Growing Place, Santa Monica

Growing Place, Santa Monica Growing Place is a full-day, non-profit child development program committed to providing young children with exceptional quality education.

Growing Place operates two campuses in the the City of Santa Monica. Please visit our website to sign up for a campus tour. Ocean Park is located at 401 Ashland Ave and serves children 2.5 to 5 years of age. Marine Park is located at 1406 Marine St. and serves children 3 months to 5 years of age.

At Growing Place, community isn’t something we just talk about, but something we intentionally practice every day.🌱Throu...
09/05/2026

At Growing Place, community isn’t something we just talk about, but something we intentionally practice every day.🌱

Through Morning Meeting, shared mealtimes, and outdoor exploration, children experience what it means to belong, contribute, and care for one another.

We believe learning happens best in community. Through rituals, relationships, conversation, and shared inquiry, children discover that they are valued members of a group—capable of contributing their ideas, building connections, and helping create a culture where everyone belongs. ✨

“Together we can face any challenge as deep as the ocean and as high as the sky” — Sonia Gandhi

Our fall session of our Parent & Me Toddler Program starts soon! 🍃Guided by Growing Place educators, our Parent & Me Tod...
08/28/2026

Our fall session of our Parent & Me Toddler Program starts soon! 🍃

Guided by Growing Place educators, our Parent & Me Toddler Program invites caregivers and little ones (18-24 months) to explore, create, play, and learn together in our beautiful outdoor classrooms.

Each session is an opportunity to nurture curiosity, confidence, and meaningful connection. We hope you to see you there! 🤍

🍁 Fall Session: 10 Weeks
📍Ocean Park Campus
📆 Wednesdays, September 9-November 18
⏰ 9:30a-10:45a
👶 For children 18-24 months (steady on their feet)

🔗 Spots are limited—Use the link in our bio to apply!

We’re honored to share that Growing Place has been recognized by Education Insider as a Top Early Childhood Learning Pre...
08/17/2026

We’re honored to share that Growing Place has been recognized by Education Insider as a Top Early Childhood Learning Preschool 2026! 🌱✨

In the feature, our Executive Director, Dr. Cris Lozon, shares how Growing Place centers children’s curiosity, questions, and ideas supporting them as capable learners who actively construct their understanding of the world.

For more than 40 years, we’ve believed that early childhood is not simply preparation for what comes next. It is a meaningful and powerful stage of learning all its own.

We’re grateful to our children, families, educators, and community who continue to make this work possible. 💛

Read the full feature through the link in our bio!

At Growing Place, every part of the day has a purpose. 🌱From arrivals and shared meals to play, rest, and goodbyes, fami...
08/17/2026

At Growing Place, every part of the day has a purpose. 🌱

From arrivals and shared meals to play, rest, and goodbyes, familiar routines help children feel safe, connected, and confident.

These everyday moments build independence, strengthen relationships, and create a sense of belonging, because care and learning go hand in hand. 💚

From dramatic play at Growing Place to the stage ✨🎭Two Growing Place alumni, Fiona and Miranda are performing in The Mor...
07/10/2026

From dramatic play at Growing Place to the stage ✨🎭

Two Growing Place alumni, Fiona and Miranda are performing in The Morgan-Wixson Theatre Theatre’s YES production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe!

Long before stepping onto the stage, Fiona and Miranda were exploring stories, taking on new roles, creating together, and expressing their ideas through play at Growing Place. These early experiences helped lay the foundation for the creativity, emotional awareness, confidence, and collaboration they now bring to their work as performers.

We love seeing the many ways the curiosity and creativity nurtured in early childhood continue to grow, and we’re so proud to see these GP alumni shining on stage! 🌟

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe runs July 11–26, with performances on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 a.m.

Tickets are available through The Morgan-Wixson Theatre. 🎟️

Learning is everywhere. 🌎Some days, learning looks like climbing into a fire truck or navigating the city by bus. Other ...
07/06/2026

Learning is everywhere. 🌎

Some days, learning looks like climbing into a fire truck or navigating the city by bus. Other days, it looks like selecting fresh produce at the farmer market, sharing a hug with a friend, or extending new ideas through play back at school.

When children are trusted to explore their community with curiosity and confidence, they begin to understand the learning isn’t something that only happens in a classroom- it’s woven into everyday life.

We’re grateful to our community partners for helping make these experiences possible.

Some stories stay with us long after childhood. 💚📚Recently, Growing Place alumni Emerson and Genevieve returned to Marin...
07/02/2026

Some stories stay with us long after childhood. 💚📚

Recently, Growing Place alumni Emerson and Genevieve returned to Marine Park to share one of those stories with our children.

The book they chose? Toot & Puddle—a special gift they received years ago from fellow Growing Place alumni, Summer. After unexpectedly reconnecting with Summer at a volleyball tournament in Arizona, the three found themselves reminiscing about their Growing Place memories... even recreating the iconic "Talking Chairs" together. 💛

What a beautiful reminder that the relationships, stories, and experiences built here continue to grow long after our children leave our classrooms.

Interested in creating memories like these? We'd love to have you join us for Intergenerational Reading! Swipe to the last slide to sign up and read with our children. 📖✨

GP Graduate Spotlights!💚A storyteller, a problem solver, and a loyal friend. This GP Graduate has brought creativity, co...
06/25/2026

GP Graduate Spotlights!💚

A storyteller, a problem solver, and a loyal friend. This GP Graduate has brought creativity, confidence, and kindness to our classroom community. Whether she was making friends laugh, advocating for herself and others, or enjoying a banana yogurt popsicle with friends, she always stayed true to who she is.

Part wildlife expert, part problem solver, part soccer goalie- this GP Graduate has worn many hats. His love for nature, willingness to help friends, and endless curiosity, made him a valued member of our community. We can’t wait to see all his new adventures ahead!

This GP Graduate has spent her time at Growing Place proving she knows a thing or two about friendship. With a kind heart, a thoughtful spirit, and a knack for making others feel included, she’s been the kind of friend every classroom hopes for. Kindergarten is lucky to have her!

Some kids avoid challenges- this GP Graduate welcomes them. With a thoughtful perspective and a willingness to keep learning, he’s shown us that mistakes aren’t something to fear. They’re part of the adventure. Kindergarten is getting a problem-solver with a big heart.

🎉 We’re honored to share that Growing Place has been recognized with a Distinguished Employer Award by the Los Angeles R...
06/18/2026

🎉 We’re honored to share that Growing Place has been recognized with a Distinguished Employer Award by the Los Angeles Regional Consortium for our partnership with Santa Monica College and our commitment to supporting the next generation of Early Childhood Educators.

This recognition reflects the meaningful collaboration between our organizations and the dedication of our staff, mentors, and student educators who help create rich learning experiences every day.

Thank you to Santa Monica College and the Los Angeles Regional Consortium for this honor. We are proud to play a role in preparing future educators and strengthening the field of early childhood education.

06/12/2026

“To cultivate a garden is to cultivate wonder.”

This week’s Farmers Market celebrated the ways children nurture growth, discovery, and connection. Through gardening, creating, harvesting, and sharing, children experience firsthand how their contributions can support a larger community.

Thank you to our families for joining us in honoring the work of our young gardeners and makers! 🌱

Address

401 Ashland Avenue
Santa Monica, CA
90405

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 6pm
Thursday 7:30am - 6pm
Friday 7:30am - 6pm

Telephone

+13103997769

Website

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