Edgewater Preschool of Long Beach
Edgewater Preschool, 5270 E Atherton St, Long Beach, CA 90815
About
Edgewater Preschool of Long Beach offers daily activities that include science (physical and natural), mathematics, social activities, arts, music, creative movement, and cooking in the classrooms. The program uses a play-based curriculum with integrated academics, and all staff members take part in the curriculum by facilitating children’s explorations and interacting in their daily routines. Children are encouraged to help themselves and each other at mealtime, and nutrition is included in the program through classroom cooking activities.
• Ages: 18 months–6 years old
• Schedule: Open year round Monday–Friday, with 2-day (Tuesday and Thursday), 3-day (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), or 5-day (Monday–Friday) options, and Core Day (8:30am–3:00pm) or Extended Day (anytime 7:00am–6:00pm) programs available
• Price: A non-refundable registration fee is required at enrollment; tuition is charged monthly in advance based on enrollment (not attendance), with no credit for absences or holidays; current fees are available by calling the program
Edgewater Preschool of Long Beach is a developmental childcare center with a play-based curriculum and integrated academics, serving children from 18 months to 6 years of age. The curriculum is based on Jean Piaget’s and Lev Vygotsky’s constructivist theories and includes a variety of hands-on and social activities that incorporate children’s and families’ interests, needs, and life experiences. The program states that it is a developmental childcare center with a philosophy that children learn best in a challenging environment with meaningful hands-on activities and experiences, and that preschool children should be allowed to explore their surroundings to develop problem solving and decision-making. The program states that it focuses on meeting children’s basic needs such as safety, nourishment, and rest, and that it aims to be aware and respectful of children’s emotional needs while supporting their social development and self-esteem. The program welcomes and respects a diversity of cultures and encourages every member of the preschool to share their cultural traditions, and it describes itself as a facilitator of children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development for lifelong learning. Being potty trained is not a requirement for enrollment, and the preschool provides care for well children, with a policy that parents keep ill children at home.
The outside space is described as a parklike setting on a one-acre lot, with all classrooms facing the outside yard. The building was built with the intention of being a preschool, and the environment is described as warm and well designed to encourage independence and free choice. The outside space is described as allowing room for the development of large motor skills and exercise and as a continuous learning environment designed to meet developmental needs, and it is described by the program as a rare find in LA County. The preschool states that it maintains a clean and safe environment with specific policies regarding health and safety.
Three nutritious snacks (morning, afternoon, and evening) and lunch are prepared at the school and included in the price of tuition, and a weekly menu is posted on the parent board and website. All teachers are CPR and First Aid certified, and the program describes its staff as highly motivated professionals who participate in ongoing meetings and training to keep practices up to date in health, safety, and early childhood education. The program states that behavior guidance is used as a means of fostering children’s self-control.
Edgewater Preschool of Long Beach is a family-run business owned and operated by Alan and Cristiane Foster and their staff. Cristiane has a BA in Physical Education, an AA in Early Childhood Education, and has completed a Master’s Program in Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood at California State University, Long Beach. Alan is a retired BMX racer who works part time in the bicycle industry and serves as the bookkeeper, marketing, IT, and maintenance person for the school. The Department of Social Service License number and Preschool License number for the program are 198007146.
The building that houses the preschool was built in the 1970s with the intention of being a preschool, and over the last 40 years it has had several owners and names, including Los Altos Preschool and Woods-Edgewater Preschool. Alan and Cristiane purchased the school from Betty Woods when she retired in December 2001. The program describes itself as supporting community involvement through family events at the center that highlight children’s cultures and family traditions, family involvement opportunities, and field trips to local educational venues that align with its philosophy.
The program shares testimonials that include a statement that “this preschool did a good job… they did a really good job,” a child’s reference to it as “My real school, Edgewater,” and a comment that staff “are all so loving and warm.”
Last updated June 21, 2026.
• Ages: 18 months–6 years old
• Schedule: Open year round Monday–Friday, with 2-day (Tuesday and Thursday), 3-day (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), or 5-day (Monday–Friday) options, and Core Day (8:30am–3:00pm) or Extended Day (anytime 7:00am–6:00pm) programs available
• Price: A non-refundable registration fee is required at enrollment; tuition is charged monthly in advance based on enrollment (not attendance), with no credit for absences or holidays; current fees are available by calling the program
Edgewater Preschool of Long Beach is a developmental childcare center with a play-based curriculum and integrated academics, serving children from 18 months to 6 years of age. The curriculum is based on Jean Piaget’s and Lev Vygotsky’s constructivist theories and includes a variety of hands-on and social activities that incorporate children’s and families’ interests, needs, and life experiences. The program states that it is a developmental childcare center with a philosophy that children learn best in a challenging environment with meaningful hands-on activities and experiences, and that preschool children should be allowed to explore their surroundings to develop problem solving and decision-making. The program states that it focuses on meeting children’s basic needs such as safety, nourishment, and rest, and that it aims to be aware and respectful of children’s emotional needs while supporting their social development and self-esteem. The program welcomes and respects a diversity of cultures and encourages every member of the preschool to share their cultural traditions, and it describes itself as a facilitator of children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development for lifelong learning. Being potty trained is not a requirement for enrollment, and the preschool provides care for well children, with a policy that parents keep ill children at home.
The outside space is described as a parklike setting on a one-acre lot, with all classrooms facing the outside yard. The building was built with the intention of being a preschool, and the environment is described as warm and well designed to encourage independence and free choice. The outside space is described as allowing room for the development of large motor skills and exercise and as a continuous learning environment designed to meet developmental needs, and it is described by the program as a rare find in LA County. The preschool states that it maintains a clean and safe environment with specific policies regarding health and safety.
Three nutritious snacks (morning, afternoon, and evening) and lunch are prepared at the school and included in the price of tuition, and a weekly menu is posted on the parent board and website. All teachers are CPR and First Aid certified, and the program describes its staff as highly motivated professionals who participate in ongoing meetings and training to keep practices up to date in health, safety, and early childhood education. The program states that behavior guidance is used as a means of fostering children’s self-control.
Edgewater Preschool of Long Beach is a family-run business owned and operated by Alan and Cristiane Foster and their staff. Cristiane has a BA in Physical Education, an AA in Early Childhood Education, and has completed a Master’s Program in Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood at California State University, Long Beach. Alan is a retired BMX racer who works part time in the bicycle industry and serves as the bookkeeper, marketing, IT, and maintenance person for the school. The Department of Social Service License number and Preschool License number for the program are 198007146.
The building that houses the preschool was built in the 1970s with the intention of being a preschool, and over the last 40 years it has had several owners and names, including Los Altos Preschool and Woods-Edgewater Preschool. Alan and Cristiane purchased the school from Betty Woods when she retired in December 2001. The program describes itself as supporting community involvement through family events at the center that highlight children’s cultures and family traditions, family involvement opportunities, and field trips to local educational venues that align with its philosophy.
The program shares testimonials that include a statement that “this preschool did a good job… they did a really good job,” a child’s reference to it as “My real school, Edgewater,” and a comment that staff “are all so loving and warm.”
Last updated June 21, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.