We feel so fortunate to have our son at Creative Play House this year. He has a great time there,…read moreand, he has made definite strides in his socialization, confidence, and development. It is a wonderful, nurturing place for children and their families. Willa and Ashlee care for and guide our son in a gentle, respectful, and fun way. What's more, they have been an excellent resource for us as parents as we navigate the toddler years. Creative Play House is a truly unique place, and I have and would recommend it to any family looking for the best Preschool for their child.

It has been a ling time since my boys attended The Creative Play House Preschool, but we all…read morecontinue to have wonderful memories. I knew the boys were safe physically and emotionally. They learned a lot about playing together and I learned so much about how to positively and effectively manage two energetic boys. I would recommend the Creative Play House without reservation. It is a treasure.

My family has had a wonderful experience at Roots N Shoots! The thought, knowledge and dedication…read moreLynn has for this school is immediately apparent when walking in the door. Everything is very well thought out and executed from the beautiful physical space she has set up inside and outside her home, the art projects the kids do, the monthly learning themes (ocean, farm, weather, etc), the guest teachers she brings in (art, yoga, etc) and the field trips they go on. One of my favorite things about Roots N Shoots is the emphasis on outdoor play and connecting with our regional natural world. The hours are also great (9-3) - really allows me to get things done and for my son to be fully immersed in the day. Plus we have met really fantastic families through Roots N Shoots. Some of our closet friends in Maine! We couldn't be happier with our son's experience.

Choosing a first school experience for your first child is a tall order. We were looking for a…read moresmall group setting with an outdoor/play focus in a comfortable, caring, nurturing, environment - something I wasn't even sure existed until we found Lynn Rutter and Roots n Shoots. We couldn't have been more pleased from the minute we walked in the door, and from our first experience with Lynn. Clearly dedicated to the early childhood experience of play and exploration as the path to authentic learning, Lynn's connection to children and her ability to create a beautiful, welcoming, engaging environment for them is beyond compare. Playing and learning in the woods, backyards and gardens; exploring the neighborhood; creating art; doing yoga; putting on performances - the kids at Roots n Shoots have the luckiest, most appropriate preschool experience I can imagine. Not only our child, but we ourselves, have made lifelong friends in the other Roots n Shoots families. I'm so happy that this is our daughter's (and hopefully, in a couple years, our son's) first experience with how wonderful school can be.

This establishment charges way to much and dosen't care about the families or children. Most of the…read morestaff are amazing but the office administrator and director as well as the board of trustees, cannot be trusted. They are located right night to heroin alley and you risk being assaulted using the parking lot of a ticket picking up your kids. You will only be treated fairly if they can bill the state for your the primary amount of your bill. Camilia Babson Hayley has helped run this establishment into the ground and personally had a dozen or more staff members leave due to her lack of leadership. They have also been investigated for abuse and neglect in the past and recently where they had to call on themselves. That's a sad state of affairs.

Youth & Family Outreach (YFO) is a wonderful day care. From our first day here I was comfortable…read morewith the staff and the leadership. Friends recommended YFO to us, so we put our infant on the waiting list, hoping to get in before our child was 2 -- the wait list can be long, and there are several factors that play into getting a spot (age, special needs, etc.). To our surprise we were off the waitlist after just a couple months - things aligned and there happen to be a couple openings in the infant room. We have gotten to know the director and staff in the infant and they are all wonderful, and most important, they treat our child with love, respect and care. YFO also has a great food program, partnering with several local farms and providers. They garden in the summer months, too. They can even provide formula, if it is what your child uses. Also - there is a 'therapy room' at YFO where children can receive services, if needed. We are excited to keep our kiddo at YFO through preschool - YFO has collaborated with the Portland Public School system to create the first community-based public pre-k classroom in the district. A wonderful option for kids, parents and our community. Leaving your child at day care can be hard - but it becomes a lot easier when you trust in the care completely! YFO is a glowing example of what child care should be like!

We love ARWO! Our 18 month old has been there since she was 5 months old and we couldn't be…read morehappier. The staff is super friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. They put me at ease leaving my baby with them! She loves going to school and comes home tired and happy :)

Arwo is a fantastic childcare center! The entire staff is welcoming and caring. Their safety…read moreprecautions are very thorough and they take the time to get to know each and every child. I would recommend them to any parent in the Portland area.

Three of my four kids went through Waynflete - one for high school and two for preschool through…read moreGrade 12. These three children are vastly different. The school did an amazing job of preparing them for College and for life and adapting for each of their goals. Their focus on critical thinking and excellent writing and presentation skills has served our children well. My daughter went on to get an MD/PhD at Duke and her final training in the Harvard system. My youngest son has held increasingly important roles in a major renewable energy company and my oldest son is an artist and LSW. I mention their trajectories to counter comments that this school doesn't prepare students for the real world. It was a sacrifice for our family to afford but so worth the investment. They are all happy and fulfilled.

This school has been great to me for many years as i have been going to Waynflete since 1st graderead more

My daughter has been attending this school since the summer and she really enjoys it. Breakfast is…read moreserved in the classroom and she eats lunch with her friends and teachers in the cafeteria. The classrooms are well appointed and keeps my little girl very involved. She likes her teachers a lot and comes home playing school. The school staff are always very friendly and helpful. I ask them for advice often and they are very willing to listen and provide guidance. Overall the school is a very supportive environment. The school has a nice size playground for the kids to remain active.

From the owner: As Maine's oldest child care center, we offer full-day, full-year, quality early care and education…read morefor children from 6 weeks to 5 years in our 6 classrooms. We prioritize low to moderate income families, and provide a healthy breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack. We have a great outdoor playground and take advantage of our downtown Portland location with walking field trips.

This little preschool is so sweet in its prime location overlooking Casino Beach. The kids learn a…read morelot to prep them for school.. Creativeness, learning skills, how to play nicely and develop lifelong friendships! The location also makes you want to walk there to pick them up, bring a lunch to have on Casino beach or go a little further towards Portland headlight. As a Nanny I enjoy the friendships made between the little ones and also the adults!! I have watched the children develop into wonderful smart respectful caring kiddos through the kind devoted teachers here. I highly recommend Maiden cove for your preschool children early development years!

First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in South Portland is a great place to connect…read morewith God's spirit. Young, old, male, female, tall, short, thin, fat, rich, poor - no matter who you are and where you are on life's journey, you ARE welcome there. It's a large building and large congregation, but you quickly feel like a member of the family. FCCUCC SoPo offers 2 worship services most Sundays (just 1 in July & Aug). First service is held in Chapel at 8:30. It's a less formal style service. The other service is held in the Sanctuary and starts at 10 am. This service is complete with choir and other musical offerings as well as scripted prayers. Child care is available at the 10am service and Sunday School takes place at that time also. There are currently 2 pastors on staff, both of whom help the congregation take a look at being a christian in this day and age. Many social clubs, and various activities are sponsored by this church.