Seal Beach Play Group

Seal Beach Playgroup is an absolute gem. Miss Candace provides the children with one of the most enriching, creative, warm and supportive school environments I have ever seen. The children are constantly engaged in thoughtful play, art projects, stories and countless other unique experiences that go far beyond the minimum. I have watched my child grow in many ways – socially, emotionally, academically, and more. Even my two year old benefits from the wisdom we as parents gain from watching Miss Candace guide the children in their interactions. Beyond the excellent environment for the preschoolers, it is also a supportive and caring community of families. It’s truly a pleasure to be involved in such a special place.

A very special place. I feel so lucky to have found Seal Beach Play Group. Miss Candace truly cares about each and every child.

My second child is now a junior at SBPG and everyday we are there we feel so lucky that our children have had this as their first school experience. Miss Candace is kind and warm with all the children. Her biggest goal is the social/​emotional intelligence of the students. She consistently thinks of creative ways for children to explore concepts and literature. Miss Candace and the other working parents provide the magic that childhood should be. I only wish it could go on past preschool.

Seal Beach’s best kept secret! Generations of families keep coming back to this preschool for good reason. I was a little nervous starting out here since my daughter was one of the youngest in the class, I had a new baby, and I was back to work 4 days a week as a full time pediatrician. All the parents were understanding and supportive and the time commitment has been do-​able even with my full time job. This school is not just for stay at home parents. Miss Candace is absolutely AMAZING! She offers home visits for new kids so they know her before school starts and aren’t so nervous. Her teaching philosophies are helping our children become creative, smart, kind, independent problem solvers. She has also taught me how to communicate more effectively and be a better parent. I am so thankful for her and this wonderful little school. My daughter is fairly shy and anxious and in a short time she has grown more confident and outgoing with all the love and guidance here. The best part is being able to see it happen with your own eyes, not hearing it second hand. We couldn’t be happier and I’m sure I will make the time to continue here when my son is ready to attend.

We chose this preschool when we came to the Open House last spring. Our daughter loved it from the moment she walked in the door. The students made her feel like she was part of the group and Miss Candace is a wonderful teacher. Later that summer when Miss Candace came to our house (the teacher does a home visit with each new child the week before school starts) we knew it was the right fit. She loves the play based learning and is excited to go to school. When I had my second child, 1 month into the school year, other parents and her teacher brought us meals and offered to help however they could. Co-​op parents are involved and work hard to make the school what it is. SBPG is a special little school.

Last year was our first year and my daughter was constantly saying how much she loved school! This was exactly the response I wanted for her first school experience. We were so grateful to have found a fun, stimulating, loving and supportive preschool. As others have said, it is a playbased preschool, which we wanted because they learn while doing fun and engaging activities. Miss Candace is the teacher/​director and is amazing!!! She creates such a welcoming, loving and fun environment for everyone. Definitely put SBPG on your list of schools to talk to!

SBPG is a wonderful loving environment for child development. It is a play-​based preschool, not academic. Miss Candace, the director, teaches in a Reggio Emilio style, which allows the children hands on learning.
I’ve enjoyed meeting other local parents. My daughter loves her school. Highly recommended if you’re interested in a co-​op.

I’ve done a ton of research on which preschool to send my daughter. I settled on the JCC in Long Beach, which I was told, was the best school in the area. And it costs like it’s the best school! We became members of the JCC and signed her up for school. It LOOKED wonderful. The classrooms were beautifully decorated and clean. It was a perfect façade for a truly not-​so-​great experience. Underneath it all, the teachers were simply burned out, underpaid, and not respected by management. The kids didn’t seem that happy. Ya gotta wonder, what happens at preschool when all the parents shuffle out the door to work.
For the next semester, my friend recommended SBPG. It was only a week before school started so I just decided to go ahead and do it. But I thought, hmm… a co-​op, that sounds like work.
Well, it is… and it’s wonderful! I get to see EVERYTHING that goes on, and I get to be a part of my daughter’s experiences. The other mommies and daddies are now our best friends. I know every kid and all the moms know my kid, well! The greatest thing is, Miss Tina and Miss Candace are both amazing teachers, and there are always three parents working with them so no one feels overloaded. There are a ton of activities and field trips. Each week’s classes are based on a new topic. We get visits from policemen, mail carriers, firemen, animal handlers, etc. We go to farms, museums, a heliport, the beach, etc. The classroom is small, and the toys aren’t new but do you think the kids care? No! They love it! And because it’s a co-​op, it’s very reasonable. I just have absolutely nothing bad to say about our school.