Yikes Tikes

My son and I love Yikes Tikes! The small setting is perfect for a first preschool experience. Teacher Jackie is amazing with the kids. My son tells me that she makes him feel safe. Circle time and craft are two of his favorites and teacher Jackie makes it really fun. I love that I am able to go with him and am always welcome to stay. I really like getting to spend time with the other children and parents and being involved in the school.

We love Yikes Tikes! Ok, it’s a slightly unusual name for a preschool, and it may seem a little different than other preschools you tour, but I think it’s pretty amazing.
My son has been attending for about a year, since he was 2. It was initially recommended by a friend whose son had been in speech therapy. At this point in time my son doesn’t have special needs, but I love that it is an inclusive environment that supports kids wherever they are developmentally. We drive out of our way (past many other preschools) to attend Yikes Tikes because we believe it’s worth it!
Pros:
— Teachers and aides are fantastic with the kids, very well trained. They use techniques that help kids with their language abilities, self-​help, communication, peer relationships, etc.
— Regular (I think 3−4x/year) parent-​teacher conferences to discuss your child’s growth. It shows how much they are really paying attention to how the children are developing.
— It’s cheap! Right now is donation-​based, I know that it will change when it eventually moves.
— Great community of parents & families. Parents (and sometimes grandparents) help in the classroom and get to know each other’s kids.
— Option for 2 day (MW or TTh) or 4 day (MTWTh), depending on available space
— Small class size with one teacher, at least one aide, and at least one parent makes a low adult-​to-​child ratio
— The philosophy in general to be inclusive of all abilities and developmental stages, of different cultures, different socio-​economic backgrounds, etc.
Potential cons:
— Yikes Tikes is not for everybody. It is parent participation, and you have to be able to work in the classroom ¼ of your child’s enrolled time, as well as be on a committee and attend monthly parent meetings.
— Location — currently does not have outdoor space for a playground, but they make it work with taking walks around the neighborhood (beautiful Los Altos) and having outside time with sand, water, etc. They have a «gym» (aka gross motor room) with big toys on which to climb, slide, run, and jump.
— It is a half-​day preschool, not a full-​time daycare, if you are looking for that.
It’s worth taking a tour to see if it’s a good fit. I know that a move in location is on the horizon, potentially with a slight change in structure and price, but with the same leadership and philosophy.

My daughter has been with Yikes Tikes for about the last year and a half and will be graduating in a few weeks. Although we loved our previous preschool, attending Yikes Tikes has been transformative for her and for me.
As the mom of an older child with special needs, I believe strongly in Yikes Tikes inclusive model and philosophy. The staff are well-​trained and caring, and the co-​op makes us into a real community. At the same time, the volunteer requirements are not too onerous – we have several families with parents who work full-​time in our membership.
My daughter has thrived at Yikes Tikes more than I believed possible. Although the school follows the Reggio-​Emila approach to early childhood education and is thus not as academically oriented as many others in the area, she is more than ready to start kindergarten this fall, though she will be one of the youngest in her kindergarten class. I also believe that social-​emotional learning, which the school excels in promoting, is as important (if not more so) than academics at this young age.
Check out Yikes Tikes if you’d like to be part of a unique early childhood educational community that is filling a vital niche in Bay Area inclusive preschool education.

You can register your child as early as 15months for early childhood education… great place.

Yikes Tikes has been nothing short of a Godsend to my family, and I don’t mean that in a Christian way, as much as a «Perfect Timing & This Place Is Awesome» way. Before my son was diagnosed with Autism, he was merely «Delayed» but not delayed enough to get school district services. Yikes Tikes is able to fill that gap for children that fall in the Gap.
Teacher Monalisa is kind, patient, creative, loving, gentle and warm. Alex, the Director, cares deeply about the program not only being successful but being Wonderful.
I love the co-​op format because it allows families to really bond and create an even more supportive and loving environment for the kiddos. Parents have every opportunity to contribute to the school and classroom.
All of the staff of the adjoining CSLOT business are so sweet and kind.
I want to give the school 6 stars but Unilocal only goes to 5.