Primary New

Primary Program in California, MD, Where Play Builds Confidence, Curiosity & Kindergarten Readiness

The preschool years are filled with questions, ideas, growing friendships, and a wonderful determination to understand how the world works. Your child may want to know why the sky changes color, how high a tower can grow, or whether they can write every letter in their name without help. Our Primary Program in California, MD, gives your preschooler a warm and engaging place to follow that curiosity. Through purposeful play, hands-on exploration, meaningful conversations, creative expression, and outdoor discovery, your child builds the academic, social, emotional, and practical skills they will carry into kindergarten. Our teachers balance intentional guidance with the freedom to explore. Your preschooler receives opportunities to make choices, investigate personal interests, work with friends, and take pride in becoming more independent.

Schedule a tour and discover how Starmaker Learning Center can help your child approach Kindergarten with confidence and a genuine love of learning.

Primary Program Enrollment at Starmaker

Ages Served:
3 to 5 Years.

Location:
23443 Cottonwood Parkway, California, MD 20619

Hours:
Monday through Friday, 7am to 5:30pm

Learning approach:
Relationship-centered and play-based.

Curriculum focus:
Early literacy, language, math, science, creativity, physical development, independence, and social and emotional growth.

Outdoor experience:
A large play area and nature trails within our peaceful woodland Campus.

Program status:
Approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).

Enrollment:
Availability can change throughout the year, so families are encouraged to contact us early.

Toileting expectations:
Our enrollment team will explain current Program requirements and answer your family’s questions

A Preschool Experience that Sees the Whole Child

Choosing a preschool means thinking about much more than whether your child will learn letters and numbers. You want to know whether they will feel comfortable asking for help, whether teachers will notice what interests them, and whether each day will help them become a little more confident. At Starmaker Learning Center, we support every part of your child’s development. Academic learning matters, but so do friendships, movement, creativity, independence, communication, and the ability to work through a challenge without giving up. Our Primary Program gives your preschooler a familiar daily rhythm with enough flexibility to follow meaningful questions and interests. Teachers plan activities with clear developmental goals, then invite your child into the learning through stories, projects, games, art, building, pretend play, science exploration, movement, and time outdoors.

What Your Child Gains from Our Primary Program

Each classroom experience has a purpose, even when it looks like your preschooler is simply having fun. Play gives your child a meaningful reason to use language, solve problems, practice new movements, manage emotions, and work alongside others.

Throughout the Primary Program, your child has opportunities to build:

Kindergarten readiness through early literacy, language, math, science, and classroom routines.
Confidence by making choices, sharing ideas, and completing increasingly challenging tasks.
Communication skills through stories, conversations, songs, questions, and dramatic play.
Critical thinking by predicting, comparing, experimenting, building, and trying new solutions.
Social skills through cooperation, turn-taking, group projects, and play with friends.
Emotional awareness by recognizing feelings and learning healthy ways to communicate them.
Independence through everyday routines, classroom responsibilities, and self-help skills.
Creativity through open-ended art, music, movement, construction, and imaginative experiences.
Physical coordination through outdoor play, fine motor activities, dancing, balancing, and active games.
Curiosity by having the time and support to investigate questions that genuinely interest them.

The goal is not to rush your child into elementary school expectations before they are ready. We build a strong foundation by helping your preschooler become interested in learning, comfortable in a classroom community, and confident enough to approach new experiences.

Learning through Purposeful Play

Play-based learning does not mean leaving your child to entertain themselves without guidance. Teachers thoughtfully arrange the environment, choose engaging materials, observe how your preschooler responds, and decide when to introduce a question or new challenge. The Primary Program includes both child-chosen and teacher-supported experiences.

During free play, your child may decide what to explore, how to use the materials, and who to play with. During guided play, a teacher may add a learning goal while preserving your preschooler’s ability to make meaningful choices.

For example:

A pretend restaurant can introduce menus, counting, new vocabulary, early writing, and cooperation.
A block structure can lead to conversations about height, balance, shapes, patterns, and measurement.
A nature walk can inspire questions about weather, animals, plants, colors, and seasonal change.
An art activity can strengthen hand control while giving your child the freedom to express an original idea.
A matching or sorting game can introduce early math concepts through materials your preschooler can touch and move.
A group story can encourage students to predict what happens next, explain an idea, and listen to another point of view.

Early Language & Literacy

Your child’s ability to communicate grows quickly between ages 3 and 5 years. Preschoolers begin using longer sentences, telling detailed stories, asking more complex questions, and playing with the sounds they hear in words.

Teachers support this growth through:

Daily stories and picture books.
Songs, rhymes, and sound games.
Back-and-forth conversations.
New vocabulary connected to real activities.
Questions that invite more than a one-word answer.
Storytelling and imaginative play.
Classroom labels, signs, menus, and lists.
Opportunities to recognize names and familiar letters.
Drawing and early writing experiences.
Listening and speaking during group activities.

Early writing grows from experiences that feel meaningful. Your preschooler may make a sign for a block structure, add their name to a picture, create a list during pretend play, or tell a teacher what to write beneath their artwork.

Early Math & Problem-Solving

Math becomes easier to understand when your child can see it, touch it, and use it for a real reason. Our Primary Program introduces early concepts through games, building, sorting, movement, routines, stories, and hands-on materials.

Your preschooler may explore:

Counting and number recognition
One-to-one correspondence
Patterns and sequencing
Shapes and spatial awareness
Sorting and classification
Size, length, and measurement
More, less, equal, and different
Simple addition and subtraction concepts
Position and direction
Predicting and comparing
Puzzles and logical thinking

Teachers encourage your child to think aloud and explain what they notice. Rather than immediately correcting an answer, they may ask what your preschooler tried, what happened, and what another solution could look like. This approach builds critical thinking because your child learns that a difficult problem can be explored from more than one direction.

Science & Discovery

Preschoolers are natural scientists. They observe closely, ask endless questions, make predictions, test ideas, and change their thinking when something unexpected happens.

Science experiences may include:

Exploring water, sand, soil, and natural materials.
Observing plants, insects, weather, and seasonal change.
Investigating light, shadows, sound, and motion.
Mixing colors and materials.
Testing what sinks, floats, rolls, or balances.
Comparing living and nonliving things.
Caring for classroom plants.
Recording observations through drawings.
Building and testing simple structures.
Asking questions and discussing possible answers.

There is not always one finished product to take home. The value often lies in the conversation, investigation, and excitement your child experiences while discovering something new.

Social Skills & Friendships

The Primary years bring more complex friendships. Your child may begin joining group games, creating shared stories, negotiating roles, and caring deeply about what friends think or feel. These interactions can be joyful, but they also require practice.

Teachers help your preschooler learn how to:

Enter an activity already in progress
Invite another child to play
Share materials and classroom space
Take turns
Listen to someone else’s idea
Express a need clearly
Work toward a shared goal
Recognize how another person may feel
Respond after a disagreement
Ask a teacher for help when needed

We do not expect your child to manage every social challenge alone. Teachers remain nearby to model language, slow down difficult moments, and help students find solutions that feel fair and respectful. Over time, your preschooler becomes more comfortable communicating directly with friends and repairing small conflicts.

Emotional Development & Self-Regulation

Preschoolers experience big emotions, even when their language is growing. Your child may understand a rule but still struggle to follow it when they feel tired, disappointed, or frustrated. Teachers approach these moments as opportunities for growth rather than signs that your child has failed.

Support may include:

Helping your child name what they feel.
Listening without dismissing the emotion.
Offering simple words for a difficult situation.
Preparing students for transitions.
Encouraging a pause before reacting.
Modeling calm problem-solving.
Helping your child identify possible solutions.
Reassuring your preschooler after a mistake.
Guiding them back into the classroom community.

School Leader, Haley Mitchell, believes people do their best when they feel supported. That belief shapes the way Starmaker approaches your child’s development, classroom relationships, and the guidance teachers offer when something feels difficult.

Fine Motor Development & Early Writing

Before your child can write comfortably, they need strength and coordination in their hands, fingers, shoulders, and arms.

The classroom supports these skills through:

Drawing and painting
Cutting and tearing paper
Molding and shaping materials
Puzzles and connecting pieces
Building with small and large blocks
Picking up and sorting objects
Turning book pages
Using child-sized tools
Dressing and self-help routines
Early letter and name-writing experiences

These activities build control gradually while keeping the experience enjoyable. Your preschooler gains the physical foundation for writing through everyday play rather than long periods of repetitive pencil work.

Gross Motor Skills & Outdoor Movement

Your child needs room to run, climb, balance, jump, dance, carry, and move with confidence. Physical play strengthens the whole body while also supporting attention, cooperation, and awareness of space.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that young learners ages 3 to 5 years remain active throughout the day through varied and enjoyable movement.

At Starmaker, physical development may grow through:

Outdoor games and free movement
Walking and exploring the nature trails
Running, jumping, and balancing
Dancing and action songs
Ball play
Carrying and building with large materials
Movement challenges
Pretend play that uses the whole body
Fine and gross motor classroom activities

Our woodland setting adds something special to these experiences. Your child can move through a natural environment, notice seasonal change, and turn outdoor discoveries into new questions and classroom conversations.

An Environment Designed for Preschoolers

Our Primary classroom is arranged so your child can see possibilities and make purposeful choices. Age-appropriate materials remain accessible, helping your preschooler begin activities with growing independence. Teachers help your child slow down and notice the details. These everyday discoveries strengthen language, science, movement, creativity, and critical thinking while encouraging respect for the world around them. Schedule your visit today to see our Primary Program in action.

Why Families Choose Starmaker’s Primary Program

Families choose Starmaker because our Primary Program provides:

Purposeful play-based learning connected to meaningful developmental goals.
A whole-child approach that values academic, social, emotional, creative, and physical growth.
Kindergarten preparation that builds skills without removing the joy from preschool.
Caring teachers who take time to understand your child’s interests and personality.
Hands-on literacy, math, and science experiences that make new concepts easier to understand.
Creative freedom through art, music, movement, building, and imaginative play.
Daily opportunities for outdoor exploration on a peaceful woodland Campus.
Guidance with friendships and emotions during an important stage of social development.
Growing independence through classroom choices, routines, and responsibilities.
Strong family communication through conversations, Procare, and regular school updates.
A Program approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
A connected educational path into Starmaker’s Kindergarten/Elementary Program.
A welcoming community that has served local families since 1994.

Other Programs at Starmaker Learning Center

Infant/Toddler Program

6 Weeks to 24 Months

Our Infant/Toddler Program provides responsive care, a 1:3 staff-to-student ratio, and age-appropriate experiences in sensory discovery, movement, music, language, and play.
Learn More

Pre-Primary Program

24 to 42 Months

Our Pre-Primary Program supports your toddler’s growing independence, language, coordination, creativity, emotional development, and first friendships through purposeful play.
Learn More

Kindergarten & Elementary Program

5 to 9 Years

Our Kindergarten and Elementary Program builds on your child’s preschool foundation through active learning in reading, writing, math, science, creativity, culture, and real-world discovery.
Learn More

Homework Center

School-Age Students

Our licensed Homework Center gives school-age students a familiar and supportive place to complete assignments, read, relax, and enjoy time with friends.
Learn More

Summer Camp

5 to 13 Years
Summer Camp combines outdoor exploration, creative projects, movement, friendships, and engaging seasonal activities in a relaxed school community.
Learn More

Parent Reviews

Matthew L.

February 14, 2025

9/10

They have these two girls Michaela brown and mykaya weisnforth that are just amazing they engage with kids and the girl that runs the place Taylor I think her name is she is wonderful and also very engaging to ppl and kids and staff

Olivia K.

February 5, 2025

10/10

The teachers are amazing!

Jennifer G.

February 5, 2025

10/10

My daughter has been at Starmaker for almost three years. Communication with her teachers is always quick and easy. I get pictures of her throughout the day and updates through the app. I feel like she is in a safe and enriching environment. I love that she is exposed to music and learning some Spanish. Highly recommend.

Brandon C.

February 5, 2025

10/10

We love the small classroom size, the focus on independent play and the attentiveness of the teachers. Starmaker provides everything we were looking for in a daycare.

Jenna A.

February 4, 2025

10/10

Ms. Kayla and Ms. Faith both do so much to help our daughter to learn and grow in such a fun and caring environment. We never have to worry about her while she is at school because we know she is in great hands. She is always excited to get there and see her teachers and friends and she is learning SO much. Colors, numbers, Spanish, sign language, different instruments, she learns something new each day. She loves her school!

Sarah K.

February 3, 2025

10/10

The curriculum and the partnership between parents and teachers are great. Mrs. Kay communicates really well, and I feel safe and comfortable having my daughter at Starmaker.

Adam C.

January 24, 2025

10/10

This was our second daycare in the area and the move was the right choice. My child gets to learn more than just the basics and explore his interests in science and Spanish. The teaching staff is incredible and have fostered an environment that encourages learning and have worked with him on his emotional development.

Verioska T.

January 24, 2025

10/10

Our growing family was very excited about Starmaker as soon as we had our first tour with Ms. Haley. Our toddler is in pre-primary 1 with Ms. Michaela and she just loves going to school. It is very easy to communicate with teachers and staff if changes occur or if receiving updates from our little one throughout the day on Procare app. Ms. Michaela is an amazing teacher who helps her little students stay stimulated with activities and outdoor time. She and Ms. Chanice are great providers who helped our little one with potty training, and that is such a HUGE help especially with an infant at home. We are excited to bring our second baby to start at Starmaker at the end of January with Ms. K! Thank you to all the wonderful staff for all your support in our parenthood journey!

Kendra J.

October 30, 2024

10/10

We love Ms. K. She takes great care of my 3 month old! I was super nervous about leaving him for daycare, but he LOVES her and we are sent updates all throughout the day to remind us he’s doing great and keep us informed with his activities.

Michael W.

July 2, 2024

10/10

The teachers are great and really care. The app is great for communication. Lots of events for parents and kids. It’s really a great environment

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Primary Program in California, MD

What ages does Starmaker’s Primary Program serve?

The Primary Program welcomes preschoolers from ages 3 to 5 years. Classroom experiences support early literacy, language, math, science, creativity, physical development, social skills, emotional growth, and increasing independence.

How does the Primary Program prepare my child for kindergarten?

Your child builds readiness through early academic concepts, classroom routines, communication, cooperation, problem-solving, and self-help skills. Teachers introduce literacy, writing, math, science, and critical thinking through active experiences while also helping your preschooler listen, follow directions, work with friends, and manage growing responsibilities.

Does Starmaker use worksheets?

Our approach centers on hands-on and play-based learning rather than relying on repetitive worksheets. Your child may explore writing, letters, numbers, and other academic concepts through stories, games, art, projects, building, pretend play, classroom signs, and real-life routines.

What is the difference between free play and guided play?

Free play gives your child the freedom to choose what to explore and how the experience unfolds. Guided play keeps meaningful choice while a teacher introduces a question, material, or learning goal. The Primary Program includes both so your child can follow personal interests while benefiting from intentional teaching.

How will teachers support my child’s language development?

Teachers read stories, sing, introduce new vocabulary, ask open-ended questions, and create regular opportunities for conversation. Pretend play, storytelling, group experiences, art, and classroom projects also give your preschooler meaningful reasons to explain ideas and listen to others.

How do you teach early math?

Early math develops through counting, sorting, matching, patterns, shapes, building, measurement, puzzles, movement, and classroom routines. Teachers help your child notice relationships and explain their thinking rather than expecting them to memorize disconnected facts.

How do teachers handle disagreements between preschoolers?

Teachers help students slow down, explain what happened, listen to one another, and explore possible solutions. Your child receives guidance with sharing, turn-taking, personal space, and using words to express a need. The goal is to build skills rather than simply end the disagreement.

Does the Primary Program include outdoor play?

Yes. Outdoor play and movement form an important part of the Starmaker experience when weather and daily conditions allow. Our large outdoor area and woodland nature trails give your preschooler opportunities to move, explore, observe, and investigate.

How will I know what my child is learning?

Families remain connected through daily conversations, the Procare app, and regular school communication. Teachers can share what your child is exploring, the skills they are developing, and any progress or concerns that would benefit from a family conversation.

How do you support a child who is nervous about starting preschool?

Teachers use patient reassurance, consistent routines, familiar activities, and personal connection to help your child build trust. We also talk with your family about what helps your preschooler feel secure and keep you informed during the transition.

What happens after the Primary Program?

Depending on your child’s age, development, and educational needs, they may continue into Starmaker’s Kindergarten/Elementary Program, which serves young learners from ages 5 to 9 years. Our team can talk with you about the appropriate next step as your child approaches that transition.

Schedule a Tour of Starmaker’s Primary Program

Your child’s preschool years should build more than academic knowledge. They should help your little one become more confident, curious, independent, and excited to discover what comes next.

At Starmaker Learning Center, purposeful play, warm relationships, outdoor exploration, and hands-on learning come together to create a strong foundation for kindergarten and beyond.

Visit us at 23443 Cottonwood Parkway in California, Maryland, to explore the Primary classroom, meet our caring teachers, and experience the peaceful woodland Campus that has welcomed local families since 1994.

Call (301) 863-7740 or email [email protected] to schedule your personal tour.