When we were looking for a day care for our daughter, this was one of 9 day cares/ preschools that we visited, and I am convinced that Jumping Tree offers one of the best values for the quality of care in Oakland.
On the logistical side, it's great that they are open 7am-6pm - that's a lot of flexibility. The food they serve the kids is well-balanced and healthy. You should know that the facilities are clean, but the kids play in the dirt and spend a lot of time in the yard with the play structures. They also spend time in the rain on rainy days (with appropriate rain gear). If you don't want your kid to get dirty, this is NOT the day care for you. I personally hope for and expect dirt in my child's life, so this seemed great to me (but I generally did not dress my daughter in anything that shouldn't get dirty when sending her to JT). If you're interested, you should definitely go for a visit and see for yourself!
Feel so fortunate to have found Miss K and the Jumping Tree! Our eldest is 3 and has been going to TJT for over 2 years, and his younger brother has been there for a year. It really feels like extended family. We tried a larger daycare center prior and it felt like our son was a number. One of the many things I like about Miss K. is that she really knows and loves our boys and caters to their individual needs. She is excellent at engaging with kids - very understanding, relaxed, confident, and caring but also provides structured, stimulating and fun environment.
TJT feels like a home without feeling stuffy. There is a large play area both inside and outside and Miss K is very thoughtful about putting out new and stimulating activities / toys for the kids to interact with. She is always switching things up. Our boys are very physical and they get to do a lot of running around and climbing, jumping, etc. with the other kids. The kids also do toddler-style science projects, themed dress up days, and water/pool days when it's hot. Miss K is really good about letting kids be kids but is also excellent at redirecting them if behavioral issues arise. They also spend time teaching the kids early academics. Our 3 year old started speaking to us in Spanish out of the blue one day, and our 1 year old came home singing his ABCs and counting to 20!
They also feed the kids balanced, nutritious meals and have accommodated our vegetarian boys with zero problem. As someone else mentioned, the kids do get DIRTY (as kids do), so while they don't sweat things like keeping the kids spotless, they do ensure their diapers are quickly changed (never had diaper rash, which I can't say about our previous daycare) and they've also never had any sunburn (which is impressive in Oakland). They focus on the things that matter. It's been a perfect place for our boys.
We love the Jumping Tree! Our 2-year-old started there in May 2016 after having spent the first two years in a nanny share. She loves the JT and talks about it on the weekends. Her vocabulary has exploded. She's always laughing and having fun when we pick her up. The teachers are all great and caring, and they serve healthy, nutritious meals for the kiddos. They do art and music, have an indoor bounce house, and have water play and a play structure outside. They even go on the occasional field trip. Bottom line: I trust them to keep my kid safe and happy.
When we were looking for daycare for our then 2-month old daughter, it was really hard to imagine anyone else taking care of her. She was so new! My husband and I made an appointment to tour the Jumping Tree and as soon as we walked in, we were instantly impressed. All the kids were playing at the various stations around the large room and clearly having a great time. When it was time for snack, they all sat down and quietly talked while they waited patiently for their snack to be served. Even though Rosie is still just an infant, we felt confident knowing that she would be a part of this great community. It's a very relaxed and fun environment for our little one as she grows up. We are grateful that the Jumping Tree is a part of our team in this parenthood adventure. Highly recommend!
It was a hard decision to put our daughter in Daycare after solely being watched by her grandmother. It took me a few weeks to finally narrow it down to a few Daycare centers. When I called and left a message Kassandra called me back right away and we set an appointment up. During the interview my daughter Camila took to Kassandra and her partner Melissa right away. Since being in daycare Camila's vocabulary has expanded tremendously. I especially like the day to day activities they have planned out for the children and the text message pictures of my child enjoying them. What I find useful is the schedule they set for the children which makes the weekends easier. I can't express my gratitude enough for both Kassandra & Melissa and all that they do.
Ms. K has been watching our son since he was 3 months old. We really love what she has created at The Jumping Tree. Our son loves all the activities and crafts and he is learning new songs and making new friends. She is great about giving the kids different sensory experiences and allowing kids to explore and be creative. One day they made volcanoes and our son loved it! He is learning how to get along with other kids, how to get along with pets and even some Spanish. We also appreciate that breakfast and lunch are provided and she makes healthy meals. We always know our son is in good hands.
We just started our daughter at the jumping tree, transitioning her from a nanny care situation, and so far, we love it. We've really been impressed by Kassandra's (Ms. K) ramping up and orienting process for our daughter. She started on half days, then full days part of the week, and starting next week she'll be full time. I've noticed her watching not just my daughter, but each of the kids, tuned in to their little quirks and foibles. She was thoughtful about integrating my daughter to the new setting, letting her play on her own with a fabulous train set, and inviting her to circle time, or making cookies, etc. with the group. I expect she'll show that same thoughtfulness in the future.
Her indoor space is warm, clean and welcoming, and out back they have several great things for kids - including a slide, climbing structure, bikes and balls. Ms. K provides structure and flexibility, and an overall wonderful mellow and accepting vibe for the kids. Both her, her partner and their assistant are very open and welcoming of the variety of personalities the children bring to the table.
Just a note: they have two kid friendly really little doggies and an outside cat, so in case there are allergies, that's something to note. Personally, I like it because it's a chance to expose our daughter to pets.
Ultimately, I went through all of the BPN daycare reviews, and this was one of the best options for us because it was one of the few 7am-6pm schedule options, the fact that it included meals (rather than kids bringing their own lunches for a few meals), and was a reasonable price. For any parents around Temescal/Lake Merritt looking for a good care provider situation, this one is lovely.
My son has been with them as a nanny care situation for over 2 years and I am thrilled to transition him over to their new daycare/preschool, The Jumping Tree. They met my son's developmental needs at every step of the way over the last two years. I love bringing home his artwork and hearing about the new songs and activities he did during the day. I highly recommend The Jumping Tree.
Parent Reviews
Parents, please Sign in to post a review on this page.