About us
Welcome to Wallaby, Los Angeles’ one-of-a-kind resource for young children and the families who love them! At our stylish and convenient eastside location on Hyperion Avenue, we’ve created a unique continuum of high-quality services that are specially designed to meet the needs of families in Los Feliz, Silverlake, Hollywood, Atwater Village, Glendale, Eagle Rock and beyond from birth to preschool.
Like our marsupial mascot, we at Wallaby believe in keeping children close to a parent or trusted caregiver until they’re ready to venture out into the world, and we know that parents can sometimes use a nurturing place of their own. We invite you to explore our website to learn more about what our “family development center” has to offer your family. If you need more information, just call or email us.
Our developmentally-appropriate and play-based Parent & Me Classes (what some folks might call mommy and me or toddler classes) for children aged 10 months to 3+ years are the cornerstone of our center, giving little ones the chance to observe and participate in an exciting array of activities while in the presence of a beloved adult, and providing parents and caregivers with a much-needed opportunity to hang out with other grownups.
Our New Parent Support Groups give parents the opportunity to meet regularly in a professionally-facilitated peer-led forum where they can learn from each other and get the extra nurturing they need during their child’s first year. As their children grow, our Parent Education Workshops help parents be their best by providing them with reliable information about a wide variety of topics from local child development experts.
Even though your schedule is more hectic than ever, our innovative Parent Hobby Program gives you a chance to indulge that latent talent. Engage in some creative and educational activities with other adults, and feel free to bring the kids along – they’ll have fun in our fabulous playroom while you enjoy stuff like our Group Guitar Lessons, Knitting Class and Voice Lessons.
Our Creative Kids classes – including creative movement, costume theatre storytelling, yoga and kindermusik - let babies, toddlers and preschoolers indulge their wildest imaginations in a fun and age-appropriate way with the guidance of experienced and local teachers and artists.
Finally, our one-of-a-kind children’s Birthday Parties help families celebrate each miraculous year of their young child’s life.
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The Wallaby staff
Ericka Tullis, MPP, Owner-Director
Besides being a mother to daughters Vivian (age 7) and Sabine (age 3), Wallaby’s owner-director has worked as an early childhood researcher and policy analyst at the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago, the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities, and the Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Development at California State University Channel Islands. She is also a former preschool teacher, and has a master‘s degree in child and family policy from the University of Chicago. Ericka shares her Los Feliz home with her husband Paul and their two daughters, along with Honey (woof!), Gus and Oscar (meow!), and Swimmy (blub blub!).
Alana Gentry, Parent & Me Teacher
As a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor, singer-songwriter, dancer and certified massage therapist, music and movement is something Alana loves to share with kids. Teaching and caring for children comes naturally to her, and for the past four years she has devoted her time to working as a caregiver for three different families. She has been writing, recording and performing music since 1996, and recently finished writing a children’s book series, including original songs for 1-3 year olds, under the name Alana Banana. Alana was born and raised in Los Angeles, and is thankful for all of the amazing parents and children in her life who continuously teach and help prepare her to have her own family someday.
Alicia Rhodes, Parent & Me Teacher
Inspired by the Tennyson quote, “Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers,” Alicia has spent nearly a decade working as a nanny. As a caretaker, the Alaska native seeks to pass on her own lively curiosity and love of learning. Alicia also works at the New Mart in the heart of the Los Angeles Fashion District, and volunteers for cat and dog rescue groups.
Annie Dubrinsky, Parent & Me and Voice Teacher
Annie graduated from University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Music History, where she received the Robertson Award for Outstanding Performance in Music. She is a singer-songwriter and piano player who performs under the name Annie Stela. She was signed to Capitol Records from 2003-2007 where she recorded her first album, Fool, available on iTunes. Annie teaches private piano and voice lessons for kids and adults, as well as group voice lessons at Wallaby, and is a certified Music Together teacher. She has also spent several years as a nanny to two very special families here in LA. Wallaby is the perfect place for Annie to combine her two greatest loves: music and children!
Cassie Parigian, Parent & Me Teacher
Cassie is a native Angeleno who has most recently worked with young children in her capacity as a nanny for several local families. She worked in the fashion industry for 7 years, is a commercial actress and active Bikram yoga practitioner, and used to be a competitive snowboarder. Cassie brings her abundant joy, humor, patience, energy and love of kids with her to work at Wallaby.
David Brownstein, Groovy David's Boogie Time Teacher
David Brownstein (a.k.a. Groovy David) has been entertaining children in Southern California for over 10 years. He is Los Angeles Magazine’s Best Kids’ DJ, and his live music and puppet show called The Groovy David Show is being performed all over town, including at the Americana and the Grove. Go to www.groovydavid.com to learn more.
Deborah Lederer, Parent & Me Teacher
Deborah hails from Tucson, Arizona, where she worked for many years at The Gaslight Theatre as an actress, singer and dancer. She has been a certified Hatha Yoga teacher since 2004, received additional certification in 2006 as a children’s yoga instructor, and is a certified White Belt Nia instructor (dance). In addition to her love of sharing yoga with kids, Deborah has enjoyed caring for children as a nanny, has been an acting, vocal, and movement coach to children, was a volunteer literacy advocate for Bookpals, Inc., and toured children’s schools while at North Carolina State University with Happ’nin’ Tales Children’s Theatre and with The National Opera Company. Deborah is proud to be a part of the Wallaby family, and enjoys teaching in such a wonderful, playful and caring environment.
Evelyne Tollman, Costume Theatre Storytelling Teacher
Evelyne has been teaching throughout Los Angeles for over 15 years, and was the Artist-in-Residence for the City of Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach. She attended LACC Theatre Academy, has studied movement therapy and psychology, has performed in many plays and independent films. Evelyne has worked with children with autism and other special needs, and her enrichment programs are taught in schools throughout Los Angeles. She has a great love of children, and as a mother has been moved to create special experiences for them.
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To ensure your children’s safety, in-depth criminal background checks have been completed for all Parent & Me teachers. These staff are also are Red Cross-certified in pediatric CPR and first aid, and have received training by the Center for Nonviolent Education and Parenting/Echo Center.
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Jessica Jennings, MS, Kids' Yoga Teacher
Jessica is a Certified Anusara Yoga Instructor who has been teaching yoga in schools, studios, homes and hospitals since 2000. She is so grateful to her teacher John Friend for giving her the tools to help herself and her students align themselves to get out of pain and discover more strength, freedom and joy. She is the founder of MA YOGA for Pregnancy, Motherhood & Beyond, an ever-changing, ever-growing community of prenatal, postnatal and kids yoga teachers and students. Jessica loves bringing yoga to kids as they usually end up being HER teachers, and her classes have been loved at preschools and other locations throughout LA.
Laura Ferrari, Circus Class Teacher
Laura attended the Clown Conservatory at the San Francisco Circus Center from 2008-2010, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz, where she began her work in clown and physical theater. In addition to founding Laura’s Little Top, Laura studies and performs clown, improv and sketch comedy in LA. Laura has taught clown and circus arts to children and teens at the Country School, the San Francisco Circus Center, the Edgewood Center for Children and Families, and privately. She has worked as a hospital clown at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, CA.
Marc Smollin, Knitting & Crocheting Teacher
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Marc has been knitting for over 13 years. For the past five years, Marc has taught knitting and crocheting classes at The Little Knittery in Atwater Village. Alongside the owner of the Knittery, Marc has performed world-wide in their two-person rock band, The Pity Party.
Patti James, Kindermusik Teacher
Patti James is a Licensed Kindermusik Educator and Suzuki Violin and Viola Teacher with over 15 years of experience teaching music to children of all ages. After graduating from Bard College with a BA in Music and German, she attended Smith College as a Teaching Fellow and completed coursework for a MA in Musicology. She has performed on both violin and viola in New York, Arizona, and Los Angeles, and appears in Music Videos and Film. She had the joy of sharing Kindermusik with her daughter, who is now an accomplished Level 8 gymnast and aspiring Broadway star. They still enjoy daily bonding by singing an ever-increasing repertoire of Broadway hits.
Shlomit Yelin-Arber, MFTI, Support Group Facilitator
Shlomit is a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern currently working under the supervision of Michele Ross, LCSW. With a BA in Psychology with an emphasis on early childhood development, and a Master’s degree in MFT, Shlomit started her career counseling children and adolescents. In a private practice setting in Larchmont Village, Shlomit also provides psychotherapy to adults working through diverse issues such as relationship difficulties, parenting, self-esteem, depression, and more. As a mother of two, Shlomit understands the challenges of parenting and family dynamics, and is excited about facilitating Wallaby’s support group for moms.
Sundra Oakley, Baby Sign Language Teacher
Sundra is a native New Yorker who graduated from New York University with a degree in theatre and has called Los Angeles home since 2004. An actress, dancer, martial artist, novice skier and surfer, hopeful future snowboarder, and mother of two wonderful and active boys, she fell in love with the beauty and expressiveness of sign language after being introduced to it in high school. Sundra has taught Signing Time and ASL classes and workshops throughout Los Angeles, and in Jamaica where she is currently in talks with the Ministry of Education to implement Signing Time and ASL into the country’s early childhood curriculum.
Vicki Hill, Guitar Teacher
Vicki has been teaching guitar at the world famous McCabe’s Guitar shop in Santa Monica for 13 years. She performs her original songs with her band, Hill and House, singing lead and harmony, and playing guitar and banjo.