Family activities for preschool-age children in El Cerrito, CA
Families of the San Francisco Bay Area are fortunate to have lots of choices when it comes to fun, educational activities for preschool children. The gorgeous natural setting of the Bay Area offers preschool children a diverse landscape to see and explore. The agricultural and historical bounties of the East Bay and San Francisco enrich the senses and inspire wonder.
With its close proximity (2 min drive) to I-80 and I-580, Nomura Preschool straddles several communities in the East Bay, CA. This convenient location between Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo, Richmond, El Cerrito, Albany, Kensington and Berkeley allows parents to quickly drop off their child without adding significant commute time.
As a longtime member of East Bay communities and a cultural leader in Bay Area preschool care, Nomura Preschool children and parents are encouraged to apply their imaginations and curiosity to the world around them. To that end, we’ve developed a short list of children’s activities for each of our local East Bay cities. By no means comprehensive, these lists include a few city-specific places, events and organizations where your child can grow and have fun.
City of El Cerrito Recreation – Youth Sports
City Recreation Dept / 7007 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito, CA / 510-559-7000
–Youth Gymnastics
The Recreation Department offers gymnastics classes for children of all abilities including Pre-K Gymnastics for Ages 3-6.
–Junior Giants Baseball
Bring your young ones to the El Cerrito Community Center for our Junior Giants program, for ages 3.5 to 5 years old. Call for class description, prices, and schedule.
Arlington Park
1120 Arlington, El Cerrito / (510) 559-7000
This large playground offers an area for smaller tots as well as structures for larger kids. Features: Barbecues, Basketball courts, Clubhouse, Creeks / creek access, Grassy areas, Picnic areas, Picnic tables, Playground equipment / playground / field, Ponds, Reservations, and Tennis courts
The long-awaited enclosed water play park next to the swimming pools at the El Cerrito Community Center offers fun fountain structures and sprinklers for kids of any age to enjoy. The area includes the enclosed environment, benches, shade, a lawn and barbecue pits. Perfect for a warm summer afternoon.
Central Park
5701 Central Ave, El Cerrito
Features: Baseball fields, Basketball courts, Grassy areas, and Playground equipment / playground / field
Canyon Trail Park & Art Center
6757 Gatto Ave, El Cerrito
Features: Art Center, Barbecues, Creeks / creek access, Grassy areas, Picnic areas, Picnic tables, Playground equipment / playground / field, Ponds, Reservations, Tennis courts, and Walking trails
Playland Not-at-the-Beach
10979 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito / 5 blocks south of El Cerrito Del Norte BART
General Admission: $15 / Youths 14 and under: $10 / Seniors 55+: $10 / Multi-visit passes available at a discount.
Note: Recommended for ages 3+, as some features include clowns, haunted attractions and other amusements that might frighten very young children. Also, they do not serve food; vending machines only.
“Playland-Not-at-the-Beach is a temperature-controlled 9000-square foot building chock-full of amazing things to see and do. There are 30+ pinball machines set on Free Play, arcade games, videogames, carnival games of skills where you can win prizes, penny arcades full of antique amusement devices, live magic shows, an amazing hand-carved miniature circus, side show acts, miniature dioramas, Fascination games, and historic exhibits with artifacts from the Sutro Baths and Whitney’s Playland in San Francisco. Playland-Not-at-the-Beach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Museum of Fun. Designed and built entirely by volunteers, the 20+ interactive exhibits celebrate the magic and history of America’s bygone amusements. Our goal is to educate newer generations about the bygone days and allow those who remember Whitney’s Playland and the Sutro Baths the opportunity to recapture the glorious sights and sounds of that marvelous era.”
El Cerrito Library: Story Times
6510 Stockton Ave, El Cerrito / 510-526-7512
An El Cerrito Library online calendar of events, including weekly Babies & Toddlers Story Times, “Books and Blocks” activity times for kids 2+, and more events.
There’s more fun to be had. We invite you to check out Nomura Preschool’s other East Bay, CA communities.