The Kitchen Garden Playschool is a truly special place. As a parent of two children that ADORE this…read moreplayschool, I'm continually amazed by the love, creativity, and dedication Chelsea and Marissa--the incredible sister duo behind the school--bring to their work. They've created a preschool that feels like an extension of family. From digging in the mud kitchen to exploring the greenhouse, every activity ignites curiosity and builds confidence. My kids have learned to grow plants, explore the outdoors, and embrace the joy of hands-on discovery. The outdoor-focused curriculum is thoughtfully crafted to inspire and nurture young minds. If you want a place where your kids will thrive, connect with nature, and develop a love of learning, The Kitchen Garden Playschool is the perfect choice. We feel so fortunate to be part of this wonderful community!

From the owner: Welcome to The Kitchen Garden Playschool!…read more Are you searching for a nurturing environment where your child can thrive through gardening, nutrition, and play? Look no further than The Kitchen Garden Playschool, where we cultivate young minds alongside beautiful plants. Here's why parents love us: A Focus on Gardening and Nutrition: At The Kitchen Garden Playschool, we believe in the power of hands-on learning. Through gardening, children not only learn about plants and how they grow but also develop a deep appreciation for nature. Our structured curriculum integrates lessons on nutrition, teaching children the importance of healthy eating from a young age. Flexible Class Offerings: We understand the demands of modern schedules. That's why we offer morning and afternoon classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Child-Centered Approach: We embrace each child's unique pace of development. Our philosophy revolves around moving slowly and allowing children to grow naturally, fostering independence and confidence as they explore the world around them. Engaging Activities: From planting seeds to harvesting vegetables and preparing nutritious snacks, every moment at The Kitchen Garden Playschool is an opportunity for fun and learning. Eating What They Grow: One of the highlights of our program is the joy children experience when they eat what they've grown themselves. Gardening cultivates enthusiasm for vegetables, encouraging healthy eating habits that last a lifetime.

My son Kaden recently started care at Oak Grove preschool/childcare. I was extremely impressed…read morefrom the first day I interviewed Al and Becky. I wish I had found this place a long time before...the business is very well organized..they take good care of my son..

Our boys started here a few months ago. We could not be happier! No matter what time I pick them…read moreup, the kids are engaged in crafts or games or songs or stories. We were paying MORE for a home daycare that was absolute chaos. . . what a welcome change this has been.

My son has attended Snickerdoodle Preschool in West Linn for two years. His older sister also…read moreattended for two years before going on to elementary school. The best part of this preschool for me as a parent is zero volunteering or fundraising commitments. I pay a reasonable monthly tuition and I know I'm leaving my kids in good hands. The teachers care and do a great job teaching social skills, fine motor skills, reading, counting... my kids bring home crafts and can't wait to share with their class on show and tell day. Highly recommended.

The staffs nice except one Weil call him Mr. Mean and he treated the girls horribly the rest of the…read morestaff super nice

I go to this school I like it I hope you like it to. If you…read moreare going to go get ready for Nice teachers And kind kids

Our kids have been at Marylhurst for three years, and they're thriving academically, socially, and…read moreemotionally. Our fourth grader is reading at a tenth-grade level, and our first grader is doing second-grade math--but more importantly (to us), they LOVE their school and are having an awesome experience. The teachers are just exceptional. They're all deeply attuned to each child's learning style and emotional development. The narrative reports we receive twice a year are so thoughtful and insightful that it's palpable that our kids are really KNOWN and appreciated for who they truly are. Their personality quirks, the edges where they're being challenged by a concept... it's all there. The teachers seriously SEE our kids. All of the teachers we've had has been experienced, compassionate, and connected with the kids. But the best part is that our kids have fallen in love with learning, which is what we hoped for most. Our oldest was quickly becoming an anxious perfectionist at a public school in kindergarten before we made the switch, but as soon as we moved to Marylhurst, he began to expand into a flexible, growth-mindset oriented student who understands that mistakes are one of the best ways to learn. The kids get to learn not through endless worksheets or computer programs, but through student-led projects that often turn into elaborate, imagined worlds. Since the kids own so much of the process together, they are invested in their projects, and learn to collaborate across ages in blended classrooms. And the campus is beautiful; it's woodsy and peaceful, with a pond and forested trails for cross-country running. We couldn't be happier with our kids' experience at Marylhurst. It's a nurturing, inspiring community that fosters curiosity and confidence. 10/10, five stars.

This is my son's first year at Marylhurst and he loves what he is learning and how he is learning…read moreit. He is currently in pre-school participating in music, PE and Spanish and we plan to extend into Kindergarten and beyond. There is a true sense of community amongst the school. The learning style is definitely great for our kiddo. I highly recommend you tour, it's what sold me!

We chose to take our four-year-old son to SunGarden after relocating. It's a lovely small community…read moreof staff, teachers and parents, but unfortunately it didn't turn out to be what we thought it would be when we enrolled. Keep in mind, we have high expectations since we're talking about our children. We're within walking distance and we prefer Montessori methods, and SunGarden is AMI vs AMS (please research the difference if you're looking into Montessori schools)... so SunGarden seemed like a great choice. Everyone is warm and welcoming, and our son grew leaps and bounds academically (which is great if you're looking to raise an Einstein), but I was disheartened by a few things listed below: 1) Time outside: We were told when enrolling our son would be able to work outside when he wanted to (with provided lanyards) and they would often be outside anyway. However, he would come home and say he was not allowed to run outside (a four-year-old not be able to run?!). And although the outside area is beautifully cared for, it's extremely small for how large the community of children is, which is why they were worried about safety if the children ran into each other or any of the garden equipment. At this age, we feel kids need to run off their energy, especially after doing serious academic "work" in a classroom all day - see below. So the outside area and the rules that go with it ended up being a downfall and we were a bit displeased. 2) Turnover: We were only at SunGarden for one year and it was the director's first year in this position, as well as our teacher's first year (her name was Amy - but she was the best part about the school experience for our son). Their "outside guide" left the school mid-year making it even more difficult to allow children outside to do their work (something we were told would happen daily, but ended up not happening much at all). 3) The environment: I have to commend the school on its materials - it complies with AMI rules and materials have to be up to a certain standard, and they are beautiful Montessori materials, kept clean and orderly. However, as much as I love a calm, organized, quite environment for learning, the rooms were unusually quite (these are children ranging from 2.5-6 years). There should be noise and laughter and giggles. Anyone who needed to "move" - which was more often than not - was told to walk briskly along a circular line tape placed on the floor. It almost felt like caged animals when I observed this. 4) Academics: AMI Montessori schools want your children to thrive academically. I want my child to thrive in this area as well but he was still 4... not heading to college yet... and the reports I would receive from my teachers were how long my child would sit, focus and work on math or other subjects. And although he learned quite a bit for a four-year-old, I felt bad the days he didn't want to enter the classroom, crying and sitting outside, because I knew in my heart it was because he was entering what he felt, was a place he couldn't essentially just "be a kid." 5) Play & Art: In our son's previous years at another Montessori school (which we all loved but was AMS), he would come home exhausted, often-times dirty from playing outside (this is a good thing, parents...), or covered in paint and/or in a change of clothes after getting wet on hot days. Unfortunately, he always returned home from SunGarden as well groomed as he had been when he went in the classroom door that morning, so it seemed that very little art exploration, imagination, creativity or getting dirty was encouraged (at least that we saw). Again, it felt exceedingly academic for little minds. I do know they have some make-believe areas (such as a small doll house), sing songs (he came home reciting the same 50 states song I too memorized in 2nd grade), and read stories, but the teachers are there mainly to observe the children do their focused work quietly. 5) Flexibility: I want to be fair, the director did allow our family some flexibility, but again, complying with AMI methods, SunGarden requires your children to attend five days a week. So if you're looking for part-time care (because we wanted our child to be able to move and explore non-academic areas on those days off), then unless they've changed their rules, you don't have that option. Overall, again, everyone was warm and kind and I do know they care about the children. Unfortunately, I left with the impression they care even more so about complying with their AMI Montessori beliefs and methods than what the children inherently desire and need to be a kid at heart. It is a great school for those looking to ensure their children simply grow in academics and social responsibility. Again, these are the areas in which we saw our child grow the most with his time there and we are grateful for this.

As current parents of two children at SunGarden (one in each room), we couldn't be happier with our…read moreexperience. New to the area, we wanted a local Montessori provider where we could feel connected to the community. From the first day we dropped in (literally) to tour the school, the director, guides, and staff made us feel welcome. Since then, we've continued to have great experiences with the school, the parents, and the community. We love living in West Linn and often comment that SunGarden was the best decision we've made here. Specific to the school, we love the building and yard, the amount of outdoor time the kids get (rain or shine, they go out!), the pictures we get from the guides, and the ongoing parent/guide conferences. There are opportunities to connect with the guides, have drinks and coffee with other parents, learn about the curriculum, and interact with the whole community (annual events). SunGarden is the right place if you're looking to be a part of a Montessori community where your children will be cared for and given individual attention.