Preschool and Childcare services in Santa Monica, CA
About Beginnings Learning Center
Beginnings Learning Center opened its very first classroom right here in Santa Monica in 2008. Everything the company has grown into since, including sister locations in North Hollywood and Van Nuys, started here.
We care for children from 18 months to 5 years old, with the same ratios, outdoor time, and on-site meals that have defined this location since day one.
Our Story
Michelle Raz founded Beginnings Learning Center here in Santa Monica in 2008, after years already spent in early childhood education, starting as a substitute in high school and college, then earning a Bachelor's degree in Child Psychology and Early Childhood Education and Administration, then working as a Lead Teacher and Preschool Coordinator across a range of centers before opening her own.
That range of experience shaped what Beginnings became: a place built around what actually works for young children.
Get The Beginnings Parent Pack!
We put together a straightforward pack covering real classroom ratios, a sample daily schedule, what meals and enrichment actually look like week to week, and everything useful to know before you walk through the door for a tour.
Our Philosophy
We believe children learn best through play they choose, not activities assigned to them. Every classroom is built around dedicated learning stations: language, math, science, blocks, art, music, sensory play, fine motor, and dramatic play. So a child can follow their own curiosity into the skills a kindergarten teacher will eventually be looking for, rather than being walked through a single lesson plan all day.
We believe kindergarten readiness should build up gradually and naturally, through genuine interest, not repetition. And we believe how a child learns to name what they're feeling, navigate a disagreement with a friend, and read a room matters just as much as knowing their letters and numbers by the time they leave us.
How We Partner With Families
We host parent conferences twice a year and encourage parents to be part of classroom life, whether that's volunteering for an activity or joining us for a potluck. Raising a child is a two-way effort between home and classroom, and we plan around that.
We also know childcare is a real cost, and we'd rather help you navigate it than pretend it isn't one. Our team can walk you through the child care tax credits your family may be eligible for, point you toward state and local subsidy programs, and help you figure out whether your employer offers child care benefits you haven't used yet.
Come See It For Yourself
The best way to know if Beginnings is right for your child is to walk into one of our classrooms and see a normal day happen. We run tours daily at our Santa Monica location daily.