Connect with Top-Rated Child Care Services in Santa Cruz!

Coastal Community Preschool is a private, non-profit preschool that aims to provide a safe, accessible, family-centered environment that nurtures children as individuals, fosters social understanding, and serves as a vital part of its local community. We offer a play-based learning philosophy that recognizes play, movement, project-based exploration, creative expression, and open-ended discovery as essential parts of the learning process. Our experienced and skilled teachers create an environment in which every child's unique spirit is honored and loved. We invite you to visit us to experience what makes our community so special.

Discoveryland Christian Preschool is a pioneer in preschool education that was established in 1975. We believe that every child is a unique and creative individual designed for a specific purpose by our loving God. In a warm, secure environment, we seek to develop within each child, feelings of uniqueness and positive self-esteem. By providing a wide variety of experiences and materials, we further strive to allow each child to feel daily success and accomplishment, develop personal creativity, and gain spiritual insights. Our mission is to be a light in our community, partnering with the family in nurturing the wellbeing of the whole child. The staff is committed to providing developmentally appropriate practices that support individuality, creativity, and a respect for diversity. "Discoveryland is the best Christian preschool in Santa Cruz!"

Village Preschool is a Waldorf-inspired preschool program that provides a nurturing and rhythmic environment for preschool-aged children. We offer a holistic approach to learning, emphasizing imagination, creativity, and practical skills. Our teachers are trained to generate enthusiasm for learning in each child, and our daily routines create secure vessels for children to grow and thrive. We provide ample time for imaginative play, practical work, and age-appropriate curriculum.

Calvary Preschool is a private non-profit, non-sectarian preschool located downtown Santa Cruz. We offer a full curriculum which includes field trips to the museum, beach, Seymour Laboratory, post office, library, and much more. We have a life lab garden in which the children get to work year round and we stress the importance of recycling and reusing in our everyday lessons. We offer a program for ages 2 through 5 years with three different classrooms so that we can personalize the curriculum that best fits the needs of each child. We provide a safe, child-centered learning environment where children can develop at their own pace. We offer one of the best child to teacher ratios in Santa Cruz.

Bonny Doon Preschool is a cooperative preschool that provides a high-quality enrichment program for local children and their families. Our program is based on a play-centered environment that encourages learning through play, social interaction, and self-initiated exploration. Our experienced staff work together with parents to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters independence, self-confidence, and social competence. Our program is consistent with the principles and practices recommended by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). In addition to our daily routine, we also provide opportunities for families and staff to come together to share their cultural experiences and build relationships.

LifeSpring Preschool is a developmentally based learning program that provides a secure and enriching environment for children to develop social skills, cognitive skills, and emotional maturity. We offer a play-based curriculum with monthly and weekly themed activities, focusing on hands-on learning and exploration. Our theme-based curriculum allows teachers to provide encouraging and facilitating new learning opportunities that strengthen all areas of a child's development.

Santa Cruz Parent Education Nursery School (SCPENS) is a parent participation preschool that provides a stimulating learning environment for children to develop social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills. The school offers toddler and preschool programs, with a unique approach that involves parent participation. At SCPENS, children learn through play, and parents are actively involved in their child's education, gaining confidence and new skills. The school has been a part of the Santa Cruz community since 1975 and is affiliated with Watsonville-Aptos-Santa Cruz Adult Education.

Hidden Treasures Preschool is a warm and loving community of preschoolers, teachers and parents who value the importance of imagination, creativity and play for early learners. We offer a cozy and inviting inside space to support children's imaginative play and an outside space alive with possibilities for daily adventure. In an environment rooted in respect and compassion, we strive to nourish each child's spirit, foster their natural sense of wonder and provide a protective space for them to grow. At Hidden Treasures, we honor the rhythm of the natural world in our singing, games and stories. We notice the shifting seasons in our garden while caring for the plants, harvesting food to eat, and drawing inspiration for our art projects. We aim to nourish and protect a sense of awe, wonder and imagination; cultivate a love of learning, and provide a protective space for our children to grow.