Children's Center

Our history

We began in 1955 as a nursery school, organized and staffed by members of LM1. As the need for the nursey school grew so did our program. We extended our care into a morning preschool enrichment program in the Education Building. By the early 1980's the need for our program had grown yet again. We expanded our program into a full day preschool, along with adding classrooms into the newly acquired Fireside Building. In the late 1980's we expanded yet again to offer before and after school care to children in elementary school.
Today we are a preschool full day school with a Toddler program for children 18 months - 2years, Preschool and TK program for children 2 - 5 years. Along with our School Age program for children ages 5-11 years.

Our purpose

We believe that love and acceptance, combined with equitable guidance are cornerstones for successful learning. Our school nurtures and encourages each child’s development by offering activities that stimulate curiosity, imagination, creativity and healthy interactions with others.
We believe that children do not come in “one-size-fits-all” models. We work with every child and their family based on that child’s needs. We are dedicated to seeing each child succeed in our program.
Because of our low student-to-teacher ratio, our teachers can provide extra attention and plan enriching activities that are tailored to each child’s developmental and social-emotional needs. Our school provides opportunities for students to develop not only their academic skills in the classroom, but also ample time on our playgrounds for each child to develop their gross motor skills and aid in their overall well-being.
We help students to express their creativity, all while laying the foundation for academic concepts they will encounter in elementary school. We encourage learning through play which promotes problem solving, independence, and social-emotional growth. Our goal is to foster each child’s natural curiosity and grow it into a lifelong love of learning.

our values

We value each child with a sense of community, belonging, creativity and self- expression.
We value intellectual development and social emotional growth.
We value mutual respect between children, teachers, and families.
We value open communication.
We value kindness and empathy.
We acknowledge and value children’s individual strengths and capabilities.
We value an environment that is created with children and for children.
We value meaningful conversations and learning experiences.
We value children’s ideas that influence the curriculum.

Our toddler Curriculum

Our toddler program provides each child with a place to test out and learn new skills, make new friends, and celebrate the joy and wonder of learning.
Our curriculum includes activities for cognitive, social, and physical development, such as play-based learning, art, music, and movement. Children are introduced to fundamental concepts including colors, numbers, and shapes. We also incorporate language development through songs, storytelling, and group play.
Social development is cultivated through cooperative play which encourages skills such as sharing and friendship.
Everything that our program introduces helps build preschool readiness skills, lower anxiety with separation from a child’s caregivers, along with adjusting to group environments.

our Pre-k
curriculum

Our Pre-K curriculum prepares each child for TK. As with our Preschool Curriculum or Pre-K Curriculum is also Play-Based. Children are transitioning from early childhood into more structured learning environments. While academic skills are certainly important, this is also a time when children are building foundational social, emotional, and cognitive skills that will serve them for years to come.
Play-based learning is essential to this process.
During play, children are naturally encouraged to engage in conversation, ask questions, and practice new vocabulary. Whether they’re playing with peers or engaging in imaginative play on their own, children learn to express themselves, listen to others, and communicate their ideas clearly.
Our play-based curriculum our children develop important social skills such as sharing, turn-taking, empathy, and conflict resolution. These interactions are key to building emotional intelligence, helping children understand their feelings, regulate their emotions, and respond appropriately to others.

our preschool curriculum

We are a play-based program. Our teachers tailor their curriculum to each child's individual developmental levels and unique problem-solving styles. We focus on small and large motor skills, self-confidence and language development. Through play, children develop important social skills such as sharing, turn-taking, empathy, and conflict resolution. These interactions are key to building emotional intelligence, helping children understand their feelings, regulate their emotions, and respond appropriately to others. Our play-based curriculum encourages exploration and experimentation. Whether it’s building with blocks, solving puzzles, or playing pretend games, children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They learn to make decisions, test out ideas, and experience cause-and-effect relationships in a hands-on way.
While encouraging each child's creative expression, we lay the foundation for academic concepts students will encounter in elementary school. At the Center, we foster each child’s natural curiosity and encourage what we hope will be a lifelong love of learning.

our tk
curriculum

Our TK program is also play-based. In TK, we aim to provide a balance of structured and unstructured time, where children can engage in purposeful play while also learning early literacy, numeracy, and other foundational skills. By nurturing the whole child through play, we’re laying the groundwork for future academic and personal success.
Perhaps most importantly, play-based learning allows children to take ownership of their learning. It encourages curiosity and self-discovery, where they are active participants in their education, not just passive recipients of information. This makes learning more meaningful and enjoyable, fostering a lifelong love of learning.

our Lemonaid Crew

We provide after school care for children (5-11yrs) who attend Lemon Ave. Elementary. Transportation to our Center is provided by our licensed Youth Bus. Our school-age program is designed around daily themes throughout the year. We also assist in homework and other school projects that your child might have.
During Elementary school breaks we offer full-day care for children attending elementary schools in the surrounding area. Our camps are full of activities cooking, field trips, and so much more!

Our CLASSROOMS

Toddler

Preschool

Pre-K

TK	LemonAid Crew

our curriculum

Our school utilizes the Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Curriculum. Heggerty was, "founded with a mission to unlock the potential of every child, we specialize in innovative, evidence-based curricula designed to cultivate confident, capable readers and writers. Together, we are committed to changing lives through the joy of reading, one child at a time". Heggerty.com

Heggerty.com

children's chapel

The children at LMUMCC love to go into the sanctuary at La Mesa First UMC. It's a building of wonder and awe (some kids call it the "castle"). More than a building, it's a sacred place to learn more about love, kindness, belonging and relationships. Pastor Christian offers Children's Chapel in the sanctuary once a month for each age group at the Children's Center. He recognizes that our children represent a variety of beliefs and faiths, so lessons focus on the foundations everyone would agree make for a healthy community; treating one another and all of creation with respect, looking out for one another, and being proud of how each of us are uniquely made. All are welcome!
Pastor Christian welcomes parents to witness what it's about on the first Monday of the month from 10-11am or on the second Tuesday of the month for our School Age Kids. In addition, Pastor Christian offers a Children's Moment in Sunday worship that is available on the LM1 Livestream YouTube page if families would like to explore more on a weekly basis.

enrichment programs

Playball with Coach Andrew

Our children thrive with Coach Andrew’s sports themed
engaging learning environment, which raises each child’s confidence and self-esteem. They can't wait for Coach to arrive every Wednesday morning.

Weeby Dance with Ms. Jenna

Each and every class is a new intriguing with a new theme and dance routines. Our children look forward to Tuesday mornings with Ms. Jenna, and they love to find out what the theme will be, along with what props they will be using.

Music with Mr. Al

Mr. Al visits our classrooms once a week. He brings his guitar, his favorite tunes, and is ready to rock'n'roll with us. Thursday mornings our children are given a chance to learn new songs while being introduced to how we can find music all around us in everyday objects.

Cooking Class

Cooking classes for children help provide them with practical life skills that they can use as they grow older, such as meal planning, budgeting , and nutrition.

field trips

San Diego Zoo

Oma's family Farm

Events

parent resources

Tuition Assistance Information

Tuition Discounts

Tuition

Toddler Tuition

Preschool Tuition

LemonAid Tuition

program interest forms

Toddler Interest Form

Preschool Interest Form

LemonAid Interest Form

enrollment

Enrollment Packet

Parent Handbook

Potty Training Policy

First-Time Preschool Parent?

Frequently asked questions:
What sets your Preschool apart from a Day Care? Our Preschool is designed with early learning and school readiness in mind. Our program while being play-based follows a structured curriculum for each age group that is designed to help develop social, emotional, and cognitive skills for each child. Our primary focus in our Toddler program is fostering basic skills in a nurturing environment. Our curriculum engages our children in activities that help promote their physical, emotional, and social development.
What is your educational philosophy? We are a play-based. Our teachers tailor their curriculum to each child's individual learning style.
What are your staff's qualifications? Our staff are fully qualified teachers. A large portion of our staff have bachelor’s and master’s degrees in early childhood education.
How do you handle family communication? Our center uses the Procare Engagement App for communication with our families.
How will you prepare my child for TK and kindergarten? Our children leave our center fully prepared for both TK and kindergarten. We prioritize TK and kindergarten readiness in both our Pre-K and TK programs.
How do you handle challenging behavior in the classroom? We believe that children do not come in “one-size-fits-all” models. We work with every child and their family based on that child’s needs. We are dedicated to seeing each child succeed in our program.
Is screen time limited? We pride ourselves on being a screen free school. We believe that children learn best through play, which does not include sitting in front of a screen.
What is your policy on potty training? When you and your child are ready, we are more than happy to work with you on their potty training, bringing what you are working on at home into the school environment.