“We’ve loved our time with Child’s Play so far! Our son joined one year ago when he was about 20 months old. In this time we’ve seen him blossom in so many ways. He’s both more confident and better able to connect and share with other children. The morning ritual of “circle time” has been a great way for him to start the day. He loves the weekly yoga and consistent art activities. And the teachers are absolutely wonderful! They do a great job of relating to the children while also challenging them to grow and develop.”
— Dave O.
“I sent my preschooler to Child’s Play October 2020 (right as the spring and summer of the pandemic was turning into fall) through February 2022. As someone inside this community, our family’s experience of Child’s Play, its teachers, and especially Kaamil, has been one of integrity, organization, excellent communication, high standards, deep care for the children and their safety, strategic, skillful, tight holding of Covid guidelines with additional safety measures in place to ensure the health and wellness of all involved. Our daughter has blossomed in this environment. She went from spending most of her days in quiet observation, barely speaking, to full and joyful participation in all of the thoughtful aspects of the program each day. These included community circle time songs, book reading, playing with other children, and now that Covid and full vaccination is in full effect, special enrichment programming like yoga. I was given accurate reports each day about this developmental progress through direct contact with the teachers (following Covid guidelines of course), and through the Brightwheel App currently in use for communication.
I have felt nothing but awe for the organization and creativity that Kaamil demonstrated throughout the period running the program during Covid; communication with parents throughout the day about what home cooked meals the children eat (always an impressive menu with healthy options), when and for how long they nap, photos and videos showing highlights from their day, and an easy way to check-in regarding any concerns. During the spring, when my family underwent some changes in which I was traveling more for work and my daughter was going through distress, Child’s Play was in clear contact with me about what was happening, worked with me to implement a plan to support her during this time, and within one week, my child grounded even deeper in her bonding with the teachers, and her sense of ease and security. I’ve found Kaamil direct, candid, honest, and skillful in all her communication with me, from the first day of our meeting to now.
I was also impressed and grateful for her efforts to ensure that milestones like teacher appreciation week were NOT missed. Not only this, each day of the week, she celebrated the teachers in ways that exemplified her clear care for them, their work, and her own values around education and children.”
— Ariyele R.
“We’ve been thrilled with our experience as part of the Child’s Play community! Our daughter started there when she was 12 months old and we have loved seeing her blossom under the loving supervision of her caregivers. She is so happy to arrive. each day and for us, we love the flexibility of the all-inclusive model (hello, no more bringing diapers and packing lunches!), and the proactive communication and updates from the teachers. There has been so little turnover among the staff and we know they are experts in child development and play-based learning, which shows in our kiddo’s language, motor, and social-emotional skills. We are so glad we found Child’s Play and can’t recommend it enough! ”
— Katherine G.
“We are so grateful to have found Child’s Play and their supportive teachers! Our daughter attended from 2.5-3.5 yo, and Child’s Play was such a safe space for her to emerge from pandemic isolation and grow comfortable in a group playing and learning environment. The teachers are wonderful - inspiring her creativity, encouraging her social development and independence, guiding our decisions for her future, and surrounding her with fun. We loved the photos and videos they would send during the day, and we all miss the home cooked lunches dearly. She still talks about everyone there and we’ve made some great, lasting friends within the family-community. We appreciate all of the work and effort they did keeping everyone happy, healthy, and engaged!”
— Allison L.
“Our child attended Child’s Play for a year and it was such an amazing experience. As first time parents, we were nervous about having our little being away from us every day, but she instantly thrived there. The teachers are incredibly kind, fun, patient, and personable. From the get go, we knew she was in the best hands. Having updates and pictures sent to us daily made us still feel connected and a part of her day, and everyone who worked there made us feel instantly at ease. They were not only great with our little one but also helping us with the adjustment.
Our daughter learned so much over her year there through the thoughtful curriculum and wonderful set up/amenities of Child’s Play. It was all taught in a very organic and fun way, and she would have the best time learning new things daily. Often times when we would pick her up, she would want to stay and continue to enjoy all the fun Child’s Play has to offer.
Though we have moved out of the area, the Child’s Play experience is one that we will always be grateful for. Our daughter still mentions her teachers, and had such a strong foundation as she has transitioned into next steps of childhood. We only wish our time at Childs Play could have been longer. ”
— Kristin A.
“We cannot say enough wonderful things about Child’s Play. We were transitioning our daughter from a nanny share to her first daycare experience and were so lucky to have found Kaamil, Kiki, and Camila at Child’s Play. From day one they made our daughter feel loved and welcome - and made sure we as parents felt supported in the transition.
When our daughter started she was pretty shy and reserved but we watched her grow and flourish during her time there into a confident, happy toddler who now loves to play with other kids. She constantly talks about her teachers - always wants to go to school in the mornings and is reluctant to leave at the end of the day.
We are so impressed by how attentive the teachers are to small details about our daughter’s personality - noting things she struggles with, how she is growing, and celebrating her accomplishments with us. We also love how informed we feel with updates and communications through the Brightwheel app - as well as pictures and videos of our daughter throughout the day.
In the chaos of the pandemic, Child’s Play became a safe, loving community for our daughter and for us - we only wish we had found it sooner! ”
— Lindsay A.
“We are so grateful to have found Child’s Play. The teachers provide caring, individual attention to each child, and have cultivated our daughter’s curiosity and growth. From making art, to dramatic play, to reading, to yoga, she has blossomed with the Child’s Play program. We also love that everything is organic, including the home-cooked meals! The meals they provide are not just a relief for parents—they have also helped to broaden our daughter’s palate in wonderful ways.”
— Morgan C.
“Our son started at Child’s Play last August and he has been thriving ever since. We have really enjoyed seeing the pictures/videos that are sent of the kids playing and learning. They are always doing different activities like painting, science projects, or exploring. The teachers have also been wonderful. Our son practically leaps into the teachers arms when we drop him off, which we try not to take too personally! Thank you Child’s Play for being such a wonderful place for our son to learn new things, develop, and make friends! ”
— COURTNEY H.
“Our son Nolan spent the past year at Child’s Play and we could not have been happier with his care there. I knew immediately after touring at Child’s Play that this daycare was above and beyond any other daycare I had visited. Kaamil, the owner, is exactly what you want in a daycare owner, professional, responsive, and passionate about early childhood education, yet also incredibly warm and caring.
Nolan loved going to Child’s Play from his very first day. The teachers are wonderful and Nolan immediately bonded with Kiki. Everyday when I would ask him ‘How was school? Who did you play with?’ he would always tell me that he played with Kiki. Nolan met his “best friend” at Child’s Play and was quite sad when he moved away. The staff noticed that Nolan was struggling with the loss of his friend and printed out a picture of the two of them together to help him remember their fun times together. We still have this picture on our fridge.
The Piedmont Pines facility is beautiful and thoughtfully planned out to provide a safe and stimulating environment for babies and toddlers. One of my favorite things about Child’s Play is how amazing they are with communication. Everyday I would receive updates with pictures and videos of Nolan, as well as information on how much he ate at meal times, when he went to the bathroom, and if he had an accident. It was incredibly fun to get these photos while at work and also helpful to know about accidents while we were potty training.
Our start happened to coincide with the beginning of the pandemic. It was an incredibly challenging time to navigate as parents and I’m sure as a daycare, but Child’s Play did so amazingly well. There are many safeguards they have put in place to help keep the kids and staff members safe. Never once did I feel uncomfortable sending him to daycare. One thing for which I will be eternally grateful to Kaamil and the Child’s Play staff is how they were able to provide reliable care for Nolan, particularly at the start of the pandemic. My husband and I both work in a hospital and as essential workers it was imperative that we continue to have consistent childcare. When the pandemic first started, Kaamil stood up for our family while at the same time addressing concerns from other families who were uncomfortable having a child of healthcare workers at the daycare. Her support meant everything to me and basically allowed us to continue to provide care to our patients during this crisis.
I cannot recommend Child’s Play highly enough. I feel grateful for the time Nolan spent there, growing, learning, playing and just having a safe space to be a normal toddler during these extraordinary times.”
— Chelsea T.
“I cannot say enough great things about Child’s Play and Kaamil’s team of spectacular teachers. My son started at their school when he was just a wee babe of 10 months and he is now almost two years old, going on 20! My husband and I are blown away everyday from how much he has learned from school. Our parenting at home is simply reinforcing all the amazing things he learns at school. He has learned patience, how to share, how to tidy and clean, how to dine amongst others, and some of his first words are the names of the friends he’s made at school, including his favorite teachers. The teachers are amazing and so involved in ensuring the kids are safe, engaged, and have fun. They have weekly staff meetings to set out lesson plans, meals for the week (lunch and snacks galore, awesome), and coordinate care so there are no gaps or miscommunication. The daycare home is also so beautiful and inviting. There are toys and activities for every developmental stage—soft climbing blocks for babes learning to move, toys for imaginary play (son’s top 10 include the cleaning supplies, which is a win for everyone in our house), balls, scooters, a tiny and adorable climbing gym, sensory tables—and most important, wonderful teachers who encourage the kids to get messy and experience everything. During this crazy pandemic, they’ve taken extra measures to ensure a clean, well-ventilated space (lots of outdoor play!) and the teachers have done everything they can to stay as healthy as possible.
Kaamil and all of the teachers are incredibly responsive and engaged—they are usually sending newsletters or communications before I even think to ask any questions. Kaamil has set out to make her daycare to feel inclusive and comprehensive, which I believe she has successfully done for our family. My family has toured a good number of daycares now, and when it comes to an all-inclusive (meals! snacks! diapers!), home daycare, Kaamil’s Child’s Play has been the absolute best. It’s the organization and professional feel of a daycare center mixed with the coziness of home daycare—really, I’ve LOOKED, and you will not find a better place for your child. ”
— JULIET S.G.
“Our 16-month-old has attended daycare at Child’s Play Piedmont Pines since August 2020 and we couldn’t be happier! Kaamil and her team are absolutely wonderful and in so many ways:
-Our son loves his teachers and his friends! -We get regular updates throughout the day (they use the Brightwheel app) -The team has created an environment nurturing our son’s growth and development across the board from diversity and inclusion to nutritious foods -The kids spend a lot of time outside and learn through various types of directed and free play, which we love
We hope to continue to grow with the Child’s Play Family as our family is expecting our next little one :)
We would highly recommend Child’s Play to anyone!”
— Rachel H.
“Child’s Play Wonderschool is the daycare that we have dreamed of bringing to reality. We are so happy with the staff, facilities, and environment that we couldn’t imagine a better scenario. My wife and I were very apprehensive about the child care search process and had a few tough experiences. Kaamil and her staff have brought a level of assurance and stability to our lives that is priceless. It’s been a wonderful experience, and we’re thankful to be a part of it. ”
— Wes D.
“We had toured many preschools in the Oakland area and even had our daughter on a few lists, but after touring Child’s Play Wonderschool, meeting the staff, and seeing how our daughter reacted to the environment, we knew this was a better fit. She was greeted with warmth, intrigued by the thoughtfully crafted play areas, and challenged with concepts fitting for 2 years old’s development. We are confident that she will feel loved and flourish academically during her time here. ”
— Sarah S.
“Child’s Play has been such a great place for our baby to learn, grow, explore and more importantly, be cared for by lovely people. We have been so fortunate to have started our child care journey at Child’s Play and seen how our baby has been able to grow bonds with all the care takers in ways we could not have imagined. Leaving your child in the care of someone else is always going to be scary, but our experience with Tracy and Kaamil and everyone at the school has allowed us the comfort in knowing that they take care of him like they would their own. The updates throughout the day, along with photos, gives me such peace of mind and allows me some insight into his day.”
— Thanh C.
“My son has been attending Child’s Play for about three months now, and I am delighted with his experience thus far. During his first year of life, my son had a nanny, so when it came time to find a daycare, my husband and I were apprehensive about the process. I often say that finding proper childcare might be harder than finding a spouse! Ha! Luckily we came across Child’s Play. In terms of what I love about the place, there are many things. Still, my top three are as follows: healthy/yummy food, enriching/engaging activities, and loving staff.
I know that when I drop off my child for the day, he will have a variety of nutritious snacks/meals that are made with lots of care. Kaamil, [the Founder], personally makes meals and plans the menu for the children. From the daily pictures updates I get, I can see that my child, as well as other children, can’t get enough of these tasty bites.
In terms of activities, I love the variety of experiences my son has at Child’s Play. From sensory activities to visual arts (painting/ drawing), gardening, and even weekly Music Together classes. When you enter Child’s Play, it’s easy to visualize how learning and play go hand-in-hand. There are about six different indoor areas designated for different types of the game. Additionally, children have two separate outdoor spaces to develop their gross motor skills. Ms.Tracy, [the Director], even sends updates letting parents know what children are learning/focusing each week with the aim that parents will reinforce these concepts at home.
Finally, and most importantly, what gives me plenty of relief when I leave my child each day, I know he is loved and cared for. The team of educators is phenomenal! Ms. Tracy and Kaamil greet my son every day with a big smile and a hug. Beyond affection, I know that Ms. Tracy is paying attention to [my son] and getting to know all his little quirks. Ms. Tracy already knows all about his love for reading “Brown Bear” and his dislike for getting messy. Ms. Fifi and Ms. Shani also care for Nacho with the utmost love and tenderness. Our family is very grateful to have joined this community. I know that this early investment in [our son’s] education will have benefits that will exponentially grow in the years to come.”
