Early childhood is a period of rapid brain development, making these years a critical time to build thinking skills.

At WELA, our STEAM preschool program helps children develop:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Confidence in experimentation and discovery
• Early math, science, and engineering foundations
• Creativity, communication, and emotional expression

Our goal isn’t early academics—it’s preparing children to think deeply, adapt confidently, and love learning.

Our program combines:

• Montessori education, emphasizing independence, focus, and hands-on materials
• Reggio Emilia-inspired learning, driven by curiosity, collaboration, and project-based exploration

This blended approach creates a child-centered preschool environment where children are respected as capable learners and supported at every stage of development.

As a nature-based preschool in Irvine, WELA uses the outdoors as a living classroom. Children engage in:

• Gardening and plant care
• Insect and habitat studies
• Weather tracking and observation
• Building and art projects with natural materials

These experiences strengthen observation skills, environmental awareness, and early scientific thinking.

WELA follows a dual-language learning approach, thoughtfully designed to support early brain development during the critical ages of 1–5. Children are immersed in both their native language and Vietnamese through intentional, research-based practices.

In our dual-language program, children engage in:

• Daily guided immersion in both languages
• Play-based vocabulary development and storytelling
• Songs, movement, and interactive language games
• Structured one-hour focused language sessions