Stacey Landberg
October 18, 2017 12:26
I really cannot explain in words exactly what the teachers and experience with River East has meant and done for our family. My 2 children were fortunate to attend summer camp for 7 weeks at River East with 3 incredibly patient and caring teachers. My kids have been in daycare/preschool part-time since forever. I work in the field of child development and I am in and out of daycares/preschools all day, all over LA. While there are many incredible programs in LA, this program is second to none. I have never been particularly hung up on "structure, academics" or any 1 single, cookie-cutter approach that is supposed to work for every single child. I simply believe that nurturing relationships are the most fundamental and critical component for young children. I love what Maha is doing with stem learning through a play-based, child-led approach and REI...But, more than anything, I love that she and the other teachers understand the importance of fostering the development of the "whole-child" through their nurturing approaches and individualized care to each child. At River East the teachers get down on the child's level, they patiently explain things in developmentally appropriate language, they expose the children to new experiences, they keep clear boundaries for safety, and they create manageable challenges to promote growth. River East is a recipe for success when it comes to supporting children as they move from needing external-regulation to developing their own self-regulation skills. Other major perks include the amazing, healthy, organic foods that the kids help cook and eat each day, gardening, yoga, outdoor exploration, art, art, art, and more art. Their new space is beautiful.