Little Butterflies
Our mission is to foster learning through sensory-based exploratory play
About Little Butterflies
Little Butterflies is a sensory play-based licensed preschool in Alameda. Our teaching methods are based on evidence-based multisensory approaches, which are shown to encourage learning and retention. Our space is created to inspire exploratory play and is designed by an Occupational Therapist. Our team is dedicated to providing enrichment for cognitive, social and emotional growth, while instilling the value of community responsibility in our children.
Our passion to foster child development
We feel privileged to be a part of a child’s most important formative years and strongly believe in a well- rounded educational approach. This means that we strive to nourish the body, the mind and the heart of the child. We put strong emphasis on motor, cognitive and social-emotional development. We also believe in guiding our children to be kind, empathetic and socially responsible. We strive to foster independence and the pursuit of individual passions while also teaching our children to manage their emotions, respect themselves and each other and take responsibility. We believe in modeling these behaviors for our children to create a safe haven where they feel secure, supported and free to engage in constructive learning.
Our unique curriculum
Little Butterflies is owned by a local, POC woman who is also an Occupational Therapist. The curriculum is unique, designed in collaboration with our educator who has over two decades of experience teaching. Our curriculum is play-based; it includes age appropriate concepts and themes and unstructured free play. Our classes are based on ages of the children and run in a sensory-based indoor play area, complete with swings, a climbing structure with slide, sensory manipulatives and a quiet calming room.
Program description
Little Butterflies is a preschool program operated by Swings and Wings that prepares children aged 2.5 through 5 for kindergarten skills, using a combination of academics and multi-sensory play that is purposeful. Our program is developmentally appropriate and play-based. Activities include: drawing, handwriting, letter identification, number identification, counting, basic addition with pictures, sight word practice, patterns, rhyming, artwork, crafts, books, puzzles, playdough, play kitchen, Lego table, train table, swings, climbing/sliding structure, sensory/quiet room.
Class schedules and monthly tuition (2024-2025 school year)*
Full-day program (7:30am until 5:30pm):
5 days per week (Mondays thru Fridays): $1,787.50/month.
2 days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays): $1,015.00/month.
3 days per week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays): $1,372.50/month.
Half-day program (7:30am to 1:00pm, or 1:00pm to 5:30pm**. Availability is limited.):
5 days per week (Mondays thru Fridays): $1,375.00/month.
2 days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays): $715.00/month.
3 days per week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays): $990.00/month.
*Additional $1/minute charge for pickups beyond 10 minutes after the end of class.
**Due to nap time/quiet time between 1:30pm and 2:30pm, drop-offs are not permitted during this time.
Enrollment ages
In order to attend preschool, children must be potty-trained and at least 2.5 years old by December 1st of the enrollment year. We accept children with pull ups with an additional potty training charge of $50 per month
Enrollment process
Class sizes will be limited to 15 children at a time. Enrollment is a three-step process:
Complete the form below to apply. A non-refundable deposit of one month’s tuition (half of one month’s tuition for returning families) will be required to confirm each child’s slot (Little Butterflies will send an invoice via email). The entire deposit will be applied towards the last full month of school.
For the first 15 applicants, parents will receive an Admission Agreement to sign and return, along with other required documents (as required by the California Department of Social Services). Remaining applicants will be placed on a waiting list.
For applicants on the waiting list, Little Butterflies will either:
(a) Send an Admission Agreement and the required documents, if space becomes available, or
(b) Refund the deposit if space is no longer available.
Session term
Little Butterflies operates a year-round preschool program, aligned generally with the AUSD calendar.
The 2024 – 2025 school year is weekdays from August 12th, 2024, through July 25th, 2025.
The 2025 – 2026 school year will be weekdays from August 11th, 2025, through July 24th, 2026.
Scheduled closures
Little Butterflies will be closed every year on the following days (tuition rates will remain the same regardless of holidays and scheduled breaks):
Public Holidays
New Years’ Day
Martin Luther King Jr Day
Presidents’ Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans’ Day
Scheduled Breaks
The week of Presidents Day (February)
Spring Break (per the AUSD calendar)
Last two weeks of summer vacation (per the AUSD calendar)
The week of Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve through New Years’ Day
Food and Snacks
Please pack water (or other beverage of your choice), snacks and lunch for your children to bring from home. If your child requests an additional snack, we will provide a pre-packaged snack. We are a nut-free facility, so please let us know if your child has any other food allergies. Water bottles will be refilled as needed.
A day in our life*
Monday
Circle time - Singing
Letter ‘C’ sharing
Reading
C is for……
Math - Leaf sorting and graphing
Sensory - Rice Tray Tracing
Project - Handprint name
Project - Leaf rubbing
Large Motor - ‘C’ obstacle course
Wednesday
Circle time - Singing
Letter ‘C’ sharing
Reading
C is for……
Math - Chicka chicka counting
Sensory - Chicka letter bins
Project - Watercolor C
Project - Leaf rubbing
Large Motor - Circus!
Friday
Circle time - Singing
Letter ‘C’ Sharing
Reading
Letters in your name
Math - Shape Trees
Sensory - Salt Tray
Project - Broccoli stamped fall tree
Project - Show and tell
Large Motor - Swings
*Sample schedule
What people are saying about us...
“He is happy and excited to go to school everyday which is a testament to the positive and inclusive learning environment you’ve created”
—Parent
“I smile because you all have opened a spark in his eye that he didn’t know existed.”
— Parent
“We've been so impressed by the communication, responsiveness, and safety measures at LB. Parents receive a weekly email with a detailed preview of the next week's activities, as well as updates on any new children joining the class, educational resources, etc.”
— Parent
