Happy Days Children's Learning Center

Happy Days Children's Learning Center offers age appropriate projects, free play, and a rotating comprehensive monthly curriculum that includes science, math, and language. Parents of infants bring their food from home, and at the Harvey West facility toddlers and preschoolers are served healthy, nut-free, trans-fat free, and vegetarian meal options. Classrooms and learning environments are cleaned daily with toxin-free products, and children are dropped off and picked up at their classroom door so teachers can scan for signs of illness and help prevent spread of disease.

• Ages: 0–4 years old
• Schedule: Full day defined as a 9-hour time slot within open hours, with 4-hour half-day options available in the morning or afternoon

Since 1995, Happy Days Children's Learning Center has provided a place where young children in the community can actively participate in their own learning and developmental process. The program uses a child-centered approach and a nurturing environment that encourages both cooperative and independent learning, with programs that support growth through active play and discovery for toddlers and classroom skills in science, math, and language for preschoolers through a rotating comprehensive monthly curriculum. The mission of Happy Days is to maximize confidence and love of learning in positive ways, with an educational approach focused on developing self-esteem, independence, and social skills so that children reach their potential in constructive ways.

Experienced teachers at Happy Days have access to top-quality educational and classroom resources for preschoolers. The leadership team includes owners Mary Ellen Salciccia Spanu and Toby Salciccia, teachers and directors Andrea Marc and Alejandrina Parez, and teacher and office assistant Kristina Salciccia. Entry ways are closed to prevent strangers from entering, and parents receive logs of how their children spent the day so behavioral and developmental events are not missed.

The program encourages children to be inclusive and to feel grounded in their own roots, and collaboration and strong communication guide everyone to become the best version of themselves. Many families remain close for years, and many report that they have found community beyond scheduled daycare times. Happy Days is a place where parents can meet to support each other, network about milestones, ask developmental questions in a safe environment, and share information such as baby products and what to do if a child has chickenpox. Happy Days facilitates childcare with exchange of wisdom gained from watching children grow, and its hands-on approach helps cultivate friendships that continue into secondary education.

Happy Days Children's Learning Center was recognized as the Good Times Best of Santa Cruz Runner-up in 2021. Testimonials from families describe long-term care over many years, appreciation for the staff and teachers, and positive experiences for children and their siblings and grandchildren.

Last updated March 25, 2026.