BlueSkies for Children
BlueSkies for Children, 3021 Brookdale Ave, Oakland, CA 94602
About
BlueSkies for Children offers a program where children spend their days in classrooms that invite exploration and in yards with natural materials and growing things. The program includes both nurturing and enriching activities in a homelike setting, with diapers provided, assistance in toilet training, and nutritious meals prepared on site and tailored to each age group. The Children’s Program views childcare as both a service for working parents and an opportunity to create a wonderful life for young children, with a curriculum that supports growth in cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.
• Ages: 0–5 years old
• Schedule: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily
BlueSkies for Children serves about 92 children from 2 months to 5 years of age in six classrooms, divided between the Hedco Infant Toddler Center (Baby House, Wobbly Walkers, and Todds) and the Ellen Sherwood Nursery School (Playroom, Homeroom, and Schoolroom). Philosophy elements include speaking to children and adults in a kind and respectful manner, arranging the day, staff, and school with consistent routines and rules, welcoming children and families from varied backgrounds, accepting each child as a human being with unique strengths and needs, preparing wholesome food on site appropriate to each age, helping children get the sleep they need, and offering choices in their play. BlueSkies helps families build emotionally secure home environments by providing counseling, support, and parenting classes.
BlueSkies for Children is a private, nonprofit program founded in 1983, with roots in a center in East Oakland that cared primarily for the children of young teen mothers in residence. BlueSkies for Children has been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) since 2005 and is the only NAEYC-accredited childcare center in Oakland. The mission of BlueSkies is to practice and share an optimal approach to education and care of young children based on the interrelated disciplines of human development, supporting children and families and serving as an educational center for caregivers and the community.
BlueSkies is committed to providing high-quality support to children and their families, with children experiencing balanced play, nurturing, and learning in a homelike setting that fosters meaningful relationships with educated teachers. Among staff, 44.4% hold MA or BA degrees, 39% have been at BlueSkies more than five years, 80% are people of color, 91% are full-time employees, and the teacher turnover rate is 22%. Fast facts about the program include 15% of families receiving reduced tuition, 48% of children being children of color, 83% of families living in Oakland, an average monthly enrollment of 81 children, an average of 42.16 hours enrolled per week, and an average of 36 employees.
BlueSkies continues its community involvement through the Liisa Hale Scholarship Program, which offers significant financial support to families who qualify for aid, and through a partnership with Castlemont High School that offers training and course credit for volunteering in the program. The organization values the efforts, education, and tenure of staff by providing courses toward their degrees at no or low cost and supporting early childhood education as a long-term career choice in a field dominated by hardworking women of color. BlueSkies also supports the broader community by mentoring and honoring staff, presenting discussions with leading researchers in early childhood education, and training teachers in other early childhood programs to provide thoughtful, play-based group care for children.
Last updated June 22, 2026.
• Ages: 0–5 years old
• Schedule: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily
BlueSkies for Children serves about 92 children from 2 months to 5 years of age in six classrooms, divided between the Hedco Infant Toddler Center (Baby House, Wobbly Walkers, and Todds) and the Ellen Sherwood Nursery School (Playroom, Homeroom, and Schoolroom). Philosophy elements include speaking to children and adults in a kind and respectful manner, arranging the day, staff, and school with consistent routines and rules, welcoming children and families from varied backgrounds, accepting each child as a human being with unique strengths and needs, preparing wholesome food on site appropriate to each age, helping children get the sleep they need, and offering choices in their play. BlueSkies helps families build emotionally secure home environments by providing counseling, support, and parenting classes.
BlueSkies for Children is a private, nonprofit program founded in 1983, with roots in a center in East Oakland that cared primarily for the children of young teen mothers in residence. BlueSkies for Children has been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) since 2005 and is the only NAEYC-accredited childcare center in Oakland. The mission of BlueSkies is to practice and share an optimal approach to education and care of young children based on the interrelated disciplines of human development, supporting children and families and serving as an educational center for caregivers and the community.
BlueSkies is committed to providing high-quality support to children and their families, with children experiencing balanced play, nurturing, and learning in a homelike setting that fosters meaningful relationships with educated teachers. Among staff, 44.4% hold MA or BA degrees, 39% have been at BlueSkies more than five years, 80% are people of color, 91% are full-time employees, and the teacher turnover rate is 22%. Fast facts about the program include 15% of families receiving reduced tuition, 48% of children being children of color, 83% of families living in Oakland, an average monthly enrollment of 81 children, an average of 42.16 hours enrolled per week, and an average of 36 employees.
BlueSkies continues its community involvement through the Liisa Hale Scholarship Program, which offers significant financial support to families who qualify for aid, and through a partnership with Castlemont High School that offers training and course credit for volunteering in the program. The organization values the efforts, education, and tenure of staff by providing courses toward their degrees at no or low cost and supporting early childhood education as a long-term career choice in a field dominated by hardworking women of color. BlueSkies also supports the broader community by mentoring and honoring staff, presenting discussions with leading researchers in early childhood education, and training teachers in other early childhood programs to provide thoughtful, play-based group care for children.
Last updated June 22, 2026.
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