Preschool Near Me with Music and Motion Programs 85104
Parents often search "preschool near me" and then make a shortlist based upon location, hours, and price. All useful, all needed. Yet the programs inside the structure shape your child's days and, in time, their practices of attention, confidence, and joy. Music and movement sit high on that list since they develop more than rhythm. They support language, social abilities, motor preparation, and self-regulation. I have actually viewed shy young children find their voice through tapping sticks in time with a buddy. I have actually seen four-year-olds connect syllables to steps, then bring that beat into early reading. When a childcare centre treats music and movement as a daily language, children bloom.
This guide will help you examine preschools and early knowing centres through the lens of music and movement. It mixes research-informed practice with the unpleasant, genuine information you discover during a trip: the method a teacher reroutes a wiggle into a stretch, the presence of child-sized instruments that actually work, the sound of kids singing their clean-up regimen. You will also discover practical examples of schedules, questions to ask, and what separates a good program from a fantastic one. If you are thinking about a local daycare or a licensed daycare that includes toddler care, pre-K, and after school care, these markers can help you spot quality.
Why music and motion matter more than a "nice additional"
Music is the only activity that lights up almost every region of the brain, according to imaging studies that look at rhythm, pitch, language, and memory. In early childcare, that translates into faster vocabulary growth, much better phonological awareness, more powerful pattern acknowledgment, and steadier psychological guideline. Motion connects all of it together. Kids under five discover with their whole bodies, not just their ears and eyes. When you combine rhythm with mobility, you are composing discovering into the anxious system.
I when dealt with a three-year-old who struggled to sit throughout circle time. He fasted to dart away, then melt down when asked to rejoin. We built a "march-in" routine that began outside the room. He picked a drum, I selected a shaker, and we set a steady beat for 45 seconds before strolling through the door. The beat kept us together, the movement burnt static, and we arrived inside already regulated. 2 weeks later on he might sign up with without the drum. His brain had found out a pace for transition.
Preschools that get this right are not just adding a Friday singalong. They weave rhythm and movement across the day. Wash hands to a 20-second jingle. Count steps to the treat table. Usage scarves to design syllables in children's names. Balance on a line while reciting a rhyme. A strong early learning centre constructs these moments into routines so children get daily practice without feeling drilled.
What a robust program looks and sounds like
You can identify the difference between a scripted "special" and a living program within 5 minutes of entering a class. Here are the concrete signs.
- The instruments operate and fit little hands. Think eight-inch frame drums, egg shakers, rhythm sticks, a child-height xylophone. Damaged tambourines pushed on a high shelf signal token effort. Long lasting sets recommend planning and budget support.
- The room allows clear space for locomotor play. Teachers can slide racks to open a dance lane. Tape lines on the floor hint at balance beams and pathways. Recess alone does not count; indoor motion matters during rain or cold.
- Teachers model participation. A teacher who sings off-key but completely gives permission for children to try. Staff clap the beat, mirror movements, and kneel to the child's height to cue turn-taking. A teacher with a guitar is good, however not required.
- Routines operate on rhythm. Transitions include call-and-response chants. Clean-up uses a short tune, always the very same, so children anticipate the ending and shift efficiently. The tune is the schedule.
- Children create as typically as they mimic. There is time free of charge dance after a directed sequence. Kids compose two-beat patterns on the spot and classmates echo them. Improvisation builds agency.
In a daycare centre that serves a wide age variety, you need to see the exact same viewpoint adapted for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Infants check out maracas during tummy time. Toddler care includes stop-and-go video games to practice impulse control. Pre-K layers in notation, basic dynamics, and cultural songs. An early child care team that understands development 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 deals with music and movement as a core. The day begins with arrivals and soft background music at about 60 to 80 beats per minute. The tempo matters. Mild beats lower heart rate and ease separation. On the shelf: a basket of preschool South Surrey activities scarves and beanbags for children who wish to move while they settle.
Morning meeting begins with a welcoming chant that includes each child's name and an easy movement: tap shoulder, clap, wave. That pattern folds social acknowledgment into a rhythm, a little but powerful bond. When a brand-new child signs up with, the class chooses the gesture. Choice keeps the routine fresh.
Centers open. In the art corner, children paint to a piece in triple meter, then switch to a constant duple beat. They notice how brush strokes change. In blocks, 2 kids develop a bridge, then check how toy vehicles sound at various speeds. A teacher hums sluggish, then much faster, and they change. A great deal of learning occurs here: domino effect, tempo control, and detailed language.
Before snack, a two-minute movement break resets energy. This is not a reward, it is health for attention. The teacher cues a freeze dance with 3 levels of strength, then a final exhale. Heart rates sluggish, hands wash while kids sing the health tune, long enough for soap to work. This sequence saves time later because less tips are needed.
Outdoors, you see real gross motor play. Not simply running, however rhythm obstacles. Hop to the drum. Walk the chalk line heel to toe while chanting numbers to 20. Toss and capture a soft ball on a count of 3, then change hands. When weather keeps everyone inside, the early knowing centre leans on a motion room with mats, a parachute, and visual schedules to prevent chaos.
After lunch, rest time includes a constant playlist, constantly the same 3 tracks in the same order. Predictability helps kids settle, and the hints tell their bodies what to do. Children who do not sleep can wear earphones and listen to crucial music while "drawing what they hear." That outlet appreciates distinctions without turning rest into a power struggle.
The afternoon brings a brief music circle. One day it is world instruments. Another day it is story soundscapes where kids appoint instruments to characters. For kids in after school care, the very same approach appears in club kind: a drumming circle, a dance choreography group, or a songwriting lab that turns spelling words into verses. Continuity throughout ages develops a neighborhood of practice within the local daycare.
What to ask on a trip, and how to check out the answers
Families frequently inquire about meals and nap, then quality early learning centre leave without finding out how the program deals with rhythm and movement. You can alter that with a couple of targeted questions.
- How frequently do kids take part in planned music and motion, and how is it integrated beyond a weekly class?
- What instruments and products are offered totally free expedition, and how do you teach kids to take care of them?
- How do you utilize rhythm and movement to support transitions and self-regulation?
- Can you share an example of a child who took advantage of music and motion in a particular method, and what you changed in response?
- How do you adapt for children with sensory sensitivities or mobility differences?
Listen for specifics. A director who can point to day-to-day regimens, show you the instrument rack, and call a child's development is running a living program. Unclear declarations about "great deals of singing" without examples suggest an add-on. Ask to observe a short section. See teacher language. Do they say, "Use local daycare centre your strong beat hands," or "Stop that sound"? The first channels energy. The second shuts discovering down.
If you are browsing "childcare centre near me," bring your shortlist and compare. Some licensed daycare programs satisfy regulative boxes, but you are looking for intent. The Learning Circle Childcare Centre, for instance, built a schedule where every shift, from arrival to snack, has a coordinating rhythmic hint. That intentionality displays in the calm tone of the space. You want that level of planning, whether you pick them or another strong program.
Development by age: what to look for from 12 months to 5 years
Infants and young toddlers need sensory-rich, low-pressure experiences. The best programs provide safe instruments, differed textures, and foreseeable tunes connected to care routines. Anticipate gentle bouncing games that enhance vestibular systems, vocal play that models turn-taking, and short, repeated tunes connected to diapering and feeding. The goal is bonding and sensory company, not performance.
Older young children are ready for easy rhythm patterns and stop-go control. Expect matching games, start-stop dances, and call-and-response chants. They can keep a beat for one to four counts and can copy a movement series of two actions. Teachers must use clear visual cues, prevent long explanations, and keep bursts brief: 60 to 120 seconds, then switch.
Three-year-olds like role-play and pretend. Music becomes story. Teachers can construct soundscapes for a storybook, assign rhythms to characters, and let kids choose how to cross a pretend river. This age starts to sync stepping with syllables, a bridge to early literacy. Anticipate counting tunes that climb up into the teens and a focus on consistent beat rather than complex syncopation.
Four- and five-year-olds can handle pattern variation, dynamics, and basic notation. You may see cards with signs for loud and soft, quick and sluggish, and kids making up a four-card expression to carry out with sticks. They can partner dance, switch leaders, and reflect on the feeling of a piece. This is where a preschool near me can draw a straight line from rhythm to checking out fluency, from coordinated movement to much better pencil grip.
Children with developmental differences benefit tremendously when music and motion are customized. Autistic kids frequently love clear visual schedules and foreseeable tunes. Kids with motor delays build strength and sequencing through scaffolded movement series. An excellent early knowing centre will reveal you how they adapt. Ask to see visual assistances and hear how they manage noise level of sensitivity, perhaps through earbuds, a quiet corner, or body socks for deep pressure.
Teacher ability makes or breaks it
A beautiful instrument cart indicates little if instructors feel uncertain. Training matters. Search for personnel who understand:
- How to set and keep a steady beat, and how to simplify when kids fall behind.
- How to layer direction: very first model, then mirror, then let children lead.
- How to use "musicalized" language to provide direction: "Walk on tiptoes with small mouse actions to the blue square."
- How to manage volume and excitement without shaming. Teachers can reduce their own voice and slow the pace to hint down-regulation.
- How to observe and adjust rapidly, shortening sectors or altering the meter to restore engagement.
When an instructor respects those principles, group management improves. Fewer tips, more participation, less meltdowns. That is not magic. It is the brain settling into an anticipated pattern, comforted by repeating, and challenged by variation at the best moment.
Safety, licensing, and the practicalities
Parents sometimes stress that movement means danger. Licensed daycare programs manage danger with easy structures: clear floor area, non-slip shoes, and rules expressed musically. "Sticks kiss the flooring, not our heads" chanted before the sticks come out. Tap zones on the floor. Two-finger hangs on headscarfs. Those guardrails keep the space safe without dulling the fun.
Check fundamental compliance. A certified daycare should maintain instrument health, especially for mouthed items. Egg shakers get wiped after sessions. Drum mallets are smooth and undamaged. Floorings are swept to avoid slips. If the program runs mixed ages, ask how they different materials by size to prevent choking threats in toddler care.
Cost and scheduling matter too. Some preschools charge extra for an expert who visits weekly. Others construct it into tuition. Both can work, but you want the everyday integration in addition to the special. If a program only uses 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 lots of customs without flattening them into novelty. Children find out a clapping game from Ghana, a circle dance from Eastern Europe, a lullaby in Mandarin provided by a child's grandmother, and a powwow drum rhythm presented with context. Educators name the source and prevent costumes or accents that caricature. Households can contribute tunes, and the class learns them with care. Kids absorb the message that numerous cultures bring rhythm and story, which every household's music belongs.
I dealt with a centre where a dad brought a dhol drum for Vaisakhi. He taught the kids a fundamental bhangra action. For weeks afterward, the class used that action as a transition relocation. Every child knew the father's name and greeted him with a small action when he got here. 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 capture growth: a child who holds a stable beat for 8 counts by January, a child who learns to freeze on hint, a child who starts a turn as the leader. Those abilities connect to curricular objectives such as self-regulation, cooperation, and emergent literacy.
Look for portfolios with short clips, photos, and teacher reflections. Ask how often teachers share these with families. Some early learning centres include a short "home link" where households attempt a chant throughout toothbrushing, then report back. That bridge keeps routines consistent throughout home and school.
A peek at area, noise, and sensory design
Sound quality affects behavior. Spaces with soft materials take in echoes, making music enjoyable rather than frustrating. Check for carpets, curtains, and wall panels. The best areas consist of a peaceful 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 participate in full.
Visual hints guide group circulation. Image cards for start, stop, loud, soft, dive, tiptoe. A tempo dial drawn on cardboard that the leader relocations. Kids find out to read the room, not just follow the adult. That is early executive function, and it grows day by day.
What this appears like throughout program types
A childcare centre serving babies through preschool can put motion breaks every 20 to 30 minutes for young children and every 30 to 45 minutes for preschoolers. Teachers tune the length to the activity. Open-ended play needs fewer breaks. Direct direction requires more and much shorter. After school care for older children can involve student-led clubs, simple recording projects, or choreography that blends mathematics patterns with dance developments. The thread is agency. Children choose, develop, and reflect, not simply copy.
A local daycare with limited area can still provide. Short, regular bursts and clever storage make a difference. Instruments in labeled bins, scarves clipped to a hanger, a foldable mat that ends up being a safe tumbling zone, tape lines that vanish under tables when not in usage. Creativity beats square footage.
A preschool near me with larger grounds can invest in outdoor sound walls from recycled products: metal covers, PVC chimes, wood blocks. Children explore timbre and force. Educators hint safety guidelines and let expedition run. Rainy-day variations come inside on pegboards.
Red flags to discover during a visit
If music and motion are an afterthought, it reveals. You may hear a disorderly, loud free-for-all identified as "dance time" without any hints or limits. You may see instructors standing back and yelling pointers instead of modeling. Instruments might be broken or hoarded for "special days," which tells kids these tools are delicate and unusual. Another warning is a rigid, performance-only state of mind where children practice a song for weeks only to impress families at a holiday program. Performance can be fun, however it ought to not replace everyday exploration.
Watch the shifts. If the class takes ten minutes to line up and 3 kids weep daily, the program needs better rhythmic scaffolds. That is understandable, however it needs staff training and management support.
How to bring rhythm home while you search
Families typically ask what to do in the house that supports what they desire in school. Keep it easy and consistent.
- Create 2 or 3 brief tunes for everyday tasks: handwashing, toy pick-up, and bedtime. Use the very same tune every time.
- Add a 90-second motion break in between homework or supper steps. Dive, sway, freeze, breathe.
- Keep a little basket with two instruments and one scarf. Rotate products every few weeks to keep interest fresh.
None of this needs to be expensive. Your constant presence and desire to be a little ridiculous teach more than any playlist.
A note on staffing and leadership
Even the best concepts stall without a director who values them. Ask how administrators support preparing time for instructors to prepare music and movement segments. Do they fund materials annually, not simply as soon as? Do they bring in a fitness instructor each year to revitalize abilities? A program like The Learning Circle Childcare Centre that budgets for continuous training and builds rhythm into its curriculum map will weather personnel turnover better. Continuity is not luck; it is structured.
Finding the right fit in your area
When you type daycare near me or preschool near me, the map peppered with pins can feel frustrating. Start with proximity, hours, and whether the program is a certified daycare. Then go to three to five sites. Throughout each tour, listen for rhythm in the everyday. You are not hunting for a conservatory. You are trying to find a location where music and motion make daily life smoother, kinder, and more alive.
If you find a centre that speaks about music with the very same seriousness as literacy, take a second look. If the instructors laugh quickly and join children on the floor, that is a great sign. If your child starts tapping a beat on the way out the door, excited to come back, your search is already answering 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
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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:
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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.
