Once Upon A Time Family-Home Child Care

Once Upon A Time is a perfect blend of personal, loving, in-​home, family childcare plus the structure of a preschool curriculum. Everyday our son comes home with «stories» of the beautiful art he’s made and the adventures he’s had with his friends. I greatly appreciate that Heather regularly sends pictures of fun activities my son is engaged and it warms my heart to see him cuddle on her lap at the end of the day when I pick him up!

I agonized over where to place my son at 18 months when I decided to go back to work. After having a bad experience during a trial at a facility (in which they were not watching my son as he choked on some food they served him), I looked into home daycare. I was very frightened of some of the places, just by reading about them. I was frightened even more after speaking to some providers on the phone. Some places used the TV to babysit the kids, some had reviews in which a parent caught the provider feeding the child off of the floor. All in all it is a dismal daycare world out there. Finally I ran across Heather and gave her a call. I was pleased after speaking with her and was even more comfortable after seeing her set up. She follows a preschool curriculum, knows each child personally, plans out great activities, and sends home a personalized note about what your child did each day. We have been there for almost a year now and my son loves it there. We even play on a little soccer team with some of the other boys, including Heather’s son. I am happy that she will also be able to take my younger son as well when he is ready to attend.
Just a note that as of this writing she does not wish to take very young babies, but that may change. She also has dogs that are kept inside at night, but are no where near the children during the day. So, something to consider if you child has allergies.

Heather has an incomparable program that really is «as good as it gets»! After relocating to northern California it was difficult to find quality childcare for our 18 month old daughter. We visited institutional type facilities in Walnut Creek and were unimpressed by the level of care. Being that our daughter stayed at home for the first 18 months meant it would be a difficult break for the both of us but Heather’s program has been absolutely amazing for my daughter and family. Every time we drop off/​pick up our daughter the kids are always in excited great spirits and happy to be there. The children are engaged throughout the day with different activities that incorporate learning and lots of fun! The activities and socialization skills our daughter is learning are invaluable and we owe it all to Heather and her staff!
Heather has an extremely organized program. Parents receive a daily journal of activities and how your child’s day was. The rooms are very organized, clean and well kept and offer different environments to the children.
In our opinion choosing a child care provider is one of the most challenging decisions parents have to make and trust me Once Upon A Time is the RIGHT CHOICE!

Heather and her staff at Once Upon a Time Daycare is AMAZING.
Since attending Once Upon a Time, we’ve noticed how our daughter loves the educational and socialization aspects Heather’s team provides. Our little girl adores playing with the other children and is always happy to see Heather in the mornings when I drop her off. I’ve also noticed how the other children are always happy, inquisitive and seem to get along well with each other. They often show me the arts & crafts they’ve made and tell me fun things they learned throughout the day.
Heather keeps a daily notebook of all the children’s activities, which is fun to read and helps us further reiterate what she’s learned at daycare when we’re home.
Since my husband and I don’t have family nearby, we know how hard it can be to find trusted reliable childcare. We considered various options (nanny, large daycare centers, etc.) and after much critical debate, concluded that a small home child care environment was our optimal solution. It’s honestly the best decision we made.
Heather and her team are extremely responsible, devoted, creative and caring. We always feel reassured that when our little girl is at Once Upon a Time that she is in safe, trusted hands, which gives us such peace of mind.

Heather is a wonderful childcare provider and I highly recommend her program. She has such a great connection with the children in her care and she goes above and beyond to make sure that each child’s needs and interests are met. When one of the children in her care had an interest in trucks Heather made it a point to add new toy trucks and books about trucks to the playrooms. She is not afraid to get down on the floor and play with the kids, act silly with them or dance around to music. Each child’s day is filled with new learning opportunities in all areas of development. On top of all that Heather has an amazing setup at her facility, including great outdoor space and 2 playrooms. Heather’s patience, loving nature and dedication make her a wonderful childcare provider!

Heather is an amazing, loving provider! Her passion for working with kids shows on the little faces of the kids in her care. Her program is flawless! She runs an active program in a kids friendly environment. I highly recommend «Once upon a time» childcare. I have operated a childcare program for 32 years and have mentored Heather’s program. All of my referral to her care have been completely happy with the care their children receive while at «Once upon a time»… Heather truly has put her heart into her program!
Best wishes,
Michelle Service
Kids Kastle Childcare