Greenhouse Childcare

Community Subscriber

Berkeley, CA

To see Department of Social Services records on this facility, click on its DSS Facility License # below.

Type:
Home-Based Daycare/Preschool
DSS Facility License #
Owner:
Andre Julien & Karen Jackson
510-734-7788
andre [at] greenhousechildcare.com
Location:
Berkeley
94707
Thousand Oaks
Maximum Capacity:
14
Language(s) Spoken:
English,
German
Ages Served:
18 months - 42 months
Monthly Cost:
$1960
Hours
8:30am - 4:30pm
Additional Services & Features:
Drop-in available,
Part-time available,
Year-round,
Snacks provided,
Organic options,
Vegetarian options,
Special diet support,
Cloth diapers accepted,
Diapers provided,
Potty training support,
Special needs support
About the Program:

Greenhouse has current openings for infants and toddlers. Located in North Berkeley, Greenhouse has been providing safe, reliable, dynamic and nurturing care for over 10 years. 

Please visit our website for more information. http://www.greenhousechildcare.com

Greenhouse is committed to fostering skills of self expression, respectful play, and peaceful conflict resolution. 

Parent Q&A

Select any title to view the full question and replies.

  • Hello,

    We would love to hear current/recent experiences with Greenhouse. We are specifically interested to know:

    • What does an average day look like?
    • How is communication with parents?
    • Is care pretty consistent? We noted that it is just two caregivers full time
    • How are accidents or other behavior incidents communicated? (in real time, end of day?)
    • Do parents receive updates/photos of their children?

    Any insights/experiences are appreciated!

    Hello! I had my son in Greenhouse for 1.5y (from roughly 1.5-3yo) and it was simply amazing!! You’ll find a wonderful, caring place where kids can explore and come into their own personalities. To answer your questions:

    -drop offs by 9:15ish, free leisurely time, visit to park, lunch, naps, pick up. 
    -you can ask questions and converse with the carers at drop offs and pick ups, it is unstructured and they will chat and listen as much as needed. 
    -we always had care, never missed a day due to the carers. 
    -we had a couple of minor accidents that were communicated to me at pick up (falls and bumps), nothing major so it wouldn’t have made a difference to hear about it earlier. 
    -you don’t get photo updates which means the carers were present with the kids, not on the phone. There were some pics here and there of funny moments but that was it. 
    We as a family really enjoyed the safe and family-like environment and it was great for my son and his confidence-building. It’s been months since he left and he still asks us about Greenhouse regularly. 

Parent Reviews

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Hi! My son went to a home run daycare from 18 months to 3yo. It was play based with heavy emphasis on being outdoors and he totally loved it! Look for Greenhouse run by André, he is simply amazing!

Hello! I would highly recommend Greenhouse Childcare, it is in Berkeley blocks away from Albany. My son attends and is super happy. 
This would be for your eldest, I think most people with young babies have nannies, we arrived when my son was older so I did not search for a daycare for a baby. 
good luck!

Andre really supported our daughter in becoming more self-sufficient and adventurous. We also grew a lot in our parenting style by learning from him. We definitely recommend Greenhouse!

Our two year old son currently attends Greenhouse Childcare and we could not be happier! Seamus is excited to spend his days at Andre's and we have seen a noticeable development in his language and social skills. Andre helps the toddlers learn how to interact peacefully with one another, and possesses what can only be called an astoundingly "chill" demeanor. Seamus is an active boy, and Andre makes sure that he gets to expend lots of energy in the outdoor space as well as the park nearby. Overall, we would highly recommend Greenhouse Childcare to anyone, but particularly those families who need extra help teaching their toddlers how to play well with others.

Archived Q&A and Reviews


Dec 2014

I am writing to recommend Andre-the driving force behind Greenhouse daycare. Our son (now almost 3) has been there just over one year and we could not be happier with the care/learning/love and growth he has helped foster in that time. Andre is magical at balancing freedom and caution when allowing the kids (18 months to 3 + years old) to explore, take risks and commune with one another. He is like a zen master when it comes to rallying the kids into a transition from one activity to another....often using book reading or clever tricks as a way to gather the groups. He is a true gift to the toddler and parent communities of Berkeley and Albany. Sarah


Dec 2014

Our son started at Greenhouse at 16 months and he has thrived in the presence of Andre. The school is run out of a lovely home just off Solano Avenue and while there is stimulating outdoor space Andre makes a point of taking them to a nearby park every day and this extra time outdoor, playing, goes a long way in keeping the kids happy and responsive. Andre stresses peaceful conflict resolution among toddler which can seem like a rather contradictory phrase, but he is exceedingly patient and compassionate and it is amazing to watch the children share, give, take turns and understand that they are part of a little community. Greenhouse is an excellent choice for those seeking in-home daycare! I can't sing their praises enough! Laleh


Aug 2012

I can't recommend enough Greenhouse Childcare in North Berkeley. Our son, Simon, went to Greenhouse for the past year. We were relocating from Europe to the Bay area, and Andre and his wonderful family have accompanied our son through this big change. We have found a loving environment at Greenhouse as we had never found anywhere else. Every day, Simon was happier to go to Greenhouse and did not want to leave at the end of the day! For us, parents, it was a huge relief. We really felt confident to have our child at Greenhouse, as we knew he was happy there. In addition, Andre offers a stimulating environment for toddlers with an incredible variety of activities: indoor/outdoor, music, drawing, dancing, board games, construction games, etc. He helps the 6 kids to develop relationships among each other. I am so sad we have to leave greenhouse. If I could let my son stay with Andre, I would do it without any hesitation. M-P D.



August 2010

Andre and Karen have developed a warm, nurturing, kind, sun-filled, loving environment that fosters creative play, engaged growth and a spirit play and fun that surrounds the kids each and every day. Our daughter has spent the last two years in this wonderful environment.

Andre has not only taught our daughter the joys of discovery, the fun of getting messy, and the thrill of trying something new but he has helped us to be better parents through his examples of conflict resolution and genuine understanding of the needs, interests and desires of toddlers.

Andre is a uniquely wonderful person that does not try to control your child but instead has a way of playing with and developing each child to think and create in a way that works for them and with each of their peers.

The bonds formed with Andre and with the group of toddlers, as well as the closeness of the parents will be one that stays with our family for a long time. Andre and his family have become part of our family and we are honored to have had this time with him.
Shawn



June 2007

Greenhouse Childcare, a small family daycare (6 children) in N. Berkeley, is not just a great space for the kids to spend their days (sun-filled, lots of interesting and engaging toys, pretend play and games, and a warm and lovingly cared for home and garden) but an amazing experience that I think is rare to find. Andre, who is a most patient, wise, kind and loving caregiver, really understands little ones and gives them just enough structure, and just enough freedom to feel confident, challenged, safe and nurtured. Our three year old son has spent almost two years with Andre and has thrived under his care, we will be very sad to say goodbye when he heads to preschool. As my son's group ''graduates'' this Fall, Greenhouse will have two slots open for toddlers ages 20 - 30 months beginning September 2007. I cannot recommend Greenhouse and Andre highly enough! Contact: Andre Julien, info[at]greenhousechildcare.com



June 2007

Our son started attending Greenhouse in January 2007, at around 17 months. We knew about it through good friends. Andre is absolutely wonderful with the kids, and our child has a smile on his face every day that we go there. It is a nice, home-based childcare a block away from the Thousand Oaks tot park. I feel that he gets a lot of attention and love. I believe there are still one or two openings for fall 2007. Contact: Andre Julien, info[at]greenhousechildcare.com



May 2007

Greenhouse Childcare is an incredible place, run out of the home of Andre Julien. Despite the energy of six children running around, there is always an underlying sense of calm in the place. Andre provides a very nurturing environment, and it is clear that he cares deeply about the development of each child. While the general philosophy is one of free play, there are plenty of educational activities. In addition to daily art projects, book reading (etc), there is a weekly music class and frequent visits to Thousand Oaks Park. The kids are free to try on the numerous costumes, play with the many toys and musical instruments, or to roam in the garden and play in the sand box. In addition to being very nurturing, Andre is the master of conflict resolution and does a fabulous job fostering good socialization and communication skills. He is always gentle and intuitively finds creative ways of redirecting activities. I can\x92t recommend this place highly enough! My whole family loves Greenhouse and all that comes with it - Andre, his family, his dog, and his cat. Contact: Keren Stronach keren[at]eaconsult.com or 510.540.5147



May 2005

I want to recommend Greenhouse Family Home Childcare. It is located in a sunny, clean, and vibrant north berkeley home. My son loves it and asks to go everyday. Karen and Andre have lots of great toys and learning materials collected over years of teaching and parenting. They are just a half block from Thousand Oaks School and the toddler park there, so there's good outdoor time. Karen is an education specialist, very smart and experienced. Andre is boisterous and patient and focused. He is exceptionally skilled at teaching toddlers conflict resolution tools: taking turns, trading, waiting, asking. As a single mom I love my son getting such wonderful male attention and role modeling. Greenhouse Family Home Childcare 510.526.9686 www.greenhousechildcare.com