HAPPY TOGETHER PRESCHOOL

Licensing visits on record

California records 0 routine inspection visits and no visits prompted by a complaint to HAPPY TOGETHER PRESCHOOL.

How the reviews split

The 4.9 average comes from 9 Google reviews. An average hides whether opinion is consistent or divided, so the spread is shown too.

• 5 star8
• 4 star1
• 3 star0
• 2 star0
• 1 star0

From Google

Recent parent reviews

• ★★★★★

  Our son has attended Happy Together Preschool for nearly two and a half years. We consider ourselves lucky and blessed to have found such a wonderful, nurturing environment for him to learn and grow through his toddler years. The directors, Monica and Tim, along with the teachers, are true advocates for children. They have been instrumental in shaping my son’s social and emotional development, while fostering his creativity and curiosity. For him, preschool is not just somewhere to pass the time – he knows that it’s a place he belongs and has purpose. The play-based school is guided by principles of nonviolent communication –- as a result, it’s helped my son grow into a sweet-natured, thoughtful and confident little boy. I am amazed at his ability to communicate and empathize with others. The things he’s learned at school have profoundly enriched our lives at home as well. We wholeheartedly love and enthusiastically recommend Happy Together Preschool.

  Marissa HeresoFeb 13, 2015
• ★★★★★

  Our 3 year old son has been going to Happy Together Pre-school for 6 months now and it has been an amazing experience for him and our family! The school is small, 12-15 kids / day, between the ages of 2-5 and provides lots of individual attention which is particularly great for shy or less outgoing kids. Our son has made lots of friends, absolutely adores his teachers and can't get enough of the ample playtime in the natural playscape backyard that offers fun and safe exposure to nature..something that is not always easy or readily accessible in an urban setting. Happy Together's play-based and nonviolent communication approach has really helped our son develop. The teachers, fellow students and their families are amazing. I highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a a truly great pre-school to nurture their child's sense of self and to teach them a healthy approach to building meaningful relationships with others, young and old!

  Marcus YeltonJan 22, 2015
• ★★★★★

  My son attends Happy Together Preschool (this is the start of his second year) and loves it! He is 4 ½ and attends four days a week, and wishes he could go every day. Really! Prior to starting preschool a nanny cared for him part-time for a few years. As such, one of my initial concerns was how he’d handle a different ratio of adults to children. In reality, it was a non-issue for him. Happy Together has a low ratio of children to adults (I think it’s 5:1). And, currently, two of the teachers are male, which I think is uncommon yet important. The school site is small yet well used. One enters via the outdoor play space, which is full of natural materials. The only plastic I’m aware of includes the slides built into the hillside and some of the sand play toys. There’s an outdoor table where kids eat their lunch, a sand area, fruit trees, sensory table, a water pump, climbing wall, art easels and more. Until this year Happy Together was a one-room preschool. The primary room has several distinct areas including: library and reading nook, small tables used for eating/activities, dramatic play area, and open-ended play area for building and such. The school recently got access to an adjoining room, which is currently used for gross motor activities. My son is very active and a primary concern when choosing a preschool for him was the size (especially outdoor space). My boy needs to move and I thought that he needed a large space to do so. However, I realized I was looking at the school through my adult lens, rather than that of a kid. What I perceive to be a small space hasn’t been an issue for him at all. In addition to the spaces mentioned, there is also the patio. This is another outdoor area that is used for riding trikes, running, and other gross motor activities. Other characteristics we love about Happy Together: •Use of non-violent communication when dealing with conflict and in general •Monthly themes focusing on different emotions/characteristics (such as empathy) •Openness toward the full spectrum of Bay-Area families •Choices- kids get to choose where they want to spend their time during the morning flow. They can move in and outside according to their desire. *Play-based curriculum •Spanish language enrichment - several teachers speak Spanish and read stories/sing songs during the day •Jewish cultural enrichment: eating challah on Fridays, celebrating Jewish holidays, singing songs in Hebrew * Everything is intentional and well thought out All of the teachers are personable, friendly and really seem to know my child. When I drop him off in the morning the teachers welcome him (most often at his eye level) with warmth. I honestly feel that my kiddo is nurtured at Happy Together. When I greet him at the end of the school day he has a huge smile on his face and often times hands me his latest artistic creation and/or he is wearing some tell-tale sign of his activities on his clothes. (I love that he gets dirty because it’s a sign of his engagement.) One of the best aspects of my son’s attendance at Happy Together is that he has made many friends and I’ve become friends/friendly with their parents. It’s a win-win situation. I wholeheartedly recommend Happy Together Preschool.

  behoffmanOct 10, 2014
• ★★★★★

  My daughter attended Happy Together from age 3.5 to age 4.5. She loved the setting, the activities, the Spanish songs they learned and the very loving teachers who work there. I loved the substantial school days -- it was important for me to be able to get some work done while she was at school -- and my daughter got a lot done too, it seems, based on all the art she brought home. Nice landscaping to make an interesting campus out of a rather small area. I also liked the way they observed the Jewish holidays culturally, but not religiously, which works with the way our family observes the holidays.

  Katherine HeaterAug 2, 2014
• ★★★★★

  I am writing to give my highest recommendation to Happy Together Preschool on Grand Avenue. My son started at Happy Together when he was just under 2 ½ years old and he will soon be 5. He is clearly filled with joy whenever he hears it’s a “school day,” and has not once, in those 2 and a half years, said that he didn’t want to go. This has brought a peace of mind to us as parents for which we are extremely grateful. Monica Haddad and Tim Silk, Director and Co-Director of Happy Together have adopted as their motto, “Creating a more peaceful world one child at a time.” I have been inspired throughout my son’s time at Happy Together by how deeply, sincerely, and thoughtfully, Monica and Tim (and the rest of the teachers) apply themselves to this ideal. While this is a motto to which I can imagine others paying only lip service, Monica and Tim and the rest of the staff at Happy Together are clearly unified around creating peace and psychological wellness for the children. They work at it moment to moment, one child interaction to the next. The level of equanimity, patience and skill they use to foster empathic, caring, and yet authentic, interactions between the children is amazing. While there are many outstanding things to note about Happy Together (play-based, emergent curriculum, green classroom, healthy snacks, daily creative projects with interesting materials, Spanish language/Jewish cultural teachings, music, visiting fire truck), the truly unique aspect of Happy Together is their philosophical inspiration coming from the principles/teachings of Non-Violent Communication, and from research coming out of The Greater Good Center at UC Berkeley. Under the guidance of Monica, these influences interact to create an environment at Happy Together that feels safe, calm, and consistent, yet is also energized with creativity, spontaneity, and social connectivity. Through modeling, mediating, and teaching, the Happy Together staff inspire the children to increased emotional awareness and tolerance/understanding of each other; they give them language to identify and express what is going on inside them and between them. I first heard the echo of Monica and Tim in my son when he was around 3, and we began to have an argument about something. He said, “Is this a dilemma?” He identified that a “dilemma” was when people both wanted different things, and had different feelings in a situation. His recognition of conflicts and the drives/emotions behind them, and his patience in seeking mutually acceptable ways of solving them have grown continually since then. I could say much more, but I will leave it at this: Happy Together has been a truly wonderful, enriching place for us (parents included). The individuality of our son has been delighted-in, and he has been loved and cared for in a way that has left a lovely, peaceful, indelible mark.

  Ginny MommsenJul 15, 2014
• ★★★★★

  I was looking for a preschool whose culture matches our own family culture: teaching kindness, empathy, and collaboration. Most preschools out there are very suited for the assertive, competitive, rambunctious child, and the more quiet and considerate kids get lost in the shuffle. My child is quieter, more conscientious, and less competitive, because we haven't taught him to be competitive. I'm a marriage and family therapist, so I know that at this age, teaching competition (whether overtly or inadvertently isn't age appropriate and I believe harmful). Kids in preschool need to feel safe and included, heard and loved. All of the teachers at HappyTogether Preschool exceeded my expectations. They have gentle personalities that I wish I have more of. I know my child needs to be around calm personalities and I'm glad he's getting it here! Also, Tim and Monica are always so open to working with me whenever I have a concern. My son was at a different preschool last year, where he always played alone and felt overwhelmed. Now he loves going to school and has 5 consistent friends he plays with here! He cuddles with a couple of the teachers, and no longer has any hesitation to voice his ideas! I cannot recommend HappyTogether Preschool enough.

  Laura TranMay 27, 2014

Reviews shown verbatim as published on Google Maps.