CreativeHearts

Our Teachers

Welcome to Creative Hearts INC a school that follows a mixture of philosophies including Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio, our teachers are fluent in Spanish, English, and Chinese and we offer Language and Music lessons throughout the week. . Located in Walnut Creek, CA, our daycare center offers a nurturing environment with a personalized touch, thanks to our dedicated team of three passionate caregivers. At Creative Hearts INC, we focus on fostering social, emotional, and educational development through engaging activities and a supportive atmosphere. Trust us to provide a safe, loving space where your child can thrive and flourish. We have weekly live story telling, daily yoga for kids and all-around seasonal hands-on learning. Come tour today and find out what makes us unique

Testimonials

Natalie D. Let me begin by saying that if you are currently on the hunt for a preschool you have my condolences. If you’re like me you’ve toured countless schools and wondered if you will ever find that perfect program for your child. It really is such a daunting task to find somewhere/someone that you truly feel comfortable and confident leaving your little one with but rest assured that if you’ve found Dulcinea at Creative Hearts you have found a true treasure. She is calm, warm, nurturing and so much fun! Her in home classroom is comfy, cozy and full of fun and learning. My little guy (age 3) had never been in care before and I was so nervous about the transition but Dulci is so wonderful and seasoned in her profession that the process really has been easier than I ever could have dreamed. He enjoys school and his friends so much. He’s learning not only letters and numbers but also about being kind and working through emotions. There is not a day he doesn’t come home with a craft or artwork that he is so proud of and there have been many days spent learning and celebrating different cultures and holidays. It really is a very special place. She really does so much with them each day in such a short amount of time. I really can’t say enough about this sweet little school. I am so thankful to have found it!

Laura. K ​I am so grateful to have found Dulci and Creative Hearts Daycare when my son was 26 months old. I have complete peace of mind knowing that he is in such a caring environment and his days are full of engaging activities ranging from yoga to painting to baking to reading to singing and dancing.

Dulci is a great communicator and I love how she shares photos and updates of what the children are doing. My son loves going to Creative Hearts each day and sprints in as soon as Dulci opens the door! ​

Junko T. Creative hearts is such a wonderful preschool! My 3years old girl is currently attending and is so happy to be there. She had no English-speaking experience at all but due to the teacher, friends, and awesome education environment at school, she loves learning a new language. The teacher is so amazing, genuinely cares about kids, and is always patient. She does so many activities including writing, music, and kids yoga. My girl enjoys alphabet games, playing bells and xylophone, and posing yoga. All are learning through play and exploration. My girl gets intimate care in a small class. And having mixed ages is great, I think it helps social development. We are so glad to be part of Creative Heart and highly recommend it!

Gina P. This school is so special. There are so many preschool options, I’ve heard many friends say it’s overwhelming. Creative Hearts is a perfect blend of all things! They offer the comfort of a home environment (especially for our babes being raised during the pandemic) with the introduction of self-motivated growth and social connection. Meeting Dulci has been such a gift. She was born to do this work & I’m grateful my son has her influence in his life!

We have been so fortunate to be part of this school. Having been on long waitlists for a while and coming out of covid, we were attracted to the idea of a home-based school. Creative Hearts is unique in that it combines various teaching methodologies that I have long searched for in a preschool - a nature and play-based approach, self-led inquiry, and creative learning, underpinned by positive values such as kindness, gratitude peace, and love. Dulci’s warmth, calm and care for the kids put me at ease and her unique background in teaching Children’s Yoga, leading children’s events, theatrical performance, and teaching locally and abroad made it an attractive option for us. The fact that my shy introvert child is loving it, and wakes up excited to go to school is testimony that she is at the right place.

We absolutely love Creative Hearts, and so does our little guy. Our 21-month-old has been enrolled at Creative Hearts for 3 weeks now, and he has progressed so much in such a short time. My husband calls Dulci the child whisperer. Dulci is extremely patient and has a gentle teaching style. Our little guy had some delays, and since being at Creative Hearts, we’ve been checking milestones off a back-to-back. We are so excited to see how much he’ll progress in his first year there. We cannot recommend Creative Hearts enough!

We are so happy we found Creative Hearts. We knew immediately upon meeting Dulci that this was the place we wanted our three-year-old son to spend his days. She has a unique zen calm and compassion that the children pick up on. The activities she plans are well thought out and focus on creativity, song, yoga, and lots of outside time! Our son has been in a more traditional preschool setting and was withering, he hated to go to school and was struggling. Within one week at Creative Hearts, he expressed joy when we told him it was a school day and we had to drag him out at the end of the day. For us, this is everything!

We cannot recommend Creative Hearts enough. We feel so fortunate that our son is able to experience such a special place and special teacher.

I became aware of the Creative Hearts daycare towards the end of June as it was set to open in early July. My husband and I had been on a few tours at other places but nothing really stood out for us. When we went for a tour at this daycare, we were struck by how quickly our daughter felt comfortable as she took the owner’s hand to go see the play space and started playing with her kids almost right away. That was a really good sign for us, so we signed her up for two half days a week to get her used to socializing with others and being away from us. She’s been going since July 12 (then 20 months old) and seemed happy from the start as there was no drama at drop-offs, she was off to the races! Dulcinea, the owner, is so kind and gentle and it’s obvious she has that something special that one looks for in a caregiver of young children. She has many years of experience in the childcare arena which is reassuring. She’s very approachable so if there are any issues to bring up she is receptive to different solutions which is always appreciated. When I drop off my daughter lately, she’s eager for the door to open and claps excitedly once Dulcinea comes to greet her and just bolts inside which is so nice to see. She comes home tired and ready for a nap (most times!) and we’ve noticed she’s saying more words now and sharing things. She seems to really have fun there which is wonderful. Every day has a theme and she comes to the door with a new art project each time. It felt a little strange leaving my child at what was essentially a stranger’s house the first few times but I quickly saw that she’s happy and thriving there so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this new space to other parents.

I was lucky enough to find Dulci through the Walnut Creek mommies group. She has been a lifesaver for drop-in days while I’ve been figuring out what permanent solution works. My daughter has loved going to “school” and looks forward to it every time she goes. She loves the backyard, music and dance time along with all the time she spends with the other kids. As slots fill up I’m hoping I’ll be able to still have her attend when available.

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Philosophy

We follow an eath schooling curriculum similar to that of Waldorf education, the learning process is essentially threefold, engaging head, heart, and hands—or thinking, feeling, and doing. We ask questions and treat each little like a child who knows the answers and wants to think for themselves, We explore learning through hands-on crafts designed to inspire the imagination, some ideas we can give you are watercolor paintings creating pics of what we see in nature while being guided by a story. Storytime with puppets or with small wooden figurines on a nature table, stories that inspire kids to understand the seasons and the beauty of life. We move through the seasons with games, arts, and stories that promote cultural diversity by exploring different languages and cultural holidays. We explore mindfulness with yoga games and practice teaching kids how to listen to their hearts through games that inspire the understanding of using your intuition. We also love to inspire healthy eating habits and offer two healthy organic snacks a day, we learn table manners and work towards teaching kids to help clean up after themselves through song.

Location

A cozy environment to help your children feel right at home with caring while away from mom and dad.

Call us today at (925) 263 6543

About our program

Our mission stems from a deep-seated passion to cultivate not just intelligence, but also character in our young learners. We believe in the power of a holistic approach to education, one that goes beyond academics. Our program emphasizes mindfulness, teaching children the importance of emotional intelligence. We equip them with a variety of tools to help them navigate their emotions, understand others, and make progress in their personal growth. Our ultimate goal is to foster well-rounded individuals who are not only smart but also emotionally resilient and empathetic.

With a deep-rooted passion for education and a wealth of experience as a teacher in various settings, I’ve recently expanded my skills by completing a director’s level certificate to manage a learning center. Alongside my exceptional colleagues, Miss Wen and Marietta, who bring their expertise as former Kindergarten and Preschool teachers, we’ve crafted a unique curriculum that blends diverse educational philosophies and experiences.

Our approach draws from the Reggio Emilia philosophy, encouraging children to explore their world through their senses. We provide the tools for self-discovery, igniting their curiosity about nature, science, and the magic of the world around them. We also incorporate Montessori principles, emphasizing organization and preparation for Kindergarten through reading, writing, and essential math skills.

Our curriculum is designed to not only prepare children for Kindergarten but also to nurture their imagination and foster a lifelong love for learning. We bring stories to life and encourage dramatic play, immersing our students in different cultures and music through Earth Schooling Waldorf principles. These principles inspire our approach and emphasize the importance of nature, culture, and the changing seasons.

We also place a high priority on phonetics and foundational education, ensuring that children are engaged and excited about their learning journey. Ultimately, our goal is to instill in children a deep appreciation for living in the present moment, fostering a sense of mindfulness that will serve them throughout their lives.

Here is a little video about our program. Click the link below, or copy and paste to watch. https://youtube.com/shorts/FmTUhhqt6cY?si=Me6AyjWP23NmCOZo