Children’s Paradise Preschool and Infant Centers expects to open two new locations in Ramona sometime next year.
Julie Lowen, owner and CEO of Children’s Paradise, said she is expanding her child care business to fill a large demand for early care and education services.
The company has seven locations in San Diego County, with two more — in downtown Escondido and Carlsbad — expected to open soon, she said. With the new Ramona locations it would bring the total to 11, she said.
“We’re full with waiting lists at all the sites,” said Lowen, who lives in Vista. “Children’s Paradise provides benefits to families so we decided to expand. When I put my mind to it I’m doing it.”
The Ramona sites — at 1721 Main St. and 1122 B St. — would serve children from 6 weeks old to 12 years old.
The Main Street site, which was formerly occupied by a variety of businesses, will be slightly expanded to add offices and a commercial kitchen for a total of 14,000 square feet, Lowen said.
The B Street site, formerly occupied by Thomsen Learning Center, will be increased from about 3,000 square feet to 8,000 square feet, she said. Children’s Paradise purchased adjacent property to add a future playground, she added.
The Main Street location could serve up to 225 students and the B Street location could serve a maximum of 140 students, she said.
“We believe some families like a larger facility for kids while some appreciate a smaller facility,” Lowen said.
The remodeling timelines are not yet available. But Lowen said a site plan has been approved by the county? (yes) and a building permit is still needed for the Main Street site. Building plans have been approved and site plan approval is still needed for the B Street site.
“Both buildings need millions of dollars of improvements,” she said. “I would say we’re not going to open until next year.”
Lowen expects to start a waiting-list for Ramona families sometime next year.
Children’s Paradise combines play-based learning with a research-driven curriculum and developmental assessment tools, according to Lowen. The environment helps young children build skills for kindergarten readiness, and s school-age children with before-and-after-school care and homework assistance in addition to camps during school breaks, she said in a flier.
“We believe in an old-fashioned childhood where children are free to learn and explore through imaginative play experiences facilitated by highly educated teachers and caregivers,” she said.
Lowen said Children’s Paradise was founded as a day care center in her own home in 1990. The business opened its first official preschool in 1993 in Vista that served 150 children, and incorporated three years later in 1996.
For more information, visit ChildrensParadise.com.
Little Pathfinders preschool moves to Ramona Lutheran Church campus
About four months after opening Little Pathfinders at the Thomsen Learning Center building on Earlham Street, the preschool has moved to a new location on 16th Street in Ramona.
The move to the Ramona Lutheran Church campus at 520 16th St. will allow the preschool to expand its services, said owner Sandra Reyes. Little Pathfinders will be able to serve up to 85 children ages 6 weeks to 13 years old, up from 72 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years at its former location.
“The reason we moved is because we were analyzing different changes that were needed for students and employees,” Reyes said of the move in late March. “The building comes with more safety features and it is bigger. It’s very centrally located, so it’s very convenient for families as well.”
Reyes said Little Pathfinders is not d with the Ramona Lutheran Church, which uses the facility on Sundays and provides the classrooms and playgrounds to the preschool on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Ramona Lutheran Church’s school closed its doors on Dec. 20, 2024. Church officials did not say why the school closed.
Karl Blanke, the church school’s former heaster, helped organize a new school, Lux Christi Academy, for students in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. The Christian-based educational program is run at the Happy Hens chicken farm at 2176 Ramona St.
Reyes said leasing space at Ramona Lutheran Church gives the preschool an opportunity to fulfill long-term goals.
“Just from being out at community events I kept hearing the same things,” Reyes said. “My goal is to create a reputable program that can grow with the community. I want to host events and do things that are community driven.”
Her preschool offers childcare services to babies who are 0 to 2 years old, early preschool for 2- to 3-year-olds, preschool for 3- to 5-year-olds, and school age classrooms for transitional kindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade students. An after-school program is available for transitional kindergarten through 13-year-olds.
Optional programs such as Spanish and art classes will be available for families including those involved in charter schools and home schools, and drop-in care services are available for families as needed, such as when traditional schools are closed for vacations, she said.
The preschool is accepting new enrollments, including for summer camp and the next school year, Reyes said. Summer activities are expected to include Mad Science lessons, a petting zoo and water activities such as playing in water sprinklers on the grass. Tuition ranges from $147 to $315 per week.
For more information, call 619-805-7999 or email [email protected].
