Entry-Level Preschool in San Jose

A Smooth Home-to-School Start with Tembo Tots

At Safari Kid San Jose - Almaden, our Tembo Tots Entry Level Preschool program welcomes children starting at 2 years old. The program supports the transition from home to school through a nurturing environment where children can explore, learn, and grow. Our educators celebrate each child’s individuality while helping families approach this important change with confidence.

We view early childhood education as a partnership between children, parents, and educators. Through personalized learning, ongoing observations, and family communication, we adapt our approach to each child’s needs. Families seeking early preschool in San Jose can expect a thoughtful balance of guided activities, hands-on experiences, and open-ended play.

Whole-Child Development Through Play & Structured Learning

Our program supports the whole child through five connected areas: Cognitive Development, Language and Literacy Development, Physical Development, Social and Emotional Development, and Health and Care Development. Children encounter numbers, patterns, stories, art, movement, cooperative play, and age-appropriate problem-solving through varied learning experiences. By combining play-based learning with structured activities, we give children different ways to participate, communicate, and explore.

Our program emphasizes the following areas

Cognitive Development:

• Encourages problem-solving and critical thinking through hands-on activities involving numbers, patterns, and cause-and-effect relationships.
• Promotes creativity and imagination through open-ended play, artistic exploration, and interactive learning experiences.

Language and Literacy Development:

• Incorporates phonics, storytelling, and language games to build foundational reading and writing skills.
• Introduces basic words in a foreign language and sign language to enhance communication and cultural understanding.

Physical Development:

• Strengthens fine motor skills through activities like drawing, painting, and manipulating small objects.
• Develops gross motor skills and coordination through active indoor and outdoor play, as well as simple yoga stretches and movement exercises.

Social and Emotional Development:

• Fosters cooperative play, turn-taking, and sharing in a supportive environment.
• Teaches children to identify emotions, express feelings, and develop healthy interpersonal skills.

Health and Care Development:

• Introduces mindfulness techniques and breathing exercises that help children recognize and respond to emotions.
• Encourages conflict resolution and problem-solving through guided activities and discussions.

Our curriculum channels children’s natural curiosity into purposeful activities while leaving room for imagination, choice, and discovery.

Exploration, Early Literacy & Movement Experiences

Our educators create opportunities for children to ask questions, express themselves, practice emerging skills, and engage with new ideas. Personalized instruction allows us to respond to different learning styles without losing the reassuring routines young children need.

We also focus on pre-writing skills, letter recognition, and phonetic awareness through activities and games. Drawing, storytelling, movement, language exploration, and hands-on discovery give early learners varied ways to practice communication, coordination, listening, and reasoning.

Preparing Children for Preschool & Continued Learning

Our Tembo Tots Entry Level Preschool program goes beyond academics to foster curiosity, self-expression, and a love for learning that children can carry into later experiences.

We focus on:

• Encouraging self-expression and exploration to build confidence and curiosity.
• Developing language and communication skills.
• Enhancing social and emotional intelligence to promote healthy relationships and resilience.
• Inspiring creativity and critical thinking through hands-on learning activities.

Our research-driven curriculum is led by passionate educators who blend structured guidance with open-ended exploration, giving children a foundation for later preschool and kindergarten experiences.