My grandson has attended Caritas Alegres from the day it opened and we couldn't be happier with the…read morecare Silvia provides. He looks forward to going, has made friends, loves the adults, and has learned so much - at 2, he knows numbers, letters, colors, weather, etc., much of it he demonstrates in both English (home language) and Spanish. I love that he looks forward to going every day and 100% trust his care to Silvia.

Parent Review - Please Read Carefully Spanish versión in…read moreimages. Update: This review has been updated to include additional factual details for clarity and completeness. I am sharing this experience so other parents can make informed decisions before enrolling their child. I wish I had seen a review like this beforehand. My intent is transparency, especially for families who rely on childcare subsidies and may have limited options. My daughter attended this school briefly. During that time, we experienced ongoing issues with communication and transparency. The most concerning situation involved my daughter being injured on more than one occasion--twice by the same child within a matter of weeks. When I asked why my child was hurt more than once in such a short period of time, the Director became defensive rather than responsive. On both occasions, I was not notified immediately. After the first incident, a vague incident report was placed in my daughter's backpack for me to discover after arriving home. The report was written on Mt. Tahoma letterhead, which was confusing and concerning, as my child does not attend that school. During the second incident, I arrived for pickup while my daughter was still crying and visibly distressed after being struck on the side of the head by the same child. The teacher who brought her to the gate did not know what had happened, and the Director also appeared unaware. My daughter was initially handed to me as if nothing had occurred. Only after it became clear that I was upset and would not leave while my child was crying, red in the face, and hurt did a staff member offer an ice pack. When the Director arrived, she was unable to explain what had happened. When my daughter identified who hit her, the Director stated, "No, it wasn't him," without clarifying who was responsible. Although my daughter clearly stated she was hit, the school insisted she had been "pushed onto bark." Bark would not cause a bruise on her ear or the contusion later diagnosed by urgent care. The conversation with the Director and owner was brief and uninformative. Neither acknowledged who hurt my child or clearly explained what occurred. Instead, the incident was repeatedly described as "normal child behavior," and it was implied that my daughter's actions caused her injury. Some children at the school are as old as six; my daughter is only four. No apology was offered, and no prevention plan was discussed unless I specifically asked. An incident report was not offered. I requested one and was told it would be provided, but it never arrived. After following up, I eventually received a report that lacked key details, including staff names and a clear explanation of how the injury occurred. Most concerning, the report focused heavily on my daughter's behavior in a way that implied she was responsible for being hurt, while also stating that a teacher witnessed the incident and did not intervene to prevent injury. In a follow-up email--after I continued requesting a corrected incident report and additional details--the Director suggested that I consider withdrawing my daughter and placing her in a private in-home daycare, stating that my concerns reflected "very specific needs," rather than addressing how the school would ensure my child's safety. Beyond the physical injuries, my daughter showed signs of emotional distress while attending this program, including difficulty playing with peers and fear associated with school staff. Since leaving the school, these reactions have continued. I have not been able to return to work since November, as attempts to transition her into other childcare settings have been unsuccessful due to her extreme distress and refusal to enter facilities. The emotional impact on our family has been substantial. What troubled me most was not just the incidents themselves, but a pattern of delayed communication, limited transparency around supervision, and dismissal of legitimate safety concerns. I have since withdrawn my daughter and am sharing this to encourage other parents to ask detailed questions about supervision, injury reporting, communication practices, and how children are supported emotionally. This review reflects my personal experience as a parent.

My oldest son has been enrolled here for nearly two years, and the growth we've seen academically,…read moresocially, and emotionally, has been extraordinary. He came in shy and hesitant, and he has blossomed into a confident, curious child who loves learning and communicating with others. He now problem-solves on his own, initiates conversations, and brings home life skills he proudly teaches his younger brother. Because of the trust we've built, I recently enrolled my youngest son as well. One of the most meaningful parts of our experience has been the genuine care the staff has shown our family. When my father passed away unexpectedly about a year and a half ago, the teachers and administrators surrounded us with warmth and compassion. They checked in daily, supported my son through his big emotions, and made sure he felt safe and loved during an incredibly difficult time. That type of care comes from people who truly value the children they work with. Communication has always been clear, consistent, and responsive. The staff is proactive in sharing updates, answering questions, and making sure parents feel informed and included. Over nearly two years, any small hiccups that naturally happen in childcare have been handled with transparency, thoughtfulness, and professionalism. My son has developed strong, trusting relationships with his teachers, both under the previous ownership and the current leadership. He talks about them with so much affection, and it's evident that they genuinely know and appreciate him as an individual. They celebrate who he is, encourage his interests, and guide him with patience and respect. The sense of belonging and stability he feels at school has been a major factor in his growth. Every family and child is unique, but I can confidently share that this school has been a nurturing, communicative, and supportive environment for both of my children. We are grateful every day for the foundation it has provided, and I am thankful for the teachers who care for my boys as if they were their own.

I started taking my daughter here when she was 4 months old back in 2014. I literally took her…read morethere as there was no other daycares I knew of that took care of infants and had availability. I was scared as ever but had no choice. I figured I'll just stick her there until I could find something else since I needed to work. And I'm so glad I stayed and didn't leave. My daughter grew up there. I liked it so much, I changed my 2 year old son at the time her daycare as well ! And then when I had my 3rd child he went there too. The owner is so amazing. My kids spent a total 4 years here ! I knew when I sent them there I would have nothing to worry about. They never went hungry or ignored. She was attentive to everyone and their needs. She worked with me so much ! And I was so grateful for that. My kids love her ! And I loved the fact that she took the time to understand each kid. And she was very good when it came to handling breastmilk as well, which I loved ! If I hadn't moved states due to being a military family, my kids would still be attending because she is that great. I fully trust her with my kids. And I recommend her to everyone. Once your kids attends you will never have to look for childcare elsewhere.

The owner does not clean her facility on a normal basis. Toys are broken and unsafe. She uses state…read morefunding for meals, however my children were so hungry on more than one occasion upon picking them up. Approaching her she is defensive and does not work with you. She also uses other peoples diapers to put on your child and I can only assume yours on another child (disorganized). I think she is burnt out and needs to take a break. Please also be aware that she does not follow her contract as we gave two weeks notice and were never refunded. Please be careful if you send your child there -- take precaution as the rates will fool you.

We just moved to the area and had been searching for a while for the right place for our kids. I…read morecouldn't be happier! Teresa keeps the place clean, follows all the state guidelines and my 2.5 year old has come home happy each day along with looking forward to going in the mornings. Also she is super responsive via text or call. We have used kindercare and a church daycare in the past so I was a bit nervous for in- home but turns out it was a great choice.

The SELC team provided an Elementary Support program for K-2nd throughout the 2020-2021 school…read moreyear, as well as a summer camp program for summer 2021. It was a life saver! Our daughter was able to navigate remote learning during kindergarten while still getting a chance to hang out with other kids, all within the confines of the safe and clean facility at SELC-Admiral 2. Based on our experience, we recommend the SELC team for childcare needs.

The day care has moved to Tacoma now because they sold their home in Fircrest. It is still run by…read moreChristine and Ken Rigell and they have had more complaints against them by the state..... go check it out but do not leave your kids with these people. Always check with the state for complaints against day cares like this one. Chris and Ken Rigell have valid complaints against them as a business. I removed my child from this daycare for lack of supervision while they were out in the community. You can read about the valid state complaints on del.wa.gov

My two girls have been at the Fircrest Family Daycare with Chris for about 8 years... This business…read moreis a second family to me and their childcare is exceptional. If I need after hours childcare Chris has often made herself available. During the day the children are involved in many activities including swimming lessons, beach trips, trips to the park or the toy store. I feel the daycare is safe and fun for the kids.

Schyler is wonderfully Knowledgeable about child development and baby care. She is creative with…read morefun learning play for children. And she is such a warm person!

Really happy with the program, we love my son's teacher. Their activities are educational, and we…read moreget great reports on their daily activities and lots of photos and videos. So we feel like we always know what's going on. Highly recommended!

Just moved to WA so we're looking for child care. Saw that this place had great reviews so my…read morepartner called and then went down to take a look, a very eager Celena (yes with a C) didn't even try to hide when she looked at her up and down. They talked pricing but she didn't feel comfortable at this point so she said no thank you. Celena then insisted on getting her phone number down so they can "reach out after some consideration" which doesn't make sense bc after consideration WE have their number to follow up? My partner restated her no thank you and turned to walk out the building and Celene said " I look forward to seeing you again." So either they let anyone work there or Celena is in heat.