Our child is mid-way through their second year at Pixie Hill and we're SO thankful for the impact…read morethe safe learning/exploring environment the school offers. The teachers really care, the curriculum is diverse and insightful, and the community we've experienced as a result is one that will last. Our kiddo has really grown and I cannot recommend this school enough. OHH, and the t-ball team is dominant. :)

I had high hopes for Pixie Hill Preschool. Their mission statement sounded great: "all children are…read morehonored for their unique gifts and are supported in developing at their own pace. Pixie Hill offers a joyous learning environment that emphasizes social and academic growth through developmentally appropriate play." My daughter, however, was tolerated for exactly 4 hours before it became clear she was not welcome there. She is 3, she is speech delayed and struggles with transitions and new environments, but she is sweet and friendly and communicative. I genuinely didn't think she would present a unique or insurmountably difficult problem for a facility claiming to "bridge the warmth of home and the excitement of the outside world" for 3-5 year olds. The first day was rough, I was called to pick up an hour into the 4 hour session, but, to be fair, it was my first time leaving her like that ever. On our next scheduled day, she made it 3 out of 4 hours and I was called again. I was optimistic about the improvement between day one and two, but Pixie Hill was not. I was told, point blank, that the only reason she's made it 3 hours was because they had randomly had one extra person on staff that specific day but wouldn't going forward (but, like, why?). Before the third day with Pixie Hill even started, I was told my daughter wouldn't be able to continue without a dedicated educational aide which she'd need to qualify for through the school district, because they wouldn't deal with her otherwise. Coincidentally, I have a number of close family and friends who have worked in (local) preschools before-- I ran this situation by each of them and EVERYONE said the same thing, "how are they possibly making such big judgments about a kid in a totally new environment based on such little time?" To clarify: my daughter is not aggressive or physically violent, she isn't destructive or anti-social or seriously handicapped in any way-- she just needs extra time to become comfortable in a new place and around new people. Yes, she is stubborn and requires extra coaxing to participate in certain activities, but again, nothing I believe to be unusual or inappropriate in a 3 year old. They were nice about it and gave me information for other facilities and resources. Then when I swung by to pick up her spare clothes, they handed me a letter which detailed the reasons why she was no longer able to continue with them, listed here: she didn't transition well with the class, didn't want to eat lunch with the group, and didn't wash her hands on request. The speed with which this facility shrugged their shoulders, assigned a label, and decided she wasn't worth their time is what upsets me the most. There was no effort whatsoever made to try to accommodate or to try to help her adjust, they just went straight to "gtfo". Their mission statement is obviously "feel good" babble they are not prepared to back up at all. All this being said, the facility is nice and conveniently located, super reasonably priced-- only problem is that if your kid isn't a pre-groomed, completely compliant and obedient TODDLER, you're S.o.L. cause they will tell you very quickly that they don't have the bandwidth for any kind of accomodations (that you haven't provided for them). I understand that this preschool has recently undergone a leadership change and a large structural change recently. I didn't realize that the stellar reviews on here are now all 5+ years old, so I figured I should post an honest update!

Great preschool, two of my kids went through it. It's a great way to meet other parents from the…read morearea. Teachers amazing!

I love love love Tahoma Co op Preschool. I had been home with my boys for several years before I…read moreheard about the place, and had never before considered taking them to preschool. I loved being home with them and didn't think I needed preschool. Co op allowed me to maintain some control (parents volunteer their time in class) and learn much more than I thought possible from my peers and from the teachers. It was a real eye opener for me. My son ended up at TCP for his last two years before kindergarten. It was a rich and rewarding experience that I recommend to anyone who has the flexibility to do it. It's affordable, fun, and a great way to fill in the at-home parenting experience.

NannyBoo's is the perfect "in-between" home and kindergarten environment. It's not at all like the…read moreinstitution-feel of a larger school or day care. Toddlers even get the opportunity to care for a garden; they can dig, water, weed and eat as they please. In fact, my 2 year-old considers herself a gardening pro after just a couple of months under teachers Boo and Eric. Only about 30+ families total are enrolled and their photos grace the walls. In fact, many of the comforts you'd expect when dropping kids off with family are present here: you can never be late, every child is seen, valued and respected, snuggles are always welcome and students are taught to be a good friend to others. It's no surprise the owners have adopted three out of four of their daughters; they know what it takes to turn strangers into a family. If you live nearby, these guys are worth contacting for a tour.

My oldest is a graduate here and my youngest is currently attending. I've seen them grow so much…read moresocially and emotionally here and it's all because of the fantastic program taught by Teacher Boo and Teacher Eric. They learning everything from singing, dancing, building, and playing. Most importantly they learn how to be good friends. I couldn't be happier sending both my kids here.

I echo other people's comments about high frequency of sickness, which is especially problematic in…read more2020. Otherwise, great daycare

Since the writing of the prior review, we moved our daughter to another daycare closer to our home…read more At Country Village, our daughter would get sick all the time. She would get really sick for a week, go back to school for two weeks and then would get sick again for another week. At the time, I thought this was normal. Now, while I know kids get sick at school, she has not gotten sick at the new school. The teachers at her current school are constantly cleaning and having the kids wash their hands all the time. We really liked Country Village while we were there. The teachers were great. However, now that we've had a chance to compare with another school, I just wish Country Village would have put more of an emphasis on cleanliness. It would have saved many sleepless nights and visits to the pediatrician.

Our daughters attended school here and we had an amazing experience.We would highly recommend this…read moreschool to anyone in the seattle area looking for a caring nurturing environment.

I have two sons who both attended MLM for two years each. Before MLM both our sons attended other…read morewell-regarded pre-school programs elsewhere. However nothing before or since compares to MLM. The teachers there were and are dedicated, intelligent, creative and experienced in the Montessori method. Particular stand-outs during our tenure there were Connie and Reshonna, both of whom are long-time MLM teachers who are wise, loving, and great fun. The current director (Amy) came on board in my younger son's final year and she was an excellent addition to the team. They each knew my kids well and gave them lots of individual attention and communicated well with us about both the successes and challenges our kids were having. The community was excellent and a commitment to diversity and collaboration in our children's education was prized. The school is overseen by a parent run board and during our years with MLM (and before and after as we lived in the neighborhood, we have known many MLM families) I was always impressed by the dedication and hard work of the parents who contribute to the school. MLM was not cheap but it was worth it. The lessons our children learned there serve them to this day (as do the lessons we, as parents learned). Both my spouse and I served on the MLM parent board and on several committees over the years so I can speak from the "inside" as well as the "outside" viewpoint. MLM is a unique and wonderful place and we'll be forever grateful for the time our kids spent there. It's been a year and a half since our youngest son graduated and have since moved away but we treasure the memories of the MLM experience and recommend it highly for those parents who want their children to enter into the school experience in the Montessori method which, while perhaps not the best fit for every child was certainly an excellent choice for us.

My daughter has been attending school here and is thriving. I have constantly been impressed by the…read morework she brings home, the wide range of topics they cover each week on top of her improving vocabulary. The teachers are kind, but also discipline when necessary and keep the class in order. I was looking for an environment with structure and somewhere to begin a solid foundation for learning. I highly recommend this school.

I absolutely LOVE this Montessori school! When I was little I attended a Montessori and wanted my…read morekids to have that same experience. This school offers children love and kindness along with structure and practical teachings that will give them strength in real life. The school is not far from Maple Valley and Covington but is technically located on the Black Diamond/Kent border not far from Ristrettos! Not sure why there are not posts yet as it is maybe a best kept secret- teachers Carolyn and Nicole are amazing!!!

Sending our son to Seed of Life when he was 7 months old was the best decision we ever made. Fast…read moreforward to today--he is now 8 and thriving in the before/after school care through SOL. Over the years, the teachers have become like family to us. They are so thoughtful, engaged, and uniquely skilled at balancing learning with letting kids figure things out. We are especially grateful for how they see and support our son as an individual. Whether they are fueling his love for reading or gently guiding him through competitive frustrations, their impact has been profound. Seed of Life is a phenomenal community, and we feel incredibly lucky to be a part of it. Big shout-out to Erica & Tamisha for all that they do.

I have two children, one of whom I was planning on enrolling here. I live literally around the…read morecorner on Angeline and was excited to have a wonderful local early development center near by! I was on my way to work and developed a flat tire so the closest place to immediately turn into to avoid the insanity of Rainier was their parking lot. Upon me trying to quickly change my tire a woman with dark hair immediately started to yell at me for blocking potential parking for other parents even though there were plenty of spots. I explained I just needed 10 min to change it with a smile and she said she would call the cops if I did not leave immediately. We all have stressful mornings and this community has been nothing but completely supportive of me and my family. This is not the sort of energy I want around myself or my children. I will not be pursuing this place of business. To the woman with dark hair: please remember the power you have to offer someone some support when they are in a time of need and are only asking for something small. Something small that could have a wonderful impact on their day and their feeling about the community they live in, work in and support.

I'd never heard of co-op schools before moving to Seattle and having joined the Admiral Co-op…read moreCommunity, I can safely say, mind = blown. They're a fabulous and truly affordable preschool offering play-based curriculum, remarkable teachers, a supportive, dynamic, and diverse community, and excellent parent education. This place has become a life-saver and an eye-opener as to what Pre-K education can offer. My daughter absolutely loves school and I've learned so much and enjoyed being a part of this community from the very beginning. I highly recommend Admiral, (or any of the South Seattle College sponsored preschool sites) to all of my friends with toddlers and Pre-K kids! P.S. I'm often times envious of all the cool activities they set up for the kids each week. I want to paint with vegetables, dive into the latest sensory table, and play in the make-believe pet-store too!!!!!

Experiential learning, play based...don't we all learn by doing? And probably best of all, parent…read moreeducation and community. Your child learns without knowing it. You learn and are able to carry that learning into the rest of your life and family. Everyone benefits. You are supported by a parent educator who is there to help with parenting trials (the non stop ever changing trials of parenting). The teachers are very seasoned and deeply knowledgeable and thoughtful about what and how they are teaching and why. A safe place for your child to learn how to handle big emotions. Lots of practice building social emotional skills. It is not drop off, but you aren't there every day. You get to be in the classroom 1 day a week and have a rotating on-call day a few times per year. What you get from being there is a bigger understanding of who your child is and how they learn. By working together with other parents, and sometimes relying on each for help, you build community (and friendships). It's fun and the benefits, short and long term, and immeasurable.