Piedmont Recreation Department Preschool Programs
401 Hampton Road, Piedmont, CA 94611
About
Piedmont Recreation Department Preschool Programs include Tiddlywinks: Caterpillars and Tiddlywinks: Butterflies, Skipping Stones, Hillside Playschool, and Pre-K. The programs follow a play-based approach with hands-on experiences, social exploration, and creative play. Children attend on set weekday schedules in the morning and early afternoon, with specific weekly hour limits based on age.
• Ages: 18 months–5 years old
• Schedule: School-year programs with fall, winter, and spring sessions; morning and early afternoon class options Monday–Thursday, with some Monday–Wednesday–Friday and Tuesday–Thursday options
• Price: $500 deposit is due at the time of enrollment if selected from the school year lottery.
The preschools serve children ages 18 months and older, with children under 3.8 years attending up to 12 hours per week and children 3.8 years and older attending up to 16 hours per week. Tiddlywinks: Caterpillars is for children who are 18 months by August 25, 2026 (must be walking) and no older than 23 months as of December 31, 2026. Tiddlywinks: Butterflies is for children who are 24 months by August 17, 2026 and no older than 3 years as of September 1, 2026. Skipping Stones is for children who are 2.9 years by August 17, 2026 and no older than 4 years as of December 31, 2026. Hillside Playschool is for children who are 3.8 years by August 17, 2026 and no older than 5 years as of December 31, 2026. Pre-K is for children who are 4 years by August 17, 2026 and who do not turn 6 years before December 31, 2026.
Tiddlywinks: Caterpillars meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am–12:00 pm, with drop-off from 9:00–9:05 am, and runs one school year with fall (August 25–October 30), winter (November 2–February 12), and spring (February 22–May 25) sessions. Tiddlywinks: Butterflies, Skipping Stones, Hillside Playschool, and Pre-K each run one school year with fall (August 17–October 30, 11 weeks), winter (November 2–February 12, 12 weeks), and spring (February 22–May 27, 13 weeks) sessions. Tiddlywinks: Butterflies meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 am–12:00 pm, with drop-off from 9:00–9:05 am. Skipping Stones meets Monday–Thursday from 9:00 am–12:00 pm, with drop-off from 9:00–9:05 am. Hillside Playschool meets Monday–Thursday from 9:05 am–1:00 pm, with drop-off from 9:00–9:05 am. Pre-K meets Monday–Thursday from 9:05 am–1:00 pm, with drop-off from 9:00–9:05 am.
The programs use a lottery system to select participants for each preschool program. For the 2026/2027 school year, the lottery open enrollment period via CommunityPass for Piedmont residents opens Monday, January 26, 2026 at 8:00 am and closes Friday, February 6, 2026 at 4:00 pm, and for non-residents opens Monday, February 9, 2026 at 8:00 am and closes Friday, February 20, 2026 at 4:00 pm. Lottery selection day is Monday, February 9, 2026 for residents and Monday, February 23, 2026 for non-residents. Enrollment confirmations begin Tuesday, February 10, 2026 for residents and Tuesday, February 24, 2026 for non-residents. A $500 deposit is due at the time of enrollment if a child is selected from the school year lottery.
Child-to-staff ratios are 4:1 for Tiddlywinks programs, 5:1 for Skipping Stones and Hillside Playschool, and 6:1 for Pre-K. Maximum enrollment is 10 children for Tiddlywinks: Caterpillars, 20 children for Tiddlywinks: Butterflies, 10 children for Skipping Stones, 16 children for Hillside Playschool, and 14 children for Pre-K. Toilet training is not required for Tiddlywinks: Caterpillars and Tiddlywinks: Butterflies and is required for Skipping Stones, Hillside Playschool, and Pre-K.
The Piedmont Recreation Department states that its preschools provide play-based learning environments with hands-on experiences, social exploration, and creative play, and that they are community-based and enrichment-driven. The preschools operate as License-Exempt programs under California's Community Care licensing regulations. The department notes that children under 3.8 years may attend up to 12 hours per week and children 3.8 years and older may attend up to 16 hours per week. The program leadership includes Recreation Supervisor, Katrina Morris. A Preschool Information Session for parents and guardians only is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10:00–11:30 am, and a Parent Observation calendar offers 20-minute adult-only observations beginning the week of January 12th through mid-February.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
• Ages: 18 months–5 years old
• Schedule: School-year programs with fall, winter, and spring sessions; morning and early afternoon class options Monday–Thursday, with some Monday–Wednesday–Friday and Tuesday–Thursday options
• Price: $500 deposit is due at the time of enrollment if selected from the school year lottery.
The preschools serve children ages 18 months and older, with children under 3.8 years attending up to 12 hours per week and children 3.8 years and older attending up to 16 hours per week. Tiddlywinks: Caterpillars is for children who are 18 months by August 25, 2026 (must be walking) and no older than 23 months as of December 31, 2026. Tiddlywinks: Butterflies is for children who are 24 months by August 17, 2026 and no older than 3 years as of September 1, 2026. Skipping Stones is for children who are 2.9 years by August 17, 2026 and no older than 4 years as of December 31, 2026. Hillside Playschool is for children who are 3.8 years by August 17, 2026 and no older than 5 years as of December 31, 2026. Pre-K is for children who are 4 years by August 17, 2026 and who do not turn 6 years before December 31, 2026.
Tiddlywinks: Caterpillars meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am–12:00 pm, with drop-off from 9:00–9:05 am, and runs one school year with fall (August 25–October 30), winter (November 2–February 12), and spring (February 22–May 25) sessions. Tiddlywinks: Butterflies, Skipping Stones, Hillside Playschool, and Pre-K each run one school year with fall (August 17–October 30, 11 weeks), winter (November 2–February 12, 12 weeks), and spring (February 22–May 27, 13 weeks) sessions. Tiddlywinks: Butterflies meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 am–12:00 pm, with drop-off from 9:00–9:05 am. Skipping Stones meets Monday–Thursday from 9:00 am–12:00 pm, with drop-off from 9:00–9:05 am. Hillside Playschool meets Monday–Thursday from 9:05 am–1:00 pm, with drop-off from 9:00–9:05 am. Pre-K meets Monday–Thursday from 9:05 am–1:00 pm, with drop-off from 9:00–9:05 am.
The programs use a lottery system to select participants for each preschool program. For the 2026/2027 school year, the lottery open enrollment period via CommunityPass for Piedmont residents opens Monday, January 26, 2026 at 8:00 am and closes Friday, February 6, 2026 at 4:00 pm, and for non-residents opens Monday, February 9, 2026 at 8:00 am and closes Friday, February 20, 2026 at 4:00 pm. Lottery selection day is Monday, February 9, 2026 for residents and Monday, February 23, 2026 for non-residents. Enrollment confirmations begin Tuesday, February 10, 2026 for residents and Tuesday, February 24, 2026 for non-residents. A $500 deposit is due at the time of enrollment if a child is selected from the school year lottery.
Child-to-staff ratios are 4:1 for Tiddlywinks programs, 5:1 for Skipping Stones and Hillside Playschool, and 6:1 for Pre-K. Maximum enrollment is 10 children for Tiddlywinks: Caterpillars, 20 children for Tiddlywinks: Butterflies, 10 children for Skipping Stones, 16 children for Hillside Playschool, and 14 children for Pre-K. Toilet training is not required for Tiddlywinks: Caterpillars and Tiddlywinks: Butterflies and is required for Skipping Stones, Hillside Playschool, and Pre-K.
The Piedmont Recreation Department states that its preschools provide play-based learning environments with hands-on experiences, social exploration, and creative play, and that they are community-based and enrichment-driven. The preschools operate as License-Exempt programs under California's Community Care licensing regulations. The department notes that children under 3.8 years may attend up to 12 hours per week and children 3.8 years and older may attend up to 16 hours per week. The program leadership includes Recreation Supervisor, Katrina Morris. A Preschool Information Session for parents and guardians only is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10:00–11:30 am, and a Parent Observation calendar offers 20-minute adult-only observations beginning the week of January 12th through mid-February.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
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