Creative Imagination Schoolhouse
Creative Imagination Schoolhouse is a small, Reggio inspired home-based preschool program located in a quiet neighborhood of Monte Loma in Fay Way. We are specifically designed to meet the developmental and cognitive needs of the young child. We offer an atmosphere and environment which encourages both active exploration, creativity and imaginative play. We serve children ages 3-5 years, and must be potty trained.
Owner/Director/Teacher, Maricar Abaya holds a BA from Cal Poly, SLO and finishing a MA degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College and has been working with children of all ages (infants through school age) since 1995 as a teacher, program coordinator, educational director and operations director for both public and private schools and corporations.
If interested to learn more or to see us in action, you may contact us through email at [email protected] to set up an appointment.
Children's Preschool Center
1. My 3 1/2 year old goes to CPSC and is very happy there, but I don't know very much about the infant program because she started going there when she was 2 1/2. In general the teachers are great and turnover is low. My only concern with CPSC is the cost which is very expenisve. (November 2004)
2. We have two children in CPSC - one since 9/2002, and the other since 6/2004. We're generally very happy there, and certainly we haven't regretted our choice. (November 2004)
3. I can recommend it wholeheartedly! Both our girls have been there: our older daughter (now at Monta Loma) was there from 5 months to her 5th birthday (literally - Monta Loma kindergarten started the next week), and our second daughter is there now (now in Preschool 1, the three-year-olds room - she started at 6 weeks). The main differentiator for CPSC is their staff. They have many longtime teachers, who stay because it's such a warm, supportive community that also takes developing the teachers' skills quite seriously. Besides the strong-but-not-forced academics, they also are really good at "civilizing" the kids in a really nice way, teaching them to use their words instead of hurting, teaching them to respect each other, etc. They do full time (M-F 7:15am-6:15pm - and the late closing time really helps!), or part time (MWF or TTh, full days only). (November 2004)
Covenant Children's Center
I know one of my girlfriends took her infant son to this childcare facility located on E meadow just next to mitchell park in palo alto - I think it's affiliated with the church there, but don't think there is religious instruct at all - I'll email her, but she was also happy with their flexibility there. (November 2004)
Good Neighbor Montessori
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http://www.goodneighbormontessori.com/
Both of my children attended Good Neighbor Montessori for many years (2001 - 2007). The staff is wonderful and has been there for years. The children are all happy and have fun and learn. It is very convenient to Monta Loma too! (in Cubberly on Middlefield) Julie on Nita (updated 7/25/06 jbaher)
Heads Up
http://www.headsup.org/cdc-pa2.html
Our daughter (now 4) is at Heads-Up in Palo Alto since she is 3 months old. We really like the day care a lot. It is a Montessori based day care and now that she is in the Preschool class this comes out really well. She has learned so much, from social activites to writing / reading and she is really happy there. The teachers are very stable (her infant room teachers are still there and she visits them almost daily). Heads up is located behind Elks lodge (border to Mountain View or 8 minutes from us). Extreamely close. (November 2004)
Okay, but the physical location in trailers over a parking lot was really hot on the sunny day we were there, and it was pretty expensive, too. (November 2004)
Infant Toddler Center
http://www.paccc.com/centers/it/itc
1. I highly recommend Infant Toddler Center (ITC). You should definitely check them out before deciding. I wish I started my son there earlier. He started at 2 years and it was an easy adjustment for him (we had nannys up until then). They starting taking babies from ( I think) 3 months, although not sure what kind of openings they have. ALL the teachers are excellent. I completely trust them. All are experienced and caring. A bonus is that the place is close. It's located inside the church next to the former YWCA on Central Expressway. Cost is on the higher end... probably close to 21000/year. You should put your name down now to be on the wait list. One other thing to point out is that it is a small program. The teachers get really involved with your child, tell you what's going on... everything is documented. You'll see what I mean if you visit them. It's also only from 0-3 years, so you can see it's what they
specialize in. (November 2004)
2. This place is on Alma near the old YWCA building (it's inside, but not part of, the Methodist (?) church there. We toured it as part of a child development class we took before we had our baby, and I liked their approach—very caring with low staff turnover. I believe they take infants through 3 years. (November 2004)
3. Friendly environment, but the number of kids was so small that there was a lot of mingling of ages, which isn't always the best thing for everyone involved. Also it seemed a bit less brilliantly clean, although I imagine it is perfectly sanitary. (November 2004)
Kiddie Academy
Kiddie Academy is on Middlefield at Whisman. Our son's been there for the past year (he's now 2.5). I think the age range is 6 weeks to 5 years. The distance has been just perfect for us, and we've really liked the place. It's owned by a mom and daughter. (And the third generation are Kiddie Academy "graduates".) We went there on the recommendation of someone else, and it also happened to be the least expensive we found. They're open for long hours, so they fit many different schedules. They provide decent meals (not sure how that works for infants). Only one of his teacher's has left in the past year... she opened her own inhouse daycare. I went to a talk on preschools recently, and Kiddie Academy seemed to fit the bill in all areas (not that you need a preschool... but it comes so quickly!). So far, his teachers have been excellent. Our son is a "late bloomer", and the teachers are open to working with him in certain areas and letting therapists come in to work with him for set appointments. I can't say anything about the infant program specifically (except that shoes aren't allowed in the room), but the babies always seem happy when I walk by... no undue crying. it's only 2.5 miles straight down Middlefield, so it's an easy commute. : ) (November 2004)
kids@home
I am a family child care provider (small-licensed for 8), and I live on Fay Way.... I'm currently full, but you are welcome to drop by and see my program. I taught in centers for about 16 years before starting my family child care. One of the things that I would look most closely at when considering a program would be group size and staff turnover. I would want my baby to have as much continuity of care as possible. Donna Tensuan (November 2004
Mini Infant Center
1. Until the end of sept., our son went to the Mini Infant Center which is on Waverly near the Cubberly Community Center. Its focus is infants — 3-months to 30 months but 30 months is on the old side. the center just got a new director, last week. i think it was a great place for XXX. 2 of the caregivers have been there forever and the other 2 are great. the new director seems very caring too. (November 2004)
2. Our son went to Mini Infant Center until December 04. All of the caregivers were really kind and patient with our son, they do a tremendous job. Also, it is small (12 kids), and the parents are very involved so it is a very close-knit community. Note their new website is . (July 2005)
Primary Plus
http://www.adnpp.com/Locations/mountainView.htm
1. I go to a primary plus in saratoga, but our previous director moved to the one on eunice - annie - she is great and the program is great - I've been happy there:) (November 2004)
2. Two friends had their kids there, the price is lower, but we really disliked the small infant room (too small, and the teachers at the
time seemed not great). NOTE: When I visited, they had just expanded the infant room, so this information is somewhat outdated. (November 2004)
Whistle Stop
This is at the VA Hospital. If we hadn't gotten into CPSC, we would have gone with them. We liked the setup and the people we met there at that time. (November 2004)
Family Day Care
THINN THINN'S DAY CARE. 966-8154
I can highly recommend a less expensive alternative for infant care. My two daughters both have gone to a wonderful woman who runs a small licensed in-home day care. She is warm and loving but also energetic enough to watch after multiple kids at a time. Almost everyone who goes to her loves her so much that they have a hard time leaving when the kids get older. She cooks wonderful Chinese food every day for the kids and has many different activities and a nice grassy backyard to play in. Also, everyone remarks about how clean her house is because she thinks cleanliness is very important. She is located at Middlefied and Shoreline, speaks excellent English and also Chinese. (February 2006)
