Q: My daughter is supposed to start kindergarten this upcoming fall. Because of that, we wanted to enroll her in a part-time pre-school this spring so that she can get used to playing with other kids and taking direction from other adults. The first week of class was a nightmare. The teacher told me after the first day that my daughter screamed the entire half day. She also said it was normal, and it would get better. Well, it didn't. She has been an emotional wreck every day that we have taken her to class. I am not sure what to do. She needs to learn to make this work, but she is a little young to be so emotionally traumatized. Where can I get help? A: Wow, I am so sorry that you and

San Francisco-based developer John Stricklin came through Sacramento six years ago and fell in love with the downtown scene.    "The downtown corridor has really transformed in the last few years," he said.  He also praised the unique qualities of Sacramento's urban, yet small-town vibe.   Already a designer and restaurateur who owned an American bistro and a pizzeria in San Francisco, Stricklin set out to expand his business to Sacramento.  While driving through the Mansion Flats neighborhood, Stricklin was struck by an old, run-down building on the corner of 14th and E streets. "The building had been vacant for several years and was becoming an eyesore for the area," he said.  Strickl

One of the best kept secrets of the South Sacramento area is a small, private school tucked away in the Lanai Shopping Center on Freeport Boulevard, neighboring the Sacramento Executive Airport, where it has existed in rented space for 21 years. Over the years, most of the shopping center tenants have moved away. Meanwhile, countless hours of parent, teacher and student work have gone into transforming a run-down property into a school with colorful classrooms and playgrounds. It has an understated entrance, but Camellia Waldorf School is an oasis for children. The kindergarten yard is home to Mr. Mountain, a big pile of dirt, and Ms. Sandy, a big pile of sand. There are climbing struct

Assessing the Risks If you’re a parent with young children who also works, you know the old stressors that come up every time you move to a new part of town or your previous daycare/nanny ceases to be available: Where do I leave my child? How do I know what places are safe? How do I know that my child is getting the best care? Do You Know What Your Children Are Up To? Ratings obtained over the Internet, recommendations from friends, word-of-mouth…While there are many ways to find places for your kids to stay either during the day or after school, it can be difficult to discern what is actually going on while you are away. With many areas of Sacramento not being the safest places, it can