BANANAS Parent Programs, Playgroups, and Parenting Workshops

BANANAS Parent Programs, Playgroups, and Parenting Workshops offers parenting workshops, parent education classes, and playgroups for parents and caregivers. The program also provides child care referrals and resources, along with professional development trainings for all types of early care and education providers. Playgroups and other activities are held at BANANAS and out in the community.

• Ages: 0–8 years old
• Schedule: Open Monday–Thursday with daytime hours and Friday mornings

BANANAS has been supporting families in their parenting journey since 1974. Its mission is to partner with all types of families and child care providers to raise happy, confident children. The organization offers child care referrals and resources to families with young children and child care professionals in the Northern Alameda County cities of Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, Piedmont, Emeryville, and Alameda. The founding mothers chose the name BANANAS because their children were eating lots of bananas, they sometimes felt that they were going “bananas” with the 24/7 challenges of parenthood, and they wanted a name that was child-friendly, memorable, and not bureaucratic. The original name was “BANANAS: A Place to Find Playmates,” but it was changed after they received numerous calls from adults requesting friends for themselves and not their children. The program offers free activities, games, and resources for parents and caregivers of children prenatal to age 8, and its services include assisting families to find and pay for quality child care, along with parenting workshops, playgroups, and professional development for early care and education providers.

Last updated April 7, 2026.