The Salvation Army Early Care and Education Program is committed to bringing high-quality child care and education to families who live and work in Oak Park, downtown and south Sacramento. We provide year-round, affordable pre-school and daycare for children ages 3 to 5 years old.

Call 916-469-4630 for more information and to see if you qualify for our program!

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide the best quality care and education for young children as well as support for their families. Our goal is to provide your child with the experiences and skills that will allow them a successful transition to kindergarten.

Our Keys to Success

Education

Providing an enriched learning environment using a child-directed, integrated curriculum that fosters positive social emotional growth while developing a lifelong love of learning.

Environment

Ensuring that children learn and play in beautiful, clean indoor and outdoor environments that promote responsibility and connect children to nature.

Staffing

Providing children with a high quality and continuity of care, we staff each classroom with an Early Childhood professional who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a child development permit from the State of California Commission on Teaching Credentialing, and has several years of experience.

Eligibility & Admissions Procedures

Our program is a California State Funded Preschool Program that serves families with children ages 3-5. Please contact us to find out if your family meets the income guideline. Fees are assessed on a sliding scale determined by California Department of Education. There is also a flat fee of $700.00 for families that do not qualify.

8 Tips for Making Daycare Drop-off Easier

1. Bring something familiar - A reminder of home will make trips to daycare a little easier and provide comfort on difficult days. This might be a blanket or one of mom or dad's T-shirts.

2. Create a goodbye ritual - This might mean giving a high-five, saying, "I love you," or a kiss on both cheeks - whatever feels natural to you and your child. 

3. Talk it through - Even the youngest babies will benefit from parents talking through what this new thing called daycare is going to be like. For example, you can say, "Starting tomorrow, we're going to drop you off at so-and-so's and there are going to be other babies there, and you're going to have lunch and play with these toys, and then after naptime and snack, I'm going to come pick you up."

4. Try a gradual start - If possible, let your child ease in to daycare by starting him off with a part-time schedule.

5. Do your research - Put in the hours to research the best provider for your family, and ask plenty of questions like, "Is your staff CPR trained?" 

6. Create a night-before checklist - Post a daycare checklist near the front door or on your phone to help remember daily items, but also seasonal stuff like sunscreen and hats or boots and hats and mittens. Pack everything the night before and you might just minimize a bit of that morning chaos, improving everyone's mood!

7. Do regular check-ins - Foster a rapport with the provider to make asking such questions easier. It?ll provide a better glimpse into your child?s new world away from home. Don?t be afraid to ask the daycare for advice.

8. Expect some tears - It can take anywhere from one day to four weeks for a child to adjust to daycare. Those tears are an important milestone for growing children as they learn to adapt to different social situations where there might be different rules than at home. 

**Tips provided by Today.com