As any parent in Seattle knows, finding quality childcare can feel like an Olympic sport: competitive, stressful, and often overwhelming. Before my now 8-year-old was even born, we were on a dozen waitlists (each of which charged a fee just for the honor of being waitlisted). Needing to return to work, we took the first spot available. Our infant was lovingly cared for, but the commute to get her there was taxing.
Over the next few years, we made a series of moves, inching closer to home. When my son was three, we were lucky enough to land a spot at Wallingford Childcare Center (WCCC), and it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made for our family. A major bonus was that it was within walking distance, just a few blocks from home, but that was only part of its value.
My son spent two wonderful years there, from age 3 to 5, and I can honestly say the experience was warm, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in community. Families went on camping trips, backyard playdates were frequent occurrences, and parents met up at local coffee shops and pubs. At the center, the teachers customized learning and activities, and cared for our kids like loving aunts rather than just educators. One example of this deep care came when our teacher visited the aquarium with her husband over the weekend and purchased the book A is for Axolotl to nurture my child’s interest in the Mexican salamander. Noticing a broader interest in science among the children, she found some old slides and a microscope for them to explore, and created an incredibly engaging curriculum for 4-year-olds.
So when I heard from Pam at WCCC that they currently have immediate openings for children ages 3 to 5, I knew I had to pass it along. These kinds of openings are rare, and for a place as special as WCCC, they’re worth sharing widely.
Pam sent along the following:
Wallingford Childcare Center Has Immediate Openings for 3-5 year olds!Established by the Wallingford United Methodist Church in 1968 as a way togive back to the Wallingford community, we have a supportive relationship with the church while maintaining a non-religious curriculum open to the neighborhood and greater Seattle area.
Wallingford Child Care is committed to helping each child build a positive self-image through their intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development because we believe this promotes success and enjoyment of school, home, and living in general. Our center is influenced by Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach and Loris Malaguzzi’s Reggio Emilia philosophy. Based on these philosophies, children at WCCC are viewed as capable individuals with valued thoughts, personalities, wants, and needs. A strong sense of collaborative community rings throughout our building and can be demonstrated in our “community-style” dining, encouragement of family participation, and classroom environments and routines that are guided by the children’s needs and interests.
Children are sensitively observed and daily activities are created around their interests. We communicate with families daily through the ProCare app, a parent messaging system, with pictures and daily updates, classroom-specific email accounts, and frequent opportunities for conferences and conversations.
We are committed to introducing children to a variety of cultures in order to promote understanding and acceptance of our differences. In according with our dedication to our community, we teach children constructive ways to deal with a full range of emotions, including conflict, while supporting a growing vision of a world beyond our own walls.
We believe it is imperative that children and their parents receive all the love and encouragement possible in these most important early years. WCCC is committed to providing and supporting a strong partnership between staff, parents, and families through ongoing communication, education, information, and volunteer opportunities, and open access to the classroom. Such a partnership assures a consistent, stable foundation from which our children can grow.
The Center has immediate openings for children aged 3 to 5 in our pre-school and Pre-K classrooms. The childcare center is located in the building of the Wallingford United Methodist Church on the corner of 42nd and Bagley in the Wallingford neighborhood. The center is open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm daily. The maximum classroom size for the pre-school room is 14 with two staff. The maximum classroom size for the Pre-K classroom is 17 with two staff. Go to the website for more information and see our tour guide.
If you or a family you know is interested in enrolling in a vibrant classroom and being part of a close-knit community of staff and families, this is a great opportunity, so call as soon as possible. Please pass the word. Please contact director Kaeley Pryor at 206-632-3200 or by email to learn more.
Please help spread the word about these openings at a truly special place.
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