Suzy's Daycare
El Cerrito, CA
To see Department of Social Services records on this facility, click on its DSS Facility License # below.
Closed as of January 2022
We feel so fortunate to have found Suzy’s Daycare, a small in-home childcare facility on the El Cerrito/Albany border. We have been with Solange for about 4 years (two kids) and we consider her as part of the family, my kids feel at home with her and miss her when they are on vacation.
She provides a very loving and safe space for the kids to grow. They thrive under her care -- speaking Spanish, Portuguese and English, exploring arts and music, having a great time, and learning how to treat others with love and care. We couldn't be happier with her service. She is very in tune with the kids needs and provides healthy meals and snacks to them. She even will accommodate children's preferences and try to expand their meal choices. It is really a piece of mind knowing my kids have a good balanced diet during the day.
I highly recommend her to any family who is looking for a place that feels like home, very loving and provides lots learning opportunities.
Sabrina
Suzy's Daycare, owned and operated by Solange, has been a wonderful place for our little girl since we first brought her here as a baby. We rigorously researched many other childcare facilities, but no other place came close to the rare combination at Solange's of a very clean home + many art projects + great, safe outdoor space with real grass and gardens. As an additional bonus, Solange has every certification, license, and inspection record you could ask for, all up-to-date. Solange is very warm and engaged with the children while somehow managing to provide a clean, healthy environment that nourishes kids from when they just start crawling to when they are romping around through the house. Our little girl regularly has creative art projects with her when she comes home, has gotten fresh air from running around outside, been provided potty training support, learned new words and phrases, gained new social skills, taken a refreshing nap, and eaten home-cooked, healthy food (made using many organic ingredients). Sometimes on sunny days there is kiddie-pool time and everyone gets changed, sun-screened, and redressed without a hiccup. Solange's home is beautiful, child-safe and stocked with well-made toys and learning activities, and all the children love their "So-So." We're sad to be moving on now that our daughter is old enough to start nursery school, but you will be lucky to get the opening this creates, I promise.
Laura
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Sept 2014
We've been taking our daughter to Suzy's Daycare in El Cerrito since she was 8 months old and they currently have some openings. I know how hard and anxiety ridden the search for a daycare can be and I feel lucky everyday that we found Solange. I wanted a place were our daughter would be well taken care, but it far surpassed those expectations. Solange cooks lunch everyday, they are clean, neat and orderly and they have a nice play space and garden outside. Most importantly though, our daughter loves it and they love her. www.suzychildcare.com
Tracy
Sept 2014
I want to give an enthusiastic recommendation for Solange Castro and her home-based daycare, Suzy Family Child Care. Solange is a very warm, caring provider who is really in tune with the kids she watches. My son was so happy and loved Solange to pieces - we moved him to preschool in May and it was a hard decision since he loved going to her daycare. She gives tons of affection to the children, and it felt like I was dropping my son off with a family member in the morning. Solange loves the kids as if they were her own, and she is trustworthy and reliable. It was important to me that my son got a lot of affection and attention as a baby/toddler, and he would run for a hug/kiss when he arrived and left each day. She is great with nap routines, cooks delicious home-made lunches every day for the kids (and bakes birthday cakes!), and speaks Spanish and Portuguese to the kids most of the time. Her place is clean and organized, and they have a nice backyard play area. She is located a couple blocks from El Cerrito Plaza (not far from the Wed evening food truck gathering off San Pablo) so it is convenient for working parents who use BART. Plus it is affordable compared to many centers in the Berkeley/Albany area. Her hours are 8-6, M-F. You can contact her at sosocastro [at] comcast.net or 510 912-2258.
Molly
July 2014
Re: Recommendations for in home daycare near El Cerrito
I highly recommend Suzy Family Childcare, near El Cerrito Plaza. Our family has been with Solange for nearly 5 years, when our now 5yo son started there at 7 months. Our twin girls started there at 6 months, and will have been there for just over 2 years when they head to preschool this fall. Solange is like family to us.
Solange has 12 years of childcare experience, and continues to take child development classes. I've always appreciated that she's interested in expanding her skills, and finding new ways to keep the kids engaged while they're in her care. She's originally from Brazil, and speaks both English and Portuguese with the kids.
Solange provides both a loving environment for infants as well as a fun, engaging place for toddlers. She's got two indoor play & sleep areas inside, and a great fenced-in backyard for playing outside when it's warm. She provides tons of books, toys, and puzzles, and the kids do a lot of craft projects. The other kids there range in age from 4 months to 2 years. All meals and snacks are provided. Solange is a great cook--my super picky eater would even eat foods there that he wouldn't touch at home. Good luck! Betsy
June 2012
My daughters (now 4 and 2) have been at Suzy's Day Care since they were infants. We moved from Berkeley to Lafayette 2 yrs ago and make the drive to El Cerrito to keep them there as long possible, but now my 4 yr old is ready for local pre-k so we are sadly making the switch in July. I can't say enough great things about the quality of care my kids receive & the level of support we receive as parents. We feel like everyone there is part of our family & I especially know my daughters do. We are grateful for how much personal attention they give each of my girls to help them reach their individual development milestones. They stress educational activities & go out of their way to keep my 4yr old engaged w/ challenging activity books & learning about all kinds of subjects, math, reading, science, etc. Every week I see the new things they learn and I am proud to say my girls fully understand and even speak a little Portuguese & Spanish. All the meals are made at home from scratch and the kids get tons of fresh fruit and other healthy snacks so I do not have to prepare or send any food. They throw the best birthday parties & holiday parties. I wish my 2yr old could stay longer but we can't make 2 drop offs work w/ the distance from our home. I highly recommend Suzy's Day care!
May 2012
I remember when I was looking for a daycare I wish someone told me to just go to Suzy Daycare. The moment I entered her house I thought : This is it. I spent almost 3 weeks looking for the best of the best like all moms... Solange and Sergio have a lot of experience with infants and preschoolers. They are VERY caring and loving people and my now 3 years old and 2 years old love spending time their. You can REALLY tell they love children. Solange cooks delicious meals and her house is ALLWAYS very clean and full of joy. I am a French jewish mom so my girls will now transition to a Jewish Preschool. I would like to encourage you to go to her house and check it out! Besides, it is only 5 minutes drive frome UC Village, El Cerrito Plaza and Highway and she charges very reasonable prices. Merci and Good luck!
Sept 2010
Being a first time mom and having to go back to work is really tough, but if you leave your little one in Suzy's Daycare, you won't regret it.
I spent almost 2 weeks looking for daycare. Of course I wanted the best of the best, and I knew I found it when I visited Suzy's Daycare. Solange and Sergio have a lot of experience with infants and preschoolers. They are very caring and loving people and my little 5 months old loves to spend the time at Suzy's Daycare. You can really tell they both love children.
My daughter has been under Solange and Sergio care since she was 5 months and I feel blessed. Unfortunately, we are moving back to Europe and that is why I want to let you know about this great Daycare. Besides, it is only 5 minutes drive from UC Village (well communicated with 52L bus)
Thanks and good luck!
Lourdes
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