Preschool Near Me with Music and Motion Programs
Parents typically browse "preschool near me" and then make a shortlist based upon area, hours, and price. All practical, all needed. Yet the programs inside the structure shape your child's days and, in time, their practices of attention, confidence, and pleasure. Music and movement sit high on that list due to the fact that they construct more than rhythm. They support language, social skills, motor preparation, and self-regulation. I have viewed shy toddlers discover their voice through tapping sticks in time with a friend. I have actually seen four-year-olds connect syllables to actions, then bring that beat into early reading. When a childcare centre deals with music and movement as a daily language, kids bloom.
This guide will assist you evaluate preschools and early learning centres through the lens of music and movement. It mixes research-informed practice with the untidy, genuine details you observe throughout a tour: the method an instructor reroutes a wiggle into a stretch, the presence of child-sized instruments that really work, the noise of children singing their clean-up regimen. You will also discover useful examples of schedules, concerns to ask, and what separates a good program from an excellent one. If you are thinking about a local daycare or a certified daycare that consists of toddler care, pre-K, and after school care, these markers can assist you spot quality.
Why music and motion matter more than a "nice additional"
Music is the only activity that lights up nearly every region of the brain, according to imaging studies that take a look at rhythm, pitch, language, and memory. In early child care, that equates into faster vocabulary growth, much better phonological awareness, stronger pattern recognition, and steadier emotional policy. Movement ties all of it together. Kids under 5 find out with their entire bodies, not simply their ears and eyes. When you combine rhythm with mobility, you are composing finding out into the worried system.
I as soon as worked with a three-year-old who had a hard time to sit throughout circle time. He fasted to dart away, then melt down when asked to rejoin. We developed a "march-in" regimen that started outside the space. He selected a drum, I picked a affordable daycare South Surrey shaker, and we set a steady beat for 45 seconds before strolling through the door. The beat kept us together, the motion burnt fixed, and we got here inside already managed. 2 weeks later he could sign up with without the drum. His brain had actually found out a pace for transition.
Preschools that get this right are not merely including a Friday singalong. They weave rhythm and movement throughout the day. Wash hands to a preschool South Surrey activities 20-second jingle. Count steps to the treat table. Use scarves to design syllables in children's names. Balance on a line while reciting a rhyme. A strong early knowing centre develops these minutes into regimens so kids get daily practice without feeling drilled.
What a robust program looks and sounds like
You can identify the distinction between a scripted "special" and a living program within 5 minutes of stepping into a class. Here are the tangible signs.
- The instruments operate and fit small hands. Think eight-inch frame drums, egg shakers, rhythm sticks, a child-height xylophone. Broken tambourines pushed on a high shelf signal token effort. Resilient sets recommend planning and budget plan support.
- The space allows clear space for locomotor play. Teachers can slide shelves to open a dance lane. Tape lines on the floor hint at balance beams and paths. Recess alone does not count; indoor motion matters during rain or cold.
- Teachers model involvement. A teacher who sings off-key however completely allows for kids to try. Staff clap the beat, mirror movements, and kneel to the child's height to hint turn-taking. An instructor with a guitar is great, however not required.
- Routines operate on rhythm. Shifts include call-and-response chants. Clean-up utilizes a short tune, always the very same, so children expect the ending and shift smoothly. The tune is the schedule.
- Children create as often as they mimic. There is time for free dance after a guided sequence. Children make up two-beat patterns on the area and classmates echo them. Improvisation develops agency.
In a daycare centre that serves a wide age range, you must see the exact same philosophy adjusted for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Infants check out maracas during tummy time. Toddler care consists of stop-and-go video games to practice impulse control. Pre-K layers in notation, basic characteristics, and cultural songs. An early child care group that understands advancement will show you how they separate without overcomplicating.
Anatomy of a day with music and motion woven through
Picture a weekday at a childcare centre near me that treats music and motion as a core. The day begins with arrivals and soft background music at about 60 to top childcare centre 80 beats per minute. The tempo matters. Mild beats lower heart rate and ease separation. On the rack: a basket of headscarfs and beanbags for kids who wish to move while they settle.
Morning meeting begins with a greeting chant that consists of each child's name and a simple motion: tap shoulder, clap, wave. That pattern folds social recognition into a rhythm, a little but effective bond. When a new child joins, the class decides the gesture. Option keeps the ritual fresh.
Centers open. In the art corner, children paint to a piece in triple meter, then switch to a consistent duple beat. They notice how brush strokes change. In blocks, 2 kids construct a bridge, then test how toy automobiles sound at different speeds. An instructor hums sluggish, then faster, and they adjust. A lot of discovering happens here: domino effect, tempo control, and detailed language.
Before snack, a two-minute movement break resets energy. This is not a reward, it is hygiene for attention. The instructor cues a freeze dance with three levels of strength, then a last exhale. Heart rates slow, hands clean while children sing the hygiene tune, enough time for soap to work. This series conserves time later on because less tips are needed.
Outdoors, you see real gross motor play. Not simply running, however rhythm difficulties. Hop to the drum. Stroll the chalk line heel to toe while chanting numbers to 20. Toss and capture a soft ball on a count of three, then change hands. When weather keeps everyone inside, the early knowing centre leans on a movement space with mats, a parachute, and visual schedules to avoid chaos.
After lunch, rest time includes a constant playlist, always the very same three tracks in the very same order. Predictability helps kids settle, and the hints inform their bodies what to do. Kids who do not sleep can use earphones and listen to instrumental music while "drawing what they hear." That outlet respects differences without turning rest into a power struggle.
The afternoon brings a short music circle. One day it is world instruments. Another day it is story soundscapes where children assign instruments to characters. For children in after school care, the same method shows up in club form: a drumming circle, a dance choreography group, or a songwriting lab that turns spelling words into verses. Continuity across ages develops a community of practice within the local daycare.
What to ask on a trip, and how to check out the answers
Families often ask about meals and nap, then leave without learning how the program manages rhythm and movement. You can alter that with a couple of targeted questions.
- How frequently do children participate in scheduled music and movement, and how is it incorporated beyond a weekly class?
- What instruments and products are offered totally free expedition, and how do you teach children to take care of them?
- How do you utilize rhythm and movement to support shifts and self-regulation?
- Can you share an example of a child who took advantage of music and movement in a specific method, and what you altered in response?
- How do you adjust for children with sensory sensitivities or mobility differences?
Listen for specifics. A director who can point to everyday regimens, show you the instrument rack, and name a child's progress is running a living program. Vague statements about "great deals of singing" without examples suggest an add-on. Ask to observe a brief section. Watch teacher language. Do they state, "Utilize your strong beat hands," or "Stop that noise"? The first channels energy. The 2nd shuts finding out down.
If you are browsing "childcare centre near me," bring your shortlist and compare. Some certified daycare programs satisfy regulative boxes, however you are trying to find intent. The Learning Circle Childcare Centre, for instance, developed a schedule where every transition, from arrival to snack, has a matching rhythmic cue. That intentionality displays in the calm tone of the space. You want that level of preparation, whether you choose them or another strong program.
Development by age: what to look for from 12 months to 5 years
Infants and young toddlers require sensory-rich, low-pressure experiences. The best programs give them safe instruments, varied textures, and foreseeable songs linked to care regimens. Anticipate gentle bouncing video games that enhance vestibular systems, vocal play that designs turn-taking, and short, repeated songs linked to diapering and feeding. The goal is bonding and sensory company, not performance.
Older toddlers are prepared for easy rhythm patterns and stop-go control. Expect matching video games, start-stop dances, and call-and-response chants. They can keep a beat for one to 4 counts and can copy a movement series of 2 steps. Teachers ought to use clear visual hints, prevent long explanations, and keep bursts short: 60 to 120 seconds, then switch.
Three-year-olds like role-play and pretend. Music becomes story. Teachers can develop soundscapes for a storybook, assign rhythms to characters, and let children pick how to cross a pretend river. This age starts to sync stepping with syllables, a bridge to early literacy. Expect counting tunes that climb into the teens and a focus on constant beat rather than complicated syncopation.
Four- and five-year-olds can deal with pattern variation, dynamics, and easy notation. You might see cards with symbols for loud and soft, quick and sluggish, and children making up a four-card expression to perform with sticks. They can partner dance, switch leaders, and review the sensation of a piece. This is where a preschool near me can draw a straight line from rhythm to reading fluency, from collaborated movement to better pencil grip.
Children with developmental distinctions benefit tremendously when music and movement are customized. Autistic children often thrive with clear visual schedules and foreseeable tunes. Children with motor hold-ups construct strength and sequencing through scaffolded movement series. A great early knowing centre will show you how they adjust. Ask to see visual assistances and hear how they deal with sound sensitivity, maybe through earbuds, a quiet corner, or body socks for deep pressure.
Teacher skill makes or breaks it
A gorgeous instrument cart means little if instructors feel not sure. Training matters. Try to find staff who understand:
- How to set and keep a stable beat, and how to streamline when children fall behind.
- How to layer guideline: first model, then mirror, then let kids lead.
- How to utilize "musicalized" language to offer direction: "Stroll on tiptoes with tiny mouse actions to the blue square."
- How to manage volume and enjoyment without shaming. Educators can decrease their own voice and slow the pace to hint down-regulation.
- How to observe and adapt quickly, shortening sections or altering the meter to bring back engagement.
When an instructor respects those concepts, group management improves. Less suggestions, more involvement, less crises. That is not magic. It is the brain settling into an anticipated pattern, comforted by repetition, and challenged by variation at the ideal moment.
Safety, licensing, and the practicalities
Parents sometimes stress that motion implies danger. Certified daycare programs manage threat with easy structures: clear floor space, non-slip shoes, and rules expressed musically. "Sticks kiss the flooring, not our heads" chanted before the sticks come out. Tap zones on the flooring. Two-finger hangs on scarves. Those guardrails keep the space safe without dulling the fun.
Check basic compliance. A certified daycare should maintain instrument health, especially for mouthed products. Egg shakers get wiped after sessions. Drum mallets are smooth and intact. Floorings are swept to prevent slips. If the program runs combined ages, ask how they different materials by size to prevent choking threats in toddler care.
Cost and scheduling matter too. Some preschools charge additional for an expert who visits weekly. Others build it into tuition. Both can work, however you desire the day-to-day integration in addition to the unique. If a program just provides a 30-minute class once a week, ask how teachers extend styles throughout the week.
Cultural breadth and respect
Music is identity. A strong program draws from numerous customs without flattening them into novelty. Children discover a clapping game from Ghana, a circle dance from Eastern Europe, a lullaby in Mandarin used by a child's grandma, and a powwow drum rhythm provided with context. Teachers call the source and avoid costumes or accents that caricature. Households can contribute tunes, and the class discovers them with care. Kids absorb the message that lots of cultures carry rhythm and story, and that every family's music belongs.
I dealt with a centre where a dad brought a dhol drum for Vaisakhi. He taught the children a fundamental bhangra action. For weeks afterward, the class used that step as a shift move. Every child understood the dad's name and welcomed him with a tiny step when he arrived. That is neighborhood structure through rhythm.
How programs measure development without turning it into testing
You will not see a formal music test taped to the wall in a top quality program. You will see instructor notes and videos that record development: a child who holds a steady beat for eight counts by January, a child who discovers to freeze on hint, a child who starts a turn as the leader. Those abilities connect to curricular objectives such as self-regulation, collaboration, and emerging literacy.
Look for portfolios with short clips, pictures, and instructor reflections. Ask how typically teachers share these with families. Some early knowing centres include a brief "home link" where households attempt a chant throughout toothbrushing, then report back. That bridge keeps regimens consistent across home and school.
A peek at space, noise, and sensory design
Sound quality affects behavior. Rooms with soft materials take in echoes, making music enjoyable instead of frustrating. Check for rugs, drapes, and wall panels. The best spaces consist of a quiet corner where a child can listen from the edge, not forced into the middle from the start. Headphones are a tool, not a crutch. They let a child get involved at a bearable volume until prepared to take part full.
Visual hints guide group flow. Picture cards for start, stop, loud, soft, jump, tiptoe. A tempo dial made use of cardboard that the leader relocations. Children discover to check out the room, not simply comply with the grownup. That is early executive function, and it grows day by day.
What this looks like throughout program types
A childcare centre serving infants through preschool can position motion breaks every 20 to 30 minutes for toddlers and every 30 to 45 minutes for young children. Educators tune the length to the activity. Open-ended play needs fewer breaks. Direct guideline requires more and shorter. After school take care of older children can involve student-led clubs, simple recording jobs, or choreography that mixes math patterns with dance formations. The thread is company. Children choose, develop, and show, not just copy.
A regional daycare with minimal space can still deliver. Short, frequent bursts and clever storage make a difference. Instruments in labeled bins, headscarfs clipped to a wall mount, a foldable mat that becomes a safe tumbling zone, tape lines that vanish under tables when not in use. Creativity beats square footage.
A preschool near me with larger grounds can invest in outside sound walls from recycled products: metal covers, PVC chimes, wood blocks. Children try out timbre and force. Educators cue safety rules and let exploration run. Rainy-day versions come inside on pegboards.
Red flags to notice throughout a visit
If music and movement are an afterthought, it reveals. You might hear a disorderly, loud free-for-all labeled as "dance time" without any hints or borders. You might see instructors standing back and screaming suggestions instead of modeling. Instruments may be broken or hoarded for "special days," which informs kids these tools are delicate and unusual. Another warning is a stiff, performance-only frame of mind where children practice a tune for weeks only to impress families at a holiday program. Performance can be enjoyable, but it must not change day-to-day exploration.
Watch the transitions. If the class takes 10 minutes to line up and three children sob daily, the program needs much better rhythmic scaffolds. That is solvable, but it needs staff training and management support.
How to bring rhythm home while you search
Families often ask what to do in the house that supports what they want in school. Keep it simple and consistent.
- Create two or 3 short songs for everyday jobs: handwashing, toy pick-up, and bedtime. Use the very same tune every time.
- Add a 90-second movement break in between homework or dinner actions. Dive, sway, freeze, breathe.
- Keep a small basket with two instruments and one scarf. Turn items every few weeks to keep interest fresh.
None of this requires to be elegant. Your constant existence and determination to be a little silly teach more than any playlist.
A note on staffing and leadership
Even the very best concepts stall without a best early child care director who values them. Ask how administrators support planning time for instructors to prepare music and motion sectors. Do they fund materials yearly, not simply when? Do they generate a fitness instructor each year to revitalize skills? A program like The Learning Circle Childcare Centre that spending plans for ongoing training and builds rhythm into its curriculum map will weather staff turnover much better. Continuity is not luck; it is structured.
Finding the ideal fit in your area
When you type daycare near me or preschool near me, the map peppered with pins can feel overwhelming. Start with distance, hours, and whether the program is a licensed daycare. Then go to 3 to 5 sites. During each trip, listen for rhythm in the everyday. You are not hunting for a conservatory. You are searching for a location where music and movement make daily life smoother, kinder, and more alive.
If you discover a centre that talks about music with the very same seriousness as literacy, take a second look. If the instructors laugh quickly and join kids on the flooring, that is a good sign. If your child begins tapping a beat en route out the door, eager to come back, your search is already responding to itself.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre – South Surrey Campus
Also known as: The Learning Circle Ocean Park Campus; The Learning Circle Childcare South Surrey
Address: 100 – 12761 16 Avenue (Pacific Building), Surrey, BC V4A 1N3, Canada
Phone: +1 604-385-5890
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.thelearningcirclechildcare.com/
Campus page: https://www.thelearningcirclechildcare.com/south-surrey-campus-oceanpark
Tagline: Providing Care & Early Education for the Whole Child Since 1992
Main services: Licensed childcare, daycare, preschool, before & after school care, Foundations classes (1–4), Foundations of Mindful Movement, summer camps, hot lunch & snacks
Primary service area: South Surrey, Ocean Park, White Rock BC
Google Maps
View on Google Maps (GBP-style search URL):
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Plus code:
24JJ+JJ Surrey, British Columbia
Business Hours (Ocean Park / South Surrey Campus)
Regular hours:
Note: Hours may differ on statutory holidays; families are usually encouraged to confirm directly with the campus before visiting.
Social Profiles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelearningcirclecorp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tlc_corp/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelearningcirclechildcare
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus is a holistic childcare and early learning centre located at 100 – 12761 16 Avenue in the Pacific Building in South Surrey’s Ocean Park neighbourhood of Surrey, BC V4A 1N3, Canada.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus provides full-day childcare and preschool programs for children aged 1 to 5 through its Foundations 1, Foundations 2 and Foundations 3 classes.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus offers before-and-after school care for children 5 to 12 years old in its Foundations 4 Emerging Leaders program, serving Ecole Laronde, Ray Shepherd and Ocean Cliff elementary schools.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus focuses on whole-child development that blends academics, social-emotional learning, movement, nutrition and mindfulness in a safe, family-centred setting.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and is closed on weekends and most statutory holidays.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus serves families in South Surrey, Ocean Park and nearby White Rock, British Columbia.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus has the primary phone number +1 604-385-5890 for enrolment, tours and general enquiries.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus can be contacted by email at [email protected]
or via the online forms on https://www.thelearningcirclechildcare.com/
.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus offers additional programs such as Foundations of Mindful Movement, a hot lunch and snack program, and seasonal camps for school-age children.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus is part of The Learning Circle Inc., an early learning network established in 1992 in British Columbia.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus is categorized as a day care center, child care service and early learning centre in local business directories and on Google Maps.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus values safety, respect, harmony and long-term relationships with families in the community.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus maintains an active online presence on Facebook, Instagram (@tlc_corp) and YouTube (The Learning Circle Childcare Centre Inc).
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus uses the Google Maps plus code 24JJ+JJ Surrey, British Columbia to identify its location close to Ocean Park Village and White Rock amenities.
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus welcomes children from 12 months to 12 years and embraces inclusive, multicultural values that reflect the diversity of South Surrey and White Rock families.
People Also Ask about The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus
What ages does The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus accept?
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus typically welcomes children from about 12 months through 12 years of age, with age-specific Foundations programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
Where is The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus located?
The campus is located in the Pacific Building at 100 – 12761 16 Avenue in South Surrey’s Ocean Park area, just a short drive from central White Rock and close to the 128 Street and 16 Avenue corridor.
What programs are offered at the South Surrey / Ocean Park campus?
The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus offers Foundations 1 and 2 for infants and toddlers, Foundations 3 for preschoolers, Foundations 4 Emerging Leaders for school-age children, along with Foundations of Mindful Movement, hot lunch and snack programs, and seasonal camps.
Does The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus provide before and after school care?
Yes, the campus provides before-and-after school care through its Foundations 4 Emerging Leaders program, typically serving children who attend nearby elementary schools such as Ecole Laronde, Ray Shepherd and Ocean Cliff, subject to availability and current routing.
Are meals and snacks included in tuition?
Core programs at The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus usually include a hot lunch and snacks, designed to support healthy eating habits so families do not need to pack full meals each day.
What makes The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus different from other daycares?
The campus emphasizes a whole-child approach that balances school readiness, social-emotional growth, movement and mindfulness, with long-standing “Foundations” curriculum, dedicated early childhood educators, and a strong focus on safety and family partnerships.
Which neighbourhoods does The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus primarily serve?
The South Surrey campus primarily serves families living in Ocean Park, South Surrey and nearby White Rock, as well as commuters who travel along 16 Avenue and the 128 Street and 152 Street corridors.
How can I contact The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus?
You can contact The Learning Circle Childcare Centre - South Surrey Campus by calling +1 604-385-5890, by visiting their social channels such as Facebook and Instagram, or by going to https://www.thelearningcirclechildcare.com/ to learn more and submit a tour or enrolment enquiry.
