Edgewater Preschool of Long Beach
Edgewater Preschool, 5270 E Atherton St, Long Beach, CA 90815
About
Edgewater Preschool of Long Beach offers a play-based curriculum with integrated academics that includes hands-on activities, social activities, arts, music, creative movement, and cooking in the classrooms. Children take part in problem solving situations using science (physical and natural), mathematics, and social activities, and may also participate in planting and watering cauliflower. The program includes an annual Book Exchange where children match shapes, planets, colors, letters, and stickers to find a special book to take home, along with family events at the center and field trips to local educational venues.
• Ages: 18 months–6 years old
• Schedule: 2-day (Tuesday and Thursday), 3-day (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), or 5-day (Monday–Friday) options, with Core Day 8:30am–3:00pm and Extended Day between 7:00am–6:00pm, year round
• Price: A non-refundable registration fee is required at enrollment; tuition is due monthly in advance, fees are based on enrollment not attendance, no credit is given for absences or holidays, and families are asked to call for current fees
Edgewater Preschool of Long Beach is a developmental childcare center with a play-based curriculum and integrated academics, in a warm, well-designed environment that was built to be a preschool and encourages independence and free choice. The outside space is described as a parklike setting on a one-acre lot, with all classrooms facing the outside yard, and the outside is seen as a continuous learning environment designed to meet the developmental needs of children. The program provides three nutritious snacks (morning, afternoon, and evening) and lunch prepared at the school, with all meals included in tuition, and a weekly menu posted on the parent board and website. The preschool provides care for well children only and depends on parents to follow the center’s policy and keep ill children at home, and being potty trained is not a requirement.
The program serves children from 18 months to 6 years of age as a family-run business owned and operated by Alan and Cristiane Foster, who also own another school in Orange, California (www.cvpreschool.com). Alan and Cristiane Foster are listed as Owners/Administrators; Alan is a retired BMX racer who works part time in the bicycle industry and serves as the bookkeeper, marketing, IT, and fix-it person, and they operate Edgewater Preschool with their staff. All teachers are CPR and First Aid certified, are described as knowledgeable in the field of Child Development, and receive ongoing meetings and training to assure up-to-date practices in health, safety, and education of young children, with all staff playing an integral part of the curriculum by facilitating children’s explorations and positively interacting in daily routines. Cristiane has earned a BA in Physical Education, an AA in Early Childhood Education, and completed a Master’s Program in Education with Emphasis in Early Childhood at California State University, Long Beach.
The program’s philosophy is based on Constructivist experiences and on the belief that children learn best when exposed to a challenging environment that offers a variety of meaningful hands-on activities and experiences. The curriculum and arrangement of furniture and space reflect the interests and needs of the children enrolled, and the preschool and toddler curriculum incorporates children’s and families’ interests, needs, and life experiences through activities in arts, music, and creative movement. The mission statement describes a focus on problem solving using science, mathematics, and social activities, behavior guidance as a way to foster self-control, meeting basic needs such as safety, nourishment, and rest, challenging children’s creativity, being aware and respectful of emotional needs, supporting social development and positive self-esteem, welcoming and respecting diverse cultures, and encouraging every member of the preschool to share cultural traditions. The program states that it aims to foster children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development for lifelong learning.
In its history, the school building was originally built in the 1970s by the Whaley family so a grandchild could have a preschool in the area to attend, and over the last 40 years it has had a few owners and names, including Los Altos Preschool and Woods-Edgewater Preschool. The logo of the two children sitting was hand drawn by one of the parents in the early years, and Alan and Cristiane purchased the school from Betty Woods when she retired in December 2001. The preschool is licensed by the Department of Social Services with Preschool License #198007146.
Community involvement at Edgewater Preschool of Long Beach has included welcoming two firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department to speak with the children as part of Community Helpers Month. The program states that it supports community involvement through family events at the center that enhance children’s culture and family traditions, family involvement opportunities, and field trips to local educational venues that are aligned with its philosophy. One parent testimonial states that “this preschool did a good job… they did a really good job,” and another parent from a family who moved out of the area described the staff as “are all so loving and warm.”
Last updated March 21, 2026.
• Ages: 18 months–6 years old
• Schedule: 2-day (Tuesday and Thursday), 3-day (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), or 5-day (Monday–Friday) options, with Core Day 8:30am–3:00pm and Extended Day between 7:00am–6:00pm, year round
• Price: A non-refundable registration fee is required at enrollment; tuition is due monthly in advance, fees are based on enrollment not attendance, no credit is given for absences or holidays, and families are asked to call for current fees
Edgewater Preschool of Long Beach is a developmental childcare center with a play-based curriculum and integrated academics, in a warm, well-designed environment that was built to be a preschool and encourages independence and free choice. The outside space is described as a parklike setting on a one-acre lot, with all classrooms facing the outside yard, and the outside is seen as a continuous learning environment designed to meet the developmental needs of children. The program provides three nutritious snacks (morning, afternoon, and evening) and lunch prepared at the school, with all meals included in tuition, and a weekly menu posted on the parent board and website. The preschool provides care for well children only and depends on parents to follow the center’s policy and keep ill children at home, and being potty trained is not a requirement.
The program serves children from 18 months to 6 years of age as a family-run business owned and operated by Alan and Cristiane Foster, who also own another school in Orange, California (www.cvpreschool.com). Alan and Cristiane Foster are listed as Owners/Administrators; Alan is a retired BMX racer who works part time in the bicycle industry and serves as the bookkeeper, marketing, IT, and fix-it person, and they operate Edgewater Preschool with their staff. All teachers are CPR and First Aid certified, are described as knowledgeable in the field of Child Development, and receive ongoing meetings and training to assure up-to-date practices in health, safety, and education of young children, with all staff playing an integral part of the curriculum by facilitating children’s explorations and positively interacting in daily routines. Cristiane has earned a BA in Physical Education, an AA in Early Childhood Education, and completed a Master’s Program in Education with Emphasis in Early Childhood at California State University, Long Beach.
The program’s philosophy is based on Constructivist experiences and on the belief that children learn best when exposed to a challenging environment that offers a variety of meaningful hands-on activities and experiences. The curriculum and arrangement of furniture and space reflect the interests and needs of the children enrolled, and the preschool and toddler curriculum incorporates children’s and families’ interests, needs, and life experiences through activities in arts, music, and creative movement. The mission statement describes a focus on problem solving using science, mathematics, and social activities, behavior guidance as a way to foster self-control, meeting basic needs such as safety, nourishment, and rest, challenging children’s creativity, being aware and respectful of emotional needs, supporting social development and positive self-esteem, welcoming and respecting diverse cultures, and encouraging every member of the preschool to share cultural traditions. The program states that it aims to foster children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development for lifelong learning.
In its history, the school building was originally built in the 1970s by the Whaley family so a grandchild could have a preschool in the area to attend, and over the last 40 years it has had a few owners and names, including Los Altos Preschool and Woods-Edgewater Preschool. The logo of the two children sitting was hand drawn by one of the parents in the early years, and Alan and Cristiane purchased the school from Betty Woods when she retired in December 2001. The preschool is licensed by the Department of Social Services with Preschool License #198007146.
Community involvement at Edgewater Preschool of Long Beach has included welcoming two firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department to speak with the children as part of Community Helpers Month. The program states that it supports community involvement through family events at the center that enhance children’s culture and family traditions, family involvement opportunities, and field trips to local educational venues that are aligned with its philosophy. One parent testimonial states that “this preschool did a good job… they did a really good job,” and another parent from a family who moved out of the area described the staff as “are all so loving and warm.”
Last updated March 21, 2026.
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