CDCC has been a key partner in our family for years. My oldest attended from 2015-2019 and my…read moreyoungest has been there now since 2019. We have been to two other daycares (which had infant rooms) and one other preschool, so we have some points of comparison. Things I really like: - management - Lois is on top of things and involved in childcare advocacy in the region. Through the pandemic, I felt confident that CDCC was managing things as well as possible. The staff was vaccinated quickly and the changes to policies (pickup/drop off, schedule, masks) all made sense. - atmosphere - the staff are consistent and friendly and my kids like them - food - it is cooked on site and pretty well balanced - playground - they go out twice a day to a nice private yard, right at the school - community - most people who attend live fairly close, which helps build community. There are some required volunteer hours, but they are not excessive. Sometimes I wish that there was more "formal enrichment" when I put on my "ambitious parent" hat, but really kids (or at least mine) are so happy with consistency, community and more play than formal learning. I think a lot of places are too academic, too early. Learning to share, do circle time, sit at a table for meals, switch activities according to a schedule etc. goes a long way towards school readiness. Music classes and swim lessons can be found elsewhere (though CDCC did them pre-pandemic and pre-renovation closure at Medgar Evers) and I'm okay with art projects that look like they were made by a toddler, rather than a pinterest pro.

Because of moves, we've had our children in 3 different child care centers, and CDCC was by FAR the…read morebest. I hesitate to even call it a child care center, because it really is so much more. Ms. Lois is the most genuine individual. She is friendly, welcoming, knows and remembers all the small details of our life, and truly cares about every child and family. We've experienced a lot of bureaucracy and felt like a dollar sign at other centers but not here. Lois bent over backwards to help us get care for a child who was temporarily staying with us when we were in a bind. The teachers all feel like family who love our kids like their own. They've been part of the neighborhood for decades, and it shows. I love that they provide home cooked meals, neighborhood walks, park and outdoor time, story time at Douglass Truth Library, swim lessons at Medgar Evers pool, and so much more. Our kids attended for 2 years before we moved, and it's still the part of Seattle I miss the most. Thank you CDCC for being such a valuable part of our children's lives!

I live right by cottage schools and Gatewood elementary. I take my kids to the playground often and…read moreget to watch how the cottage teachers interact with the students or shall I say a lack of interaction. Every time I'm there, the teachers are just huddled around talking to each other while the girls get into their caddy circles and exclude other kids. Then there's this one poor little boy who sits by himself staring at the ground all the while the teachers chat it up. If this was my child, I'd be heartbroken. This happens on the regular. We went inside to do a tour and all the students were rude to my daughter. Some of the "teachers" looked like they had zero education. Think about who guides your children. These are not the people you want. Then jve tried to call them. No one ever pics up the phone or it's disconnected. Then the person who emails is extremely short and rude. I'm guessing the reason they get kids to come is because it's tied into Gatewood. Unfortunately, Gatewood is the school my daughter will go to but with this level of education in the pre k program, I'm worried about the level of care my grade school child might not get.

My son has been attending Cottage since the summer before he started kindergarten at Gatewood…read more Laura and Amanda have been incredibly responsive, kind, and helpful when we enrolled, and then later re-enrolled after the early phase of the pandemic. My son absolutely loves all of the teachers and their programming. Any time I voice a concern (like my son being rough, other kids being rough), Laura and the staff have been clearly invested in ensuring that their curriculum addresses the areas (beyond just academics) that the kids need to grow and thrive in -- such as socialization, being respectful, listening to their friends, etc. I highly recommend this wonderful school!

Our kids have been attending Jose Marti for the last year, and it has been a great experience. Our…read moreoldest has attended two different Seattle daycares previously, and we are so grateful to have finally found one we are happy with. The teachers all put in a tremendous amount of effort, and they obviously care for the children. It is also worth noting that the lowest paid staff member is now 15$/hr, which is way better than most. They have around 8 different classes, about half in the main building, and another four in portables. One of the portable class rooms is a half day pre-school, and the other three are for full time kids. Both our kids are in the full-time portable class rooms, so my review is mainly regarding those classes. All the teachers speak Spanish as their first language, and most speak English very clearly. The official policy is for the teachers to speak English in the morning and Spanish in the afternoon, although this is a bilingual school so that policy is pretty loose. There is a good mix of kids, some start here speaking only Spanish, and other only English (like our kids). The curriculum is great, I believe all the kids in the oldest class are well prepared for kindergarten. They have a great balance of free play, activities and lessons. They make the food in their own kitchen, and they post the menu for parents to see. It is of course well balanced and nutritious. There was definitely an adjustment period when we started, especially for our oldest, who was 4 and spoke no Spanish. He was a little frustrated at first, as he had never experienced being with people and not being able to understand what they are saying. He was not alone in this, as there are plenty of kids in the same situation, and plenty of kids who spoke little English. After a year, he still doesn't really speak Spanish, but he understands a fair amount, and is very interested in learning more. It is also worth noting that the class seems very well integrated. The teachers encourage the kids to be friends with all the kids in the class, and it seems to be working pretty well. The school is run out of a El Centro de la Raza, so there is a definite social justice flare here. The kids are occasionally taught about immigration and social justice/Latino concerns. This is of course done at a child's level, and I believe only happens in the oldest class, which is mainly 4 and 5 year olds. For example, my son came home talking about how some people have been taken away from their families (deported). This does not happen frequently at all, but just know that if your kids attend here, they will probably help make some big posters telling their politicians what to do. This all makes me love the school even more, but it may be a turn off for some families. Overall, we really like this place! There is nothing like knowing that your children are being well cared for.

absolutely atrocious! care was unsafe several years ago, with owner's husband included in the ratio…read more as a "teacher" when all he did was sit in the office on the computer. that meant he missed the part when the couple's large, older son threw a piece of playground equipment while in an angry tantrum (it flew past my child, missing her head by 1/4 inch). the same son is still at one of the west seattle daycare facilities after school, by the way, and other parents have commented on his continued, concerning behavior(s). get your kid therapy, stacie and david blair! the owner also abuses staff, many of whom complain about her (apparently she keeps staff count just below # at which provision of health insurance is required; she offers residential rental units on daycare property and evicts tenants/employees as she pleases, ignoring tenant rights because most tenants are single mothers with little income and power). owner once told me that she keeps a knife in the glove box of her car because "that's how i was raised". ahem. no regard or knowledge in regard to HIPAA: blabbing about assumed medical problems/diagnoses in a casual manner (often completely incorrectly as well as illegally and unethically). trashy, scary, uncool.

My son has been going there since he was 3mo old. All the teachers, directors and owners are nice…read moreand very responsive to parents needs and questions. They have so far 3 buildings at 3different locations but all in the same neighborhood: one for infant, toddler/pre school and pre K. They are opening another one in Des Moines soon!

Be warned that Harmony staff have very outdated practices, no video monitoring, no photos or…read morewritten daily communication, etc. The way they use language to the children definitely does not align with gentle parenting techniques. It's very rude, like barking orders. They are very rigid with their teaching practices and there is very little variety in the activities that are provided at this facility. Regarding the lack of video monitoring, photos, and regular communication, that is something I have seen in most other daycares/preschools in the area. Many of which communicate through apps, sending photos and notes as well as allowing livestream video monitoring during certain time windows. Just very shocked that Harmony does not provide any of that at all and have been very closed off in communication with parents. If you're looking for staff who will be partners in your child's wellbeing or education, you ought to look elsewhere.

Poor communication with parents. Teachers don't like to "waste" their time trying to answer…read morequestions you have about how your child is doing. Management is a mess. Any concerns get brushed aside and parents aren't seen as partners in education.

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 love seed of life. The teachers are so loving and wonderful, and really embrace each new kids…read more(and their parents). Our kiddo gets to go on neighborhood walks with his class, and has tons of fun here. Even if the waitlist is long it's worth putting your name in.

Our infant daughter has been attending the SIDC for a few months now and we have only great things…read moreto say about it. She's always happy to see her teachers in the morning, and we love that kids in the infant room get a lot of attention thanks to the low student-teacher ratio (3:1, better than most daycares we toured). The kids are going on field trips very often, including a weekly trip to the Central Library for story time. Lastly, we really like that it's a non-profit and that our tuition goes to fund the education of our daughter, not to enrich shareholders.

SIDC is a truly special place. We toured many daycares for our 2-year-old son, and each tour left…read moreme feeling very unsure about our decision to graduate from a nanny-share setup -- until I visited SIDC. I walked in the door and immediately felt a sense of warmth, community, and love. Many of the teachers have been there for decades, and all of them are deeply dedicated to the growth and happiness of the kids in their care. This isn't just a way to make ends meet. It's their passion. In addition, extended hours and limited closures are great for working parents, and the center has a large courtyard playground where older kids can run around, build blocks, ride bikes, do "water play" on hot summer summer days, etc. With just one class per age group, the center is small enough that everyone knows my son's name and greets him warmly as he goes about his day. I highly recommend!

TTM is a pedagogically-observant Montessori school, which will come as a relief to those parents…read morewho believe in the method and seek something more for their kids (and their expense) than a glorified day care. The classes are appropriately sized and more than adequately staffed with Montessori-trained guides & aides, and feature a full complement of beautiful wood, metal, and fabric Montessori-specific works arranged to allow curious minds instant access to meaningful, self-directed learning. The administrative staff is exceptional, led by a 20+ year veteran of both Pacific Crest Montessori & Northwest Montessori School. While transparently placing the student experience first (as they should), this administration takes great pains to accommodate the needs of parents by being respectful of the scant spare time available to most parents, and by reaching out to parents with lots of pertinent information & updates. The building itself is a high-security cruciform arrangement where toddler, primary, and elementary classes are housed in their own wings. It appears to be a former hospice or nursing home, the practical upshot of which is wide hallways and doors, bright sunny rooms, and lots of 'safety' hardware in common areas. The outside play areas are securely fenced (with locking, key-coded gates) and include play structures, gardening, and opportunities to get messy in real dirt in the time-honored tradition. The location is a quarter mile off WA-509 in Burien at 160th Street, just down the street from Highline Medical Center. We make the drive from Capitol Hill every day in 20 minutes. The location is also served by several bus lines from downtown Seattle (#131 & #121 pass 1/8 mi. to the east @ 160th & 1st; #123 1/8 mi. to the west @ 160th & 4th).

I have worked at Three Tree Montessori for twelve years and can only say wonderful, positive things…read moreabout it. The staff are incredible and the families, along with the children are amazing. Each day I go to school, I am amazed by the love and ability of the teaching staff, class assistants and the support staff. Each one cares deeply for the children and it shows in all they do. I am also incredibly proud of our administration and board of directors. They have weathered many storms through the years well and led us through difficulties with wisdom, always putting the children and their care first.