SM Early Childhood Lab School Campus

  • 1802 4th Street, Santa Monica
  • 310-434-3811
  • lab@growingplace.org
  • Up to 110
  • Infant–TK | Ages 3 months–6 years
 

The Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School is our newest campus through collaboration with Santa Monica College and the City of Santa Monica. The Lab School is a demonstration site for Santa Monica College Early Childhood Education students to observe our established teaching and
 learning practices.

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The LEED-certified building in the heart of the Civic Center has been custom designed for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and TK children.

Little details such as kaleidoscope sky-lights, window seats, diaper chutes, and floor-to-ceiling doors that open to the outside all add to our flagship campus. This campus is comprised of eight classrooms with shared play yards (i.e., infants/toddlers and young preschoolers/preschoolers), an atelier, and community corridor. Our engaging indoor and outdoor environments are full of invitations to play and learning opportunities that intrigue and delight children. Each environment is separate from the other developmental groups, allowing it to be appropriately safe yet challenging.

 

Play Yards

The infant/toddler play-yards have a grassy berm, puddle-water play feature, raised garden beds, a sandbox, and pathways for crawling, waddling, and walking. The young preschoolers/preschoolers/TK share one large play yard with a swing-set, tire swing, slide, and amphitheater for entertaining.

 

Infant Program

For our youngest children (3 months - 2 years) the flow of our days supports the individual tempo and routine of each child within the programming for the group. 

We believe the earliest relationships with trusting caregivers promote healthy brain development, build social and emotional skills, and support language and literacy development. This is why our goal is to build secure and nurturing relationships with infants, toddlers and their parents. We encourage the young children’s natural abilities through environments and routines that are predictable to babies. We fill our days with plenty of time for uninterrupted exploration and play that is developmentally appropriate for our young learners. 

Together, caregivers and parents develop a plan for transitioning into school and to support each child’s developmental milestones.


 
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Applications are accepted year-round.

Priority enrollment consideration is given to:

  • Full-Time Employees City of Santa Monica Government

  • Full-Time Employees Santa Monica College

  • Full-Time Employees RAND Corp.

30% of enrollment is reserved for Santa Monica Residents and 15% for low-income Santa Monica Residents (subject to funding availability).

Ready to join us?

We’re eager to learn about your family.