Santa Monica Early Childhood Resources

Santa Monica offers a diverse array of services and supports to young children and their families. The following provides resources for families, professionals, and community members in Santa Monica. Please be advised that this list is a public resource of general information; you should check with each organization for more information.

Please let us know what other resources you would like us to post here.....

City of Santa Monica

The City of Santa Monica supports young children and their families through various programs, facilities, subsidies, and grants awarded through the City of Santa Monica- Human Service Division.  Senior Administrative Analyst Ivy Chang has also authored blogs on Why Early Education Matters in Santa Monica and this Early Childhood Education series featuring 11 local preschool providers.

• Santa Monica 311  -- If you have questions or comments for city staff, email 311@santamonica.gov or call (866) 311-7266, and someone knowledgeable will get back to you!

• Cradle to Career -- Santa Monica's Cradle to Career is a collective impact initiative bringing together professionals and community members working to understand and improve outcomes for Santa Monica's children. Cradle to Career has developed a Youth Wellbeing Report Card that draws data for children 0-5 from the Early Development Instrument and publishes the Building Blocks For Kindergarten Handbook in English and in Spanish.

• City Recreation and  Parks with Playgrounds -- The City of Santa Monica offers recreation programs year-round.   For up-to-date information, check out their activities and reservations. This map shows playgrounds throughout the city, with an icon indicating play structures. Marine Park, Ishihara Park, South Beach, and North Beach Playgrounds are universally accessible for young children of all abilities.

• Santa Monica Public Library -- The Santa Monica Public Library, a City of Santa Monica department, has many resources and programs to support young children and their families! Here are a few:

BabyTime -- Mondays at 10:30 and 11:30 am, Main Library , Youth Activity Room

Introduce your child to story time with interactive books, bounces, and more! Main Library, Youth Activity Room. Free tickets are available at 10:15 and 11:15 am. For ages 0-17 months.

Tuesday Tales: A Traveling Storytime -- Tuesdays at 10:30 am 

This engaging & fun weekly series of stories, songs, and rhymes travels to different library locations. Limited space; free tickets available at 10:15 am. For ages 2-5. The location rotates among the libraries. See the library calendar of events for more information.

Building Blocks for Kindergarten Readiness with SMPL

Building Blocks are short bilingual English/Spanish videos focusing on targeted kindergarten-readiness skills through reading and interactive activities.

Awe Literacy Stations

The Main Library, Pico Branch, Montana Avenue Branch, and Ocean Park Branch (a self-service location) provide Awe Early Literacy Stations which offer access to educational games and activities for young children.

Adult and Family Literacy Programs and Services 

Along with an Adult Literacy Program, the library provides a variety of Family Literacy programs and services, including:

Reading-2-Go kits - themed backpacks that contain a set of five early literacy books and a CD, DVD, or toy. Kits include suggested activities to extend learning. Available in English, Spanish, and Amharic. Just search 'Reading-2-Go' in the Library's catalog.

VOX Books - combination picture and audiobooks provide an all-in-one read-along experience. Available for check-out at all library locations.

ReadyRosie - an app and website with expert videos that support you and your child in their learning. Sign up for free access to their site and to receive a weekly playlist of videos that connect fun activities with serious learning opportunities. Use your zip code to register.

For more information, call or text 818-255-8142, email literacy.program@santamonica.gov, or ask and Library staff member!

Toddlers, Babies, DADS! -- Saturday mornings at Virginia Avenue Park, 3 months to Standing: 8:30am-9:45am. Walking to 3 years: 10:00am-11:15am  

Where kids play freely, learn and grow, while dads relax, meet other dads, get tips and tricks! Hosted at and by Virginia Avenue Park, this program is a collaboration between SMMUSD's Child Development Services, Early Engagement, and The City of Santa Monica.  FREE-- RSVP or just stop by.  Coffee provided!

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District

Child Development Services -- CDS serves children from six weeks to three years of age in its Infant & Toddler Center, located on the campus of Santa Monica High School. Other CDS programs offer full-day preschool, part-day preschool,  and before- and after-school care for families in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) to third grade.  Depending on family income and the need for childcare, CDS programs may be free, full cost, or sliding scale.  Each SMMUSD elementary school hosts a Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten Roundup every year on the 3rd Thursday in January for families with children who will be enrolling in the Fall. Check your neighborhood school's website for roundup information! You can find your neighborhood school and their website here.

Family Resources

• Cayton Children's Museum --Cayton Children’s Museum offers 21,000 square feet of interactive exhibits and daily activities in an immersive play experience for children ages 0-8. In addition to collaborative play, hands-on sensory, art and movement activities, the Cayton offers Sensory-Friendly Hour from 8:30 – 10am on Sundays weekly for families with children who have sensory sensitivities and diverse abilities. Standard admission fees apply. Check the website for programs, hours, and admission fees.

• Connections for Children --  CfC is a Resource and Referral Agency. That means they can help you find child care and let you know if your child is eligible for  financial assistance, including subsidies provided by the City of Santa Monica for income-eligible families. They also offer special programs including:

  • • Family Time -- the first and third Friday of the month, 9:00–10:30 am at Virginia Avenue Park - A nurturing environment for children ages 0-5 and their parents/caregivers to interact and engage in creative play, singing, arts and crafts, and story time. Join this FREE playgroup to receive child development resources and grow your community support network. For more information, call 310-452-3325.

• Family Service of Santa Monica -- FSSM provides mental health services to children and their families.

  • • Early Childhood Wellbeing Project -- ECWP supports Santa Monica families with young children in achieving their optimal development. Families receive an array of services, from referral services to therapy services, training and consultation for early childhood professionals, and reflective parenting groups. Please contact FSSM for more information.

Specialized Services for Children

• Providence Saint John's Child and Family Development Center—The Child and Family Development Center supports children and families with mental health, emotional, and developmental issues beginning with their prenatal/birth to age five program, which includes the Early Childhood Assessment and Treatment Program, Intensive Day Treatment-Therapeutic Preschool, and Perinatal Wellness Program.  And, in partnership with SMMUSD, the ECAT team also provides early childhood mental health consultation services to all preschool and TK classrooms.

• Cayton Children's Museum --the Museum offers  Sensory-Friendly Hour from 9am - 10am weekly on Sundays for families with children who have sensory sensitivities and diverse abilities. Standard admission fees apply.

• Help Me Grow LA – Help Me Grow LA works with local community programs and agencies to help families with questions about their child's development find support and receive services.

• Sing and Speak 4 Kids -- SS4Kids is an online music language game for young children with delayed speech, and also supports English language development for ESL children. Developed by a Task Force member, SS4Kids is free through a referral from the Regional Occupational Center or available for a very low fee. 

• Step by Step -- newly re-located in Santa Monica, Step by Step offers early intervention programs from birth - 36 months and beyond. For more information, please email stepbystep4all.abilities@gmail.com or call at (310) 367-5570.

• Westside Regional Center -- Westside Regional Center (WRC) is a nonprofit organization with a contract with the State of California, Department of Developmental Services to provide diagnosis and assessment and, if eligible, access, coordinate, and monitor the services and supports needed because of a developmental disability. WRC provides services to persons, age three and above, with a disability under the Lanterman Act and infants and toddlers, birth to 36 months, who need early intervention services and meet the eligibility criteria for the California Early Start program.

• Westside Family Resource and Empowerment Center -- WFREC is staffed by experienced parents and family members who are qualified to provide emotional, technical, and informational support to families who have an infant, child, or young adult with a disability, chronic illness, or other health care need. They offer a variety of support groups where parents have the opportunity to meet and learn from other parents and sponsor training and workshops to help families learn how to understand and navigate the often-times complex systems of care in California.

Partner/Professional Resources

• Connections for Children—CfC is a Resource and Referral Agency that provides comprehensive support and services to early care and education (child care centers and family child care) providers.If you are a provider, CFC can help you with professional development and possible stipends to support and improve program quality.

• Department of Social Services/Community Care Licensing Division –-  Community Care Licensing is the state agency responsible for licensing and monitoring family child care homes and child care centers to ensure that they provide safe and healthy environments for children.

• City of Santa Monica Housing & Human Services Department –- To obtain assistance in opening a family child care home or child care center, please contact the planning department and also refer to the Child Care Planning Guides for Family Child Care and/or the guide for Child Care Centers. 

• Santa Monica College Education/Early Childhood Education Department -- SMC offers classes, certificates, and degrees for Infant & Toddler Teachers, Preschool Assistant & Teacher, Transitional Kindergarten Teacher, and Early Intervention Assistant as well as a non-credit certificate in Introduction to Early Care and Education.

Countywide/Statewide Resources 

• Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education  -- The OAECE is mandated to promote systems change in Los Angeles County by convening the Child Care Planning Committee and the Policy Roundtable for Child Care and Development.

• First5 LA -- First 5 LA advocates for children from prenatal to age five as part of the statewide network of First 5 California commissions.

• Covered California -- The Covered California™ mission is to increase the number of Californians with health insurance, improve the quality of healthcare for all of us, reduce healthcare coverage costs, and ensure California's diverse population has fair and equal access to quality healthcare.

• Earned Income Tax Credit --EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low- to moderate-income working individuals and families. This site features a calculator allowing families to determine if they qualify for the credit.

• CalKIDS --  The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS) was launched in 2022 by the State of California with a clear mission: make it easier for more children to save for their future education. Click here to see if your child is eligibe to receive CalKIDS funds for their future.

Helplines/Hotlines

• Santa Monica 311  -If you have questions or comments for city staff, email 311@santamonica.gov or call (866) 311-7266, and someone knowledgeable will get back to you!

• 211 – 211 in Los Angeles County can help individuals find food, housing, health care, senior services, legal aid, and much more.

• 1-800-515-BABY - Early Start Baby Line for more information  on Early Start services & referrals

• 1-833-903-3972 - HELP ME GROW to speak to one of their family support specialists to help families and caregivers find resources to support their child’s development.