The co-op holds a special place in our hearts. Both of our kids attended this daycare until we moved to Bellevue. We moved from CA and didn't even tour the school and decided on the phone that this was a great fit for our family. Yes this is a co-op, but the parent hours required are minimal (up to 2hrs/wk) compared to other coops. It also gives you a chance to know other kids/families at the school. The staff really cares for the kids and plan really great lessons and even field trips! read more

My 1.5 year old started a few months ago and we absolutely love it so far. She had a difficult time adjusting (we had also just moved from out of state so lots of big changes) and the teachers were so patient with her and tailored the toys and activities to things she loved to help get her engaged. The co-op is also much less "corporate" than our previous daycare and I was encouraged to spend time hanging out with my daughter at the center to get her comfortable. Now she often doesn't want to leave when I come to pick her up! The teachers are all amazing at working with toddlers and it's been helpful for me with my own parenting to observe how they deal with various problems, get the kids engaged, etc. during my parent volunteer hours. The co-op aspect is also great for meeting other families! read more

This daycare/school is a very special place. As a working parent I was anxious about what daycare would be like for my one-year old, and four years later I feel like we are saying goodbye to family as we move on to kindergarten. The teachers, administration, school culture and community are supportive, positive, respectful, joyful, and compassionate. Our daughter thrived here from day one and she has developed wonderful friendships along the way. For that matter, so have we as parents! I don't know of another full-day preschool in Seattle that has a cooperative model. There are MANY options for partial day co-op preschool. But if you work full time and want to be part of a co-op, Children's Cooperative Center provides a unique sweet spot combining all-day care with parent involvement. You have a time slot when you work in the classroom--about 2 hours/week. I 'm not sure if it is because of the parent hours or because co-op parents value community but there is also a good amount of informal socializing and camaraderie among families which enhances the experience. The youngest age they take is one year and you can do individual days of the week (M/W/F for example) but not half days. They are open through the summer and school breaks except for the end of December. read more

My daughter has been attending the Cooperative Children's Center for over a year now and we couldn't be happier. As an educator myself, I am so pleased with the amazing staff of teachers who are warm, patient, genuine, and use an anti-bias approach. My husband and I love the small student to teacher ratios, love that our daughter can attend part-time, love that families are involved with the learning of their children, love that the children are taught empathy at an early age, and love that they provide organic milk and healthy, varied snacks (and organic when available). Five other big things I'll share about the Coop that are worth hearing about: 1. We use cloth diapers on our daughter and they happily allow children to use them while at the coop too. When I was researching places to apply too, many didn't accept use of cloth diapers. 2. When my daughter went through the dreaded "hitting phase" her teachers where so attentive and right on with how to react. I learned a lot from them, and they calmed my fears and nerves during this annoying and frustrating period. I learned how to focus the attention on the victim and make the aggressor "check-in" on the friend they hurt. They also helped brainstorm why and what triggered the hitting, and we soon found our way out of the phase together, whew! 3. There are just as many male teachers and female teachers! If we could only keep this trend going into grade school and middle school! 4. Students are taught to become independent and try to attempt things on their own when safe and appropriate. 5. And lastly, I appreciate that the Coop is constantly trying to make a more safe and eco-friendly environment for our children. They recently purchased child sized stainless steel utensils for all Coop classrooms and have replaced many plastic cups with stainless steel ones. The students are taught in the youngest class, the Sun Room, to clear their dishes, put them in the dish tub, and to compost all of their food scraps. Brilliant! We've been following that model at home, and we all love the self-confidence our daughter is building by doing real life jobs on her own...the best way to learn. read more

I'm a teacher here. This center is unique and encourages parental involvement. The more parents are intensely involved, the better the feedback I receive and it is also better for the parents' strength. We closely follow what happens with the children's education. This is the only preschool of its kind, that I feel I enjoy the most in the past 13 years of my teaching experiences in Seattle. read more

Our son (age 2 1/2) has been at the coop for the past three months, and we feel SO lucky that he's there. We started daycare at another very good place with low child to teacher ratios back when we was 7 months old, and that seemed good at the time -- but after the switch, we realized how much better this place was for him and for us. First, as the other reviews mention, the teachers are fantastic. They are incredibly patient (critical for this age group) and they work hard to teach the children to "use their words", to respect each other, and generally to be good citizens in the classroom, using a positive discipline approach. Second, the parent involvement in the classroom is wonderful. I know a lot more about what things are like in the classroom at this school, I know the teachers better, and I know all the children (and they know me). I'm also getting to know most of the parents after having been there for only three months. It really feels like a community, and while the parent hours seemed a bit of a hassle when we first signed on, I wouldn't change that now for anything. Lastly, our son loves this school. For the first time ever, we have to drag him away from school at the end of the day. We are often greeted with, "But... I want to stay for group time!" when we pick him up, which makes me feel confident that he's having a good experience when we aren't there with him. I could go on and on... one other fairly unique positive aspect of the coop is the fact that there are several male teachers in the school. Our son has two guys and one lady teacher - all of whom he loves - and the guys provide a different sort of relationship and different role models for a little boy, which is fantastic. The digs are not fancy (housed in a church basement), but they have great teaching tools (rotating art projects, sensory table activities, etc.) and the quality of care provided is extremely high. Our family highly recommends the coop! read more

This preschool/daycare is the best in Seattle. It's the only one of it's kind. Our child has attended this co-op for 2 years already and loves it. Whenever he's not there, he's asking to go back. The teachers really love the children and stay within the coop family for years. The parents are really involved and we feel like we belong to a community. Children don't just learn academics and play here, they learn to respect other people and to embrace their individuality. And since everyone else does it, I will remark on the quality of the field trips- probably the best in the city. read more

Our children have been attending this daycare/preschool since they were each 15 months old. Our girls have thrived in this loving and supportive environment. The feeling of community is overwhelming and a wonderful addition to our lives. Communication is clear and open with the teachers and management. I can't say enough good things about this play-based childcare. They are like family. Plus the brand new space is awesome! So much outdoor space!!! read more

I have been surprised by how much energy care and thought the teachers have brought to their work. They treat children with real empathy and patiently teach them how to do the same. read more

We have called the co-op home for almost four years. Both of our sons have thrived under the loving, patient and nurturing approach taken in each classroom. The teachers at the co-op are my partners in parenting and have guided me through potty training, nap resisting, potty words and difficult conversations. I recommend the co-op whole heartedly and have made lifelong friends here. read more

Our family has been a part of the Co-op for the past five years, with our oldest child attending from 2006 to 2008, and our youngest from 2008 to present. We came to the Co-op looking for childcare and a good preschool program, but what it's given to us turned out to be so much more. Not only have we had wonderful childcare - a home away from home for our kids, with amazingly patient, kind and loving teachers, where they have grown and gained so much - but we became a part of a great community that works together to support the Co-op and each other, made friends for life in the other families and teachers, and learned more about parenting than we ever expected. When my oldest daughter graduated from the Co-op, I wrote a letter to her teachers. The following is an excerpt from that letter: "As we arrive at J's last day in the Moon/Comet Room, I find myself feeling incredibly sentimental about her time at the Co-op and her time with all of you. Who knew when we set out on our mission to find a preschool program, back in 2006, that we would find such a wonderful and unique place, with such terrific staff. A place that would grow to feel so special to us and to her. When J started at the Co-op, just a month after turning 3, she had never been in daycare. During the week she had always been at home with one of us, grandparents, or a family friend. We were excited to have her start preschool -- and we felt she was ready for that setting and to be with other kids on a regular basis -- but it was still a little bit of a leap for us! She very quickly grew to love the Moon/Comet room, and although shy when first arriving (and really that can still be true today!), was always excited when it was a "preschool day". And, we quickly grew to feel very comfortable having her at the Co-op. We always knew she was safe, loved and well cared for. We knew she was having fun, growing and learning, and spending her days with great teachers and kids in a place that soon felt like a home away from home for her. Now, two years later, each of you has made a big impact on J. You have been wonderful friends, teachers and caregivers to her. You have taught her so much. She has grown so much. She has learned about space, insects, giant squids, the calendar, places around the world, and much, much more (I'm often surprised at the facts she comes up with... "oh, I learned that at school'!). She has learned how to thrive in a classroom setting and to get along with other kids -- to use her words, ask for minutes, and that you can't say "you can't play". She's gone from playing next to other kids, to playing with other kids, to making good friends. She's gone on fabulous field trips to the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the pumpkin patch, the zoo, the children's film festival, the museum of flight, the fire station, the beach and wading pool. She has loved taking the bus with her class. She has played her heart out at Gorilla and Cowen Park, chanted "E-17, E-17" with her classmates, and loved hearing stories at the library. She has done messy, messy art projects that we never would have done at home! She has learned the Star Wars theme, despite never having seen the movie. She has been read hundreds of books. She was at the Co-op the day E born and celebrated becoming a big sister with a Popsicle party with all of you. She was given opportunities to learn and experience new things every day, while still being allowed to be a kid and play to her hearts content. The Moon/Comet Room has been a big part of her world these past two years, and although she will not always remember everything from this time, I believe the nurturing and experiences she had with all of you will forever have an impact on her. We just want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you've done for J over these past two years. For you incredible patience and kindness, for your creativity, for the environment you create in the classroom, and for your love and dedication to her and to all the kids -- thank you all so very much!" Over the past few years since I wrote this letter, J has been thriving in elementary school, and her younger sibling has now been through all the rooms of the Co-op and is in her final year. E too has gained so much from this program, loves her teachers and friends, and doesn't want to go home at the end of the day. It will be a bittersweet day for all of us when it is time for her to start Kindergarten. There are many more important aspects to the Co-op, including core values such as positive guidance, emergent curriculum, anti-bias, and parent involvement. Other reviews have spoken to these and there is lots of information at the Co-op website (www.coopchild.org). Please check them out to learn more. We highly recommend this program! read more

An extraordinary learning community. My daughter attended the Co-op for three years. Her teachers were almost all amazing: empathic, nurturing, creative, energetic, and wise. The kids play outside all the time, they do interesting things inside, and they go on field trips. The teachers and administrators work with kids to create a functional community. Kids aren't forced into a mold, they aren't forgotten, and they learn how to be kind and sharing. The presence of parents in the classroom at almost all times means that your child will get the attention they need. It also helps create a community which can last for years after your school experience is over. If I was forced to find a complaint, it would be that the administration was sometimes a little slow about returning calls and paperwork. I can't think of any negatives about the quality of childcare. read more

I can't say enough good things about the "co-op" as it's called. With an experienced and educated staff that is committed to quality child care, it is heads and shoulders above most places out there. The ratios are very low (much lower than state requirements) so kids get lots of love and attention. The staff are almost all college educated and it shows. Because it is a non-profit, children are the first priority. read more

The Coop is such a wonderful place. It took us a while to warm up to it (mostly because it was our son's first daycare experience) but now that we have I cannot say enough good things about it. We chose the Coop after touring about 15 daycare centers in the Seattle area. Our son has been there for a year and I cannot imagine a better place. He loves it and never wants to leave at the end of the day. The kids are treated with love and respect. The teachers are great at encouraging independence as well as teamwork among the children. The community of parents is also worth mentioning because it is fantastic as well. read more

When I had to find a new child care for our (then) 2 yr old son, I toured at least 10 different day cares in Seattle, and the Cooperative Children's Center was the best I saw. We've now been there for 2/1/2 years, and my 1 yr daughter also attends 3 days/week. There are several things I love about the Co-op. 1. Outstanding child:teacher ratios: in the 1-2 year old classroom the ratio is 8 children to 3 teachers. That's better than most centers have in the infant room. There is also great continuity of care here, no floaters covering rooms for a few hours at a time - these teachers are with the kids all day so you get an accurate report of how the day went and the kids can feel comfortable and bond with their teacher. 2. The teachers are people I like; they are mostly college educated, mature, interesting people. They seem to really love their jobs, and love to help kids develop their abilities to think and understand their emotions and behavior. There are several male teachers, which is difficult to find, but very nice for a little boy to have a positive role model. There is a great feeling of community among the teachers, which helps attract and retain this excellent group. Since my kids are spending the day with their teachers, it's important to me that they are with people I can admire. 3. There is a lot of space for the kids to run around. The facilities may be on the older side, but there is a large indoor gym with a climbing wall, the classrooms have several play spaces, there is a outside playground and several parks within stroller/walking distance. Compare this to some of the newer, more swanky childcare centers I toured (for example a very expensive brand new facility at U. Village) which had no indoor play space, crowded classrooms, and a rather boring grass-less play area on the roof. 4. The anti-bias approach helps children learn to question and judge for themselves. The staff is also quite eco-friendly, teaching the kids to recycle etc. 5. There is a nice community of parents who are interested and involved in their children's lives and the quality of care they receive. Some parent time commitment is involved, but this can be very flexible. In short, we've been extremely happy with the care our children are receiving, and would recommend the co-op very highly. read more