Infant, Toddler, & Preschool Early Childhood Education in Santa Monica
Creating A Better Future Through Confident, Compassionate, Creative Problem-Solvers
Welcome to
Growing Place
Our mission is to create a better future. We believe we can do this by helping children to become confident, compassionate, and creative problem solvers. Through the "three protagonists of school" and their relationships to one another (child, parent, teacher) we grow and learn together.
How We Teach & How We Learn
Learning happens best in a community. We see your child as innately curious, capable, and competent. The "job of school" is to foster deeper creativity, empathy, and community so that children are not only learning the foundational skills needed for life, but graduate from our programs learning about learning, civically minded, and meaningfully engaged in their lives.
Our Campuses
We are one school with three campuses; unified in its core values and distinct in its micro-culture through the various facilities and age spans. We believe attention to beauty and nature shape thinking and learning of both children and adults.
Marine Park Campus
Nestled beside a city park, this campus offers abundant natural light, lush outdoor classrooms, and rich opportunities for nature-based learning.
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Ocean Park Campus
A welcoming neighborhood setting with inviting atelier spaces, outdoor exploration areas, and a strong sense of community connection.
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Early Childhood Lab School
Our collaborative Lab School on the SMC campus pairs innovative early education with beautiful, modern environments designed to inspire inquiry and discovery.
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Our Philosophy
Learning is a collaborative adventure. Our skilled educators act as guides and co-investigators, supporting children's natural curiosity while introducing new challenges and perspectives. Through project-based exploration, authentic problem-solving, and plenty of time for reflection and play, children develop not just academic skills, but the confidence and creativity needed to navigate an ever-changing world.
Child-Centered Learning
We follow children’s questions and interests, creating projects that evolve naturally and meaningfully.
The Hundred Languages
We encourage many ways of expressing ideas, through art, movement, storytelling, and play.
Connection to Nature
Our outdoor environments invite curiosity, wonder, and a lifelong relationship with the natural world.
Collaborative Inquiry
Children, teachers, and families learn together in a culture of listening, respect, and shared discovery.
What we believe
Strong foundations for a better future
Learn how we help children develop into confident, compassionate, and creative problem-solvers.
Curious Children
We believe children are competent learners capable of engaging fully with the ideas and the world around them. Children learn to develop and grow to their fullest potential in an environment that is emotionally secure, socially complex, and educationally challenging.
Intentional Teachers
Teachers have the ability to make a difference in each child’s experience. Our teachers implement daily practices that are intentional in promoting cognitive and social strategies. These skills support the development of confidence, empathy, and creativity in young children.
Partners with Parents
When parents are actively involved in their preschooler’s early childhood educational experience, not only do the children benefit greatly, but teachers do as well. Our partnerships with parents contribute to a vibrant community.
Join Our Community
Whether you're ready to enroll your child, interested in joining our team of passionate educators, or looking to support our mission, there's a place for you at Growing Place. Together, we're building something beautiful—a community where children flourish, families connect, and learning never stops.