I'm sorry to read the unfavorable reviews of LRC. Our experience has been very positive. My…read moredaughter has been in the after-school program for five years. My son began at LRC as an infant and continued on through preschool. He is now in kindergarten, and attends the after-school program as well. LRC is owner-run, and that owner has been at LRC for many years. Her staff is warm, engaged, creative and patient. There is admittedly turnover, but when that does happen, they manage to maintain consistency for the children and find new staff that fit the strong mold described above. LRC is very thoughtful about its program, keeping it fresh, interesting and age appropriate. They bring in outside educators as well, including movement and dance, music, librarians and, for the older children, "Mad Science." There are themed parties, a cute preschool graduation, and more. It's a happy, vibrant community I feel lucky to have been a part of.

We have had both of our children at Little Red Caboose since they were 11 weeks old. Our oldest…read morewill soon be starting kindergarten and going to the clubhouse for after school. We have been very pleased with our experience there and would recommend LRC to anyone. When we had our second child we didn't even consider looking for a different daycare given how well it has been for our first. The teachers have genuinely cared for our kids. They hire high quality teachers who are focused on each child's development. The staff has been adaptable to the different situations and needs of our kids as they arose. We also value they have never hesitated in sharing their perspective with us about our kids when they thought it was needed or would help. Probably the best indicator is the opinions our kids have of the teachers. If you ask our kids about their teachers you'd find a big smile and genuine excitement.

My family has had a wonderful experience at Roots N Shoots! The thought, knowledge and dedication…read moreLynn has for this school is immediately apparent when walking in the door. Everything is very well thought out and executed from the beautiful physical space she has set up inside and outside her home, the art projects the kids do, the monthly learning themes (ocean, farm, weather, etc), the guest teachers she brings in (art, yoga, etc) and the field trips they go on. One of my favorite things about Roots N Shoots is the emphasis on outdoor play and connecting with our regional natural world. The hours are also great (9-3) - really allows me to get things done and for my son to be fully immersed in the day. Plus we have met really fantastic families through Roots N Shoots. Some of our closet friends in Maine! We couldn't be happier with our son's experience.

Choosing a first school experience for your first child is a tall order. We were looking for a…read moresmall group setting with an outdoor/play focus in a comfortable, caring, nurturing, environment - something I wasn't even sure existed until we found Lynn Rutter and Roots n Shoots. We couldn't have been more pleased from the minute we walked in the door, and from our first experience with Lynn. Clearly dedicated to the early childhood experience of play and exploration as the path to authentic learning, Lynn's connection to children and her ability to create a beautiful, welcoming, engaging environment for them is beyond compare. Playing and learning in the woods, backyards and gardens; exploring the neighborhood; creating art; doing yoga; putting on performances - the kids at Roots n Shoots have the luckiest, most appropriate preschool experience I can imagine. Not only our child, but we ourselves, have made lifelong friends in the other Roots n Shoots families. I'm so happy that this is our daughter's (and hopefully, in a couple years, our son's) first experience with how wonderful school can be.

Very positive experience and outcome! IndieDriver strongly encourages initiative by the student…read moreand helps build confidence and skill.

Our family has had a fantastic experience with For Kids Only in Saco! Jerice has been helping…read morechildren learn and grow for over 40 years, and it shows in the warm, nurturing environment she and her wonderful staff have created. Mallory and Kylie are amazing, and our son is excited to go every day. He has learned so many valuable life skills, enjoys healthy meals, and takes part in engaging activities that make learning fun. We are so grateful for the care and attention he's received. I would highly recommend For Kids Only to any family looking for a caring, high-quality preschool!

Our time at FKO has been nothing short of amazing! Our daughter has truly flourished there and has…read morebeen so well prepared for public pre-K. Each week has a new theme and thoughtfully planned curriculum, with learning, sensory activities, art, and music all centered around that theme. FKO also frequently brings in visitors to provide unique enrichment experiences, which were always a highlight for our daughter. Jerice, the owner, does an incredible job creating a true sense of community among the families. As a family new to Saco, FKO was such a wonderful way for us to make connections and feel at home in our new hometown. Our daughter started at FKO as a toddler and is leaving as a confident, capable, and responsible little girl. She has had so many wonderful experiences and opportunities during her time there, and we are incredibly grateful for all that FKO has given her. The teachers are absolutely amazing and care so deeply for the children. Knowing that our daughter was in such loving and capable hands each day made heading off to work so much easier. We always felt confident that she was safe, cared for, and having fun while she was there. I truly can't say enough wonderful things about FKO. We love them and will always be so grateful for the role they played in our daughter's early years!

This is the third ONLC class I have taken. The previous two were in Nashua, NH and Bedford, NH…read more This location is by far the best, and not because I am partial to Portland. The other two offices were dark rooms where I felt closed in and one was so noisy that I had to leave and take the 2nd class elsewhere. These remote learning classes are in offices that generally are many businesses who have one front desk person. There could be a lawyer and chiropractor in the offices next to you. You will learn by calling in to a phone bridge as well as following along on an instructor screen. You also have a booklet and your own screen so you get all 3 learning types covered. The bonus of this spot... Being in the heart of Portland. There are many options of places to eat and get coffee that accommodate food allergies. Plus, on your lunch break you can walk down to the water and back! There is a place to get a foot soak and massage, an amazing local bookstore and so much more right here!! There is a cash only parking garage attached to the Time and Temp building that is ooooold and totally sketchy looking but it's safe. The whole city is safe really when I think about it.

My 19 month old loves kindermusik. The cost includes a great double cd with tons of songs. The…read morevariety of songs offer such a nice introduction into different musical styles. At first i thought he wasn't getting much from the class because he did more watching then participating but now that he's gone for about a month I'm seeing so many positive aspects of the class come out in his playing. This is also a great introduction to skills he will need for school. Other music classes we have tried were so chaotic. This has a nice pace for this age group.

Great place with friendly instructors. We had a "dance party" for visiting grandchildren (ages…read more9-4). The children received an hour of hip-hop dance instruction in the studio, and we had a family party with children and parents in another room afterwards. A super event for our out of town visitors who needed a day away from the beach. A very professional studio; an interesting reuse of old mill space. Highly recommended.