4 Preschools in Pacific Palisades With Outstanding Staff & Education

A dad kisses his toddler daughter sitting on mom's pregnant bump on a beach in black and white before visiting Preschools in Pacific Palisades

Preschools are never just about preparing your child for a lifetime of academic achievement; a good preschool helps them discover a love of learning and explore the things in life that excite and interest them. Some preschools help your child thrive by providing encouragement, hands-on play, and a no-pressure environment where your kid can learn at their own pace the way they learn best. These preschools in Pacific Palisades are all about letting your child’s intuition guide the way on their path to success. 

4 Preschools in Pacific Palisades With Empowering & Engaging Learning Curriculums

Palisades Montessori Center

Palisades Montessori Center (PMC) is a unique school environment where students are encouraged to learn at their own pace in a loving, nurturing environment. Opened over thirty years ago, Lloyd Wright, son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, originally designed PMC’s school building. It provides plenty of cheerful space and bright natural light for warm and welcoming learning conditions. 

Their progressive Montessori approach focuses on individualized social, emotional, academic, creative, and physical growth, helping each child feel valued while gaining self-esteem, self-reliance, and self-discipline. PMS’s teachers are Montessori-credited and committed to helping students navigate five elements of Montessori education, including:

  • practical life (how to master everyday skills),
  • sensorial exercise (using all five senses as a pathway to discovery),
  • mathematical concepts (with a hands-on approach),
  • language (getting a fundamental grasp of the English language), and
  • cultural studies (geography, biology, and social studies.) 

Students learn at their own pace in a non-competitive and non-threatening way. They will engage in fun and creative activities like music, art, creative movement, cooking, gardening, outdoor play, and so much more!!

A happy mom and dad walk on a beach at sunset with their toddler daughter in dad's arms

Methodist Preschool of Pacific Palisades

The Methodist Preschool, while an extension of the United Methodist Community Church of Pacific Palisades, is where family and staff of all faiths and beliefs come together to nurture young minds and empower children in learning! Above all else, they honor the relationships that make up their strong community amongst teachers, students, families, and beyond. 

At Methodist Preschool, they believe that children learn best when they take control of their own learning. Their passionate and responsive teachers differentiate instruction based on the needs of individual students, emphasizing the importance of holistic development so that the kids in their care can grow socially, emotionally, and cognitively. They do so by utilizing children’s natural curiosity and helping them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will last them a lifetime. 

Methodist Preschool also values the involvement of families within their community because school experiences are more meaningful when everyone is involved! As a student of Methodist Preschool, your child will learn how to value:

  • diversity,
  • trust,
  • interconnection, and
  • collaboration.

They will learn the importance of seeing life through a variety of perspectives and learning to appreciate individuals for all of the things that make them special and unique.

A pregnant mom plays with her toddler daughter picking yellow wildflowers in a park trail at sunset

Palisades Presbyterian Preschool

Palisades Presbyterian (or Pali Pres) fosters growth and engagement through activities that encourage children to learn through play. As a result, they’ll have the encouragement and space to grow physically, emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually! Kids go through a curriculum derived from various theories, giving them the freedom to discover their interests and a non-judgmental environment to learn in the way that feels best to them. 

At Pali Pres, your child will receive an education focusing on:

  • social-emotional well-being and
  • learning to love, care for, and respect others.

Their teachers and staff believe kids learn better without pressure to perform. Hence, they work hard to create an environment that welcomes and encourages children to learn at their own pace through doing and discovering! 

Through methodologies like imitation, sensory exploration, and imagination, your child will find their own unique ways to thrive. Pali Pres is also the first preschool in Los Angeles County to be certified as an Outdoor Classroom Demonstration site. Through this, they received a complete remodel of their outdoor area, which now helps children connect with nature through exploration, like collecting insects, working in the garden, playing in the mud, splashing in the water, and more!

A toddler girl sits in a park trail surrounded by wildflowers with her pregnant mom before visiting Preschools in Pacific Palisades

Palisades Jewish Early Childhood Center (PJECC)

PJECC’s vision is to create a place where children can play while surrounded by beauty. The gorgeous campus you see today has been developed over time with love and care by their dedicated community of teachers, children, and families who have come together to create a natural landscape through shared ideas. 

Regarding their curriculum, the adults at PJECC believe in the Reggio Emelia approach, where the teacher sees themselves as a learner alongside the children, listening carefully to each child to develop a deep understanding of each individual to create a meaningful relationship. Teachers encourage children to:

  • reflect,
  • be independent,
  • explore,
  • cooperate,
  • wonder,
  • negotiate, and of course,
  • love and respect the world around us and the people who share it with us. 

Relying on each child’s innate curiosity, PJECC believes that each child learns best when having fun and doing what truly interests them. If they are having fun, they will become their own driving force. Your child is unique in how they learn and what they love. At PJECC, they will have the freedom to become the best learners they can be with all of the tools they need.  

Check Out These Preschools in Pacific Palisades Today!

However your child learns best, these preschools in Pacific Palisades are designed to help your kiddo become the best learner they can be! Check out their websites for information on tours and applications and a more in-depth look at the philosophies that drive their organizations. 

So are you ready for more Pacific Palisades motherhood content? Then check out the blog links below! But before you go, let’s chat about your dream photo session!

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