Parents looking for a daycare solution may find it at Adventure Time. As a supplement to Castro Valley's nationally recognized school district, Adventure Time works with students to reinforce positive attributes that promote learning and social development. The program at Jensen Ranch is just one of the Adventure Time locations featured at neighborhood campuses.
Bee Best Learning Center is an afterschool tutoring program for kids from kindergarten through 8th grade. In addition to helping kids with math, English and general science, they also have tutoring for Mandarin, Spanish and a couple of fun subjects like cooking and arts and crafts. They're located right next to the Castro Village Bowl inside Castro Village Plaza. Check out their website or visit them to learn more about how Bee Best Learning Center can help your kids do better in school.
Curriculum is an academic and play-based program at this well-equipped child care center founded in 1963 in a large former private home. Preschool is for kids two to five; they must be potty-trained. Day care is available for kids six to 11 during school breaks and also in conjunction with Castro Valley Elementary, two doors south; staffers walk the kids to and from lunch and provide activities before and after class. Activities are based on weekly or monthly themes, such as "Argh! Pirates!" or "Rainforest." There are rooms for naps, two miniature classrooms, a room-size "dollhouse," a large playground in back and a courtyard for outdoor crafts.
This school high in the hills in the Five Canyons subdivision offers Montessori kindergarten for kids age 4-6, programs for toddlers 18-24 months, a preschool and day care for children of any age. The facility evokes an upscale ambiance, with CDs of forest songs playing in the entryway and warm wood paneling throughout. Instruction in Spanish, Mandarin, gymnastics and ballet is offered. The outdoors and nature inform the curriculum, with kids picking up skills they will later use to master academic subjects. All teachers are credentialed in early-childhood education and certified by the American Montessori Society. Five Canyons also offers Montessori teacher training in conjunction with Cal State University East Bay.
The YMCA at Castro Valley Elementary offers K-5 childcare as part of the larger YMCA East Bay's pre- and after-school program. Located on grounds that include a playground, a new skate park, and clean public restrooms, this YMCA allows for a lot of outdoor play. The Castro Valley Elementary YMCA is one of 46 YMCA childcare centers in the East Bay, connecting parents with a network of other East Bay parents.
Happiness Hill Preschool and Daycare is an early childhood education and care program offering services for children ages 18 months to 5 years. Some of its age-appropriate activities include early math and reading and social and physical activities.
This day care center, complete with a white picket fence, accepts infants as well as preschool-aged kids. It's convenient to Interstate 580 and the Eden Medical Center. There is a pediatric nursing student on staff; other staffers are specialists in various stages of child development. Hours are flexible but generally follow normal business hours; please phone for details.
At His Growing Grove, children can take basic Spanish lessons, eat healthy meals, learn conflict resolution skills and study the Bible, among many other enriching activities. The playgrounds are safety-proofed and ready for each child's imaginative games and adventures. Toilets, sinks, tables and chairs are kid-sized, allowing kiddies to navigate their world at eye-level. Expect arts and crafts, a crib room for babies, lots of primary-colored playthings, and a big gymnasium for rainy-day playtime.
