As a Kindergarten teacher, I had a pretty good idea of what I was looking for in a school for my own little boy. I feel so lucky to have found Interlake Childcare and Learning Center. I was looking for a child-centered, play-based environment where my son could blossom and learn the foundation skills that I consider so important during the early childhood years. At Interlake, I found fantastic, dedicated teachers who provide a purposeful, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate multi-age classroom where my child has enjoyed being nurtured by the older children and is now practicing his leadership skills in his pre-K year. Interlake teachers provide a balance of small group instruction and self-directed play. They enrich the children’s learning by setting up numerous stations and providing interesting materials to capture the excitement of the preschoolers. Teaches bring their own excitement about topics to the classroom, while also following the lead of the children in their emergent curriculum. I love how the children are encouraged to explore academic skills in developmentally appropriate, playful, individualized, and child-driven ways. More important than any academic skills, however, are the social skills. I am beyond thrilled with what my son has learned so far at Interlake. I see amazing empathy, compassion, self control, problem-solving skills, curiosity, and risk assessment skills in my child. I am so happy to have chosen Interlake.