Our Director and owner, Dawn Speciale, had a life-long dream to create a loving environment where children can grow, laugh, and reach their highest potential. Dawn's journey in the field of early childhood began as an assistant preschool teacher at Creative Academy of Learning in 1980. Soon after, she enrolled in Pasadena City College with a focus on Early Childhood Development and was then promot
ed to Head Teacher in the preschool classroom. In 1986, Dawn's Quality Childcare Family Day Care Home was established and her home was opened to enable her to provide a learning environment for children in her community. After 17 years, Dawn was ready to open her own center; in 2003, Hands on Fun Preschool and Infant center was established. The Preschool has a maximum capacity for 26 children with a 2/13 ratio. Our research-based curriculum and on-going training allow us to continuously improve the overall quality of the program. We emphasize small grouping and giving extra attention to each individual child. The center provides breakfast, 1 snack, and all drinks to all children. Weekly planned curriculums are tailored to children's interests, special talents, individual styles and pace of learning. The program fosters children's self-confidence and promotes hands-on learning. In addition, our curriculum is based on the "5 Selves of Each Child":
1. The Physical Self: Riding toys, throwing, catching, hitting and kicking balls, beanbag games, climbing, sliding, obstacle courses, creative movement through music, play- doh, sensory tables, finger painting, etc.
2. The Emotional Self: Helping children control impulses, promoting empathy for others, verbalizing feelings
3. The Social Self: Helping children become aware of their role as an integral member of a group, taking turns, sharing and using their words
4. The Cognitive Self: Sorting, grouping, matching, classifying, quantifying, sequencing, ABCs, colors, numbers, opposites, etc.
5. The Creative Self: Self-expression through materials such as paint, markers, crayons, pencils, and collage materials
