Berkeley, CA
The Snuggery

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
My son has attended The Snuggery for 2 1/2 years. The first thing I noticed is how well the children get along. They are calm, happy and they play well together. If my son gets upset he is comforted. The teachers foster a sense of fairness between the children. I appreciate that it is a play-based school. My son has learned the alphabet, numbers and can write some words, yet he is never pressured to do any of this. The director has been very helpful when I have had parenting dilemmas and I have used her advice with success. The school goes all day and is affordable, which is a big help to me as a working mom.

Parent #2
Strengths: It has a rolling deadline and no peanut butter policy. Weaknesses: Their approach towards the kids is not that of love and respect, but of authority and harshness.

Parent #3
Strengths: (1)They have once a week dance class taught by an outside teacher.
(2) They are exceedingly good at enforcing no peanut policy. (This is the major part of teachers' responsibility.)

Weaknesses: (1) very poor facility, (2) Teachers' have no interest in teaching kids. Whenever I visited the school (between 10:00 -11:00AM), the kids were totally neglected while the teachers were gossiping. (3) It is expensive for what it is. It should not be called a preschool. It is worse than day care centers. Most of the home based day care centers charge less than this school.

Overall, I had a very experience with this school. I strongly discourage anybody from choosing this place. There are much better places in Berekely.




Parent #4
The school's policy includes strong consideration of various children's developmental needs including their social bonding, seperation, anxiety, peer pressures, adaptability, ability to understand their world. Children are encourage to bring favorite books and toys to share. Calm and polite way to resolve conflicts are encouraged, so is a sense of caring and helpfulness to all (especially to the younger ones). Children celebrate diversity and are discouraged from violence and commercialized cultures. Sensitivity towards chidlren's special needs (allergies, potty trainings, family stress etc.) is very high.

The facility could enjoy some upgrades in appearance, although the quality of toys in terms of complexity, variety and availability to the children is very high. Teachers sometimes tell the children how to play a certain toy, but they do encourage them to be creative within bounds.

Parent #5
The strengths of the school are the amazing structure and wonderful staff. The children are extremely well cared for and loved. They are learning amazing things, but are not forced to participate or do things they are not comfortable doing. The only weakness that I see is that the building itself could be newer, but I will take an old building with a wonderful curriculum and staff over a fancy new place that doesn't offer the same program anyday.

Parent #6
the school is able to accomodate kids with food allergies and asthma. the staff is highly knowladgable and pay close attention to the individual's needs.

Parent #7
Strengths: makes sure that no child is excluded; 2 year olds get to be with older kids (mixed age). Weaknesses: rigid director; some teachers lack 'the spark', small indoor area.

Parent #8
The strengths are in the hours and the price.

The weaknesses are in every other area: learning, community, connectedness, respect. Nothing to enrich or create a positive experience.

The Snuggery is not a terrible place comprised exclusively of those who wish harm to children, and want to paint no such picture. I do not want to diminish the positive experiences others have had. But, that said, it was the worst imaginable first experience my son could have had. It has instilled in him a fear of being left alone with anyone.

Montessori? Waldorf? Play-based?

What school type is right for your child? Is one model better than another? What does the research say?

View an example from the Savvy Source guide to learn more.

Trace around your child's foot, with shoe on, on a piece of white construction paper or card stock. Have child cut out the shoe print and add a spooky face. Glue it to a popsicle stick and you have a ghost stick puppet!

Comment (3)

Share From Send A Link To Your Comments:

Take Our Expert Quiz

how is your toddler or preschooler progressing developmentally?