Hear the singing of a self-composed lullaby from a 3 year old as another little friend plays a Chilean cactus rainstick. Together, they lull a baby to sleep.
Watch a child instinctively calm down and lay on the floor, as others sway to the spare, gentle, and dreamy piano music of Satie.
Admire a community collage rendered by imaginative toddlers and proudly displayed on our art wall.
See children —carrying with them a throng of questions— march off to the park to explore nature, learn science as they observe ants in their dwelling.
Partake in the performance of a child dancing, drawn to the beautiful and grandiose sentiments of Rachmaninoff’s music.
Lend an ear to the children’s imagined story about Ben, an evil-guy-turned-protagonist, who learned how to love by caring for a den of lost baby snakes.
The mood of a rainy morning is not quite solemn as we read Prelutsky’s hilariously witty “It’s Raining Pigs and Noodles!”
"There are countless more adventures to be sought, knowledge to be seized, and stories to be told. We are not empty vessels waiting to be filled with information. We are brimming with ideas and possibilities, and we have a 'hundred languages' to express them!"
-Children at Piccolo Nido Preschool
______________________________________________________________________________________
We believe that the best place for a young child to learn and thrive is in a warm, familiar, natural environment — a home! We are a home based preschool licensed by California Childcare Licensing.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Program Benefits
An exemplary model in childhood education, the Reggio Emilia approach focuses on the child as an active and competent participant in his or her own learning. Teachers at Piccolo Nido are active co-learners who listen and observe what interests children. We use creative arts as a medium to help children express their ideas or develop child-initiated projects. This fosters teamwork, creativity, and in-depth study of children's own ideas and interests.
Our research-based music program is inspired by the teachings of Kodaly, Orff, and Dalcroze. Our daily classes establish a foundation for music learning through singing, listening, movement and dance, sensory games, story telling, drama and speech, and instrumental playing. Using fun and age-appropriate approach - a child experiences musical elements such as pulse, meter, rhythm, phrasing, pitch exploration, and form. We utilize a rich repertoire of traditional, folk literature, and contemporary materials.
There is scientific evidence that music training accelerates brain development and impacts the cognitive and socio-emotional development of children. Depending on a child’s readiness— we introduce the basics of piano playing to children 4-5 years old. Exciting benefits of piano playing include development of a child’s ability to memorize, coordinate fine motor muscles, to have sensitivity to patterns and musical expression, and develop focus and self confidence.
Visual arts allow children to express their thoughts and feelings that can be difficult to put in words. It is an excellent way to challenge a child's ability to think and create. Visual expression is an important step to personal development and learning. It builds confidence. At Piccolo, preschool children explore various safe, open-ended materials like clay, paint, paper, found objects, home made materials, natural objects. Guided by our talented teachers, children discover visual arts in its bi-dimensional and 3D forms. Visual art is such an amazing medium for children's communication, self-expression, and self-awareness.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math are smoothly combined in our child-centered approach to learning. Teachers introduce materials referred to as provocations to stimulate children’s curiosity and inspire them to think and explore. Children ask questions, plan and investigate, make observations, predict, and express their ideas.
Our child-centered program is dedicated to supporting the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being of young children. Children build skills very quickly in their first five years of life. At three years old, a toddler’s brain it has reached 85 percent of an adult brain! We make an effort to support their growing skills. Take for example social skills. We believe that Music, a daily part of our program, is a tool that promotes social skills and self-esteem. In our music class, children participating in singing games builds connection and social interaction. We read books and incorporate creative activities that encourage character development and self-regulation skills. They learn to listen, take turns, respect, cooperate, and make decisions.
Preschool is a critical time for language development. Piccolo Nido offers activities that promote children's oral and written language and strategies that pave the way for reading acquisition. Research confirms that reading is a strong predictor of a child's later academic success. We utilize developmentally appropriate, interactive, fun and easy phonics program. We have games and activities that enhance a child's language skills. We have daily read-aloud times where kids are exposed to age-appropriate materials. As children paint, mold clay, and engage in creative art activities - they develop fine motor muscles lay the foundation for writing.
Parent Reviews
I did observations and interviews at a dozen preschools and daycare centers before we settled on Piccolo Nido for our daughter. We were really impressed with Dain Stoll's talent, experience, enthusiasm for children, and sound educational philosophy. Since our daughter started we've been absolutely thrilled with how she's been doing. She's happy to go to daycare each day, she interacts well with the other kids, and she's made good progress with her developmental milestones. We were amazed that a ten-month-old could actually do painting! Dain is very loving, peaceful and compassionate, and she watches the children to draw out their individual interests. Since the daycare is still small, we're also glad that our daughter has had a virus-free transition.
Gigi L.
We thank you for all your hard work and playing such an important role in shaping our kids education! We love you!
-S.K.
Dain and Ruth are awesome! We've been taking our daughter here for almost two years, since she was six months old. She absolutely loves it, and so do we. I love that they play musical instruments (piano, bells, xylophone, drums) and do fun art activities everyday. They're great about schooling too, which honestly, I didn't give much though to, since our daughter is/was so young. I had no idea a two year old could learn letters and phonics and numbers as well as my daughter has - I'm truly blown away. They're all just really sweet, great people as well. We've got another child on the way, and I'm really glad we found them, as we'll be needing their services for many years to come!
-Tomek P.
We love taking our son to Piccolo Nido because we know that he is cared for there in an enriching and caring environment. The kids are constantly engaged in fun, enriching activities; they take daily walks to the park, read stories, sing, and get the opportunity to play with different types of musical instruments. My son loves going there. There are endless compliments I could give to Piccolo Nido, but ultimately, I am grateful to have a place I can leave my son during the day and have total confidence in the quality of care he will receive.
-Ken B.
There are a number of things I especially appreciate:
Firstly, Dain's house is very light and welcoming, and there is an atmosphere of transparency. Parents get to see what the kids are doing when they pick up the kids, and there seems to be a sense of family among the families who have kids there.
Secondly, Dain is very qualified and experienced with kids. She is musically gifted and combines that talent with her training in Reggio Emilio (an Italian creative arts method), and other ideas she's come across. Some of her materials look rather Montessori-esque (wooden, kid-sized equipment and jobs that kids can work on that build independence) and she also uses some phonics technique (can't remember what it's called), plus early childhood music development (developed by the composers, Kodaly and Orff).
She's very gentle and playful in how she presents all this stuff to the kids so it comes across as just a lot of fun but is actually well thought through and helps them with their development in multiple areas at once. Dain is also a mother, and is a font of help if we ask her advice on other things.
Her materials are absolutely outstanding. For example, when the kids play music they use the Yamaha grand piano, a toddler-sized xylophone (stainless steel and tuned to a pentatonic scale), Montessori-style bells (very tuneful), and high quality drums and percussion. No mindless banging on plastic, out-of-tune instruments! Sometimes I'd arrive and they were playing with Dain on the piano and a bunch of 1-, 2- and 4-year olds on the other instruments and it sounded amazing. Likewise, when she's teaching phonics, she has some large wooden objects that form the shapes of different letters and the kids do songs and dances for each of letter.
Finally, Dain creates a family atmosphere. All the kids love her and she helps them to treat each other with love and respect. I was passing through Pleasanton recently and took my daughter back to visit Dain and the other kids because she enjoyed her time there so much. When it came time to leave, my daughter started crying and said she wanted to stay there and kept giving Dain hugs! It was very moving."
-Steve L.
Thank you so much for all your love and energy you poured in into our kids all these years! There is no word for how much we appreciate being able to have them attend your school. We are so lucky! Thank you so much for the fantastic job you have done with the kids! We will miss you guys!
-Patty L.
Thank you for helping shape our son into what he is today. You will be remembered forever through his words and actions.
-Sarvani
We are so incredibly grateful that our daughter has been able to grow up with you and attend Piccolo Nido Preschool. I can't say it enough….. Thank you! We appreciate all the love, talent and inspiration you put into looking after her and the other kids. We know that's part of why our daughter is such a bright and happy kid. We will miss you very much!
-Ria L.
We loved the mix of academics, play and how nurturing Dain is. I struggled with leaving my daughter in a day care setting, but Dain really helped ease my anxiety. Dain is kind, warm and smart, and she is one of the few I trusted to watch my children.
Dain is an accomplished piano player so the children develop an appreciation for music and the arts. At 2 my daughter would sing new songs, bring home her interpretation of a Picasso painting and know the sounds of the alphabet. My daughter never complained about going to school and was actually excited to learn and be with her friends.
Piccolo Nido hones in on children's strengths and helps them flourish. Dain recognizes that each child is unique and crafts her curriculum for each child. There is not one negative thing I can say about Piccolo Nido. We loved it & highly recommend the program!
-Tony M.
I did observations and interviews at a dozen preschools and daycare centers before we settled on Piccolo Nido for our daughter. We were really impressed with Dain Stoll's talent, experience, enthusiasm for children, and sound educational philosophy. Since our daughter started we've been absolutely thrilled with how she's been doing. She's happy to go to daycare each day, she interacts well with the other kids, and she's made good progress with her developmental milestones. We were amazed that a ten-month-old could actually do painting! Dain is very loving, peaceful and compassionate, and she watches the children to draw out their individual interests. Since the daycare is still small, we're also glad that our daughter has had a virus-free transition.
We loved this place. My daughter loved this place. The director even has a grand piano in her living room and instruments and other stimulating toys to help kiddos in developing their unique selves. If you’re looking for a wonderful, safe, home daycare to send your child, that doesn’t feel clinical and is warm and personal, this is truly the best place you could hope for. In addition, I loved their approach to teaching a growth mindset. It sparked my daughter’s imagination and creativity. The only hard thing was getting my child to leave at the end of the day when I picked her up.
-Nic H.