Campbell Child Development Center

Excellent, play-​based preschool. The range of activities is so diverse and creative that, at times, I didn’t want to leave my daughter. Instead, I wanted to sit down and play with her! She came home with all sorts of new information every day — Interesting thoughts, pieces of information she’d learned or gleaned from some activity, stories about her day. I especially loved her group teacher, Leticia, who was smart, funny, warm, and creative about what and how she taught the kids. The administration can be a bit of a stickler about parents following their medley of processes/​rules. But, if you can push past all this, it’s well worth it to see your kid bloom in such a nurturing environment!

Our 3 year old started at Campbell CDC about 6 weeks ago. We were happy with her previous preschool, but had moved to a new area and it was just too far away.
The transition to Campbell CDC couldn’t have been easier for our daughter. From the first visit she was completely drawn into the inviting and thoughtful elements found at the school. The outdoor area, while not huge, was designed so thoughtfully as to make every last corner of the space both inviting and stimulating for the children. For example, the figure-​eight loop of sidewalk that encircles the play area features intentionally and creatively placed variations in the surface, inclines, and bumps. This multiplies the childrens’ enjoyment as they ride around on the tricycles.
The same thoughtfulness extends to the rest of the outdoor area as well as inside. Ellen, the director, has taken great care to make the preschool a place where kids are excited to come and choose from a wide array of engaging activities and experiences. She has also assembled a wonderful team of teachers who are clearly committed to providing a learning environment that draws children in.
There is always something new and creative for the children to do and learn. Overall, Campbell CDC is designed to help these little ones grow and develop into whole, healthy children who are ready for school with a love for learning and, importantly, with the social development to match.
We are so happy to have found Campbell CDC — makes me wish I were in preschool again!

I want to update my previous review. My daughter, now almost five, was scheduled to have a «gift year» at CCDC until she was socially ready for Kindergarten at age six. We were very eager to have her there for another year – it would have been three years, total – and were sad to learn recently that we’d be moving out of the area. My daughter was sad not only to leave her friends at school, but the teachers, the mud, the play structure, and the different centers. My husband and I suspected that we’d have a hard time finding another program of such high quality.
We looked high and low for a pre-​K program similar to CCDC in our new town. We found something close, but not perfect. If we could, I would keep my daughter in a play-​based, positive discipline-​oriented program through elementary school. The social and emotional learning she has done could not have been accomplished in a traditionally, academically-​oriented program.
This school is a wonderful gift to the community. I am so sad that we weren’t able to continue there through our daughter’s gift year. I hope other families will seek this program out, visit during open houses or during the school day, and take in everything available. There’s no other place like it.

I think this is one of those schools that sets a child up for a lifetime of love for school and learning. The teachers respect and empower the children by giving choices and the freedom to explore, while at the same time setting clear boundaries of safety and respect amongst the children. In fact, it’s the children, with the teacher’s guidance, that often come up with agreements about safety and respect during any given activity, and I’ve noticed the kids really embracing the agreements since they had a part in creating them. I’ve learned so much from the teachers and Director at this school, and during a conflict I often ask my girls, «What would you do if you were at preschool and this happened?». Because the teachers are so available to discuss issues and help with strategy, I’m able to mimic at home the positive discipline message of the school.

Our family loves Campbell Child Development Center! We enrolled my son almost a year and half ago when he turned two and he’s truly thrived at the school. The philosophy of the school and the quality of the facility itself are so hard to come by.
CCDC focuses on educating the whole child socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. The teachers support the children with positive discipline and learning through play. Children are encouraged to resolve their own conflicts using words and solutions they develop themselves. The teachers at the school (until some recent turnover) were amazing — so patient and loving, not to mention well educated and/​or experienced. The school is in a transition right now with new teachers, but on the road to rebuilding.
Twice a year, we have in-​depth parent-​teacher conferences to review progress over the last six months and discuss how we can work together on any issues or better support our son. The school keeps a book with photos and examples of how he’s «grown» over the last period of time and what milestones he’s achieved socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. I think most preschools don’t bother evaluating children at that level or routinely meeting with parents to discuss.
The school feels like family to us. My son loves all his teachers — past and present. CCDC has events throughout the year that bring together the families. One of my favorite school-​sponsored events was a six-​week positive discipline workshop. I learned some valuable parenting skills that have really helped me be a better parent to my toddler. I love our family nights and open house evenings where we can spend time with the other families and teachers. Quarterly we have family work days on a Saturday morning and it’s a great way to bond with everyone.
Regarding the facility, you’re not going to find a bunch of dated plastic toys. The school is very conscious of providing healthy activities and toys that stimulate the children’s creativity and learning. There’s sand & water play, a garden, mud play, art, science & nutrition (the kids get to cook hands-​on), math, language, dramatic play, block center, music & movement, and a fantastic climbing center. The kids get to travel between centers, so they make their own decisions about what they want to do (aside from group time). The centers are constantly updated with new themes, books, and materials. I love that my son has built elaborate structures using the blocks or magna tiles, gets to play in the mud, rides bikes to his heart’s delight (yes, they have a bike path… and a kid-​sized rickshaw and red wagon too), experiment with paint and clay, garden, cook, pretend to be an astronaut with his buddies, and so much more.
Likewise, CCDC emphasizes the importance of healthy nutrition. The snacks the school prepares (with the kids’ help, frequently) are healthy. They’ve been very accommodating with my son’s milk protein allergy by providing non-​dairy substitutes. There’s also guidelines for what shouldn’t be sent to school in the kids’ lunches. All the other preschool facilities I looked at were serving crap for snack, required I provide non-​dairy snack alternatives for my son, and could care less what you packed for lunch or how food affected behavior or learning.
Bottom line is the school and teachers really care about the kids — in every way. They want what’s best for the students. The relationship between the school and us as parents is a partnership. We couldn’t ask for a better preschool and are really looking forward to seeing their new infant program launch.

It’s been just over four years since my two daughters and I became a part of Campbell CDC. In just a few short weeks, my youngest will be «graduating» from CCDC and taking a break before starting up at another fantastic school where she will join her seven-​year old sister.
In the four years my family has been a part of Campbell CDC, I’ve seen a lot of change occur. Fantastic teachers have come and gone… and come again. Babies have been born. New and improved furniture and outdoor play items have been brought in, while a beloved but barely touched upright piano, a lot of tan bark, and one or two school pets departed. Children have grown up and moved on to elementary school and younger siblings have arrived to take their places. New policies have been created to replace outdated or ineffective ones. While most of the changes have been quite positive, there were a few — in particular the departure of some beloved teachers in the last year — that ruffled more than some parent feathers. Yet when I look back on our time at CCDC, I feel I can honestly say bringing my children here has been one of the very best choices I made as a parent, so far.
Had I not placed my daughters at Campbell CDC, I would not…
…have a clue about positive discipline and would be a less effective parent as a result
…know anything about Reggio-​Emilio philosophy which means I’d never have been motivated to rethink our elementary school choice for my oldest child and place her in a wonderful school up in Los Altos (see my other reviews for more info about Ventana)
…have met some wonderful families who I know will turn out to be lifelong friends for not only my children but for my husband and I
…have met some incredibly dedicated and talented women, the CCDC staff, who truly love and «get» young children
…have ever heard of Alfie Kohn which led me away from the overly traditional, homework-​based, punishment/​rewards-​based, testing-​based world that exists in most schools today to seek out a school that allows children to develop a love of learning naturally without cramming it down their throats
Is this preschool perfect? No. There is no such thing as the perfect preschool or school. I think the more important question is, when mistakes are made, does the staff and director show a real interest in course correction or do they pretend it’s business as usual? I can safely say Campbell CDC is not an environment where everyone whilstles in the dark, acting like all is well when in fact things are really going down the toilet. For example, when a handful of much-​loved legacy teachers resigned within a few months of one another, things got rough. Parents panicked. But then Ellen, the director, immediately began reaching out to parents in an effort to get honest feedback and provide open communication. Those were some tough times but Ellen, and the preschool, weathered through them like a champ. And as a result of the uncharacteristic staff turnover, she was inspired to realize one of her dreams which was to adapt CCDC into a place that welcomes infants as well as preschool-​aged children.
As for Ellen herself… she’s a brilliant woman with a strong personality and take-​charge manner some may find overwhelming. But she is passionately dedicated to her preschool and to making it the very best it can be for the children who come into her care. And she’s very open to feedback from parents… to the extent that I often wonder how she is able to decompress after work… because, let’s face it, preschool parents are a notoriously tough and highly critical crowd!
But I digress…
If I had to go back and do preschool all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. In spite of (and because of) some of the changes that happened earlier this year, Campbell CDC continues to be a top-​quality preschool that offers families a welcome alternative to the proliferation of academic-​based, low-​quality preschools that seem to be on every corner in the South Bay. If you want a preschool you can trust, where you can expect to learn about parenting and child development as your child learns through play, give CCDC a try.

Searching for preschools is so stressful. Even more so when you want low-​ratios and a play-​based experience for your child with professionals who walk the talk about what is truly developmentally-​appropriate for early childhood. There are so few choices out there. Add on to that the need for flexible days/​hours for my work schedule and panic set in.
When a friend told me about Campbell Child Development Center, it sounded too good to be true. But when I walked in, and saw the opportunities for the children — child-​led out-​of-​the box activities that evolved based in their curiosities and required problem-​solving skills — I was immediately impressed. A cooking & nutrition station where children can prep their own snack and then are taught responsibility for cleaning up, hands-​on science discovery every day, gardening and outdoor messy play — I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. It never did.
Both of my children (now 8 and 10) went here for 3+ years and we still go back to visit. I write this review now because I was recently reminded about how stressful the search can be and I want parents who value «learning through play» to put CCDC at the top of the list of preschools to tour. Ellen, the director, is an ethical leader who is committed to the highest standards and puts the children first. See for yourself!

Sending my child to this school was the worst mistake of my life! My daughter’s teacher was exceptional, however the director Ellen is the most disrespectful and dishonest person I have ever met. Beware if you child cannot say a letter properly because she will terminate you if you decide not to get a speech assessment! She does not allow parents to make decisions for their own children. If you don’t follow her advice she will terminate you. I am not the only parent that feels this way in the school either. I am just sorry my daughter had to be around someone such as this for a year of her life. After speaking with other preschools in the area I found out that what she did to my daughter was totally out of line and not one of the schools would terminate a child if they could not say a letter properly. I am so upset with how we were treated at this school and would never wish any child to go through what mine had to.

A magical place for children to grow and learn with age appropriate, play based curriculum. I feel so lucky to have found this school for my children. I would highly recommend it and often tell friends to tour Campbell CDC before making any decisions on preschools. It will change the way you look at your childs learning experience.