Preschool / Child Care in Los Angeles County

Child Educational Center (CEC), La Canada:
The Child Educational Center (CEC) is located in La Canada, between Pasadena and Glendale in Los Angeles County, CA and offers infant, preschool and school-age child care programs for children from 2 months to 12 years La Canada, Glendale, La Crescenta, Pasadena, Altadena and neighbouring communities. Enrollment is open to any child 2 months to 5 years of age for our infant / toddler and preschool program and any child entering kindergarten through 6th grade for our school-age program without discrimination in regard to sex, race, color, or creed. The most important part of our curriculum is people. As a result, optimal matches are important. Factors considered in this process include: age, characteristics of development, balance of boys/girls in groups, special needs, adequate clustering of minority children.

The Child Educational Center is a caring educational community:

* Where children are valued, thrive, and reach their full potential as individuals and contributing members of society.
* Where the community and its members are enriched by the participation of each individual.
* Where there is a commitment to the realization of similar ideals throughout the world.

Mission Statement:
The Child Educational Center’s mission is to support the development of happy, caring and productive human beings by providing:

* A nurturing environment for children
* Support and education for families
* A stimulating learning and social atmosphere based on developmentally appropriate practices

To ensure a high quality, child care program by:
* Committing to worthy wages, and to staff growth and development
* Combining the Child Educational Center's capabilities and resources with those of its community and sponsors
* Applying new techniques and concepts as they prove effective in the development of successful human beings

To contribute to a high quality of life for children beyond the Child Educational Center by:
* Providing a model for quality child care
* Sharing our acquired knowledge and experience with others
* Advancing research and development in early childhood education

The first and foremost task that a child care program must perform is that of providing the quality of loving that is critical to a child's well-being. This quality must permeate all aspects of the environment, program and interactions with adults and other children. Because opinion regarding what constitutes loving behavior is broad, the CEC has developed a description of what constitutes loving values and behavior:

* Acceptance of children as they are, valuing their uniqueness.

* Nurturing and supporting children through physical contact and provision of positive verbal reinforcement while expressing forgiveness for actions which upset us.

* Facilitation of children's self-understanding through provision of accurate, non-judgmental feedback on their behavior.

* Maintenance of a secure environment through provision of clear, consistent limits for behavior and by clear, accurate explanations of behavior and events.

* Encouragement for children to develop self-sufficiency through taking responsibility for themselves, their actions, and their environment.

* Encouragement of clear communication, verbal expression of feelings, sensitivity to others' needs and attunement with one's own needs.

* Assisting children to perceive their world holistically, recognizing the connection and interdependence among all things, valuing uniqueness and diversity.

* Modeling of the foregoing ourselves, in our interpersonal relations, and encouragement to the children to do the same.

We offer the following programs:

- Infants / Toddler Program
- Preschool Program
- School-Age Program at various locations throughout La Canada
- Before and After-School Care Program
- School-Age Summer Camp Program

Enrollment is open to any child 2 months to 5 years of age for our Infant/Toddler and Preschool program and any child entering kindergarten through 6th grade for our School-Age program without discrimination in regard to sex, race, color, or creed.

* Fulfilling the Promise of Every Child:
The CEC is devoted to ensuring that each child’s individual needs are met and that his or her unique gifts and talents are developed. Serving children with a range of special needs is an integral part of our commitment to families.

* Preserving the Experience of Childhood:
Children are often pushed into experiences before they are ready. The CEC recognizes children need time to be children so they can develop into healthy adults.

* Creating a Caring Educational Community:
Modern life is challenging for most families. Many don’t have extended family living close by to support child-rearing efforts. The CEC serves as a community for children, parents, staff, Board members and volunteers to support each other in a loving environment.

* Meeting Parents’ Individual Needs:
Parents also have individual needs. While the CEC does not attempt to be “all things to all people,” it does strive to meet parents and families individual needs through parenting support and parent education.

* Quality in Service:
The CEC is committed to providing the highest quality services possible. The program has been continually accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) since 1988, maintaining more than 150 standards that define quality in early childhood programs.

* Service to Caltech / JPL:
The CEC was established at the request of Caltech and JPL and continues to maintain service to their employees as a priority.

* Providing a Quality Work Environment:
The CEC recognizes that the quality of its program depends upon the well-being, care and respect of its staff. As a result of this commitment, children and families benefit from a high percentage of staff working with the organization for 10 years or longer.

* A Model Program and Training Site:
From its inception, the CEC has served as an internationally renowned model for developmentally appropriate and play-based programs for children. The Center also serves as an observation and training site for child development college students.

* Consulting and Educational Outreach:
Since 1994, the CEC has provided consulting services on the design, development and implementation of child care programs through a separate operating division, Child Care Planning Associates.

The CEC is located in La Canada, California, between Pasadena and Glendale. The majority of our families live in the Los Angeles County communities of Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena, La Canada, La Crescenta and Glendale. Our Infant/Toddler and Preschool program, administrative office and one School-Age site are located at 140 Foothill Boulevard. Our four other School-Age sites are located at La Canada Elementary School, Palm Crest Elementary School (La Canada), Paradise Canyon Elementary School (La Canada) and 250/256 S. Michigan Avenue (Caltech Campus, Pasadena).