Looking for Child Care and Parent Resources in Sunnyvale?

The City’s Youth, Family and Child Care Resources Office provides an information packet for parents and parents-to-be. The parent information packet contains information about:

Licensed Family Child Care Providers and Centers in Sunnyvale

Parent Education Workshops 

Immunization Requirements

Child Health and Safety Brochures 

Low Cost Child Care information and where to find them

Interview Tool sheet to Assist You in Your Child Care Search 

Information packets can be requested via email or by calling our new phone number at (408) 730-7800. The City does not recommend specific child care programs.

Parent Education Workshops

Our goal is to provide parents and caregivers with tools and tips to address common parenting challenges and improve the quality of care provided to children.  We strive to offer workshops on a diverse range of topics.  Workshops are available to parents, caregivers, providers and guardians.

Free Workshops	Days	Date/Sessions	Time	Location	Registration / Email
Opening Doors	Tues & Thurs	May 8 – June 7	9:30 - 11 am	Washington Park Building	(408) 684-4785 ealvarez@sjbcdc.org
Let's Move! Fun Music, Dance Steps & Eating Tips for Healthy Kids	Tuesday	May 15, 2012	6:30 - 8:30 pm	Columbia Neighborhood Center	(408) 730-7800 Register
Fun with Different Learning Styles in the Classroom	Thursday	June 7, 2012	6:15 - 8:30 pm	California Young World, Fairwood Campus	(408) 730-7800 Register

Download the flyer for Spring 2012 workshops here.

Workshop Descriptions:

Opening Doors
In this parent leaddership workshop, you will learn important aspects of child and family well-being, school readiness, economic strategies and good health in children and the entire family. Child care provided on-site.

Let's Move! Fun Music, Dance Steps & Eating Tips for Healthy Kids
Parents, Kids, and Child Care Providers will have a blast as they get moving with music, instruments, and steps that can be done at home or in a child care that will encourage kids to be active while learning coordination, team work and having fun! The second part of the workshop,is an interactive session that includes food experiments, a fun “ants on a log” project and kid-friendly tips for increasing overall physical activity, reducing screen time, and how to encourage finicky eaters to enjoy healthier foods and beverages. Young children ages 0-5 are welcome to attend with parents or caregivers. This workshop supports the efforts of the Let's Move! Child Care Initiative, a national movement that First Lady Michelle Obama has championed that promotes healthier physical activity and nutrition for children in child care.

Fun with Different Learning Styles in the Classroom
Explore fun and creative teaching techniques in order to plan effective classroom learning experiences to accommodate the unique learning styles of every child. Discuss how children acquire knowledge and how you create instructional approaches that will address the needs of a variety of modalities. Learn special teaching tools and tips making sure to include the needs of multiple learning styles. No child care available.


Looking for more parent workshops?
Check out these sites from our community partners:

Santa Clara Unified School District Parent Education 
Parents Helping Parents 
Lucile Packard Hospital: Your child's health university
Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC) 
Children's Health Council 
Parents Place
Bill Wilson Center - Services/Workshops
Kaiser: Child, Teen Health Classes and Programs in Northern California
Palo Alto Medical Foundation - Health Education Information
El Camino Hospital - Parenting Classes
Inclusion Collaborative

State Preschools in Sunnyvale

Did you know that Sunnyvale has two state-sponsored preschool programs operated by the Sunnyvale School District? They are:

Columbia State Preschool
739 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale

Bishop State Preschool
250 N. Sunnyvale Avenue, Sunnyvale

These state preschools are part-day comprehensive developmental programs for three to five year old children from low-income families. The programs emphasize parent education and encourage parent involvement. In addition to basic preschool education activities, other components include health, nutrition, social services and staff development. For more information about State Preschool Programs located in Sunnyvale, contact Noemi Herrera at (408) 522-8213.

Other Preschools in Sunnyvale (not state-funded)

The Sunnyvale Department of Community Services, Recreation Division is excited to be offering the new Super Safari Preschool.  This play-based program is designed to provide children their first experience in a structured environment. The goal is to encourage your child’s imagination and creativity through a play-based learning environment.  Limited spaces are available, please call (408) 730-7350 to enroll.

Do you want to know about other Sunnyvale preschools? The Youth and Family Resources Division can provide you with a detailed listing of 40 Sunnyvale Preschools.  Call our new phone number at (408) 730-7800 or request the list via email.

First 5 Learning Together Initiative (LTI) and Family Resource Centers

Success in school begins at birth. The Learning Together Initiative can help!

The Learning Together Initiative (LTI), funded by First 5 Santa Clara County, provides a range of free programs and services designed to support your child's and family's learning and health. LTI Community Workers are available to assist families with children ages 0-5 in accessing:

• Application Assistance for Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and Healthy Kids for children
• Kindergarten Readiness Learning Activities
• Family Resource Center Programs
• Food, Employment and Housing Services
• Child Art Enrichment Activities
• Parenting Workshops such as Opening Doors and SEEDS
• Opportunities for Community Leadership and Service  

For Sunnyvale families living in ZIP codes 94085 and 94089 contact:
Elizabeth Alvarez, Community Worker
Fairwood Family Resource Center, Building 203
1110 Fairwood Avenue, Sunnyvale (in Fairwood Elementary School)
Sunnyvale, CA 94089

SJB Northwood Family Resource Center (open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
2760 E. Trimble Road, San Jose
(408) 923-1944 or e-mail ealvarez@sjbcdc.org

For Sunnyvale families living in ZIP codes 94087 and 94086 contact:
Hadas Keppel, Community Worker
Caring Hearts Family Resource Center (Open Thursdays and Fridays 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
645 W. Fremont Ave., Sunnyvale
(650) 688-3035 or e-mail hadask@jfcs.org

Schools in Sunnyvale

Did you know that Sunnyvale is served by four school districts? The school district that serves your family depends on your home address.

Sunnyvale School District at 819 W. Iowa Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086. (408) 522-8200.

Cupertino School District at 10301 Vista Drive, Cupertino, CA 95014. (408) 252-3000

Santa Clara Unified School District at 1889 Lawerence Road, Santa Clara, CA 95051. (408) 423-2000

Fremont Union High School District at 589 W. Fremont Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086. (408) 522-2280

If your child will need immunizations to start school and you are uninsured, contact MayView Clinic at (408) 746-0455 or your school nurse.

Sunnyvale Camps, Classes and Afterschool Programs

Columbia Neighborhood Center
785 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale
(408) 730-7800
Offers youth drop-in programs year-round, karate classes and summer recreational camps and sports camps.Also, offering free yoga classes for adults and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.


Bilingual Story Time &Songs
offered by the Sunnyvale Public Library at CNC
Every Thursday from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
at the Columbia Middle School Library, 739 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale
A librarian from the Library reads bilingual English and Spanish books and invites children to sing songs.  Children who participate will be able to borrow books to take home.  Parents and their children of all ages are welcome!


City of Sunnyvale, Community Services Division
Sunnyvale Community Center
550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale
(408) 730-7350
Offers recreational classes for children and adults, school-year afterschool programs throughout Sunnyvale,  summer camps and much more.



Northwest YMCA
20803 Alves Drive, Cupertino
(408) 257-7160
Offering summer camps, classes for adults and children in Sunnyvale and Cupertino.

Children's Affordable Health Insurance Enrollment Assistance

Parents may get assistance with children's health insurance enrollment for insurance programs such as Health Kids, Healthy Families and Medi-Cal. Families must meet income guidelines to qualify. To apply, call or visit these locations:

Columbia Neighborhood Center at 785 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale  
Joaquina Flores, Health Trust Community Worker
Tuesdays 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Fridays 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
To make an appointment, call (408) 679-2402 or email joaquinaf@healthtrust.org

Santa Clara County's Fair Oaks Clinic in Sunnyvale  
Telephone: (408) 792-5200

Santa Clara Health Plan Call Center 
Telephone: 1 (877) 688-7234. The call center is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday

Free Child Car Seat Safety Inspections

The Department of Public Safety in Sunnyvale can inspect your car seat or show you how to install it properly. Appointments are available on Wednesday afternoons from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Call (408) 730-7179 to schedule an appointment.

Safe Kids Santa Clara Co./San Mateo Co. led by Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford can also help! Safe Kids is a nationwide network of organizations working to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability for children ages 1 to 14. Find safety recall lists, car seat check events and child safety laws and regulations. Contact Benjamin Arias barias@lpch.org, 725 Welch Road, P160, Palo Alto, (650) 736-2981. 

New! Lucile Packard Safe Kids will be in Sunnyvale for the City of Sunnyvale Fit and Fun Fair on May 5, 2012.  You can have a car seat inspection and then enjoy the fair with your family.  Appointments are required for May 5.  Call (408) 730-7176.

Local Playgroups

Meet Up Groups
Find a playdate for your child in Sunnyvale, and connect with other parents for advice, or meet with other expecting parents in the Sunnyvale or local areas.

Las Madres Neighborhood Playgroup is a nonprofit public benefit corporation. Las Madres provides a network of neighborhood playgroups for children born in the same year. Through Las Madres playgroups members find friendship, support and helpful information as well as an opportunity for their children to make friends their own age. Call (408) 265-4056 or (877) LAS-MADRES for more information.

MOMS Club of Sunnyvale
This local non-profit organization will provide friendship, support and community members and their families. A fun way to meet other moms who share similar experiences as you. Whether you stay at home full time, work outside the home part-time, or have a home-based business; if you are with your children during the day we have lots of activities for you and your child. 

If you know of Sunnyvale or Bay Area playgroup, let us know!  Contact us a (408) 730-7800.

Child Care Payment Assistance for Low Income Families

There are two subsidized child care assistance programs, funded by the State of California, which may be available to families who meet the eligibility and income guidelines.

1. Alternative Payment Programs (AP) – Available to families who have received cash aid within the past 24 months. AP reimburses the child care provider directly on behalf of the parents.
2. Centralized Eligibility List (CEL) - The CEL is a list of income-eligible families that need help paying for child care or part-day preschool. Applicants benefit by receiving free or low cost child care when a participating child development program (CEL Partner) selects them for an opening in their child care or preschool program.

In Santa Clara County, the following agencies can be contacted regarding AP and CEL:

1. AP ONLY - Professional Association for Childhood Education Alternative Payment Program (PACE APP), (408) 278-1214, 1671 The Alameda, Ste. 301, San Jose 95126
2. AP ONLY - Choices for Children, (408) 297-3295, 111 N. Market St., Ste. 500, San Jose 95113
3. CEL - Community Child Care Council (4Cs), (408) 487-0747, 2515 N. First St., San Jose 95131. Additional information about CEL can be found at: www.santaclaracountycel.org

Sunnyvale Community Resource Guide 2011

The 2011 City of Sunnyvale Community Resource Guide is now available. The pocket guide contains valuable information regarding local services, resources and agencies such as child care, food and housing, counseling services and health care.  To request a pocket guide in English or Spanish, call (408) 730-7800.

 Community Resource Guide 2011 SpanishCommunity Resource Guide 2011 English

Other Helpful Links for Parents

4C's - Community Child Care Council of Santa Clara County

Sunnyvale Public Library Children's Programs

First 5 offers a free kit for new parents. To order your free parent kit, call (800) KIDS-025.

The National Center for Fathering

Grands Place (Grandparents)

YWCA of Silicon Valley