Building Blocks Therapeutic Preschool is an early intervention program (for children ages 2.9-5 years) in Oakland, providing specialized services to address each child’s behavioral, emotional and/or developmental challenges.

Our staff take great care in building a safe and creative learning environment for the child who may not be ready to enter a traditional preschool classroom or has already experienced difficulties in preschool. Through the delivery of a thoughtful and developmentally appropriate curriculum, students are encouraged to safely explore emotional expression through dramatic play and art. With support from caring and nurturing staff, children begin to identify their emotions and work toward self-monitoring and regulating their own feelings and behaviors.

As the children at Building Blocks develop their social-emotional skills, they are constantly learning by making deep and meaningful connections with the world around them. Children may begin to notice patterns in their art work, ask questions about seeds and plants, or even observe a squirrel in the yard and mimic its movements during dramatic play.

A Day at Building Blocks

Breakfast and Outdoor Play: A typical Building Blocks day begins with a home-cooked breakfast, then free play in our huge yard!

Morning Circle: Children transition into their individual classroom for morning circle.

Centers: During Centers or Work Time, children make choices about their classroom activities. They select from blocks, computer, dramatic play, musical instruments/listening, art, doll house play, books or puzzles.

Kids Club: Children participate in a daily structured group therapy activity called Kids Club which is led by the classroom therapist. Topics include an exploration about feelings, safety, social skills and team work.

Lunch: Children have a delicious home-cooked meal in their classroom.

Enrichment: Children engage in skill building activities such as reading, playing with foam dough and clay, cutting, gluing, coloring or building a castle!

The Building Blocks Community

We serve a diverse group of families at Building Blocks. Our students live in a variety of family settings, including with their biological parents, extended family members, foster parents, or adoptive parents.

Essential to the success of the Building Blocks community are our partnerships with families. We know that families want their children to learn and play with joy and creativity. This can be challenging for a child who has had difficult life experiences. Our staff is dedicated to partnering with families to support their children’s cognitive and emotional development.

To ensure that children experience increasing success at home as well as at school, Building Blocks offers an extensive array of services for families:

• Monthly parent support group
• Home visiting
• Collaboration with other service providers
• Crisis services
• On-site parent resource center
• Parent-child therapy

Each Building Blocks classroom is staffed by a dedicated and creative team of educational and therapeutic specialists who provide opportunities for children to develop strong social, emotional and academic skills within a safe and structured environment. With a high staff to child ratio, children receive individual support and attention throughout the day.

Contact Us

Enrollment is year-round! Please call or email us with questions or to set up a visit.

Phone. (510) 434-7990
Email. BBAdmin@senecacenter.org