For more information, please call our Early Education Center at (831) 429-3050. To apply for your child to enroll in our infant, toddler, preschool or PreK classroom, please visit our Early Education Center at 120 Weeks Ave. in Santa Cruz (behind the Santa Cruz High baseball field) to pick up an application Or access it online by clicking here - WAITLIST APPLICATION FORM. To see Waitlist Priority information for our CCTR (Infant & Toddler classrooms) or CSPP (Preschool & PreK classrooms) see bottom of this webpage.
Early Education
Through warm, positive relationships with the child’s Caregiver/Teacher, a child develops a sense of trust in the world around them and a feeling of confidence. Such interactions are critical to the development of a child’s self-esteem and self-worth. The trusted adult becomes the secure base from which the child begins to explore the environment.
We provide an environment that supports families and embraces diversity. This is accomplished by the use of an anti-bias curriculum, hiring staff that reflects the race and culture of our families and involving parents in the development, implementation and evaluation of programs.
Our services are offered to eligible low-income families who need care for their child so they can seek employment, seek housing, work, go to school or complete a training program.
AGES OF CHILDREN ACCEPTED FOR CARE
The Infant Center serves children ages two weeks to two years.
The Downtown Children’s Center (Preschool & Pre-K) serves children age two years to entering first grade.
PROGRAM GOALS
Provide childcare for low and non-income families who are attending school, training or work.
Provide childcare for teenage parents who are attending the TAM program at SCHS.
Offer parents a safe, loving environment in which to leave their children.
Foster quality time with caregivers, encouraging trust and security.
Actively involve the child in care-giving activities such as feeding, diapering and dressing.
Practice good health and safety procedures and first-aid skills.
Provide a variety of age-appropriate curriculum activities.
Provide a safe, well-designed environment that allows the child to explore freely and encourages independence and self-motivation.
Daily Activities
Our daily activities include both free play and structured activities.
Infants and toddlers learn by experiencing the environment through their senses (seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and feeling), by physically moving around and through social interaction. Non-mobile infants absorb and organize a great deal of information about the world around them.
Preschoolers learn best through play that is purposely constructed to increase a child’s knowledge of literacy, math and science. The curriculum encompasses activities that support the child’s growth in the following domains: social, emotional, physical and intellectual. The most appropriate teaching technique for this age is to give ample opportunities for the children to use self-initiated repetition to practice newly acquired skills and to experience feelings of autonomy and success. Patience is essential.
Since children learn through concrete experiences, opportunities are given to explore through age and developmentally-appropriate curriculum and activities. Through play, an essential part of the learning experience, the children learn social skills and problem solving. The staff of the center are here to support parents in their role as their child’s first and primary teacher. We encourage and look forward to your involvement in the caring for and education of your child. This is your center.
We provide subsidized childcare through a grant from the California Department of Education, Child Development Division.
REFRAIN FROM RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION POLICY: Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center’s Early Education programs refrains from any religious instruction and worship.
DAILY ACTIVITIES
A focus on Kindergarten Readiness
Emergent Curriculum
Literacy Activities
Learning Circle time
Art
Music
Gardening and Science Activities
Free & Structured Play
Math Activities
Social Skills
Exploratory play in a supervised setting
It is the policy of Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center to provide equal employment, volunteer opportunities and services (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices),national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by federal, state or local law.
History of Services
The TAM Infant Center, formerly the La Fonda Infant Center, was established in 1987 by the Santa Cruz City School District on the premises of SCHS, to provide services to the TAM program and the community at large. In 1990 the Walnut Avenue assumed responsibility for the administration of the TAM Infant Center so our current name is the Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center TAM Infant Center. The TAM Infant Center provides subsidized childcare through a grant from the California Department of Education, Early Learning and Care Division.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Early Education Center
TAM Infant Center and Downtown Children’s Center 831-429-3050
Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center 831-426-3062
HOURS OF OPERATION
Early Education Center
TAM Infant Center & Downtown Children’s Center
8:00am to 4:00pm Monday thru Friday
Funding for this program provided by
Monterey Peninsula Foundation
California Department of Education
CDSS, Child Care and Development Division
County of Santa Cruz
First 5 of California
Thrive by Three
California Adult & Child Food Program
Community Foundation of Santa Cruz
