Best Preschool in Northridge, CA
CCRC Licensed Child Care
Strong Roots is a CCRC-licensed child care center in Northridge serving children from 18 months to 13 years old. Infant and toddler rooms hold to California's required ratios, and every teacher carries a Child Development Associate credential and CPR certification before their first day on campus. The curriculum covers literacy, math, STEAM projects, and Armenian language class. Kids leave Pre-K knowing how to sit through a lesson, follow a schedule, and work through a problem without someone hovering — the part that actually matters once kindergarten starts.
Why Parents Choose Our Preschool & Child Care
Play-Based Learning
Classrooms are set up so children work through problems on their own before a teacher steps in. Counting objects, building structures, describing what they notice - that's the daily structure, dressed up as play. It's also how kids learn to think, not just follow instructions.
Certified Educators
Every teacher holds a Child Development Associate credential or an equivalent California qualification. Background checks and CPR certification come before anyone is alone with a group of children. Professional development continues every year on staff, not just at hiring.
Secure Facility
Campus entry stays secured, the outdoor play yard is fully gated, and classrooms are grouped by age so infants and preschoolers aren't sharing space built for different stages. The facility is subject to unannounced inspection by the California Department of Social Services, and records are available to parents who ask.
Language & Culture
A weekly Armenian language class, one hour, runs on the schedule for enrolled children. Strong Roots is one of the few licensed preschools in the San Fernando Valley offering it at all, which is a real draw for Armenian families across Northridge, Reseda, and Granada Hills weighing their options.
Built for Working Parents
CCRC and Crystal Stairs subsidies are accepted, with both full-time and part-time enrollment available. Before and after school care runs alongside the core program, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bring scheduling questions to your tour and we'll walk through what fits.
Creative Discovery
STEAM, chess, arts and crafts, and a lighter Bible study session all run as dedicated weekly classes, not optional extras. They're on the schedule because three years of worksheets alone isn't what shapes a curious kid. Chess especially catches parents off guard — watching a four-year-old actually concentrate for the first time.
Child Care Programs
Programs That Grow with Your Child
Strong Roots is the only Armenian immersion infant care program in Northridge, CA. The program accepts children 18 to 24 months old who are walking independently. Groups are small and spots fill by age group throughout the year.
Strong Roots Preschool offers licensed toddler care in Northridge, CA for children 2 to 3 years old. The program runs Monday through Friday with structured daily activities, a weekly Armenian language class, outdoor play, and three meals and snacks daily.
Strong Roots Preschool offers licensed Young Preschool Care in Northridge, CA for children 2.5 to 3.5 years old. The program bridges toddler and full preschool with structured daily activities, a weekly Armenian language class, outdoor play, and three meals and snacks.
Strong Roots Preschool offers licensed preschool care in Northridge, CA for children 3 to 4 years old. The program covers Armenian language, arts, math, chess, physical development, and Bible study, with three meals and outdoor play Monday through Friday.
Strong Roots Preschool offers licensed Pre-Kindergarten Care in Northridge, CA for children 4 to 5 years old. The program prepares children for elementary school through an academic-focused curriculum including Armenian language, chess, math, arts, and physical development with three meals daily.
Strong Roots Preschool offers CCRC-licensed after school care in Northridge, CA for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. The program runs from school dismissal through 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with homework help, Armenian language class, structured activities, and an afternoon snack.
How to Join the Strong Roots Family
Your 4-Step Enrollment Process
Book a Tour
Come to 9054 Darby Ave and walk through the rooms your child would actually be in. Meet the teachers, see the ratios in practice, and ask whatever questions you've been sitting on. Most families decide during the tour.
Submit Application
Fill out the enrollment form with your child's age, program preference, and target start date. If you're using CCRC or Crystal Stairs, note that on the form and we'll walk you through the paperwork. Standard tuition options are also available if you're not using a subsidy.
Family Orientation
Before your child's first day, we sit down together to go over their daily routine, any dietary restrictions or allergies, and how we'll handle the first week if drop-off is tough. We've done a lot of first days, and most separation anxiety resolves by day three. We'll tell you what to actually expect.
Start Growing
Once paperwork and your deposit are submitted, we confirm your start date and add your child to the class roster. You'll get a daily report after every session, with what they ate, what they worked on, and how the day went. No need to wonder.
Hear From Our Happy Families
Top-Rated Licensed Child Care in Northridge, CA
There are so many good things I could say about this place — the clean and safe environment, the great communication with parents, the fun activities, and the genuine attention each child receives. I couldn't ask for a better daycare. Highly recommend to any parent looking for a nurturing and trustworthy place for their child.
Madlena Galstyan
Finding the right preschool for my little ones felt like a huge task, but Strong Roots Preschool really was a game-changer for our family. I was so impressed with how quickly my kids settled in and started loving their days there. The teachers are incredible – truly patient and so creative. I've seen my children's confidence just blossom, and they've developed such a genuine curiosity for learning. It's more than just a preschool; it's a truly warm and enriching place.
Vahag Hambaryan
My experience with Strong Roots Preschool has been incredibly positive. We needed a reliable daycare, but what we got was an amazing preschool environment where my kids genuinely thrived. I saw a huge jump in their social skills and how they interacted with other children. They came home excited about the songs they learned or the stories they heard. It's a place where kids feel secure enough to explore and learn, and as a parent, that's exactly what I wanted.
azgush antonyan
We've had such a great experience at Strong Roots Preschool! As a parent, it's reassuring to know the campus is gated and secure. The program is well-rounded, with a mix of fun and educational activities—my child loves the arts and crafts, and even chess! It's clear they focus on development in a creative, engaging way. The meals are healthy and nutritious, which is a big plus. The teacher is amazing, always caring and supportive. I highly recommend Strong Roots to any parent looking for a safe, enriching place for their child to grow and learn!
Mariam Amatuni
Strong Roots Preschool has been a wonderful place for my child. My kiddo enjoys spending time here. Narine is such a caring wonderful person overall and makes you feel safe leaving your child with her. Also the preschool is gated which reassures me that it's a safe place for my child to be in. They provide delicious and most importantly nutritious meals for our little ones to grow and thrive which I am grateful. If you are looking for a place for your little one Strong Roots will not disappoint!
Armine Harutyunyan
My 2.5 year old daughter has been going to Strong Roots Preschool for almost 3 months now and we couldn't be happier. She's learned and grown so much and she loves Ms. Narine. Her speaking has gotten better as well and I love all the arts and crafts they do and she's so happy and proud to come home and show me. She also eats 3 delicious, healthy home made meals at school. Most importantly, my daughter is happy and excited to go to school every day and that makes my mama heart happy!
Ani Eskandary
We absolutely love our Preschool! And recommend them to everyone.The teachers are so amazing, always happy to see our kids every morning, and treat our little ones and us like family. Their programs are awesome, and my kids learn so much. They are having a lot of fun too. They are looking forward to go to preschool each day and I think that says it all!
Lusine Ghazaryan
I love this preschool. It's difficult to find a safe and attentive place for kids. I'm grateful to have come across this location. It was the only place I found reviewed and approved by a social worker with no citations. Narine is so good with my daughter. She is always happy and smiling when I pick her up. She is also very knowledgable in child development and psychology, which is a definite plus for me. It's important to me that my child is engaged with and enriched, and Narine definitely does that. She genuinely cares for the kids and I'm very grateful for that.
Melissa S
What Sets Our Northridge Preschool Apart
Local, CCRC-approved, built around developmental results.
Licensed & Local
Strong Roots runs independently, not a franchise chain following a corporate playbook. We hold a CCRC license through the California Department of Social Services, and DSS inspections show up unannounced, not on a schedule we control. That is the point of licensing: it keeps a real state agency checking our work, not just our own word.
Small-Group Focus
California caps ratios at 1:3 for infants and 1:4 for toddlers. We hold those limits as a floor, not a target to drift toward. Smaller rooms mean a teacher notices sooner: a child pulling back socially, a child ready to move ahead of the group, a child just having a rough week. That kind of attention doesn't happen in a room stretched past capacity.
Specialized Educators
Every teacher on staff holds a Child Development Associate credential or an equivalent California qualification. CPR and First Aid certification come before a teacher is ever alone with a group of children, not after, and not as a box checked later.
Foundational Growth
We track developmental milestones per child and send progress home through daily reports, so parents aren't guessing between conferences. If something looks behind for a child's age, we say so directly and talk it through with the family, rather than letting a kindergarten screening be the first place it surfaces.
Secure, Modern Spaces
Campus entry stays secured, and the outdoor play yard is gated and split by age group so toddlers and preschoolers aren't sharing equipment built for different bodies. Classrooms follow a documented cleaning schedule. The facility is subject to state inspection, and records are available to any parent who asks.
Healthy, Fresh Meals
Meals and snacks come included with enrollment, planned around the age groups we serve. We work with common dietary restrictions and food allergies as a matter of course. Families get the week's menu ahead of time, and any allergy gets documented at orientation, not discovered later.
Frequently Asked Questions
The campus has secured entry, a gated outdoor play yard, and staff in the room at all times. Every teacher passes a background check and holds current CPR and First Aid certifications before they work with children. The facility is also subject to unannounced inspections by the California Department of Social Services.
Yes. Meals and snacks are included. We plan the menu for the age groups we serve and accommodate most dietary restrictions and food allergies. Parents receive the weekly menu in advance. Bring specific allergies up at orientation and we'll document them.
Infant rooms are staffed at 1:3 and toddler rooms at 1:4. Both ratios are required by California CCRC licensing. We don't run rooms short-staffed. If you want to see the ratios in practice, come during a morning session on your tour.
Yes. We accept CCRC, Crystal Stairs, and other California subsidized childcare programs. If you're currently approved or want to know whether you qualify, call us at (323) 990-8181 and we'll walk you through it.
Yes. Our CCRC license number is #195700760, issued by the California Department of Social Services. You can verify it at app.mycareconnect.io. Licensing requires us to pass regular unannounced inspections and maintain state-mandated staffing ratios, health standards, and facility conditions.
Yes. Both full-time and part-time enrollment are available. If you're not sure which works for your schedule, bring it up during your tour and we'll go over the options together.
Book a tour at 9054 Darby Ave. After your visit, we'll send you an enrollment packet. Return it with your deposit and we'll confirm your start date. The whole process from tour to first day usually takes one to two weeks.
We enroll children from 18 months to 13 years old. There are separate classrooms for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and Pre-K, each with age-appropriate activities and its own staffing ratio.
We're open Monday through Friday, 8:00AM - 5:00PM. Before and after school care is available.
We're at 9054 Darby Ave, Northridge, CA 91325, near the CSUN campus. Street parking is available in front of the building. Families come from Northridge, Reseda, Granada Hills, Chatsworth, and other parts of the San Fernando Valley. Drop-off is at the front entrance.
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