Archive: California

CHALK Preschool: In-Person or Free Online Options for Early Education

CHALK Preschool is one of the most technologically advanced early education programs of its time. Its online program is totally convenient and totally free. If parents prefer a more traditional, in-person option for their child, they’re invited to opt into one of CHALK’s five in-person preschools, located in Chicago and Los Angeles.

The CHALK Preschool Mission

CHALK Preschool believes that every child deserves access to an early education. That’s why, in addition to offering several in-person locations in both the Chicago and Los Angeles areas, it’s also available to preschoolers around the world through CHALK’s online preschool program. And because CHALK knows how vital those first few years of learning are, it offers its online curriculum for free.

CHALK’s Teaching Philosophy

Teachers at the in-person centers believe in a warm, welcoming environment where children learn by embracing the arts and achieving classroom goals, based on studied learning standards. CHALK focuses primarily on a hands-on learning style. Even the online courses are about much more than screen time. This hands-on teaching approach means preschoolers learn both inside and outside, with both the online and in-person options. The curriculum focuses on primary learning objectives centered on literacy, math and science. But CHALK goes beyond the books. Preschoolers in the program hone their creative skills through art projects and perfect motor skills through music and dance activities.

The Nitty Gritties of CHALK

The online courses are available on regular computers, as well as on smartphones and tablets. While age varies, based on the needs of each individual child, most are ready to join the preschool program somewhere between the ages of two and five. While they’re first separated into classes by age, if a parent feels it’s not a perfect fit, staff members are happy to switch children to more suitable class groups.

CHALK’s History

The idea for CHALK was first established in 2004, but the first center went up in Illinois the following year. For the next few years, more and more centers were opened in the Chicago area and in 2009, the first Los Angeles CHALK Preschool was established. Since then, the centers have continued to multiply in both cities. Because the founders of CHALK wanted their preschools to reach across the country, and even the world, they decided to launch the online preschool option. With this digital curriculum, even those who don’t live in Chicago or Los Angeles can still reap the benefits of a CHALK early education.

Parents are welcome to enroll their child in the online program at any time, simply by visiting CHALK Preschool’s website. In-person programs accept applicants year-round, so Chicago and Los Angeles-based families are also welcome to enroll at any time.

UPDATE 1/26/15: CHALK’S FREE SITE IS NOW AVAILABLE AT WWW.FREEONLINEPRESCHOOL.COM

Iridescent 2014 Bay Area Summer Camp for Little Tinkerers

Shopping around for the best summer camps of the year? Iridescent is one of the leading summer camps for innovation and creation. It inspires children to invent and embrace their passion for engineering. It can even help those who have never explored the world of engineering to find their passion.

Iridescent’s Summer Camp is built for “natural explorers, builders and inventors,” which “channels children’s natural curiosity through carefully designed exploration that will encourage the development of lifelong skills such as persistence and courage.” The camp is offered in three areas, including LA, New York and the Bay Area.

The 2014 Bay Area Summer Camp is open to 3-8 year-olds.  At camp, kids learn about engineering and robots as well as observation of nature, leading to lots of creativity and engineering skills along the way.

Don’t worry if your kids have yet to express interest in the science, technology and engineering world.  Workers at the Bay Area Summer Camp believe that all children are natural builders and explorers. In the past, activities in camp have included nature walks, learning about birds, flying paper airplanes, learning about trees and leaves, building safe animal homes, lizards, robots and many more. Iridescent’s summer camp truly blends nature with the innovations of the modern world.

The day camp runs from July 7 until August 1, lasting all day from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.  Parents and care providers can enroll children for as short or as long as they’d like, but Iridescent recommends a minimum of two weeks and ideally at least four weeks in order for the children to fully benefit from all the learning that the Bay Area Summer Camp has to offer.

Iridescent is a non-profit that heads projects around the globe. These projects are aimed to help inspire and teach children about technology and science, as well as math and engineering. Their goal is to help kids of all ages find inspiration, hone in on newfound skills and achieve great things.

The programs that Iridescent runs are available to kids of all ages, ranging from preschool all the way to working with college engineering program. From summer engineering camp to technology challenges to books and apps, Iridescent has their hands in all parts of innovation and science. The summer camp is a great way for kids to get an introduction to science and technology while having a blast this summer!

Don’t miss the opportunity for your child to explore their creative and innovative sides! Sign up for the Bay Area Summer Camp today.

Photo courtesy of Iridescent

Free Preschool: Yes, It really exists!

With the steep costs of preschool, many parents are searching for lower costing options or even eliminating pre-k altogether. Those in Los Angeles County may have a more affordable option at their fingertips. The Un Mundo de Amigos Preschool offers free and affordable preschool to kids in the LA county.

Un Mundo de Amigos offers free half-day preschool without any financial restrictions. The only requirements are that the families live in LA County and children fall within the birthday perimeters. Un Mundo de Amigos does, however, still offer affordable childcare to families of kids who are younger than four or those who’d like their kids to participate in the full-day program. Families who fall into those categories are welcome to opt for the program’s private pay option, which costs $5 per hour, still much lower than most other pre-k programs.

Laurie Peterson, who had previously worked in the business of PG golf tournaments, founded Un Mundo de Amigos after seeing the joy her own son got from starting school. “I realized that not every child had had the same beginnings as he has had,” said Peterson. “And yet every parent loves their child as much as I love him.”

Most of it is funded through the Los Angeles Universal Preschool, a non-profit dedicated to increasing preschool affordability and access in the LA area. In 1999, as a result of a 50-cent tax law on cigarettes and other tobacco products in California, more funding was put toward early childhood development. Eighty percent of the new revenue was distributed among counties in California and backs organizations such as LAUP, working to improve the lives and education of children from the age of birth to five years old.

The program has been going strong and just graduated its fifth preschool class. Un Mundo de Amigos enrolls about 130 students each year and this year is no different. With the school year officially beginning in September, Un Mundo de Amigos has a handful of spots available in its free program and only one private place still open.

For more information about Un Mundo de Amigos Preschool, click here.

Child Care Centers for all of California NOW AVAILABLE!

Attention California Parents:

We now have licensed child care centers in California on MomTrusted.com!

Now find:

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Fresno child care Fresno preschools Fresno inhome family care Fresno nannies Fresno babysitters

San Francisco child care San Francisco preschools San Francisco inhome family care San Francisco nannies San Francisco babysitters

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and California Child Care, California InHome Centers, California Preschools, California Nannies, and California Babysitters…… for ALL locations in the state!