We love St. Peter's preschool. My son adores his teachers, very easy to communicate with and my son…read morehas learned so much so far. The director is very nice to talk to you and will try her best for you and your child to have the best experience ever. Highly recommended preschool in Carmel in our opinion.

Not sure a better preschool experience exists. The entire staff at St. Peter's is loving and…read moreamazing. Although we are not members of the non denominational church, I am enticed to try it out because of the caliber of the preschool. They focus on creative play, arts/music, and take great field trips. They do amazing art projects and get involved in the community with firemen days, etc. My two sons have been loved and nurtured in beginning their educational journeys; I am SO thankful we found St. Peters, it nearly brings tears of joy (my oldest son had some poor early experiences elsewhere). And finally the price, IMO, is quite affordable. I think nearly all of the staff hold B.S. degrees and many have earned master's. You can see each day, how they love their jobs and the great culture they have developed. This is a place you want your child to be.

Words cannot describe how lucky we are to have found Little Lamb!! We have been part of the Little…read moreLamb family for 5 years, since our youngest was just 12 weeks old. Our girls love going to school! They learn so much and our favorite is to hear them sing their Bible songs. The school, curriculum, and the staff are top notch! The teachers are exceptional and truly love their jobs and the kids. The director, assistant director, and owners are extremely caring, approachable, and professional. We love the family feel! When we were touring daycares, my gut instinct told me we found the one the second we stepped through the door and boy was it right! There is no greater blessing than to know your kids are safe and loved during the day and that is 150% true at the Little Lamb!! We highly recommend Little Lamb to anyone looking for the highest quality childcare in Hamilton County.

Come apply at the Little Lamb! It's great place to work. Both my mother and grandmother have worked…read morehere and one is currently working here. I have came here as a young child and have always loved the family feel and close knit relationships between staff members. There's a great Christian atmosphere that cannot be missed when walking through the doors of the Little Lamb. You must come see for yourself and apply today.

Phenomenal preschool. Wonderful teachers and staff. My daughter was very well prepared for…read morekindergarten! Class ratios are perfect with a teacher and instructional assistant in the classroom. Excited for my son to attend in the fall!

My child loves this preschool. We're so happy with the level of care, learning, teachers, etc…read more Could not recommend this preschool more!

I cannot recommend Miss Linda highly enough. My son started seeing her about 15 years ago when he…read morewas struggling to find his voice and wasn't talking yet. Under her care, he truly blossomed. Fast forward to today: he is 18 years old, maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school, and is headed to Purdue University next year! We truly believe his academic success and confidence started with the incredible foundation Miss Linda provided all those years ago. If you are looking for someone who genuinely changes lives, she is the one.

I spent months looking at all of the preschool options in the area and I am so glad I chose Little…read moreScholars. Miss Linda is absolutely amazing. After one school year with Miss Linda my three year old is reading, writing, and spelling and has so much confidence it's amazing. I was very afraid of bringing my daughter to preschool because she was very attached to me and I thought she would have a hard time being away from me. My daughter met Miss Linda and was instantly smitten. Miss Linda's devotion to each student's individual development is amazing and my daughter is always so excited when it's a school day. It's truly amazing to see what my daughter has accomplished in one school year with Miss Linda. I truly feel that Miss Linda has instilled a love for school in my daughter and I am so grateful.

Where do I even begin with Meridian Hills Cooperative? My family and I love this little school so…read moremuch. This is going to sound overly dramatic, but it aint no lie: Enrolling my child into this school has probably been one of the best decisions I've made since moving to Indiana. We just finished the 4s class, which was our first foray into any type of schooling. Meridian Hills Cooperative is play-based, which means that the kids learn through exploring, building, creating, moving their bodies, and just plain being kids. The teachers do not push the kids to do anything (as in, they aren't receiving formal lessons in the 4s class) -- instead, the teacher invites each child to participate, and lets them join in whenever they feel comfortable. Each child is valued for whatever stage they're at in life. Similarly, each type of personality -- from super shy guys to boisterous kids to everything in between -- is cherished and respected. A huge plus about the school is that they value playing outdoors. They will tell you straight up when you go for a tour: We play outside in all types of weather! The only time the kids won't play outside is if the weather is dangerous, such as during thunderstorms, or if the windchill is in the single digits. Otherwise, kids bring their snow clothes, rain boots and other outdoor gear because they know they'll be playing outside, rain or shine! Meridian Hills Cooperative is a co-op, which means that parents participate in the classes on a rotating basis. I love this aspect of the school because you really get to know your child's classmates, and in turn, the other parents really get to know YOUR child very well. It's very much like an extended family, with everyone invested in each other's well being. One of the most unique aspects of Meridian Hills is the Kindergarten class. This school is one of the only in the Indianapolis area that offers a part-time Kindergarten. (It meets Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.) On Thursdays, the class spends all day outdoors in the "forest Kindergarten" area, which is basically set up to be an outdoor classroom. So the kids get to learn while feeling the cool breeze, hearing the birds chirping and feeling the earth under their feet. It is such an amazing space, and an amazing way for kids to learn. I feel like I could go on and on about Meridian Hills, but it's just one of those things you have to check out yourself. I'm probably the most jaded and cynical person I know, but whenever I talk to people about this school, I get super mushy and emotional recounting all the ways I love this school and how much my child has grown and blossomed because of it. It's truly been a blessing in our lives.

I searched high and low (aka Noblesville to downtown Indy) looking for a nondenominational,…read moreplay-based preschool for my daughter. After looking at multiple Montessori schools and not finding many other options, I was delighted to find MHCNS. As soon as I arrived, I knew I had found something special. The spacious outdoor playground is like no other I've seen in the area (and there are hiking trails, too!). Once inside, I was impressed by the "block room" full of wooden toys for building, the "art room" with easels set up and a table full of homemade play dough, and a third room where the children were enjoying board games and reading in little groups. And then I met the teachers. There are three, and they are all amazing. They have history with the school, an easy rapport with the children, and they believe in the power of play. I was also impressed that this school has a half-day kindergarten available. As a cooperative (and member of Indiana Council of Preschool Cooperatives), this preschool is run by parents. One of your child's caregivers will help out in the classroom once or twice a month and take on a "job" within the school. Your job could be anything from organizing the Fall Picnic to ordering the art supplies for your child's classroom or caring for the class pet. My daughter loves seeing me in her classroom, and it really gives me a better sense of what she is experiencing and what I can do to help her grow. MHCNS offers parent education nights and a two day training workshop. Since all of the parents are so involved with the school, you really get to know the other families and create lasting friendships. Overall, I feel that being part of this school has not only been beneficial to my daughter, it has also made me a better parent.

I had never heard of a cooperative school before I started my search for a local preschool for my…read moreson. I didn't even know this concept existed but I have since discovered it's an awesome way to run a preschool. I started out enrolling him in the parent's day out program which was awesome. I wasn't yet a member that needed to volunteer or anything so it was just a nice way to try it out and see if we liked it. It was like 4-5 hours (I forget) for a seriously small amount of money, especially compared to the babysitter I was considering hiring for $10 an hour. He brought his lunch and played with about 4 other kids, some younger some a little older. Everyone was aged 2-4 and the 2 teachers had great themed activities laid out each day. He was shy at first but by the time the program was over in the Spring, he was chatty and had made new friends. He was like a totally different kid. So after that, I officially joined the co-op. I was sold. I'm reviewing this as a "customer" and as someone who sits on the school board. The thing about a co-op is: you're both. I love that I get more than just a small say in the stuff my son is learning. I love that I get to help out with the running of a school and sit in on his class about once a month. I think if I had gone the traditional preschool route I would never know what I'm missing by not spending a whole day in class with him once in a while. It's great to watch learn and interact with other kids. OK so one thing you're wondering is: what am I going to do with my baby while I'm helping out in the classroom? This crossed my pregnant-lady mind when I first found the school too. Turns out I'm not the only mother of a preschooler with a baby (who'da thunk it?). We just swap baby sitting days in a toy filled room at the school. I tell you, my babysitting day is my favorite day of the month. Just this week I snuggled a wee baby while my 15 month old zoomed cars around on the floor with a 2 year old and it was an overload of adorableness. Way too much cute packed into one room. My son has blossomed since starting school and he has learned SO much. I am amazed at his social development too. He loves his teacher, so much so that he has a teddy bear at home named "Miss Marlo". I love that there's a focus on learning through play, a large focus on science, healthy snacks and lots of outdoor time. There's a huge outdoor play area with so many activities. I honestly feel like I've become a better parent because of what I've learned from my experience at this school. That sounds incredibly cheesey but cheese or not, it's the truth.

This school changed the way I thought about early childhood education and gave us exactly what we…read moreneeded - play! As a parent who really values the attachment that I share with my kids, I didn't want to send them into a school on a regular basis not knowing anything about their day, their peers, or their teachers. I had made that choice initially and realized quickly that it wasn't a good fit for us :). This school, on the other hand, welcomed my whole family through its doors and encouraged all of us to approach learning together. We took a tour, registered, and fell in love. I only wish we had found it sooner :)!

Our children have been attending this KinderCare location since this summer and we cannot say…read moreenough about how amazing the teachers and the staff are. The director is always on top of everything and is very professional and super nice. The teachers are very knowledgeable and always on top of the app. I can check in through the day to see pictures and updates which makes me happy! Previous centers weren't as much, but then again I can see how hard it would be so I'm amazed at the fact that they do such an amazing job. I feel comfortable expressing any concerns and asking questions any time. Every teacher is on the same page which is awesome. Our children love coming here every day. We love our KinderCare :)

So, I'm a working mom in Carmel. This means a lot of things but mostly it means, I had to find a…read moregood daycare for my two kiddos, a 2 year old and an infant and let's just say it's not easy OR cheap to do this. I was looking for consistency, reliability and convenient location. I wasn't looking for my child to learn four languages, have algebra mastered by age 4 or memorize the 50 states so a few of those were immediately eliminated. I looked for caring individuals who love children and genuinely want to ensure my kiddos are well taken care of for 9 hours a day. I have interviewed, talked to or met with about 14 daycares in the area. I'm an over-researcher in this area. I did the in-home thing, the nanny thing and now I'm doing the daycare thing and it works the best. It just does. The Kindercare on Hazel Dell is wonderful! The teachers care very much, there is not too much turnover, and the director, Terri, is great. Her door is LITERALLY always open and she is always super friendly, willing to work with my ever-changing/flexible schedule and they allow part-time for babies, which is pretty rare overall with daycares. I also get the best discount offered in the area. It's not much for two kids but 10% off each's tuition is a savings of nearly $300 a month. That is nothing to sniffle at. I won't say it's cheap. It's not...but good daycare never is. But that is why it gets 4 stars, b/c HOLY HELL it's a second mortgage and I'm not going to pretend like I like that. But I know for the money we are paying goes towards everything I need in daycare...and that makes it worth it. For my 2 year old, he went from not saying more than 10 words to a full vocabulary in less than four months. He may have gotten there on his own, but I do warrant a constant attention to the matter and the teachers b/c they knew it was something we were concerned about. He has learned structure and lessons in listening. He has outdoor play and indoor play and naps once a day. They give balanced full meals and pay very close attention to his needs. They also help with potty training which is HUGE and not something every daycare offers. Frankly I cannot believe they don't, b/c HOW is a working family supposed to dedicate their time to it if the daycare doesn't step up and help too?? With the infant room, my child has her own crib, plenty of areas to lay, play and a swing for relaxation. I love the teachers in her room and I get a sheet for each child every day telling me how their day went. I overall have been very happy with Kindercare. While no daycare situation is perfect and while we struggle with whether daycare is the right decision for us, Kindercare makes our lives easier and the joy on Max's face at drop off each day gives me peace of mind. I would HIGHLY recommend the Kindercare in Carmel at 131st and Hazel Dell. I cannot speak for the others but Terri and her staff are amazing, friendly and always make my life easier when I need them.

Both my husband and myself have Professional Doctorate degrees and corresponding careers. We value…read morea safe, educational and nurturing environment that will inspire an early love of learning in our child. After visiting and interviewing several private preschools, we decided to enroll our daughter at Community Montessori School (CMS) in Fishers, IN. There are only two AMI accredited Montessori schools in the state of Indiana. CMS is located in Fishers, IN and the other AMI accredited Montessori school is located in Carmel, IN. CMS starts at age 18 months, whereas the one in Carmel starts at 3 years old. The CMS building is fairly new and was built specifically with the Montessori environment in mind. The classrooms all have tons of natural lighting and an open floor plan. All the Directress/Teachers have college or graduate degrees. Every Directress/Teacher at the school knew my daughter by name by the second day of school. I get daily reports via email on my kid, letting me know her days activities. The toddler classroom will help potty train as well. Every personnel at the school I've come across has been courteous and informative. The diversity of the staff is a definite plus. Exposure to diversity promotes curiosity, creativity, and encourages the search for novel information and perspectives - something we want our child exposed to early on. There is an entrance interview that CMS calls "an encounter" where the Directress spends approximately 30 min with your child in their respective classroom, observing them play with the particular "work" they chose and how they interact with their surroundings and other children in the class. I came to value a school with an entrance interview after I visited other preschools that didn't have one. The preschools that did not have an entrance interview take anyone and everyone as long as the parents have the means to pay the tuition. Preschool age children are sponges, quickly picking up social and behavioral cues from their peers and surroundings. The children at CMS, in general, seem to be more respectful of their surroundings and peers. I would attribute this to both the Montessori environment as well as the existence of an entrance interview. There have been multiple social activities throughout the year, hosted by CMS, that allow the parents an opportunity to mingle and meet other parents. There is a real community feel for the parents and students at CMS, which we value. Although we feel our daughter is in a safe, educational and nurturing environment at CMS, we are realistic about accidents that may happen from time to time. Having inspected her classroom, I know CMS does everything they can to keep the kids safe. However, children can still trip, stumble, or fall despite the safe environment. The child-to-teacher ratio is right in line with state mandate; in fact, in my child's classroom, the child-to-teacher ratio is better than state mandate. In terms of fundraising, I agree with the other reviewer who said "of course, any private school will have fundraising activities." This is true for all the private preschools we looked into as well. And come to think of it, this is true for all the schools my husband and I have attended as well (college, grad school, professional school). Giving is always optional. If you do give, it's a tax deductible contribution that is used to further create and sustain the Montessori environment and education for your child. For this reason, we were happy to contribute. I was not familiar with Montessori schools and methodology until I started researching preschools. Although my husband is a product of a Montessori preschool, I was not. It's one thing to read about Montessori online, but it's another to actually see and observe the classroom and environment for yourself. I'm glad I took the time to visit the various private preschools and observe the children in their respective classroom environments. CMS was the clear choice for us. My daughter has been at CMS for almost a year now. What I like most about CMS is that my child loves it; she is excited to go to school every day. As a parent, you can't really ask for more.

Three years later, we are still at CMS and our appreciation of the school has only increased…read more The turn-over at the school is not high, as proposed by a previous reviewer. My child has had the same teacher for three years in a row. The elementary teacher has been there for several years, as has the toddler teacher. The three primary teachers have all worked there for three years or more. My child loves to go to school and is sad when something (illness etc) prevents attending that day. They use the Montessori methods that build long periods of concentration. At home, my child is now able to concentrate on one task for a very long time. I know that this is not true for all five year olds. There are so many positive developments that we have seen in our child. Every year, my child makes friends in the classroom that really mean a lot to her. Because there are frequent all-school events, we are able to meet other parents and children. There was just a fabulous fall hay-ride pitch-in. Since parents have required volunteer hours, there is a strong sense of community. This service is a great model for children. Involved parents are a great thing!