Embedded Files
Your First Village
Becoming a parent changes everything, and no one is meant to do it alone. River East's family programs bring new and expecting parents together from the very first weeks, offering expert guidance, meaningful connection, and a community that grows alongside your child.
Rooted in the same values that guide our school (curiosity, empathy, and respect for each child's individuality), our programs support the whole family: Parent & Me for babies and their parents, Toddler & Me for the wonderfully busy second year, and workshops that help families navigate what comes next, from TK to choosing a school, and everything in between!
Wherever you are in the journey, there is a place for you here.
The seeds of community are sown early. We would love to plant them with you.
River East. Your first village.
Toddler & Me
Grow up together.
The second year of life is a season of extraordinary growth. Toddlers are discovering their bodies, their voices, their feelings, and one another, while parents are discovering who they are becoming alongside them. Toddler & Me was created to nurture both.
Each Sunday, our youngest Friends explore music, art, open-ended play, the outdoors, and a shared snack with one of our teachers, in an environment designed to honor their natural curiosity. Meanwhile, parents gather with Dr. Jane Rosen, whose doctorate in clinical psychology, infant mental health training at Cedars-Sinai, and decade as a preschool director bring deep insight to the questions that fill these years: tantrums and transitions, sleep and toilet learning, sharing and communication, and the changing shape of family life.
Groups are intentionally small, 7 to 10 families, so friendships can take root for children and parents alike. Each class is followed by time to linger and connect. Both parents are warmly welcome.
Ages 12 to 24 months (by January, 2027) · Sundays in Atwater Village · 75-minute classes · 6-week series · $350
Registration opens in November. First series begins Sunday, January 10.
[Join the interest list]
Parent & Me
Where parenting begins.
The first weeks with a new baby are unlike any other. Everything is new: the rhythms of feeding and sleep, the sounds your baby makes, the parent you are becoming. Baby & Me offers a warm, grounded place to meet this season alongside others living it too.
Led by Dr. Jane Rosen, whose doctorate in clinical psychology and certificate in Infant Mental Health from Cedars-Sinai bring a deep understanding of early development and family life, each class follows your baby's growth week by week. Babies are grouped by birth month, so every conversation meets your family exactly where you are: sleep and feeding, milestones and brain development, temperament and attachment, and the quieter questions about returning to work, childcare, and partnership.
Classes weave together guided discussion, songs, infant massage, and gentle developmental play, with research-based handouts to bring home each week. And because this transition belongs to parents too, we always make time to ask how you are doing.
Groups are intentionally small, 7 to 10 families, so faces become familiar and friendships can take root. Each class is followed by time to linger and connect. Both parents are warmly welcome.
Now forming our first groups.
Parent & Me begins in January 2027. Because babies are grouped by birth month, our first groups will take shape around the families who join us. Share your baby's birthday (or due date) through our interest form, and we will reach out personally as your group comes together.
Tuesdays in Atwater Village · 90-minute classes · 6-week series · $300
Registration opens in November. First series begins Tuesday, January 12.
Join the interest list
Meet Dr. Jane Rosen, PsyD.
Parent & Me and Toddler & Me
Dr. Jane Rosen joins River East after 11 years as the visionary and beloved director of the IKAR Early Childhood Center on the West Side, bringing with her a lifelong devotion to children and the families who love them.
Alongside her career in clinical and forensic psychology, Jane has always followed her passion for early childhood. At Cedars-Sinai Hospital, where she completed two clinical fellowships, she was a member of the groundbreaking Infant Mental Health Program, taking part in neurological research and treatment for children from birth to five. It was there that she developed a deep love for this age and their families. Jane holds a Master's Degree in Art Therapy, a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and a certificate in Infant Mental Health, and has maintained a private practice in clinical and forensic psychology for thirty-five years.
For over 25 years, Jane has led support and information groups for families with babies and toddlers, and she brings that work to River East. Her approach is grounded in mindfulness and attentive to emotions, relationships, and the family as a whole. Above all, Jane delights in creating a space where parents and children can share in the joy of discovery together.
In her free time… she actually has no free time… but she does have a wonderful husband and a delightful adult daughter.
Jane is thrilled to bring her expertise, warmth, and guidance to the River East community and looks forward to meeting you and your family!
Report abuse