I am hoping to do a nanny share, but I want to find a daycare just in case. I set up an appointment for a tour at GKA in Edmonds -- the one by the Burlington Coat Factory. I rang the doorbell. No answer. I waited. Rang the doorbell again. Nothing. I looked to my left and noticed a man wearing a black mask over his face in the next parking lot. He was moving kind of oddly, but eventually started twirling and ran into the grill of a Penske-looking moving truck and fell on the ground. I rang the doorbell again. No one. I started freaking out a little on the inside because he got up and looked my direction. He just kept staring at me. So, I went to my car... and then I saw a couple of people pull into the daycare parking lot, so I thought I'd try to get out and reach the daycare again. The guy was gone. But then I looked and he was hiding behind a truck, still looking my direction. I rang the doorbell again and went back to my car. At that point, I thought, why am I still here? I need to leave. As I was getting ready to leave, a daycare worker walked outside and started looking around to see who had been ringing the doorbell. I got out of my car and told her I was supposed to have an appointment for a tour at 8:10 (It was 8:25 at that point). She said the woman who was supposed to meet me wasn't there yet. I told her she needed to call the police because of the weird masked guy in the next lot staring at us. English was not her first language. She said, "I call police." So, I was thinking... "Ok, great. She's aware, and she called the police already." {And the reason I point out the English thing is because at that point, I felt like understanding one another was important. I am Korean and have family members who do not speak English as their first language, so language differences do not matter to me in general.} About that time, another worker was walking into the daycare to begin work... along with a parent or two with their kids. That other worker apologized for the tour situation and said she could give me one... and when I told her about the guy in the next lot, she said, "Ugh, it's such an epidemic." WHAT is the epidemic, I thought. Heroin? Meth? People on drugs hanging out near the daycare? Before I could even ask, I looked up, and she was gone. Where the hell did she go? Now I was standing inside the lobby by myself thinking about the dude in the black mask staring at us from the outside. "Alright, I'm out," I thought. I just got in my car and took off. The more I thought about it, the more I thought about the kids inside. The woman (Dori-- sp?) who was supposed to meet with me called me to apologize for not showing up -- she had mixed up her days--and also to apologize for "the guy looking in the window or something" ... I asked, "Did you call the police?" She responded with a NO. I asked, "Really? That guy was on something, and the worker who answered the door told me she did." So, I called Edmonds Police and reported it through the non-emergency dispatch number. When an officer called me back, he said I was the only person to call. REALLY? There's a crazy tweeker lurking around the daycare, and no worker thinks about calling authorities? Or being a little more observant about what's going on outside? Why tell me you're calling police when you're actually NOT calling police? Anyway, I was so pissed off. I have seen mental illness and drug use, so I get that it happens all around us, but when someone is that messed up around little ones, it should be taken more seriously. I was also thinking... wow, if I ran into that guy after sunset, it would really be frightening. What if I was a parent picking up my kid and the guy is lurking around in the dark? I just felt very angry and disappointed that I dealt with three apathetic daycare workers. I am glad I saw this in action because I won't be bringing my infant son there. I know there's security, but I was extremely disappointed in the staff's response today. I am FLOORED. Here is a picture of the guy: https://twitter.com/MichelleLiTV/status/1050044579787943936 read more

Great Kids Academy - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Edmonds, Washington

I removed my kids from GKA early last year after 3 strikes. The first - I came to pick up my infant in the middle of the day and they had one of the other infants wrapped up like a mummy with their blanket FULLY covering the head and face. Literally like a little mummy. At that time I made the request that they not let my baby sleep with a blanket, because SIDS. Strike 2: the next day I drop off my infant after her docs appt and find that they have PROPPED up a bottle with a rolled up blanket and are feeding a baby that way. The baby seems to be asleep with a half full bottle flowing into its mouth and the nearest teacher is 10 feet away with another baby. Strike 3: the next week I pick up my infant early one afternoon and find that the teacher is hastily pulling a blanket away from my sleeping child - the same teacher with whom I requested they not let my baby sleep with a blanket. Shortly after this, the school got their wrist slapped for letting babies sleep with blankets, so I'm sure regulations have forced them to be better. Still, not enough for me. A side note - the teacher in the toddler room yelled at my 1 year old kid for not putting on her shoes fast enough in front of me and my husband. Who does that? read more

Our child started at Great Kids full time when she was 3 months old. From day one all of the staff have been wonderful with her and you can tell that they truly care about the kids. We just transitioned into the toddler room at 13 months old and they worked with her to make the transition so easy on her. Admin staff are so kind and responsive. We can't imagine ever taking her anywhere else. read more

We have been taking our baby here since she was 4 months old. We had an amazing experience from when we first set up appointments to meet with the daycare. Since our baby has been going, the teachers have been nothing short of kind and caring. They truly care about the well being of our child and have always heiress in the safe side by calling us if anything happens. We enjoy that the teachers try and help teach our child simple words/actions during the day. Our baby even has learned to say "hi" and is working on blowing kisses because of the attention they pay to her. Reading the other reviews, I cringe a little because this campus is off of 99 and the people who seem off that lurk on 99 are out of the daycares control. However, the daycare is very secure (you need a code to get in) and the staff has always been weary of their location. Please take note - this isn't in a ghetto area, 99 just happens to be close by. The surrounding neighborhood has houses that are in the $1M range. We love this place and the people there! read more

Our kids really likes it hear and we really prefer the setup they have (class room setting). They are mostly flexible and willing to work with your needs as long as you are reasonable. Affordable compared to many places. If you're hoping for a smaller group of kids or more intimate setting this is likely not the place for them. They got a lot of them running around but manage it well. read more

Our son started at Great Kids when he turned one. We drove him all the way from Seattle to Edmonds every day as we felt like from the start it was a good fit and that a good fit is very important for little ones. We recently moved out of state. During the course of the close to two years he was there we always felt that Rayka and her team provided the most loving, safe and enriching environment we could hope for. There's no better review than what my son said after a week at his new daycare out of state. "Dada, I don't want this one. I want the other one. Let's walk to the other one." He then listed all of the wonderful friends he made there and his teachers. We will all miss Great Kids immensely. read more

We LOVE GKA and are very happy with them. I put our son since he turned 6 months old. He is very happy to be at the daycare and all his teachers are sweet and wonderful. They are also very flexible and understand the challenges that working parents have. I can go pick him up to take him to the doctor and bring him back to school so I can get back to work. The facility is very clean and they also provide food for the kids so I don't have to worry about trying to pack food every morning. Whenever we had schedule issue with nannies, they are always flexible and take care of our son. They are wonderful school. read more

We started Great Kids Academy when our boy was 2 years old, now he is 4 years old and he has learned a lot of things there. The teachers are very very nice and polite. It is a good place for kids to learn and play,also it is very neat. The owner is such a great person, she loves every kid and she has a lot of knowledge about kids and we also have learned a lot from her as well. They do read a lot of books there which for us it is very important. We are very lucky that we found this daycare. I highly recommend this to any parent. read more

I have started my 4 month old in the infant care center and everything has been great!! No worries and trust them completely:) My baby abby is happy when I pick her up and it has Not interrupted her everyday schedule! read more

We enrolled our boy when he was 2 years old and now he is 4 years old. We are very happy and impressed with everything that he has learned so far. The teachers are very very nice and polite. They do read a lot of books there which for us it is very important. The owner is such a great person, she loves every kid and she has a lot of knowledge about kids and how to interact with them, we also have learned a lot of things from her. We are very lucky that we found this daycare. I highly recommend this to any parent. With love and respect, Erjon. read more

My 19 month old has been going to Great Kids for over a year now. We love this daycare. The teachers are like family. Here they teach, guide and pay attention to each child. My son is happy to arrive and join his friends every time, no crying when I leave. I feel at ease knowing my son is in safe and caring hands while I am at work. I am grateful we found this daycare. read more

They really love the kids here. We appreciate that they give them access to music, art and plenty of play outside. The teachers and admin people really do a wonderful job. Would highly recommend. read more

Let me first start by saying, I am truly blessed to have found this daycare for my one year old son. I work full time, my husband as well, and we are so fortunate that our son is in such good hands all day. They are so loving and caring too him, the facility is always extremely clean, and every time we come to pick him up he is extremely happy. Nothing's more important then the well being of our children at a childcare facility, and this place is everything I needed and more. Thank you great kids for all you do! Highly recommended read more

Great Kids Academy has been Godsend for my family.My son was very resistant to go at first and now I hear about his great time every day on the ride home. He talks about how much he likes the teachers and what he learned there. Like every other mother I worry about my children every second but thanks to the people of the Great Kids Academy I feel confident that my son is surrounded with care and attention during his day there.The teachers and the Director look at every child as an individual and they do amazing work of "heart" with all children.Because of the exceptional care and incredible early childhood curriculum my son is outgoing, independent and respectful of other. Thank you Great Kids Academy read more