The Village Children's Center
375 Palos Verdes Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
About
The Village Children's Center offers open-ended and focused arts and crafts, building with a variety of materials, and both independent and guided pretend play. Children take part in self-regulation exercises including yoga and prayer, problem solving in play and social interactions, and social play with peers that is observed and guided by teachers. Daily experiences include number concepts, language development through abundant conversation and interactive story times with A.S.L. exposure, pre-reading activities focused on nursery rhymes and letter play, health and fitness through snack and intentional movement, extended learning projects when curiosity needs further support, weekly chapel times for faith and character development, and Summer Enrichment.
• Ages: 2–5 years old
The Village Children's Center is a developmental preschool that states that children learn through play and experience the love taught by Christ, with a focus on inclusivity, empathy, and compassion. Its mission is to help parents raise children who use empathy and compassion towards all by fostering an inclusive environment and offering developmentally appropriate service projects. The program is a ministry of Riviera United Methodist Church and has a history that dates back to the founding of Riviera United Methodist Preschool (RUMP) in 1974, which became The Village Children’s Center at Riviera UMC in 2017.
The staff adheres to the principles of the NAEYC. Director Yuli Mihara received her B.A. and M.A. in Child Development from California State University, Los Angeles, and has been directing and mentoring teachers, as well as teaching young children ages 2 to 5, since 2004. Supervising Teacher/Big Hearts Teacher Matthew Gabard attended San Francisco State where he studied history. Big Hearts Teacher Shizuka Kaga received her B.A. in Business Administration and M.A. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. Big Hearts Teacher Junghwa Jung Choi received a B.S. in Library & Information Science and finished a Master Degree for Childhood Education at Sage Graduate School (NY) in 2004. The leadership team includes Director Yuli Mihara, Supervising Teacher/Big Hearts Teacher Matthew Gabard, Big Hearts Teacher Shizuka Kaga, and Big Hearts Teacher Junghwa Jung Choi.
The Village Children’s Center describes itself as a play-based environment that uses the interests of children to teach skills and concepts, with a developmentally appropriate curriculum for children ages 2 to 5. The program includes language development with A.S.L. exposure, self-regulation exercises including yoga and prayer, faith and character development through weekly chapel times, and Summer Enrichment. It encourages community through parent education opportunities, family connection events, and the open exchange of ideas with the director and teachers, and it states a commitment to connecting parents and children, caretakers, the center and community, and partnering to raise children and develop a supportive community.
Last updated July 27, 2026.
• Ages: 2–5 years old
The Village Children's Center is a developmental preschool that states that children learn through play and experience the love taught by Christ, with a focus on inclusivity, empathy, and compassion. Its mission is to help parents raise children who use empathy and compassion towards all by fostering an inclusive environment and offering developmentally appropriate service projects. The program is a ministry of Riviera United Methodist Church and has a history that dates back to the founding of Riviera United Methodist Preschool (RUMP) in 1974, which became The Village Children’s Center at Riviera UMC in 2017.
The staff adheres to the principles of the NAEYC. Director Yuli Mihara received her B.A. and M.A. in Child Development from California State University, Los Angeles, and has been directing and mentoring teachers, as well as teaching young children ages 2 to 5, since 2004. Supervising Teacher/Big Hearts Teacher Matthew Gabard attended San Francisco State where he studied history. Big Hearts Teacher Shizuka Kaga received her B.A. in Business Administration and M.A. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. Big Hearts Teacher Junghwa Jung Choi received a B.S. in Library & Information Science and finished a Master Degree for Childhood Education at Sage Graduate School (NY) in 2004. The leadership team includes Director Yuli Mihara, Supervising Teacher/Big Hearts Teacher Matthew Gabard, Big Hearts Teacher Shizuka Kaga, and Big Hearts Teacher Junghwa Jung Choi.
The Village Children’s Center describes itself as a play-based environment that uses the interests of children to teach skills and concepts, with a developmentally appropriate curriculum for children ages 2 to 5. The program includes language development with A.S.L. exposure, self-regulation exercises including yoga and prayer, faith and character development through weekly chapel times, and Summer Enrichment. It encourages community through parent education opportunities, family connection events, and the open exchange of ideas with the director and teachers, and it states a commitment to connecting parents and children, caretakers, the center and community, and partnering to raise children and develop a supportive community.
Last updated July 27, 2026.
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