Seton Ridge Children’s Center offers play based faith focused preschool program for toddlers and VPK students with hands on learning and flexible scheduling options
Coral Springs, Florida – Seton Ridge Children’s Center in Coral Springs is opening enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year, continuing its long-running mission of early childhood education built on play, creativity, and faith-based values. The preschool program, which serves children from 18 months through VPK, is once again drawing attention from families looking for a learning environment that blends structure with imagination.
Operating as a ministry of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Seton Ridge Children’s Center has been part of the local community for 36 years. Located at 1401 Coral Ridge Drive in Coral Springs, the center has built its identity around a family-oriented approach where curiosity and hands-on discovery are placed at the center of early learning.
The school offers programs for young twos, threes, and VPK students, with flexible scheduling options designed to meet different family needs. Parents can choose three-, four-, or five-day programs, with part-time hours running primarily from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and some sessions extending to 1:00 p.m. Early drop-off begins at 8:00 a.m., and extended “Stay & Play” care is available until 2:00 p.m.
At the heart of the program is a philosophy that early childhood education should feel natural, exploratory, and engaging rather than rigid or overly academic. Director Maria D’Attile said the school is built on the belief that children should experience learning through wonder and daily interaction with the world around them.
“At Seton Ridge Children’s Center, we fundamentally believe that children are entitled to a childhood that is rich in wonder and discovery,” Maria D’Attile, Director of Seton Ridge, said, adding, “These early childhood years are when children absorb the world through every experience around them. We want them to explore, investigate, create, and truly enjoy learning.”
Unlike more structured early education settings, Seton Ridge emphasizes play-based learning as the foundation for academic and social development. The curriculum is aligned with Florida VPK standards and uses the Creative Curriculum model, which focuses on hands-on experiences rather than memorization or worksheets.
Teachers at the center are certified in early childhood education and trained in CPR. Each classroom is staffed with both a lead teacher and an assistant teacher, allowing for more individualized attention and support as children grow at different developmental stages.
Learning at Seton Ridge spans multiple areas, including science, literacy, art, music, motor skills, and social interaction. Activities are designed to encourage independence, creativity, and confidence, helping children develop skills that extend beyond the classroom.
“Our curriculum is hands-on and open-ended because in early childhood, experience is the teacher,” D’Attile said. “Children learn by pouring, building, singing, dancing, imagining, experimenting, and even getting messy. That process is where meaningful learning happens.”
The school also places strong emphasis on whole-child development, encouraging children to build problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and emotional awareness through everyday experiences. Staff members say these early lessons help shape long-term confidence and lifelong learning habits.
“We support the development of the whole child,” D’Attile said. “Children need opportunities to take safe risks, solve problems, learn responsibility, and discover the power of communication. Those experiences help create lifelong learners.”
Faith is another key part of the center’s identity. Children participate in daily prayer, and older preschool classes visit the chapel for age-appropriate discussions focused on kindness, compassion, and respect for others. Educators say these moments are designed to reinforce positive values in simple and accessible ways.
“We believe children learn best by what they see lived out before them,” D’Attile said. “A loving way of life is what we strive for our children to experience every day.”
One of the most distinctive spaces at Seton Ridge is its Imagination Room, where children engage in storytelling, pretend play, and creative exploration. The room is designed to encourage curiosity and allow children to express ideas freely through play-based discovery.
Enrollment is now open for families interested in the upcoming school year. The center follows the Broward County School Calendar and offers both standard and extended care options for working families.
Parents can schedule tours or request additional information by calling (954) 345-7178, emailing [email protected], or visiting St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.
