My son attended preschool only for a short amount of time but I felt compelled to leave a review since our experience was so great. Liz always responded to all of my emails within one business day (Usually same day), and they use an app called Brightwheel that the staff use to communicate for all things school-related. I was so apprehensive since this was my first time sending my child off to spend some time without me, but everyone was so amazing and I loved all the updates on what my kid was up to throughout the day via the app. They made sure to send me extra pictures on his first day, which was so sweet. My son has a speech delay and he came home after 2 days singing the alphabet and counting to ten. It was amazing. Their prices were competitive and availability/flexibility was unmatched. Everyone was so kind and the kids have plenty of room to play outside while also being kept safe. read more

We have had our two boys at this daycare/preschool/pre-K for nearly 3 years. They have been great to work with over the years and I feel like the teachers and directors really care about the kids. Each age group has their own classroom and multiple teachers so the kids are with peers their own age. They are very engaging with many different activities throughout the day/week/month to keep the kids happy, busy, active and always learning or doing something new. They provide quality food with a lot of variety and a good, healthy balance. There is a nice outdoor play area (partially undercover) that also gets natural shade during the hottest part of the day. Recently they started using a cool app for faculty and parents only which allows them to provide updates throughout the day - everything from what the kids are doing to what they are eating and (opt-in if you want) photos of your kids! It's nice to feel connected during the day even though we're away from our kiddos while working. They have an iPad at pickup and drop-off where you can use a QR code on your phone to check your child in or out "hands-free" which is very helpful these days. They do everything by the book from class size ratios to sunscreen authorization forms, you name it, they adhere to state and local policies. Tuition usually goes up once annually but that is typical with rising costs of everything, living wage increases and food costs in WA state. I'm so glad we found this awesome preschool when we did. read more

Our daughter was in the preschool class for a few months. During that time both primary teachers left with no notice. I wrote to them expressing concerns that people were leaving so frequently and without notice. A meeting was set up with Liz and Jen. As soon as it started Jen told me how rude I was and how improper it was that I would even think their could be a problem with the ELC. I apologized. Discussed how in most companies it's a big red flag. Discussed how with the pandemic being what it is we didn't have any relationship to speak of and misunderstandings are bound to happen. My apology was not expected and Jen continued to be hostile and defensive. Liz just sat there. My wife called to confirm we're taking our daughter out of their ELC specifically because of how hostile and defensive Jen was. Liz's response was, "Sorry we weren't a better fit." It's one incident, but I wouldn't trust my child's well-being and emotional development when the leaders of the ELC showed such a lack of both themselves. Even if I was the rude person they insisted I was for daring to question the ELC, their response tells you a lot about them and how they run things. No need to be so hostile and defensive, especially in the face of an apology, unless you have something to be defensive about. read more

I feel like I made a fantastic choice in daycares when we chose to send our son to Way to Grow Early Learning Center, but more importantly my son loves his daycare! The teachers (shout out to Ms. Nikki) truly care about their well-being and development and tailor their approach to each child. My son's vocabulary has expanded exponentially since attending and I love to see all the time they get to spend outside (a 2-year-olds favorite place to be). The entire staff is very responsive to any questions or concerns that parents may have and they a point to ensure that my child's care is collaborative. I feel 100% comfortable sending my child to Way to Grow and they're pricing is very competitive. read more

My daughter has been going here since March of 2019. The teachers are wonderful, Liz and Jen are fantastic coordinators, and I feel like my daughter is getting quality care while she is there. They do not feed a bunch of processed food to the kids; they post weekly meal plans where most of it is fresh food made from scratch. They even have meal and nap updates on an app you receive throughout the day, and picture updates of your child as well. The building is highly secure and safety there is a top priority. This includes as far as post-Covid. Way to Grow and its staff are very diligent in ensuring that all of the kids are safe and healthy to a very high standard, which I appreciate so much. They also post the curriculum for each classroom and what the kids will be learning about. The beautiful thing about it is, I never have to look at what is posted; they do such a great job at keeping the kids engrossed in learning that when my daughter is picked up from school, she tells me (or sings to me) all about what she has learned. I have seen her whole demeanor and learning pace change after joining Way To Grow. They also helped me to get her potty trained, which they do for all the kids (thank you, Karrina!). I would recommend here to anyone looking for best quality care for their child. I am keeping my daughter here all the way up until she is ready for Kindergarten. This truly is a special place! read more

We have a loved way to Grow for roughly the last year. I toured many many preschools and childcare centers in the Mukilteo and Everett areas before finding this gem-where kids are allowed to be kids- but practice what school will require of them. We really appreciate their play-based approach to learning especially in the three-year-old classroom, The consistent but laid-back structure, and The same teachers month after month. Another thing that is less talked about when reviewing preschools, is the rare availability of part time spots and reasonable price. In my experience other childcare centers charged very close to a full-time price for a part time need. Here the price reflects we are actually part time. It's a clean but modest place, it doesn't tout weird impressive stats that I was not looking for for tiny kids, but the teachers are patient and kind, kids are kept safe, and the curriculum is varied and fun. Very grateful for our experience here so far. read more

I moved to Everett a couple of years ago and needed to find a daycare for my 2 year old son close to my home as I would be commuting to Seattle for work. I checked out several places and they all made me nervous. I saw signs for way to grow on the road and realized they were located only a mile from my house. I set up an appointment to look at the facility. Anna, the owner, made me feel completely at ease. The facility was clean , the staff are STAR certified and have had background checks and are friendly and seem to enjoy their work ( seems obvious but you would be surprised ) They provide breakfast, lunch and snacks, which I appreciate because it's so much easier if you are in a rush. They don't use canned food, only fresh or frozen. The kids get a good mix of learning time and play time. I know when I drop my son off that he is in good hands. He looks forward to going every time. I also really appreciate that they are so reasonably priced. read more

We absolutely love Way to Grow! The attention, care and love our daughter receives is unparalleled. The curriculum is fresh and fun - they really have a great approach to engaging the little ones in active hands on learning. We also really appreciate the integration of technology into communication with parents. We have a unique app on our phones that makes payment easy, communication instant, and we love getting photos of our little one thru out the day! If you are looking for quality childcare look no further! read more

We had begun seeing some red flags as to how Way to Grow operates under its directors (Liz and Jennifer) late last year especially when we read a Yelp review of how hostile they can be when parents have questions. We began to experience this exact behavior from them when we had been provided documents on Covid protocols, however, their response to Covid scenarios did not match up to the written guidelines provided. We asked questions to better understand the inconsistencies, however, they did not take it well and responded with friction. They used to greet us every morning and afternoon during drop off/pick ups but since then were ignored and not acknowledged. Covid is a sensitive matter, and they were quick to turn children away if they felt like they could be sick. This happened to us numerous times, including when he didn't have a fever but felt warm. We would pick him up, get him Covid tested and at times kept him home longer to play it safe. We understand the need to be precautious, however, it was shocking how many times we would walk in to pick him up and he was surrounded with staff (including the directors) with no masks and all in close proximity to each other! We were so in shock that they would behave this way and put our child in an unsafe situation. It's not surprising the amount of Covid cases they have experienced within their staff and children coming in close contact because of that, including our child. After daycare was not available to us for the majority of this month, we had requested for some sort of refund to offset the added costs we have incurred from literally last minute babysitting; many times they would send closure notifications late at night or right before they opened. As expected, we were received in the same manner as that mentioned in Brett's yelp review. Jennifer was quick to let us know that if we're not happy to go find daycare elsewhere. When I questioned if that was the type of customer service the owner would want to provide, she called it a threat and literally told us to pick up our child's belongings as we were no longer wanted. We asked if we could talk in person with the owner to work things out in a professional manner and they were firm on not wanting to work with us and closed the door. If you choose this daycare, know that you'll have to be ok with turning the other way when you see red flags or question something. That or be ready to find another place the moment you decide to communicate a question to the directors Liz and Jennifer... read more

Don't do it. Bad care. Horrible owner. Ratios not maintained, child safety not insured. It's "affordable" for a reason.

Way To Grow is amazing!! My son loves it here. I know when I drop him off every morning that he is in great hands. It is obvious to anyone that walks through the door that Ana and the staff care for each and every kiddo there. My son loves his teacher and I can't imagine taking him anywhere else. Clean, well educated staff, organized and lots of fun! read more

I am a first time mom and began looking for a daycare when my son was 15 months. He is now 3.5 and is still at this location. I am pleased with the care he receives and feel very comfortable leaving him at Way to Grow. It took me a long time to transition to feeling ok with the idea of daycare at all so that is saying a lot. I have good communication with the teachers and feel comfortable bringing up any concerns (turn over, issues with my sons asthma etc.) and any concerns I have had have been addressed. One of my favorite qualities about Way to Grow is their menu. It is diverse and healthy. Not the typical mac and cheese, tuna casserole, canned food that I found at nearly EVERY other place I looked at. He is offered quinoa, falafel, lentils, veggies and real fruit (not just juice). I feel for a daycare it is clean and well maintained. I notice hand washing often. I see them rotate and sanitize toys. I see issues with the spread of infection or germs met with urgency to ensure the least amount of kids are infected. They have time outdoors EVERY day. They offer stimulating small and gross motor activities and sensory stimulation. There was a time I was considering adjusting schedules so my son would always be cared for at home. After our experience with Way to Grow, we feel he greatly benefits from going here and would miss out on a lot if he wasn't in their program. read more