Looking for Advice on Picking a Preschool ...stanwood/camano Area....

It will be alittle of a drive, but I would recommend you check out Papa Bear Preschool. They have a website and are listed on this site, too.
www.papabearpreschool.com
My grandsons went there for preschool before starting school (2005 and 2006).
Things to check when looking for preschool: small group better, curriculum program, outside area (what it offers for play), classroom set up (wide range of things to play with and check out), experience of teacher not just education, and if parents are welcome all the time.
I hope this helps you. -K

Well..My son goes to the Eceap program that is held at Josephine sunset home. I can't afford to pay for preschool so this was the only option for myself in this area. However I LOVE it there. The teachers are all very friendly and helpful. My son always comes home singing new songs or talking about what they did at school that day. You can go and have lunch with your child or volunteer whenever you want or just pop up. They go on field trips and have various family nights for the kids their siblings and the parents! It is income based so you can't make too much money. I'm not certain of the exact guideline, that is something you would have to find out. I also know that if you can afford it and don't mind the drive Burlington Little School is considered to be one of the best around. I personally haven't taken my son there but I do know parents who have and I have never heard a complaint, like I said though this is a bit of a drive coming from the island as it is up by the Skagit Valley Hospital area! I hope that helps!

Hi J.!
It's L., from the mommy and me group! I wanted to tell you that, I will be bringing our oldest to Praise and Promise at Smokey Point Community Church. I am not sure if they have any openings, but I have heard really great things about their program. I have a couple of friends who bring their children there. I was so impressed when I went to check it out. It's a bit of a drive for you, but at least it's really close to the freeway.
Best wishes,
L.

Hi J.,
I live on Camano too and my daughter has been attending STanwood Camano Learning Center all year. Neighbors think I'm crazy for making the drive, but I would drive to end of earth for her first educational experience to be all it has been.
SCLC is next to the old Freeborn church off of exit 215 on 300th street. It is in a little old broken down house and is the most loving environment. That school belongs to the kids and they feel like its home. The curriculum there puts the kids right into what they are learning about, be it the Arctic or the Rainforest, the whole place feels like that when you enter. Discipline is positive, teacher student ratio is 1:6, they offer 3 and 4 year old classes, it is just fabulous. 3 year olds focus lots on social skills, 4 years olds more on kindergarten prep. Potty training is needed, but if it is not perfect, they will just call you to help the boys out. My son will attend there in the fall with his sister and I just hope he's out of pull ups by then too (good luck with that:>)
When I looked, I asked about class size, discipline, curriculum, mission and philosophy, tuition and class times, parents allowed to volunteer or expected too, those kind of things.

I wish you luck in your search, sounds like we have a bit in common. Hubby and I work around each others schedules to miss daycare:>:> and our two are also adopted-we bit later in life:>:>:> You'll know when you find the right one.