Parents/Guardians call us their "second family",
and Woodcrest families love our programs!
All Woodcrest Preschool classrooms use the Kindness Curriculum, an adapted program from Dr. Becky Bailey that focuses on the social and emotional parts of learning. Combined with a STEAM-based academic approach, our programs prepare children for the next step in their education.
Each classroom uses Smart Boards, toys, and lots free-form materials for children to use their imaginations and engage with daily lessons.
Ages: Starting At 6 Weeks Old
Centers: Lake Forest
Our infant care program serves children from six weeks old to 18 months. The infant care program at Woodcrest Preschool promotes feelings of belonging and love while helping infants to grow and develop to their full potential. Children eat, sleep, and play according to his or her own schedule. At Woodcrest we know that each infant has unique abilities, desires, and emotions. This is why our program is designed to meet the children where they are developmentally and provide them an educational experience that will stimulate language, gross and fine motor skills, encourage exploration, and creativity. Our highly qualified and professional teachers will guide and encourage your child in every stage of his or her development. Teachers update parents/guardians throughout the day with pictures and notes detailing eating, sleeping habits, diaper changing, and creative expression.
Ages: Starting At 18 Months Old
Centers: Lake Forest, Sherman Oaks, Agoura, and Newbury Park
The toddler program at Woodcrest Preschool offers an exciting learning environment for children. Our toddlers learn language naturally by hearing it used in context. Children are being spoken to, read to, listened to, and then encouraged to communicate their thoughts. Teachers closely observe interactions and help toddlers to communicate to make connections with friends. Toddlers enjoy running in our secure playground and develop gross motor skills by jumping, marching, running, and kicking. A big part of the toddler experience is independence. At meal times, children begin to eat on their own using a spoon and transition from a sippy cup to a regular cup. Toddlers engage in art, sensory play, music, and the use of manipulatives. All activities are carefully planned to optimize the development of your child.
Ages: 2 - 5 Years Old
Centers: All Woodcrest Preschool
From ages two to five your child continues to develop in many exciting ways. Our job as educators is to help each child reach their maximum potential in a safe and loving environment. We do this through providing an environment that stimulates key development areas such as physical, social, emotional, language development, cognitive skills, and creativity.
Ages: Fifth Birthday After December 2
Centers: Tarzana, Agoura, and Lake Forest
Our job as educators is to help each child reach their maximum potential in a safe and loving environment. We do this through providing an environment that stimulates key development areas such as physical, social, emotional, language development, cognitive skills, and creativity.
Ages: 5 years old to 6 years old
Centers: Tarzana, Sherman Oaks and Lake Forest
Our private kindergarten programs deliver a traditional curriculum that prepares students for the rigors and routines of structured learning. Our curriculum includes: reading aloud daily, cursive writing, math, social studies, project based learning, technology integration, and movement. Our social and emotional learning curriculum is embedded in all aspects of the day to promote resilience and building self-esteem.
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Physical Development
Physical development is the way your child moves her arms and legs (large motor skills) and her fingers and hands (small motor skills). Teachers help children learn these skills by offering different physical activities and equipment. Children run, jump, climb, throw, and catch. Using their hands, they explore materials like paints, playdough, puzzles, sand, and things to write with. By using their bodies actively both indoors and outdoors, children build healthy bones and muscles.
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Social Development
Social development teaches your child how to engage with their peers and their environment. Teachers model respecting the uniqueness of each person and how to work with others. By playing and learning together, children build their social skills, language skills, and self-control. With support from teachers, children learn to resolve conflicts that may come up during play.
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Emotional Development
Emotional development lets your child understand his feelings and the feelings of others. Teachers help children recognize and manage their own feelings and behavior. They also teach children concern, and empathy for others. To help children work on building a healthy self-esteem and resiliency, teachers encourage them to explore new things and to keep working on hard tasks.
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Thinking, or Cognitive, Skills
Thinking, or cognitive, skills develop as children learn to think more complexly, make decisions, and solve problems. As young children explore, ask questions, and create, they improve their thinking skills. Reflecting on and using information lets your child understand the world around them. The way children approach learning is an important part of how they develop their thinking skills. For example, children that are able to handle frustration and can focus on the task at hand will have an easier time learning.
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Language and Literacy Development
Language and literacy development help your child learn to use the interconnected skills of listening, talking, reading, and writing. Teachers also model understanding and communication through active engagement with the children in their class helping children grow their own communication skills and to learn new concepts.
21st Century Learning
Offered At All Woodcrest Preschools
The time to begin preparing children for the challenges and demands of the future is when they are young. Children in the early years are curious and excited learners. It is our responsibility as educators to tap into a child’s curios nature and excitement. Woodcrest Preschool incorporates 21 century learning in all facets of the curriculum by using coding robots, smart boards in pre-k, makerspace, and STEAM learning. All of these learning approaches help with critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity, technology literacy, and social-emotional development. Children need to begin to develop the early foundational skills that will help them reason, think creatively, analyze data, and work collaboratively in the future.
Enrichment Programs
Artist of the Month
Each month, Woodcrest Preschool students learn about famous art masters. Teachers provide information on the artist’s background, read books, and showcase some of the most famous work. Children are then challenged to create their own master art projects using the techniques and materials of the artist. Art helps build motor skills, language development, decision making, and so much more.
Author of the Month
Woodcrest Preschool chooses an author of the month to help children connect with a story in a deeper way. Students develop and fine tune reading skills, build critical thinking skills, improve writing techniques, and have fun learning more in depth about what they are reading.
Animal Exploration
Woodcrest works with Reptacular Animals to showcase animals from around the world. Each month, children learn about geography, habitats, eating habits, and most importantly get to interact with the animals. The program teachers about caring for animals and helping to ensure that animals never become endangered.