Parents Press August 2026

AUGUST 2026

2026 500+

PICKS OF THE Top Places

Making a Positive Impact The Learning Center

A New Program for Students with Dyslexia and Other Language-Based Learning Differences The Learning Support Your Child Deserves Campus Tours Available Now

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CONTENTS

AUGUST 2026

Volume 44 • Number 12

14

WHAT’S INSIDE 6 Family F.Y.I. • • • •

THE RESULTS ARE IN!

Back to School Anxiety Playground Safety Free National Park Days Online Admissions Event Calendar•

100+ categories and over 500 winners!

11

40

36

Best Practices to Protect Your Child in Sport

5 Individual Sports for Kids Who Shy Away from Team Sports

Dyslexia and Your Child

Publisher | Parenting Media, Inc.

Mailing Address: 875-A Island Dr, Ste 421 Alameda, CA 94502 info@parentspress.com

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Art Director | Debbi Murzyn Advertising Sales & General Info sales@parentspress.com Send letters to the editor to editor@parentspress.com

Parents’ Press is published monthly. ©2026 Parents’ Press

How do I know if my child or student is dyslexic?

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2014 | East Bay | Parents ’ Press 11 Cindy Rasicot, MFT |March cindy.rasicot@gmail.com | 510.332.0463

Dynamic Education March 2014 | East Bay | Parents’ Press 11 Optimizing Each Child’s Potential

PP EB MAR 2014_1-16.26rm.indd 11

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Good to Know

2026 Best of Parents Press Reader’s Choice Results Now Available!

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e asked and you told us who your Bay Area favorites are, in droves! Parents Press received over 200,000 votes from you guys! Awesome! We have your places to vacation, museums to visit, restaurants, schools, medical, special needs and the list goes on and on! Plus, you can find even more categories online at ParentsPress.com. Mark your calendars!

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oting for 2027 Parents Press Reader’s Choice starts March 1.

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Back to School Anxiety How to make the transition easier.

F

eelings of anxiety are expected for children going through transitions such as going back to school. Over the summer, routines have changed and worries of the unknown may begin to stir as the school year approaches. There are ways to recognize anxiety in your child, as well as interventions that can help relieve those feelings. Some behaviors that may indicate your child is having anxiety surrounding the return to school are irritability, change in sleep patterns, continually seeking reassurance or asking repeated questions, and in some cases complaints of headache, fatigue and stomach ache. It is important for your child to attend school to learn that their fears can be overcome, as prolonged absence can worsen your child’s fears.

LISTEN

One of the best ways to make the school transition easier on your child is to acknowledge their anxiety. This can be done by listening to your child’s feelings and encouraging them to speak to you about how they feel. It is important to validate their feelings and not dismiss them. Demonstrate confidence that your child can handle the situation.

PRACTICE

Practicing school routines is another way to prepare your child for school. This can include practice walks to the bus stop, evening routines of packing the backpack and picking 6 Parents Press | August 2026

out their clothes, or routines that begin when they wake up such as breakfast, getting dressed and traveling to school.

Having a school tour prior to the first day can be a great way to introduce the new environment, as well as finding a new friend or neighbor who will be at the school prior to the first day.

During the practice runs, it’s helpful to support your child as they think through difficult points of their day such as changing classrooms.

ROLE MODEL

Another way to provide relief for your child is modeling the calm behavior you would like to see. This can feel difficult in situations where you feel stressed, rushed, or anxious yourself.

To work through your own feelings, think of taking deep breaths and remind yourself that your child’s behavior is being driven by anxiety.

SLEEP

Another method to set your child up for success for the new school year is ensuring enough sleep based on their age.

The new wake-up schedule for school may need to be slowly implemented 1-2 weeks ahead of the first day. Feelings of fatigue can enhance your child’s anxiety.

After the school year begins, if your child continues to display signs of anxiety such as tantrums, problems sleeping, and/or refusal to attend school or activities, speak with your primary care provider about further interventions.

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Good to Know

P

rivate School Online Admission Events Calendar

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hat better way to keep track of all the Bay Area preschool and private school’s admission events than this handy tool! With over 50 schools & preschools participating, check out the Online Open House & Admissions Calendar on ParentsPress.com.

Look for the School Open Houses button on the main header bar and tap. Don’t forget to tell them you saw their event on https:// parentspress.com

Playground Safety The Most Common Injuries and How to Prevent Them

P

laygrounds are a fun and stimulating environment for kids to play and burn off energy. Although playgrounds can be fun, each year more than 220,000 children under age 14 are brought to the emergency room for playground injuries. Most injuries are a result of falling from equipment. This can include broken bones, cuts, bruises, sprains, concussions, and internal injuries. The most common injured body part is the arm.

Depending on how high the child is and the way they fall will determine what injuries they may face. This can also happen on monkey bars or swings. Children may lose their grip on monkey bars and fall as a result. Moreover, on swings, children may try to jump off of them midair. This could result in them trying to break their fall incorrectly and cause numerous injuries.

Children can also get injured if the playground area and equipment are not maintained. This can include if a slide, seesaw, swing, etc. has an exposed sharp edge. Children may not see it at first and then be playing and cut themselves.

Children may also come into contact with trash or other unsafe objects that were not cleaned up in the playground, causing injury or illness.

The playground is a great place for social interaction for children and a great place for exercise.

Parents can keep their child safe and allow for them to have a great time by following these simple precautions!

8 Parents Press | August 2026

2026 National Parks FEE-FREE Days

A

ccording to former National Park Service Director Chuck Sams, “The entrance fee-free days to encourage people to discover the beauty, history, and inspiration awaiting them in the more than 400 national parks throughout the country.”

Only about 100 of the 400+ national parks have an entrance fee, with costs ranging from $5 to $35+. Detailed information about what to see and do in each park is available on NPS.gov or the NPS app. It’s essential for people to know before they go what is open and available, especially if they are staying overnight. Fee-free days apply only to entrance fees and do not cover amenity or user fees for camping, boat launches, transportation, special tours or other activities. , The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass allows the pass holder and companions accompanying them unlimited access to over 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks. There are also free and discounted passes available for currently serving members of the U.S. military and their dependents, military veterans, Gold Star Families, fourth-grade students, disabled citizens, and seniors.

Free Entrance Days for 2026

August 25: NPS Birthday September 17: Constitution Day October 27: Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday November 11: Veterans Day

These are “patriotic fee-free days,” and non-residents will still need to pay entrance fees. 

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Safety First: Talking with Your Young Athlete

By Ju’Riese Colón, CEO of the U.S. Center for SafeSport

Health and well-being are often things adults prioritize at the start of every new year, but what about the youngest among us?

For those with children in sports or thinking about joining organized athletic activities, it’s never too early to find age-appropriate ways to start talking with your young athlete about positive behavior in sport settings. While these conversations can help prevent abuse and other forms of misconduct, they also support crucial life skills like establishing healthy boundaries.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is the first national organization in the world dedicated to preventing and responding to abuse within the Olympic and Paralympic movement. But, we cannot do it alone. Shifting sport culture is going to take all of us. The good news is that sport safety can start with something as simple as a conversation—even with kids 5 and under.

Based on the Center’s Parent and Guardian’s Handbook for Safer Sport, here are tangible ways you can talk about boundaries and introduce simple rules related to sport participation with your young athlete.

• Tell your child you value their safety first. If a coach does something that hurts their feelings, hurts them physically, or makes them feel uncomfortable, encourage them to tell you (or another trusted adult) as soon as they can.

• Talk about other adults in their world they consider “safe.” This helps your child feel comfortable sharing concerns with another trusted adult if you are not available. In some families, these may be aunts, uncles, or grandparents. For others, a trusted adult

might be a best friend’s parent, a teacher, caregiver, or pediatrician.

• Ask open-ended questions that can draw out detailed answers. In other words, instead of questions that can be answered with yes or no, ask questions such as “What was your favorite/least favorite part of practice?”

When we establish an open dialogue, kids know they can come to us early and communicate safely.

Remember that you don’t have to tackle everything at once. In fact, it’s best to make a commitment to start smaller conversations over the course of time.

Talk about Emotional Misconduct • Reinforce that a coach may criticize a specific behavior—a kick, a catch, a run—but should never criticize the child personally.

• Teach your child the difference between helping words (such as “you can do it” or “great job trying”) and hurting words (such as “you’re stupid” and “you can’t do anything right”).

• Tell them they should let you know if a coach uses hurtful words when they talk to them.

Talk about Physical Misconduct • Communicate about physical boundaries with your child before they attend their first class/practice. That includes boundaries between themself and other players as well as the coach.

• Discuss disciplinary techniques that you as a parent consider inappropriate (such as denying a water break as punishment). Tell your child you would want to know if another adult used those on them. This helps them feel comfortable coming to you when something a coach does feels wrong.

August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 11

When we establish an open dialogue, kids know they can come to us early and communicate safely.

• Help your child understand that making behavioral mistakes (such as not following rules) is different from making skill-related mistakes. They should not be punished for trial and error when learning new skills.

Talk about Sexual Misconduct • Communicate about what to do if a coach or older kids ask your child to keep something a secret from you or other trusted adults. Encourage them to tell you, even if the secret is something they feel confused or ashamed about.

• Discuss boundaries with your child about who should be touching them and when. Example: “It’s okay for the doctor to look at your private parts during an exam when I’m there, but it’s not okay for anyone else to do that.”

• Use the correct names for body parts when talking with your child and encourage them to use those names as well.

12 Parents Press | August 2026

• Remind your child that nobody should be touching their private parts (even if they ask), not even their friends.

• Monitor the relationship of coaches or older kids taking special interest in your child, to spot potential grooming behaviors.

The Center has a wealth of educational tools and resources on abuse prevention for kids and parents.

While the guidance above is geared toward children 5 and under, we also offer additional resources on how to talk to children age 6-12 and 13 and older. Y Report to the U.S. Center for SafeSport if you have experienced abuse or misconduct—or if you have reasonable suspicion of abuse or misconduct—inflicted by someone in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.

You can also call the Center at: 833-587-7233.

Ju’Riese Colón is the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the nation’s only nonprofit organization committed to ending all forms of abuse in sport. As CEO, Ju’Riese leads the strategic vision and direction of the organization to ensure every athlete is safe, supported, and strengthened through support. An experienced child advocate who serves as an expert on issues related to child safety, Ju’Riese has led prevention and outreach initiatives with youth-serving organizations serving families, educators, law enforcement, and diverse communities. She earned bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and Spanish from Virginia Commonwealth University.

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2026 Our Annual Reader’s Choice Awards This issue provides places to explore, shop, learn and play along with schools, preschools and enrichment programs plus health and wellness for the East Bay. Check it out in this issue and throughout the year, refer back to it at www.ParentsPress.com.

14 Parents Press | August 2026

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS — EAST BAY 2026 CAMPS

ACADEMIC SUMMER CAMP TOP 5

• (ATDP) Academic Talent Development Program • Bishop O’Dowd Summer Academy • Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley - Camp Été • Golestan School • Ohlone for Kids & Teens WINNER

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• City of El Cerrito Recreation Department • Eco Adventures - UC Berkeley • Kids For the Bay • Sail Alameda • Trackers Earth Bay Area WINNER

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BALLET SUMMER CAMP TOP 5

• Alameda Ballet Academy • Kids N’Dance • Oakland Ballet Company

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BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026 FAITH-BASED SUMMER GYMNASTICS SUMMER HORSE RIDING CAMP SUMMER CAMP CAMP TOP 5

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• Off the Block STEM • Positive Minds Academy • TechKnowHow • The Coder School Berkeley • Tinker Coop WINNER

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• Bliss Belly Kitchen • Cooking Round the World • Kids Cooking for Life • Kitchen On Fire Berkeley Kitchen • Sur La Table WINNER

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DANCE SUMMER CAMP TOP 5

• Alameda Ballet Academy • Dance10 Performing Arts Center • East Bay Dance Center • Kids N’Dance • Mr. D’s Music Club WINNER

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MORAGA 925-376-5110 Lic# 073406850 073406849

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SAN RAMON 925-820-2515

Lic# 073406846 073406845, 073406634

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ART CLASSES TOP 5

• CalColor Academy Fremont • City of El Cerrito Recreation Department • Corner House Studio • Ohlone For Kids & Teens • The Crucible WINNER

• Ohlone For Kids & Teens

BALLET CLASSES TOP 5

• Alameda Ballet Academy • Ballet School Performing Arts • Berkeley Ballet • Clayton Valley Dance Academy • Shawl-Anderson Dance Center WINNER

• Alameda Ballet Academy

• Mt. Diablo CARES COMPUTER SCIENCE Expanded Learning AND CODING CLASSES TOP 5

• Berkeley Coding Academy • Codeatorium • Fremont Coder Dojo • Hackingtons Code School • The Coder School Berkeley WINNER

• The Coder School Berkeley

DANCE CLASSES TOP 5

• Alameda Ballet Academy • Berkeley Ballet • Dance10 Performing Arts Center • Upswing Aerial Dance Company • West Coast Dance Theatre

Program • Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir WINNER

• Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir

FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES TOP 5

• Alliance Francaise • Bay Language Academy • Holbrook Language Academy CARES • Language Fun Club • Viva el Espanol WINNER

• Language Fun Club

GYMNASTICS CLASSES TOP 5

• Bay Island Gymnastics • Encore Gym • Head Over Heels Athletic Arts • I Flip Gymnastics • Liberty Gymnastics Training Center WINNER

• Encore Gym

WINNER

• Alameda Ballet Academy

EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY MUSIC CLASS TOP 5

• Aguacate Music Kids

CLASSES FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT • Crowden Music Center • East Bay Music Together INSTRUCTION TOP 5

• Crowden Music Center • East Bay Music Together • Lamorinda Music • Starland School of Music • Village Music School WINNER

• Musically Minded • Village Music School WINNER

• East Bay Music Together

ENRICHMENT AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS TOP 5

• East Bay Music Together • City of El Cerrito Recreation Department • East Bay Music Together • Mr. D’s Music Club

August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 19

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026 MATH PROGRAMS AFTER SCHOOL TOP 5

TOP 5

• City of El Cerrito Recreation Department • Dragon Rhythm Shaolin Kung Fu • Kung Fu Infinity Martial Arts • Mires Martial Arts • Studio Naga WINNER

• Mires Martial Arts

TOP 5

• Berkeley Math Club • Classroom Matters • FireCracker Math • Mathnasium • Positive Minds Academy

• Albany Berkeley Soccer Club • Bay Island Gymnastics • Bladium • Calphin Swim Academy • SoccerKids

WINNER

WINNER

• FireCracker Math

MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES

SPORTS CLASSES

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS TOP 5

• Bricks 4 Kidz • City of El Cerrito Recreation Department • Lawrence Hall of Science • Snapology • Tinker Coop

• Albany Berkeley Soccer Club

SWIM CLASSES TOP 5

• American Swim Academy • Calphin Swim Academy • Patti’s Swim School • Splash Swim School WINNER

• Patti’s Swim School

WINNER

• Tinker Coop

THEATER AND PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES TOP 5

• Berkeley Playhouse • Berkeley Rep School of Theatre • Mr. D’s Music Club • Poison Apple Productions • Village Music School WINNER

• Village Music School

TUTORING OR EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS TOP 5

• Classroom Matters • Kumon • Mathnasium • Positive Minds Academy • Tilden Preparatory School WINNER

• Classroom Matters

A school that actually works for your child!

Unlock your child’s full potential with an education that inspires and empowers

Montessori Elementary Intermediate School of Alameda – MEISA 1st through 8th grade 2226 Encinal Ave • Alameda • office@thechildunique.org • 510.798.7429 • www.thechildunique.org 20 Parents Press | August 2026

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026

EARLY EDUCATION

• Treehouse Preschool & PK

BILINGUAL PRESCHOOL

• Saint Philip Neri School

• East Bay German International School • Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley • Escuela Bilingüe Internacional (EBI) • Fountainhead Montessori School • Golestan School • KSS Immersion Preschools

TOP 10

TOP 5

WINNER

INDEPENDENT PRESCHOOL

• Berkeley Rose Waldorf School • Child Day Schools • Child Unique Montessori • Choice in Learning Montessori • Clayton Valley Parent PreSchool • East Bay German WINNER International School • East Bay German • Golestan School International School • KLA Schools of Walnut Creek CHILD CARE FACILITIES • Old Firehouse School TOP 10 • Quarry Lane Preschool • Choice in Learning • St. Philip Neri School Montessori • The Berkeley School • El Cerrito Preschool Early Childhood Center Cooperative (ECPC) WINNER • Fountainhead Montessori School • Choice in Learning Montessori • Golestan School • Holy Spirit Preschool • KLA Schools of Walnut Creek • Larson’s Children’s Center • Old Firehouse School • Rockridge Little School • Springfield Montessori School • The Little Butterflies WINNER

• Choice in Learning Montessori

FAITH-BASED PRESCHOOL TOP 5

LARGE PRESCHOOL (TOTAL CAPACITY 31 CHILDREN OR MORE) TOP 10

• Choice in Learning Montessori • Clayton Valley Parent PreSchool • East Bay German International School • Golestan School • KLA Schools of Walnut Creek • Old Firehouse School • Saklan School • Seven Hills School • Step One School • The Berkeley School Early Childhood Center

• California Crosspoint Academy • Contra Costa Christian WINNER Schools • Choice in Learning • Holy Spirit Preschool Montessori • Saint Philip Neri School • Tiny Treasures Preschool

MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL TOP 5

• Cedar Creek Montessori • Child Unique Montessori • Choice in Learning Montessori • Fountainhead Montessori School • Springfield Montessori School WINNER

• Child Unique Montessori

SMALL PRESCHOOL (TOTAL CAPACITY 30 CHILDREN OR LESS) TOP 5

• Berkeley Rose Waldorf School • Duck Pond • Montclair Community Play Center (MCPC) • Old Firehouse School • Sequoia Nursery School WINNER

• Berkeley Rose Waldorf School

FUN AND ATTRACTIONS AMUSEMENT PARK TOP 5

• California Academy of Science • Children’s Fairyland • Exploratorium • Lawrence Hall of Science • Oakland Zoo WINNER

• Oakland Zoo

ATHLETIC CLUBS TOP 5

• Bay Club • Claremont Club & Spa • ClubSport • Hills Swim & Tennis Club • UC Berkeley Rec Sports WINNER

• UC Berkeley Rec Sports

2026/2027

Private School Guide Coming Soon To add your school contact info@parentspress.com

www.parentspress.com August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 21

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026

Looking for a school where your young child will truly thrive?

The school for your child: a health conscious, culturally responsive, joyful environment.

BIRTHDAY PARTY RESOURCES TOP 5

• Brian Scott Magic • Fur, Scales and Tails Animal Shows • Mr. SHAP Balloon Artist and Magician • STEAM Powered Learning • Trunks and Tales

BIRTHDAY PARTY VENUES

• UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital - Oakland

• Bladium • Children’s Fairyland • Lindsey Wildlife Experience • Oakland Zoo • Pacific Pinball Museum WINNER

• Children’s Fairyland

MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS TOP 5

young learners love.

Authentic Montessori curriculum

Diverse learning environment

for each age group

that welcomes everyone

Professional educators

Hands-on materials that

passionate about helping

encourage creativity and

children thrive

problem-solving Beautiful campus designed to enhance learning

“The children of today will make the discoveries of tomorrow.”

- Dr. Maria Montessori

Give your child an education with impact at Mission Montessori.

Schedule your tour today!

We offer full-time programs from the infant stage to kindergarten.

Schedule your tour today! www.missionmontessori.org

22 Parents Press | August 2026

50 Fell St. San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 942-5012

TOP 5

• STEAM Powered Learning

TOP 5

Mission Montessori provides an educational experience

BIRTH CENTERS AND MATERNITY CARE • Alameda Health Systems • Alta Bates Summit Medical Center | Alta Bates Campus • John Muir Health • Pacific Family Maternity • UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital - Oakland

WINNER

An Authentic Montessori Experience for Ages 12 Weeks to 6 Years

HEALTH

• California Academy of Science • Exploratorium • Lawrence Hall of Science • Oakland Zoo • Pacific Pinball Museum WINNER

• California Academy of Science

ZOO OR AQUARIUM TOP 5

• CuriOdyssey • Lindsay Wildlife Experience • Oakland Zoo • San Francisco Zoological Society & Gardens • Steinhart Aquarium Cal Academy WINNER

• Lindsay Wildlife Experience

WINNER

FAMILY DENTISTS TOP 5

• Alameda Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics • Aloha Pediatric Dentistry • Berkeley Children’s Dentistry • Children’s Dentistry - Nicholas Ching, D.D.S.,Inc. • Eastshore Pediatric Dental Group WINNER

• Alameda Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

OPTOMETRIST TOP 5

• Eye Love Optometry • Hayward Optometry • Optical Illusions: An Optometric Practice • UC Berkeley School of Optometry • Walnut Creek Eye Care WINNER

• UC Berkeley School of Optometry

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026 ORTHODONTISTS TOP 5

• Alameda Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics • Ciao Smiles • Hillside View Orthodontics • Pediatric Dentistry San Ramon • Tri-Valley Orthodontics WINNER

• Hillside View Orthodontics

RETAIL & SERVICES

CONSIGNMENT STORES

BABY/CHILDREN GIFTS & GEAR

• Lauren’s Closet • Mommy’s Trading Post • Small Talk City • The Wardrobe Project • Toy Go Round

TOP 5

• 5 Little Monkeys • Bird & Bean • Lauren’s Closet • Silver Moon Kids • Toy Safari WINNER

• Bird & Bean

PEDIATRICIAN

BOOK STORES

• Bayside Medical Group • Berkeley Pediatrics • East Bay Pediatrics • Tri-Valley Pediatrics • Walnut Creek Pediatrics

• Books Inc. Alameda • Builders Booksource • Moe’s Books • Mr Mopps’ Toy Shop • Pegasus Books On Solano

TOP 5

WINNER

• Berkeley Pediatrics

TOP 5

WINNER

• Books Inc. Alameda

TOP 5

WINNER

• Mommy’s Trading Post

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHERS TOP 5

• Amelia Plumb Photography • Bespoke Photography • Gretchen Adams Photography • Nissa Brehmer Photography • Yuri Pettengill Photography WINNER

• Gretchen Adams Photography

HOUSEHOLD HELP AND NANNY SERVICES TOP 5

• Aunt Ann’s In-House Staffing • BA House Cleaning • Bay Super Nannies • Nannie’s & More Inc • Trusted Nanny Match WINNER

• BA House Cleaning

Where College Possibilities Become Realities Apply for TK-12 at WWW.RCS.EDU

A ministry of Bay Area Chinese Bible Church

- Friday 7am - 6pm A ministry of Monday Bay Area Chinese Bible Church lunch service provided

1803 North Loop Rd. Alameda, CA 94502

TTPreschoolalameda.org Facility # 013422027 Telephone # 510-995-5383 ext. 1336 Fax # 510-373-2241 1803 North Loop Rd | Alameda | Facility # 013422027 kim.smith@bacbc.org 510-995-5383 ext. 1336 | kim.smith@bacbc.org

August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 23

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026 • Silver Moon Kids • Toy Go Round • Toy Safari

FAITH-BASED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• Valley Montessori School

WINNER

• California Crosspoint Academy • Coastline Christian Schools • Holy Spirit School • Saint Joseph’s Catholic School Pinole • Saint Philip Neri School • School of the Madeleine • St. Theresa Catholic School

• Montessori Elementary School of Alameda

• Silver Moon Kids

SCHOOLS ELEMENTARY KIDS HAIRCUTS TOP 5

• Cool Tops Cuts For Kids • Hair’s the Place • La Petite Hair Salon • Pony Tails • Snippety Crickets WINNER

• Snippety Crickets

TOY STORES TOP 5

• Five Little Monkeys • Mr Mopps

BILINGUAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• East Bay German International School • Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley • Escuela Bilingüe Internacional (EBI) • Golestan School • Shu Ren International School WINNER

• East Bay German International School

TOP 5

WINNER

• Saint Philip Neri School

MONTESSORI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• American International Montessori School • East Bay Montessori • Montessori Elementary School of Alameda • Springfield Montessori School

WINNER

PRIVATE INDEPENDENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 10

• Berkeley Rose Waldorf School • Berkwood Hedge School • Black Pine Circle School • East Bay German International School • Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley • Golestan School • Park Day School • Prospect Sierra • St Paul’s Episcopal School • The Berkeley School WINNER

• Prospect Sierra

K-8 progressive education in Oakland’s Temescal

K-8 Excellence Since 1956

1 Estates Drive, Piedmont | (510) 530-4056 corpuschristischool.com

24 Parents Press | August 2026

parkdayschool.org (510) 653-0317 admissions@parkdayschool.org

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026 PROGRESSIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• Berkwood Hedge • Black Pine Circle School • East Bay Montessori • Golestan School • Park Day School • The Berkeley School WINNER (TIE)

• Berkwood Hedge • Black Pine Circle School

PUBLIC OR CHARTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• Cornell Elementary School • Crocker Highlands Elementary School • Oxford Elementary School • Redwood Heights Elementary School • Sequoia Elementary School

WINNER

• Sequoia Elementary School

SCHOOLS HIGH SCHOOLS ALTERNATIVE LEARNING STYLE HIGH SCHOOL TOP 5

• Bayhill High School • Maybeck High School • Millennium High School • Orion Academy • Tilden Preparatory School WINNER

• Orion Academy

FAITH-BASED HIGH SCHOOL TOP 5

• Berean Christian High School • Bishop O’Dowd High School • De La Salle High School • Holy Names High School • Salesian College Preparatory • St. Mary’s College High School WINNER

• Salesian College Preparatory

PRIVATE INDEPENDENT HIGH SCHOOL TOP 5

• Bishop O’Dowd High School • College Preparatory School

• East Bay International High School (EBIHS) at EBGIS • Salesian College Preparatory • St. Mary’s College High School WINNER

• East Bay International High School (EBIHS) at EBGIS

Looking for a school where your 1st to 8th grader can truly thrive?

Still Accepting applications for elementary and middle school for Fall 2025 1st through 8th grade

Montessori Elementary Intermediate School of Alameda – MEISA

510.521.0595

1400 6th Street • Alameda

www.thechildunique.org

August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 25

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL TOP 5

• Alameda High School • Albany High School • Berkeley High School • Oakland Technical High School • Piedmont High School WINNER

• Oakland Technical High School

SCHOOLS - MIDDLE SCHOOLS BILINGUAL MIDDLE SCHOOL TOP 5

• East Bay German International School • East Bay Montessori • Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley

• Escuela Bilingüe Internacional (EBI) • Holbrook Language Academy WINNER

• East Bay German International School

FAITH-BASED MIDDLE SCHOOL TOP 5

• California Crosspoint Academy • Coastline Christian Schools • Contra Costa Christian Schools • Corpus Christi School • Redwood Christian School • Saint Joseph’s Catholic School Pinole • Saint Philip Neri School WINNER

• California Crosspoint Academy

MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOL TOP 5

• East Bay Montessori • Montessori Elementary School of Alameda • The Berkeley School • Urban Montessori Charter School • Valley Montessori School WINNER

• East Bay Montessori

PRIVATE INDEPENDENT MIDDLE SCHOOL TOP 10

• Berkwood Hedge School • Black Pine Circle Upper School • East Bay German International School • East Bay Montessori • Park Day School

• Prospect Sierra • Quarry Lane School • Saklan School • Seven Hills School • St. Philip Neri School • The Berkeley School WINNER

• Black Pine Circle Upper School • Quarry Lane School

PROGRESSIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL TOP 5

• Black Pine Circle Upper School • Park Day School • Prospect Sierra • St. Paul’s Episcopal School • The Berkeley School WINNER

• Park Day School

Aurora School’s mission is to nurture students' love of learning by cultivating academic excellence, emotional intelligence, and social engagement.

Now enrolling K-8 • Flexible Tuition 40 Dulwich Road, Oakland 94618 510-428-2606 • auroraschool.org

26 Parents Press | August 2026

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026 PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL

SPECIAL NEEDS GENERAL RESOURCES

• Albany Middle School • Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School • Montera Middle School • Piedmont Middle School • Sequoia Middle School

• All Brains Speech Therapy • Child’s Play Therapy Services • East Bay Child Development Center • Sound Advice Speech Therapy • Speech Pathology Group

TOP 5

WINNER

• Albany Middle School

SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES AND RESOURCES SPECIAL NEEDS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS TOP 5

• Ala Costa • East Bay Child Development Center • Oakland Ice Center’s SkateAbility Program • Regional Center of the East Bay • We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym • ZyLand Indoor Playground WINNER

• East Bay Child Development Center

SPECIAL NEEDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TOP 5

• Anova Center for Education • Big Minds Unschool • Bridge Quest Academy • California School For The Deaf • Orinda Academy • Spectrum Center WINNER

• Bridge Quest Academy

TOP 5

WINNER

• East Bay Child Development Center

SPECIAL NEEDS HIGH SCHOOLS TOP 5

• Bayhill High School • Bridge Quest Academy • Orion Academy • The Springstone School • Tilden Preparatory School WINNER

• Tilden Preparatory School

SPECIAL NEEDS LEGAL ASSISTANCE

SPECIAL NEEDS MIDDLE SCHOOLS TOP 5

• Bayhill High School • Bridge Quest Academy • The Phillips Academy • The Springstone School • Tilden Preparatory School WINNER

• The Springstone School

SPECIAL NEEDS RECREATION PROGRAMS TOP 5

• ACEing Autism • Exceptional Sports • DREDF (Disability Rights • Oakland Ice Center’s Education & Defense SkateAbility Program Fund) • Law Office of Brett Allen • Patti’s Swim School • Sienna Ranch • Law Office of Kathryn Dobel WINNER • Law Office of Robin • Sienna Ranch Miller • Special Education Advocacy Group TOP 5

WINNER

• DREDF (Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund)

Congratulations to all of the Reader’s Choice Winners

August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 27

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS — PENINSULA & SILICON VALLEY 2026 CAMPS & SUMMER PROGRAMS

ACADEMIC SUMMER PROGRAMS TOP 5

• Camp Brainy Bunch • Kids Connection Schools • Learning Plus Tutoring • Silver Creek Academy • Summer at Serra WINNER

GENERAL AND TRADITIONAL DAY CAMPS TOP 5

• CAM Edu. • Camp Coyote & Academy @ Kids Connection • Camp Quest by Serendipity School • Core Taekwondo • Resource Area For Teaching - RAFT San Jose WINNER

• Camp Brainy Bunch

• CAM Edu.

ARTS, DANCE, MUSIC & THEATER SUMMER CAMPS

OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMPS

TOP 5

• Camp Carey - Let’s Dance • Hillbarn Theatre • Peninsula Youth Theatre • San Carlos Children’s Theater • Scherzo Music School

TOP 5

• Camp Chrysalis • Camp Tawonga • College of Environmental Design UC Berkeley • Santa Catalina School • Walden West WINNER

WINNER

• Camp Chrysalis

• Hillbarn Theatre

PRESCHOOL AGE SUMMER CAMPS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE & IMMERSION CAMPS TOP 5

• CAM Edu. • EFBA • KC Chinese School Kids Connection School • Mi Second Casa • Welcome Amigos WINNER

• KC Chinese School Kids Connection School

TOP 5

• APJCC Preschool, Los Gatos, CA • Joy & Laughter Developmental Therapy • Kids Connection Schools • Peninsula Family YMCA • Peninsula Forest and Beach School WINNER

• Kids Connection Schools

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CAMPS

• Broadway Babies and Kids • Drawn2Art TOP 5 • AoPS Math, Science and • Heartbeat dance academy Language Arts Camps WINNER • CAM Educational Services, LLC • Art Attack!

• Hiller Aviation Camp COMPUTER SCIENCE • Off the Block STEM AND CODING CLASSES • TechKnowHow WINNER

• CAM Educational Services, LLC

SPORTS AND FITNESS CAMPS TOP 5

• Camp Edmo • Children’s Creativity Museum Tech Lab • Code for Fun • Code With Us • Fremont Coder Dojo

• Bald Eagle Sports Camps • Bay Club • Bayshore Elite • Camp Shalom • Waterworks Aquatics

WINNER

WINNER

TOP 5

• Bald Eagle Sports Camps

TEEN FOCUSED SUMMER PROGRAMS TOP 5

• Bay Area Pathways Academy • Camp Integem • Camp Keff @ PJCC • Camp Shalom • ID Tech WINNER

• Camp Integem

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ART, DANCE, MUSIC, THEATER TOP 5

• Art Attack!

• Bay Area Dance School 28 Parents Press | August 2026

TOP 5

• Camp Edmo

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, TUTORING, MATH, WRITING, TEST PREP • AJ Tutoring • C2 Education • College Advising Prep • Mathnasium • Silver Creek Academy WINNER

• College Advising Prep

FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES TOP 5

• College of San Mateo • i-immersion • KC Chinese School @ Kids Connection • Kids Connection Schools • Language Pacifica WINNER

• KC Chinese School @ Kids Connection

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026 GYMNASTICS CLASS

• Trinity School

• Gymtowne Gymnastics Coastside • Rally Gymnastics • San Mateo Gymnastics • TRS Gymnastics • West Valley Dance Company

• Redeemer School

TOP 5

WINNER

• San Mateo Gymnastics

SWIM CLASS/LESSONS TOP 5

• British Swim School • Farnsworth Swim School • La Petite Baleen • Peninsula Jewish Community Center • South Valley YMCA • Waterworks Aquatics San Jose WINNER

• British Swim School

EARLY EDUCATION BILINGUAL PRESCHOOL TOP 5

• A La Vanille • Au P’Tit Monde • German International School of Silicon Valley • Holy Family Children’s Center • Yew Chung International School Silicon Valley WINNER

• German International School of Silicon Valley

FAITH-BASED PRESCHOOL TOP 5

• Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew • Immaculate Heart of Mary • Notre Dame Preschool • PJCC Preschool • Redeemer School

WINNER

MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL TOP 5

• Beresford Montessori • Bowman School • Bright Angel Montessori Academy • California Montessori School • Global Montessori School WINNER

• Bowman School

PRESCHOOL & CHILD CARE TOP 5

• Action Day Schools • Just4Kids ChildCare • Kids Connection Preschool • Redeemer School • Serendipity Preschool WINNER

• Action Day Schools • Serendipity Preschool

FUN AND ATTRACTIONS BIRTHDAY PARTY VENUES TOP 5

• CuriOdyssey • Dragonfly Designs • Hiller Aviation Museum • Imagination City • LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area WINNER

• Hiller Aviation Museum

INDOOR PLAYSPACE

WINNER

TOP 5

• San Mateo Pediatrics

• Hiller Aviation Museum • Imagination City • La Petite Playhouse • LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area • Rockin Jump

FAMILY DENTISTS

WINNER

• Hiller Aviation Museum

MUSEUM TOP 5

• California Academy of Sciences • Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose • CuriOdyssey • Hiller Aviation Museum • Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo WINNER

• CuriOdyssey

HEALTH AND WELLNES BIRTH CENTERS AND MATERNITY CARE TOP 5

• Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center • Mills-Peninsula Women’s Center • Sequoia Hospital • Stork & Sprout • UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital

TOP 5

• Burlingame Family Dentist • Forever Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics • Kids Smile Center • Redwood City Family Dentistry • Willow Family Dentistry WINNER

• Redwood City Family Dentistry

OPTOMETRISTS AND OPTICIANS TOP 5

• Dr. Kristina Stasko - All Eyes On You, Optometry • Optical Illusions of San Jose | An Optometric Practice - Santana Row • Optometry at Redwood Shores • San Carlos Eye Care • Solo Bambini WINNER

• Solo Bambini

ORTHODONTIST TOP 5

• Belmont Orthodontics • Burlingame Family Dentist • Forever Smiles WINNER Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics • Mills-Peninsula Women’s Center • Jacklyn Kurth Orthodontics DOCTOR OR • OrthoWorks

PEDIATRICS GROUP TOP 5

• Burlingame Pediatricians • Dr. Damon R. Korb • Pediatric Wellness Group • Peninsula Pediatric Medical Group • San Mateo Pediatrics

WINNER

• Belmont Orthodontics

August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 29

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026

SCHOOLS ELEMENTARY ALTERNATIVE LEARNING STYLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• Acton Academy SV • Arbor Bay School • Charles Armstrong School • Nueva School • Sand Hill School at CHO • The Burkard School WINNER

• Sand Hill School at CHO

BILINGUAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• Cornerstone School • German International School of Silicon Valley • Mandarin Immersion in RWC • Silicon Valley International School • Yew Chung International School Silicon Valley WINNER

Schools • Redeemer School • Serendipity School • Woodland School WINNER

• Serendipity School

MONTESSORI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• Bowman School • Centennial Montessori • Emerson Schools • Mills Montessori School • North Shoreview Montessori WINNER

• Bowman School

PUBLIC OR CHARTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• El Granada Elementary • Foster City Elementary • Herbert Hoover Elementary School • Orion Alternative and Mandarin Immersion • Willow Glen Elementary WINNER

• German International • Orion Alternative and School of Silicon Valley Mandarin Immersion • Yew Chung International School Silicon Valley

FAITH-BASED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• Redeemer School • Sacred Heart School • St. Raymond Catholic School • Trinity School • Wornick Jewish Day School WINNER

• Redeemer School

INDEPENDENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• Action Day Schools • Bowman School • Kids Connection 30 Parents Press | August 2026

FAITH-BASED HIGH SCHOOL

FAITH-BASED MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Kehillah Jewish High School • Mercy High School • Serra High School • The King’s Academy • Woodside Priory School

• Los Altos Christian School • Redeemer School • Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School • St. Raymond Catholic School

TOP 5

WINNER

• The King’s Academy

INDEPENDENT HIGH SCHOOL TOP 5

• Bowman School • German International School of Silicon Valley • Hillbrook School • Serra High School • Silicon Valley International School WINNER

• German International School of Silicon Valley

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL TOP 5

TOP 5

• Fusion Academy • Lydian Academy • Nueva School • Sand Hill School at CHO WINNER

WINNER

• Redeemer School • St. Raymond Catholic School

INDEPENDENT MIDDLE SCHOOL TOP 5

• Action Day Schools • Bowman School • Odyssey School • Redeemer School • Synapse School WINNER

• Action Day Schools

PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Gunn High School • Los Altos High School • Los Gatos High School • Palo Alto High School • San Mateo High School

TOP 5

SCHOOLS - MIDDLE SCHOOLS

WINNER

WINNER SCHOOLS HIGH SCHOOLS • Gunn High School

ALTERNATIVE LEARNING STYLE HIGH SCHOOL

TOP 5

ALTERNATIVE LEARNING STYLE MIDDLE SCHOOL TOP 5

• Athena Academy • Sand Hill School at CHO • Charles Armstrong School • Fusion Academy • Nueva School • Sand Hill School at CHO WINNER

• Charles Armstrong

• Frank S. Green Jr. Middle School • Franklin D Roosevelt School • Kennedy Middle School • La Entrada Middle School • Union Middle School • Union Middle School

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026

SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES AND RESOURCES SPECIAL NEEDS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS TOP 5

• 4Cs of San Mateo County • AbilityPath • AchieveKids • Friends of Children with Special Needs • Joy & Laughter Developmental Therapy WINNER

• Joy & Laughter Developmental Therapy

SPECIAL NEEDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TOP 5

• AchieveKids • Hope Technology School • Learning Springs Academy • Stanbridge Academy • The Burkard School

SPECIAL NEEDS MIDDLE SCHOOLS TOP 5

• Creekside School • Hope Technology School • Kinship Academy • Stanbridge Academy • The Burkard School WINNER

• Stanbridge Academy

SPECIAL NEEDS PRESCHOOLS TOP 5

• Anne Campbell Child Development Center • Hope Technology Preschool • Learning Links • Pacific Autism • Sunny Days Preschool WINNER

• Hope Technology Preschool

WINNER

• The Burkard School

SPECIAL NEEDS HIGH SCHOOLS TOP 5

• AchieveKids • Creekside School • Hope Technology School • Second Start Pine Hill School • Stanbridge Academy WINNER

• Stanbridge Academy

August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 31

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS — SAN FRANCISCO, MARIN & THE NORTH BAY 2026 CAMPS & SUMMER PROGRAMS

ACADEMIC SUMMER PROGRAMS TOP 5

• Camp Integem • Marin Country Day School • Off the Block STEAM • Ripe Fruit School of Creative Writing • Terra Camps WINNER

• Camp Integem

ANIMAL ENCOUNTER SUMMER CAMPS TOP 5

• Marine Mammel Center - Camp Sea Quest • Randall Museum Teen Animal Care Program • San Francisco Zoo Camp • Tree Frog Treks • Wildcare Wildlife Camp WINNER

• San Francisco Zoo Camp

ARTS, DANCE, MUSIC & THEATER SUMMER CAMPS TOP 5

• Art School of San Francisco Bay • Bay Area Shakespeare Camp • Kid Stock • Moving Arts Academy of Dance • ODC/Dance

FOREIGN LANGUAGE & IMMERSION SUMMER PROGRAMS TOP 5

• Chinese American International School • EFBA - Education Franchise Bay Area • German International School of Silicon Valley • Lycée Français de San Francisco • Viva el Espanol WINNER

• EFBA - Education Franchise Bay Area

GENERAL & TRADITIONAL SUMMER CAMPS TOP 5

• Adventure Camp • San Francisco Zoo • SFSU Kids Camps • Steve & Kates • YMCA SF WINNER

• Steve & Kates

OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMPS TOP 5

• Camp Chrysalis • Camp Gold Hollow • Camp Tawonga • Randall Museum Youth Camp at Camp Mather • YMCA SF - Jones Gulch WINNER

• Camp Tawonga

PRESCHOOL AGE SUMMER CAMPS TOP 5

• Bay Area Discovery Museum • HolaKids • • Lycée Français de San Francisco • Peekadoodle Summer Camp • Terra Camps WINNER

• Bay Area Discovery Museum

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, CODING, LEGO, ROBOTICS SUMMER CAMPS TOP 5

• CodeREV Kids STEAM Camps • Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory • TechKnowHow • The Coder School WINNER

• TechKnowHow

SPORTS & FITNESS SUMMER CAMPS TOP 5

• AcroSports • Legarza Kids • Marin Elite Gymnastics Academy (MEGA) • Mill Valley Tennis Summer Camp • SF Dragons Soccer Camp WINNER

• AcroSports

TEEN FOCUSED, PRECOLLEGE, TRAVEL SUMMER PROGRAMS TOP 5

• Art School of San Francisco Bay • Bay Area Shakespeare Camp • California College of the Arts Pre-College Program • Ripe Fruit School of Creative Writing • Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ART, DANCE, MUSIC, THEATER TOP 5

• Marin Shakespeare Company • ODC/Dance • San Francisco Music Together • San Francisco Youth Ballet Academy • Terra Linda Ceramic Artists WINNER

• ODC/Dance

EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY MUSIC CLASS TOP 5

• Cucus Play House • Little Folkies • Mini Music • Music Together Little Melodies • Musically Minded

WINNER

WINNER

• ODC/Dance

• Musically Minded

32 Parents Press | August 2026

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026 EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, TUTORING, MATH, WRITING, TEST PREP

TECH, CODING, LEGO, ROBOTICS, COMPUTER SCIENCES, DIGITAL ARTS

• Alexander Tutoring • LifeWorks Learning Center • Marin SAT Prep • Mathnasium • Russian School of Math

• Code for Fun • Engineering for Kids • Terra Schools San Francisco • The Coder School • TinkerTech

WINNER

WINNER

• Alexander Tutoring

• The Coder School

TOP 5

FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES TOP 5

• ABC Languages SF • German Language School of the North Bay • Les Ateliers d’Emilie • SF Spanish • Viva el Espanol WINNER

• Viva el Espanol

SPORTS PROGRAMS TOP 5

• AcroSports • British Swim School • Circus Center • Gymtowne Gymnastics SSF • Marin Elite Gymnastics Academy • San Francisco Youth Soccer WINNER

• AcroSports

SWIM CLASS/LESSONS TOP 5

• British Swim School • La Petite Baleen Swim Schools • Pomeroy Aquatics • Waterworks Swim School San Francisco WINNER

• La Petite Baleen Swim Schools

TOP 5

EARLY EDUCATION BILINGUAL PRESCHOOL TOP 5

MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL TOP 5

• Maria Montessori School of the Golden Gate • Montessori in Motion • Montessori of Terra Linda School • Montessori School of San Francisco • San Francisco Montessori Academy WINNER

• Montessori School of San Francisco

PRESCHOOLS & CHILD CARE CENTERS TOP 5

• Alta Vista School • Marin Primary & Middle School • San Francisco Montessori Academy • Stratford Schools • Terra San Francisco Preschool

• Lycée Français de San Francisco • Marin Spanish Immersion School • Mi Escuelita en Español • Terra Mandarin Preschool • The International School WINNER • Marin Primary & Middle of San Francisco School WINNER (TIE) • Lycée Français de San Francisco • The International School of San Francisco

FUN AND ATTRACTIONS

FAITH-BASED PRESCHOOLS

ATHLETIC CLUBS & WORKOUT STUDIOS

• Marin JCC • Saint James Preschool • Saint Rafael Preschool • St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School • The Ark Christian Preschool

• Bay Club Marin • Jewish Community Center of SF • Marin YMCA • Rolling Hills Club • YMCA SF

WINNER

• YMCA SF

TOP 5

• Saint James Preschool

TOP 5

WINNER

ATTRACTIONS, MUSEUMS & AMUSEMENT PARK TOP 5

• Bay Area Discovery Museum • California Academy of Science • Children’s Creativity Museum • Children’s Fairyland • Exploratorium WINNER

• Bay Area Discovery Museum

BIRTHDAY PARTY RESOURCES TOP 5

• Astro Jump of the North Bay • Celebrations of Marin • Fun Services Bay Area • Happy Cake Face Paint • LollapaSnooza WINNER

• Celebrations of Marin

BIRTHDAY PARTY VENUES TOP 5

• Bay Area Discovery Museum • California Academy of Science • House of Air • Imagination Playhouse • San Francisco Zoo WINNER

• Bay Area Discovery Museum

INDOOR PLAY PLACE TOP 5

• AcroSports • Bay Area Discovery Museum • Curiosity Grove - Cal Academy of Science • House of Air • Peekadoodle Kidsclub WINNER

• House of Air August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 33

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026

WINNER

• Marin Pediatric Associates

FAMILY DENTISTS

RETAIL & • Dr. Ladan Vakili Pediatric SERVICES TOP 5

Dentistry • Marin Pediatric Dentistry • Marina Tooth Fairy Dental • Novato Pediatric Dentitry • SF Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Kristina Svensson WINNER

BABY/CHILDREN GIFTS & GEAR TOP 5

• 5 Little Monkeys • Aldea Home & Baby • My Favorite • Nest Maternity • Poppy Store WINNER

• Dr. Ladan Vakili Pediatric • 5 Little Monkeys Dentistry

OPTOMETRIST TOP 5

BOOK STORES TOP 5

• Dr. Monetta • Eye Institute of Marin • Lakeside Optical • Larkspur Landing Optometry • Lunettes Optometric

• Book Passage • BookShop West Portal • Copperfields Books • Fabulosa Books • Green Apple Books

WINNER

• Book Passage

• Dr. Monetta

ORTHODONTISTS TOP 5

• Bernstein Orthodontics • Image Orthodontics • Marin Braces • Simple Orthodontics • The Smile Center WINNER

• Image Orthodontics

PEDIATRIC PRACTICES TOP 5

• GetzWell Personalized Pediatrics • Golden Gate Pediatrics • Magnolia Pediatrics of Marin • Marin Pediatric Associates • Mount Zion Pediatric Care Clinic at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals

34 Parents Press | August 2026

WINNER

CONSIGNMENT STORES TOP 5

KIDS HAIRCUTS TOP 5

• Family Cuts • Friendly Cuts • Kids Cuts • PREP • Purple Monkey Hair WINNER

• Family Cuts

NANNY SERVICES TOP 5

• A Nanny Connection • Aunt Ann’s In-House Staffing • Bay Super Nannies • Genuine Nannies • Nannies Inc. WINNER

• Bay Super Nannies

TOY STORES TOP 5

• A Child’s Delight • Dottie Dolittle • Fiddlesticks • Five Little Monkeys • Woot Bear WINNER

• Five Little Monkeys

• Chloe’s Closet • Goodbyes Consignment SCHOOLS • Lovely Bump ELEMENTARY • Noo Noo BILINGUAL • SeeSaw Children’s ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Consignment WINNER

• Chloe’s Closet

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHERS TOP 5

• Ashley Kaplan Photography • Diana Jex Photography • Gina Logan • Gretchen Adams Photography • Juliana Jason Photography WINNER

• Gretchen Adams Photography

TOP 5

FAITH-BASED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• Cathedral School for Boys • Convent & Stuart Hall, Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco • Marin Christian Academy • St Anthony-Immaculate Conception School • St James Catholic School WINNER

• St James Catholic School

MONTESSORI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• Marin Horizon School • Marin Montessori School • Mission Montessori School • Montessori of Terra Linda School • The San Francisco School WINNER

• Mission Montessori School

PRIVATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• Alta Vista School • KFS School • Lycée Français de San Francisco • Marin Primary & Middle School • The International School of San Francisco

• German International School of Silicon Valley • Lycée Français de San Francisco • Silicon Valley International School WINNER • Terra Schools • Lycée Français de San Francisco • The International School of San Francisco WINNER

• German International School of Silicon Valley

PUBLIC OR CHARTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5

• Chin Elementary • Dolores Huerta Elementary School •

• Edna Maguire Elementary • Old Mill Elementary WINNER

• Dolores Huerta Elementary School

BEST OF PARENTS’ PRESS 2026

SCHOOLS - MIDDLE SCHOOLS BILINGUAL MIDDLE SCHOOL

SCHOOLS TOP 5 HIGH SCHOOLS • German International FAITH-BASED HIGH SCHOOL TOP 5

• Archbishop Riordan High School • Convent & Stuart Hall, Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco • Jewish Community High School of the Bay • Marin Catholic High School • Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory WINNER

School of Silicon Valley • Lycée Français de San Francisco • Silicon Valley International School • Terra Schools • The International School of San Francisco WINNER

FAITH-BASED MIDDLE SCHOOL TOP 5

• Convent & Stuart Hall, Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL • Marin Christian Academy TOP 5 • Mission Dolores • Alta Vista School Academy • Lycée Français de San • Saint Hilary School Francisco • St James Catholic • Sacred Heart Cathedral School Preparatory WINNER • Sterne School • Convent & Stuart Hall, • The International School Schools of the Sacred of San Francisco Heart San Francisco

PRIVATE MIDDLE

• The International School SCHOOL of San Francisco

PUBLIC OR CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL TOP 5

• Abraham Lincoln High School • Galileo High School • Lowell High School • Novato High School • Redwood High School WINNER

SPECIAL NEEDS HIGH SCHOOLS

• Adaline E Kent Middle School • Miller Creek Middle School • Presidio Middle • Roosevelt Middle • Yu (Alice Fong) Elementary

• Headlands Preparatory School • Oak Hill School • Star Academy • Sterne School • Winston Preparatory School

TOP 5

SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES AND RESOURCES

• The International School SPECIAL NEEDS AFTER of San Francisco

• Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

WINNER

PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL

TOP 5

• Cathedral School for Boys • Chronos Academy • GATE Academy • Marin Primary & Middle School • Saint Hilary School

SCHOOL PROGRAMS TOP 5

TOP 5

WINNER

• Headlands Preparatory School

SPECIAL NEEDS MIDDLE SCHOOLS TOP 5

• Headlands Preparatory School • Star Academy • Sterne School • The Helix School • Winston Preparatory School

• Autistry Studios • Bay Area Autism Collective WINNER • Children’s Council San Francisco • Sterne School • Matrix Parent Network • UCP of the Golden Gate SPECIAL NEEDS WINNER

• Autistry Studios

SPECIAL NEEDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TOP 5

• Alpha School • Oak Hill School • Star Academy • Sterne School • Winston Preparatory School

PRESCHOOLS TOP 5

• ASI Early Childhood Education Center • Primeros Pasos • Stepping Stones Preschool • The Modern PlaySpace • Tinker Preschool WINNER

• Primeros Pasos

WINNER

• Sterne School

WINNER

• GATE Academy

• Lowell High School

August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 35

Dyslexia and Your Child

By Jill Plantedosi

In speaking with numerous teachers and parents I have worked with over the past 25 years, a consistent question that I am asked is, “how do I know if my child or student is dyslexic?”

According to Drs. Shaywitz from the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, dyslexia effects 20 percent of the population and represents 80-90 percent of all those with learning disabilities.

36 Parents Press | August 2026

T

eachers have become increasingly concerned about diagnosing dyslexia as early as possible in order to put together a roadmap for success. Educators need to identify children who are at risk for dyslexia and catch them before they fall. So many children are not getting a definitive diagnosis of dyslexia, but are given a checklist of strengths and weaknesses, stating only the word “learning disability” on their evaluation. Success begins with identifying this complex problem and knowing the best interventions to put into place. The dyslexia guidelines posted on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s website, provides a set of screening recommendations for all students, as well as a framework for intervention. These guidelines can be quite helpful in providing information needed to support students with dyslexia.

Dyslexia is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities.

WHAT IS DYSLEXIA? According to the International Dyslexia Association, (www.interdys.org), “Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.” (Adopted by the IDA Board of Directors, Nov. 12, 2002) The basic deficit in dyslexia, is the result of persistent difficulties with phonological processing.

If your child has a phonological impairment, and struggles with the individual sounds of spoken words, he/she may have problems with: • Spoken language linked to a child’s phonological skills, (Either delayed early on and/or word retrieval later on).

• Phonemic awareness (understanding by the child that spoken words are made up of smaller units of speech) • Difficulties with pronunciation of words • Rapid automatized object naming • Identifying letters of connecting letters to sounds • Ability to use expressive language • Decoding difficulties that impact accuracy • Hearing and repeating rhyming sounds • Encoding sounds into letters and spelling • Learning the sound system of a foreign language

COMMON MYTHS ABOUT DYSLEXIA

• More boys than girls are dyslexic-Dyslexia affects comparable numbers.

• Dyslexia will be outgrown-Dyslexics will be able to learn to read accurately, but will continue to struggle with fluency and automaticity.

• Intelligence is related to dyslexia- Dyslexics often have a high IQ. • Dyslexia is a vision problem-Dyslexic children are no more likely to have vision problems than non-dyslexic children.

• Mirror writing is a symptom of dyslexia-This is very common in all children at the early stages, as young children commonly reverse letters.

• Dyslexia doesn’t show up until elementary schoolDyslexia can show up in preschool. Often these preschoolers were late talkers and had difficulty with rhyming words.

• Dyslexic children need to try harder-Effort has nothing to do with reading success, as the brain functions differently in a dyslexic child.

• There is no way to accurately diagnose dyslexia-We can now accurately identify those at risk as early as preschool and children who are dyslexic by first grade.

• Dyslexia only happens in the English language- Dyslexia is prevalent in all languages.

RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF DYSLEXIA PRE-SCHOOL (EARLY YEARS)

• Trouble with learning nursery rhymes • Struggles to learn and remember the names of the letters in the alphabet • Difficulties recognizing letters in his/her name • Mispronouncing and confusing familiar words • Difficulty producing individual speech sounds • Struggles to blend the sounds in words • Not recognizing rhyming words and patterns • Having a family history of reading difficulties

KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE

• Does not associate letters with sounds • Reading errors and miscues that show no connection to the sounds of the letters • Difficulty reading one-syllable words • Difficulty separating sounds in words and does not understand that words come apart • Struggles to blend sounds in words • Difficulty getting to the individual sounds of spoken words • Difficulty with word retrieval • Slow progress in acquiring reading skills • Rarely reads for pleasure • Complains about how hard reading is and how tired they get

August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 37

<<< Continued from page 29

SECOND GRADE AND ABOVE

• Slow reading, often pausing during reading • Trouble reading unfamiliar words • Difficulty getting to the individual sounds of spoken words • Stumbling when reading multisyllable words • Difficulty with word retrieval • Poor fluency and prosody • Oral reading is full of substitutions, omissions, and mispronunciations • Avoids reading aloud • Confuses words that sound alike • Struggles to finish assignments • Difficulty learning a foreign language • Poor spelling • Reading comprehension often superior to accuracy and speed • Slow progress in reading skills • Rarely reads for pleasure The Massachusetts Dyslexia Guidelines provides for all students from kindergarten through at least third grade, to be screened for reading. They use a valid, developmentally appropriate DESE approved early literacy screening instrument. If your child’s screening results are below benchmark, the student’s parents or guardians will be notified within 30 days. There will be a discussion about what actions will take place within your child’s education program. Remember that a screener is not a reading assessment, but a way to help identify those students who may be at risk for dyslexia.

Actions parents can take if they feel their child is at risk for dyslexia

• Review the screening assessment with your child’s teacher and discuss what plan of action will be put in place.

38 Parents Press | August 2026

• Listen to your child read aloud at home, and make a list of your observations and concerns. Bring your list to the meeting.

• Have your child placed in an intense early intervention reading program taught by a reading specialist, and have his/her progress monitored.

• Set up regular meetings with the teacher to discuss your child’s progress.

• If your child is not making progress and you still have concerns, ask to have a full diagnostic reading assessment done.

• Have your child taught with a scientifically—based reading program that supports his/her strengths and weaknesses.

• Your child’s reading program should include the following components: Phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

• Set aside a designated reading time in your home to read together. Let your child select books of his/her choice and practice with repeated readings.

• Be cautious about computer-assisted instruction.

• Use every opportunity to expose your child to literacy activities Remember that dyslexia is a reading impairment, not a thinking impairment, and that the essential of a successful reading intervention is: • Early screening • Early diagnosis • Early intervention October 2 has been designated in Massachusetts as Learning Disability Screening Day in order to raise awareness of the necessity of screening for reading disabilities and promoting an understanding around dyslexia and other reading disabilities. Y Jill Piantedosi is an adjunct professor for American International College, where she teaches graduate students who are pursuing an advanced degree in reading. She has worked as a reading specialist at both the elementary and middle school level for over 30 years. She holds an M Ed. in education and an advanced CAGS degree in reading. Jill is nationally board certified in English Language Arts 6-8 and holds a Massachusetts reading certification K-12.

References Shaywitz, J. P. & Shaywitz, S., (2020). Overcoming Dyslexia.

New York: Vintage Books Sousa, David, (2014). How the Brain Learns to Read.

California: Corwin Book Company Websites Florida Center for Reading Research – www.fcrr.org International Dyslexia Association – https://dyslexiaida.org International Literacy Association – https://www.literacyworldwide.org KidsHealth - Understanding Dyslexia – www.kidshealth.org/parent/ medical/learning/dyslexia.html National Center for Learning Disabilities – https://www.ncld.org Parents as Teachers – www.parentsasteachers.org Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity – http://dyslexia.yale.edu

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AoPS Academy Pleasanton 5200 Franklin Drive, Ste 110 Pleasanton, CA 94588 August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 39

5 Individual Sports for Kids

P

arents want their kids to have an active and healthy lifestyle and many sign them up for team sports hoping to help them develop healthy lifelong habits and a love for physical activity. While there are many benefits to team sports, they aren’t always the best fit. Individual sports can be a great alternative to playing on a team especially for kids who have ADHD, sensory processing disorder, or struggle with socialization disorders. Individual sports help kids stay active while building self-esteem and focus. They also learn to set personal goals, and have the opportunity to work one-on-one with the coach. Here are some great individual sports to try and the benefits for your child can gain by participating in each of them.

By Sarah Lyons

GYMNASTICS

Gymnasts are known for their strength, coordination, flexibility, and discipline.

Your child may never become an Olympic gymnast but the confidence and agility they will learn from participating in gymnastics will stick with them.

SWIMMING

Swimming is a great source of cardiovascular exercise. It also promotes strength, stamina, balance, better posture, and teaches water safety. Swimming, like martial arts, is a sport for all ages. A love of a sport like swimming can turn into a lifetime source of exercise and enjoyment.

RUNNING

TENNIS

While running sports typically start in late elementary school or middle school, it is never too early or late to enjoy. Besides a great cardio workout, running helps develop physical, mental, and personal development as kids overcome challenges and set new goals in distance or time.

Hand-eye coordination, speed, agility, gross and fine motor skills, and strong cardiovascular exercise makes tennis a great option for kids who like to keep moving, are quick on their feet, and want the individual attention that comes from one-on-one coaching.

MARTIAL ARTS

Kids who want to learn discipline, respect for others and themselves, balance and coordination, self-control, and work on their listening and focusing skills should consider trying martial arts. This can also become a family sport as all ages are welcome in this activity.

If none of the above sports are of interest, you may also want to research fencing, wrestling, cycling, dance, diving, or golf. Many of these sports allow kids to compete on an individual basis while contributing overall to a team. For example, kids competing in gymnastics will receive an individual score but the points go to an overall total for the team. This gives kids the support from teammates without the pressure of having to play on a team. Kids will learn to set and exceed their personal goals and also have the camaraderie that goes along with a team sport. If you notice your child is feeling pressure or frustration from participating in team sports, give an individual sport a try. Y Sarah Lyons is a freelance writer and mom of six kids including triplets. She enjoys reading, writing, and spending time outdoors with her family.

40 Parents Press | August 2026

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We provide a dynamic learning environment and a truly global perspective, anchored by our European educational approach. Our small size and low student-teacher ratio (7:1) enable our highly trained international faculty to provide an individualized educational experience to each student.

Our International High School is open to all students in grades 9-12. EBIHS offers multiple language tracks with beginner to native-speaker-level language and literature courses in German, French, and Spanish as well as introductory Mandarin. All other EBIHS instruction is in English.

No knowledge of German is required for students entering our preschool or kindergarten, nor for our high school. Talk with us about individualized language support for elementary and middle school students.

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August 2026 | ParentsPress.com 41