Pre-Kindergarten Program in Redwood City, CA

Scholar Simba Pre-K: Six Development Domains, One Cohesive Curriculum

The Scholar Simba Pre-Kindergarten program at Safari Kid Redwood City is designed for children starting at 4 years old, bridging the gap between preschool and kindergarten through a structured, research-driven curriculum. Rather than focusing on academic readiness alone, the program develops the whole child across five named domains: Cognitive Development, Language and Literacy Development, Physical Development, Social and Emotional Development, and Health and Care Development. That breadth is a meaningful part of what distinguishes this program.

Each domain receives dedicated attention through proprietary program elements, hands-on learning, and individualized instruction. The result is a child who can arrive at kindergarten ready to think, communicate, collaborate, and adapt.

Pre-K Options in Redwood City

Families exploring pre-kindergarten in Redwood City have a range of choices. California’s public Transitional Kindergarten program serves eligible four-year-olds as a free option tied to the school calendar, though availability varies by district, and hours may be part-day or full-day. The Redwood City School District also operates a California State Preschool Program at several district sites with part-day and some full-day options. These public programs serve an important role, but they aren’t the right fit for every family.

Private pre-kindergarten programs like Scholar Simba offer full-day, year-round enrollment with proprietary curricula that go beyond developmental benchmarks. For families whose children are ready for a more structured, academically engaged experience, a program that builds executive function skills alongside creative and social capacities can make a meaningful difference when kindergarten begins.

Benefits of our Scholar Simba Pre-K Program

Families who choose us for pre-K gain more than a classroom. Educators develop personalized lesson plans tied to each child’s developmental stage and individual interests, so instruction never feels one-size-fits-all. Children receive individualized attention within a peer-rich environment, which builds both confidence and the social awareness that kindergarten demands.

Progress doesn’t happen behind closed doors. Parents receive regular assessments and ongoing updates through Procare, our parent communication platform, keeping families closely involved in their child’s development. Children whose families stay engaged in their early learning can build the perseverance and executive function skills that support long-term academic success.

Teaching Methods & Learning Activities

Our teaching methods are rooted in research-based practices that promote active learning and critical thinking. We take a hands-on approach that encourages children to explore, question, and discover. Our dedicated educators bring these methods to life with dynamic lesson plans tailored to each child’s interests and developmental needs, connecting classroom concepts to the local environment and real-world experiences that make learning both relevant and memorable.

How We Teach

Key features of our teaching methods include:

• Project-Based Learning: Engaging children in projects that integrate multiple areas of development.
• Play-Based Activities: Using play as a medium to teach important concepts and skills.
• STREAM Framework: Science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and math activities that encourage creativity, logical thinking, and problem-solving.
• Individualized Instruction: Tailoring lessons to meet the unique developmental needs and interests of each child.

Pre-K Learning Activities

The Scholar Simba curriculum delivers specific, named activities across every development domain.

Language and Literacy Development

Children build early literacy through storytelling and discussions, name-writing and tracing exercises, and purposeful reading activities. CHIRP and Story Explorers bring language learning to life, while ASL exposure and second-language instruction extend communication skills across diverse learners.

Physical Development

Fine motor skills grow through arts and crafts, block play, and sensory exploration. Nature excursions take children outside the classroom to observe and engage with the natural environment. Tumbling Tots supports gross motor development in an active, joyful format.

Social and Emotional Development

TEMBO Talks and dramatic play build emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to work as part of a group. Role-play and group discussions help children navigate social dynamics and develop the self-regulation skills often identified as essential for kindergarten readiness.

Cognitive Development

Hands-on numeracy activities and open-ended problem-solving challenges develop logical thinking and the persistence to work through difficulty. These are core components of executive function that support learning well beyond pre-k.

Comprehensive Kindergarten Preparation

Health and Care Development rounds out the five domains with nutrition guidance, nature-based activities that spark curiosity about plants and insects, and experiences that build autonomy and confidence. Community events and field trips extend learning beyond the center, connecting classroom concepts to children’s lives in Redwood City and deepening the social awareness that comes from engaging with the world outside the classroom.

Together, these five domains form a cohesive program that can prepare children for the academic demands of kindergarten, as well as the independence, resilience, and love of learning that can carry them forward over time.

Integrated learning builds strong early foundations.
Call (650) 747-6681 or reach out online to learn more about enrollment.