Blueprints The Foundation for Learning

There are not enough words in the dictionary to express how grateful we are to have our daughter enrolled in this amazing school. First off as a parent I think your child going into preschool can be a very scary experience, will they like their teachers, will they learn new things, will they be fed well, basically will they enjoy themselves and be in an enriching environment? All of my concerns were put to ease when we met with Carolyn who runs the school. She’s wonderful with the children, very patient and kind.
We had gone to tour another school and it left a very bad taste in my mouth, it was a lovely school to look at but when I was around the corner and one of the teachers couldn’t see me I heard her talking down to one of the three year olds. Then two days later we received a call from them basically trying to strong arm us into enrolling «There’s a spot open if you reserve and pay for it today, otherwise you will have to wait almost a year» and while that may be true it just seemed very aggressive and the polar opposite of what we experienced at Blueprints.
We’re so thankful to have our child be a part of this wonderful school and if you’re looking to enroll your little one in a fun, hands on, healthy, outdoor loving environment I’d suggest you check them out too!

My 18-​month-​old son has been attending Blueprints for about 2 months. After much searching and touring of other daycare/​preschool facilities, I am so happy and grateful to have found this enriching environment for him. At Blueprints he gets the best of both worlds; a cozy home-​like environment and well-​educated, highly qualified caregivers.
The facility takes infants all the way up to 5 years old. My son has benefited from this mix. Rather than being in a classroom with children who are all his age, he gets to learn from watching and interacting with older children. He is also learning to be gentle and patient with those younger than him. The children eat snacks and meals together, sitting at a round table. The home-​cooked, healthy meals include things like chicken, fish, and turkey, lots of fruits and veggies, and yogurt. This is not your typical school lunch! Here is an example of a daily menu…
Breakfast: oatmeal, apples, milk
Lunch: pan-​roasted chicken breast, broccoli, rice, milk
Snacks: grapes & crackers, yogurt & berries
Eating together is just one way that the teachers support the social development of the children. The children learn through play (as it should be for any young child!). The teachers believe in an organic, fluid, learning process in which every day activities are turned into learning opportunities based on what the children are interested in and excited about. Throughout the day they work on communication and social skills. The teachers are extremely kind and gentle and always have the right words to say to resolve conflicts between kids.
The children get to spend much of their day outside «getting dirty» or making art in the outdoor art studio. My son enjoys watering the garden and picking tomatoes! In this world where children are finding themselves disconnected from nature and terms like «nature deficit disorder» are coined, I believe it is so critically important that my son gets this outside time. When my wife and I first visited Blueprints for a tour, we walked into the backyard and there were two little boys running around with their shirts off. They ran up to us and said, «We have belly buttons!» I thought, this is where I want my child to be.

My 3.5 year old daughter has attended Blueprints for the last year and a half, and we are just so pleased with the school. It is the perfect size for her, not crowded or structured, and they spend TONS of time outdoors which she absolutely loves! We mistakenly tried to move her to a more traditional preschool a few months ago, and she begged to go back to Blueprints. How can a parent argue with that???
One of the major benefits of Blueprints is that they cook hot meals for the kids, and the kids eat family-​style. They are sensitive to allergies too, which is nice for anyone with that issue. Some of the foods my daughter eats (and LOVES) at Blueprints are: black beans, quinoa, asparagus, cheese, all sorts of berries/​fruits, cucumbers, yogurt. The hot meals are a huge draw for me, as I ponder daily what to pack for my older elementary school daughter for lunch. It is a relief not to have to worry about that with my younger daughter, and to know that she is eating super HEALTHY food!
This is a home-​based daycare/​preschool, and inside the house are lots of stimulating/​sensory playthings. There is an art area inside, and another one outside where they paint. The play yard is pretty basic, with a large open area where my daughter spends lots of time running around and just being free. This is not an academic, structured preschool. The kids are free to play and develop their social skills, which is very important in early childhood. The teachers seem to have a very strong grasp of this concept, and they encourage it!
My understanding is that they are working on creating a play structure for the kids to do some climbing and imaginary play. That is the only area I think the school is lacking, especially for preschool-​aged children. My daughter really loves slides and play structures, and the school does not have that. I look forward to seeing what the school will be offering in that area.
Bottom line is that my daughter comes home every day well-​rested and unstressed. My older daughter went to a more traditional preschool and she would regularly come home very tired and overstimulated. It is the complete opposite with my younger daughter at Blueprints. I wish this school existed when my older daughter was a preschool aged!
5 stars for this awesome preschool!

So excited to have my niece enrolled in this new center. Based on my experience with working in early child development, I was so pleased to find a creative and developmentally appropriate environment The founders/​partners seemed well experienced and open to teaching the children in a home-​based learning environment. Their philosophy is to present the child with options to create, discover, and explore the world around them, while guiding them to develop the critical skills kids need when the get to school. They are definitely filling a void in San Diego’s child care options.