License # 434417168
Selicia Seal
408-440-2000
bigyardpreschool@gmail.com
Imagine, Explore,
Create,Play!
Our mission at Big yard preschool is to provide a dynamic and engaging environment for a diverse community of children to flourish and thrive, so they can reach their full potential.
We do this by encouraging each child’s creativity and imagination, nurturing their innate curiosity to explore through play, to unveil their passions later in life.
Our Philosophy
At Big Yard Preschool, we believe that early childhood is a time of wonder, discovery, and growth. Our play-based curriculum is designed to nurture the whole child—cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically—by providing a rich environment where creativity, curiosity, and exploration thrive. We are dedicated to providing a space where children become confident, compassionate, and curious individuals ready to embark on their lifelong learning journey.
Our Core Beliefs
Play as a Foundation for Learning: We recognize play as the natural way children learn. Through imaginative play, children develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and a love for learning that will last a lifetime.
Creativity and Curiosity: We encourage children to ask questions, explore their surroundings, and express themselves freely. Our classrooms and outdoor spaces are filled with opportunities for open-ended activities, allowing children to use their imaginations and explore their interests in a safe and supportive environment.
Emotional Awareness: Understanding and navigating emotions are key aspects of a child's development. We are committed to helping children recognize, express, and manage their feelings through role-playing, social interaction, and mindful practices. This foundation in emotional intelligence supports their ability to build healthy relationships and approach challenges with confidence.
Connection to Nature: Our expansive outdoor spaces are integral to our curriculum. We believe that nature is a powerful teacher, offering endless opportunities for exploration, observation, and sensory experiences. Whether it's gardening, observing wildlife, or simply playing in the fresh air, we encourage children to connect with the natural world around them.
Socialization and Community: We foster a strong sense of community where children learn to collaborate, share, and communicate with their peers. Through group activities and social play, they develop essential social skills that are crucial for their future success in school and beyond.
Holistic Development: Our approach is designed to nurture every aspect of a child's development. We value the importance of balancing physical activity, creative expression, cognitive growth, and emotional well-being in a supportive and joyful learning environment.
Our Services
Half Day
Want your child to socialize and play with others? Half day can be a perfect way to achieve development and take advantage of our preschool.
Mornings
8am - 12:30pm
Breakfast & Morning Snack Provided
Afternoons
12:30pm - 5:30pm
Lunch & Afternoon Snack Provided
Full Day
Drop your child before work and pickup afterward with our full day program. Enrichment and care all day long.
Full Day
8am - 5:30pm
Breakfast, Morning Snack, Lunch, and Afternoon Snack Provided
2 - 5 days a week
Select from 2, 3, 4 or 5 days a week to fit around your schedule and goals.
Our Centers
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Science and nature experiences are fundamental to the whole child’s development. They not only support cognitive growth but also nurture physical, social, emotional, and creative development, fostering a well-rounded, curious, and resilient individual. Nature provides endless opportunities for imaginative play and creative thinking. Exploring nature fosters a sense of wonder and curiosity, encouraging children to ask questions, make observations, and seek answers. This inquiry-based learning builds critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Learning about ecosystems and the interdependence of living things fosters empathy, respect for others, and a sense of responsibility toward the environment.
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Block play is a comprehensive activity that supports children’s development in multiple areas. Blocks can be anything a child imagines—a house, a castle, a car—allowing them to explore their creativity and come up with imaginative scenarios. Successfully building a structure boosts self-esteem, while learning to cope with a collapsed tower teaches resilience and the value of perseverance. Building structures with blocks encourages children to think critically and solve problems, such as figuring out how to balance blocks or create stable structures. Another great way to reinforce fine motor and gross motor skills.
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By providing a space where children can explore musical instruments, dance, and move freely, we’re giving them tools to grow in many areas of their development. It’s not just about having fun—though that’s certainly a big part of it—but about fostering skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
Playing instruments helps children understand concepts like rhythm, patterns, and counting. This supports their math skills and critical thinking abilities. Music and movement encourage creativity and imagination. When children use scarves in a dance, they might imagine they’re butterflies, birds, or something entirely unique. Participating in music and movement activities with others teaches children important social skills. They learn to take turns, listen to others, and work together to create something beautiful.
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Gardening is a powerful way to help children connect with nature. Gardening provides hands-on experiences with the natural world, helping children learn about plant biology, ecosystems, and the life cycle of plants. It fosters curiosity and encourages scientific thinking. Gardening teaches children the value of patience as they wait for plants to grow. It also instills a sense of responsibility as they care for living things, learning to nurture and take pride in their efforts. Growing fruits and vegetables encourages children to try new foods and develop healthy eating habits. They are more likely to eat what they have grown themselves, which promotes an understanding of where food comes from and the importance of nutrition.
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Dramatic play is a powerful tool for development, helping children enhance cognitive, social, emotional, language, physical, and creative skills. It’s an essential part of early childhood learning that lays the foundation for more complex thinking and social interactions as each child grows. As children engage in dramatic play, they often use and hear new words, which expands their vocabulary and language skills. Acting out different roles helps them understand and appreciate different perspectives. Big Yard Preschool offers several areas and options to help children bring their imaginations, and role play alive.
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Arts and Crafts will be a daily activity where children will explore, imagine and create using different modes and methods. Big Yard Preschool has a large selection of Art materials for children to explore and create.
The children will create projects using recycled materials, nature, sand, clay, beads, etc. They will be encouraged to express their ideas, the way they imagine them.
They will practice skills, like cutting, painting and gluing. They will reinforce skills like hand eye coordination, gross and fine motor skills, sharing, socializing.
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Storytelling, puppets, and reading books are a powerful ways to support the development of young children. They enhance language and literacy, stimulate cognitive and social growth, and nurture emotional well-being, all while providing joy and entertainment. Its a great way to talk about important topics in a fun and captivating way.
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Big Yard Preschool teaches math thru play. Thru a hands on approach children can engage in activities like counting, sorting, and measuring. They will explore shapes and patterns and numbers.
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Big Yard Preschool is focused on your child’s entire well-being, with the practice of mindfulness each day we are teaching each child the importance of slowing down and calming their bodies and minds, bringing them into the present moment. Yoga/mindfulness are also a great way to develop self-awareness, increase resilience, and create higher self-esteem. In doing Yoga every day we will strengthen, stretch and create more flexibility and coordination within our bodies.
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While at Big Yard Preschool all children will have the opportunity to strengthen their life skills in cooking. Cooking is a great way to engage young minds in creating something they can eat. They practice fine motor skills while cutting vegetables and fruits, and have hands on experience exploring different textures, smells, and colors. They learn math skills while measuring and chemistry as they mix different ingredients. Cooking is a fun way to explore and learn practical life skills!
My name is Selicia Seal, though you can call me Mrs. CC. I’m excited to share a little about myself and the journey that led me to open this special place for your children.
I’ve been married to my best friend, Joshua, for 13 wonderful years, and together we’ve built a loving home here in San Jose, where we have lived for the past decade. Our two daughters, Leila (12) and Lavinia (9), have been the heart of our lives, and I’m incredibly grateful for the time I’ve spent raising them at home. As a family-oriented mother, I cherish the moments we spend together, exploring the great outdoors, traveling to new places, crafting together, stargazing, and simply enjoying our backyard. It truly fills my heart with joy. I have always been very creative, and my creative spirit comes to life through my various hobbies, including sewing, photography, felting, resin, and gardening. However, watching movies has always been one of my favorite pastimes!
My journey in childcare began years ago, driven by a deep empathy and a natural inclination to nurture. From babysitting and nannying to working as a Teacher then Director of Village Tree Preschool in Los Angeles. I’ve had the privilege of caring for and educating many children while working together with their families. My experiences, along with my degrees in Early Childhood Education and Liberal Arts: Social and Behavioral Science, have only deepened my passion for early childhood development. A passion that is fueled in growth, these passions fuel my desire to create a nurturing and stimulating environment for the children in my care.
Eight years ago, my family and I found our dream home—a place where I could finally turn my lifelong dream and passion into reality. With Joshua’s support and the girl’s encouragement, we have transformed our home into a safe and joyful space where children can explore, learn, and flourish and find their own passions in life.
About Me…
Selicia Seal
Contact us.
Contact Selicia for pricing schedule and to set up a time for a tour.
Bigyardpreschool@gmail.com
(408) 440-2000 (Call only)
FAQs
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Download the the daily schedule.
(Click the blue link above for Daily Schedule)
Monday & Friday
Arrival/ Breakfast: 8am - 8:30am
Handwashing/Toilet: 8:40am - 8:50am
Circle Time: 8:50am - 9:20am
Music & Movement: 9:20am - 9:40am
Outdoor Play Time: 9:40am – 10:20am
Handwash/Toilet: 10:20am -10:30am
Morning Snack: 10:30am - 10:45am
Outdoor Nature/Sci: 10:45am -11:30am
Art/Crafts: 11:30am - 12:20pm
Handwash/Toilet: 12:20pm - 12:30pm
Lunch: 12:30pm - 1pm
Yoga: 1pm - 1:20pm
Nap: 1:20pm – 3:20pm
Quiet reading/draw: 2:20pm - 3:20pm
Afternoon Snack: 3:20pm - 3:35pm
Science: 3:35pm - 4:00pm
Dramatic Play: 4pm - 5:00pm
Free Play/Pickup: 5pm – 5:30pm
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Download this pack for all information about our program at Big Yard Preschool.
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