Guide to Preschools and Day Cares in Kansas City

Finding the right fit for preschool or childcare for your little one is one of the more stressful parts of early childhood. There are so many factors – time, location, programs offered! Our hope is this guide will help you narrow down your search to find the best solution for you and your family.

To inquire about including your business in this guide, please email us at [email protected]

Little Sunshine Playhouse and Preschool

Little Sunshine's Playhouse & Preschool

Little Sunshine’s Playhouse & Preschool provides parents with peace of mind and children with a safe, secure & educational environment through our unique services and proprietary, Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum. Early education has a lasting impact on a child’s life and it’s our mission to use this time to ignite the love of learning and spark curiosity through play. LSP maintains a reputation of unrivaled distinction in preschool and early childhood education making us a sought after, premier private preschool program for children ages 6 weeks through Pre-kindergarten. Check out their two locations in Overland Park and Leawood or learn more at littlesunshine.com.

913-814-0444

Whitefield Academy

Whitefield Academy

Give your children the academic foundation they need in a screen-free classroom with caring teachers who cultivate Christ-like character and inspire a lifetime love of learning! Kinder Prep and Kindergarten classes are Monday through Friday, 8am to 3pm with aftercare available. Children must be age 4 or age 5 on or before July 31 and potty trained. Key features: – Strong classical academic foundation in phonics, literacy, cursive, and mathematics – Screen-free, hands-on learning through books, art, music, and movement – Ample outdoor play with recess 2-3 times each day, regular PE, and field trips – Loving teachers that cultivate Christ-like character with understanding and grace From Kinder Prep – 12th grade, Whitefield Academy partners with families to develop Christ centered critical thinkers, clear communicators, and compassionate leaders in the time-tested tradition of classical Christian education. Schedule your tour today!

Gioiosa Montessori School

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Our name—gioiosa, meaning joyous—says it all. Learning should be a joyous experience, and that is what we strive for. The goal of our program is to provide a carefully curated environment with an extensive range of learning opportunities to allow your child to pursue their interests and have fun doing it. Some of the focus areas we make available for children include literacy, mathematics, geography and cultural competency and Spanish. In addition to these academic focus areas, we place a strong importance on practical life skills, social and emotional development, nutritional awareness, and a love and appreciation of nature. We are a Montessori environment, which has many components, but in short means that we meet children on their level, and follow their lead as they show us what they need to learn and grow.

Kansas City Metro Area Preschools

Colonial Preschool

Young Toddler, Preschool, Pre-K, Transitional Kindergarten

Rainbow School

Daycare (starting at 2 months), Preschool, Pre-K

Spectrum Station

Infant (6 weeks), Toddler, Preschool, Pre-K, Elementary thru fifth grade in five locations across the metro

Pembroke Hill - Early Childhood

Preschool and Pre-K programs, starting at age 2

Barstow School - Early Childhood

Preschool and Pre-K programs, starting at age 3

Spectrum Station

Infant (6 weeks), Toddler, Preschool, Pre-K, Elementary thru fifth grade in five locations across the metro

Northland Preschool

Parent’s Day Out and Preschool programs, ages 2-5

Sunbeams Preschool

3 – 5 year old Preschool, full day options available through Parents’ Day Out program.

Little Lambs Preschool

Daycare (6 weeks) thru Pre-K programs. Three Northland locations.

Merry Moments Preschool

Preschool programs, ages 3-5

Gerner Family Early Education Center

Early childhood special education, preschool and pre-k programs.

Pine Ridge Church

Parent’s Day Out programs for 0-5 and preschool for 3-5.

Talented Tots Learning Center

6 weeks to Pre-K, and after school care for elementary school students.

Christ Lutheran Pre-Kindergarten

Pre-Kindergarten for those 2-6 years of age, all-day options. Summer learning program in June, July, and August.

Lil' Vikings Early Education Center

Infant thru Pre-K programs.

Connections Preschool

2-5 year olds

Dinosaur Den

Infant thru fifth grade.

Little Blessings Preschool

Infant (6 weeks) thru school-age programs.

KidZone Learning Center

Infants (6 weeks) thru elementary age programs.

The Little Green Schoolhouse

Infants thru six years old.

Little Blessings Preschool

Preschool program, summer camp.

A Step Above Academy

Infants thru Pre-K programs

BUGS Early Learning Center

Infants thru six years old.

Children's LIghthouse

Infant (6 weeks) thru after-school programs, up to age 12.

Kiddi College

Infants thru school-age programs

Hope Academy

Birth thru age 5.

Little Learners

Toddler (1 years old) thru Pre-K

Canterbury Academy - Prairie Ridge

Infants thru Pre-K programs

Discovery Academy

Infants (6 weeks) thru six years old.

Goddard School - Olathe Northwest

Infant thru after-school programs

Aldersgate Preschool and Discovery Days

20 months thru Pre-K.

KidsPark

Hourly childcare for days, evenings and weekends.

Open Minds

Infants (6 weeks) thru Pre-K programs. Summer Discovery Programs for elementary age.

ShiningStars

Weekly classes focusing on building confidence, boosting communication skills, and fostering creativity.

Top Flight Kids

Infants thru 5 years old.

Country Kids Day Care

12 months thru 12 years old.

Rising Star Academy

Toddlers thru school-age programs, including summer.

Kids R Kids Learning Academy

Infant thru school-age programs, including summer camps.

Agape Montessori School

Infant (6 weeks) thru 6 years old. Two Olathe locations.

Calvary Lutheran School

3-year-old Preschool thru Pre-K

Village Church on Mission Weekday Preschool

3 – 5 year old Preschool

Red Bridge Early Childhood Center

Part-time Preschool for 2.5 – 5 year olds

The Childhood Development Center at the J

12 months – 5 years

The Heritage Preschool

Kids Day Out, 3 & 4 year old Preschool, Pre-K classes

Global Montessori Academy

18 months – 12 years old.

Brookridge Day School

2.5 years – third grade

Rolling Hills Preschool

Kids Day Out (18 months), Preschool, Pre-K and Transitional Kindergarten

Bethany Lutheran School

12 months – 5 years old

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Learning Ladder - Blue Springs

18 months to Pre-K

Primrose School - Lee's Summit

Now enrolling ages 1-5.

The Goddard School

18 months to Pre-K

Creative World School

Programs for infants through school age.

Hilltop Preschool

Age 1 through Pre-K

Early Education Lab School

Ages 3-5 years old. Taught by high school students.

KCMO
Colonial Preschool

Young Toddler, Preschool, Pre-K, Transitional Kindergarten

Rainbow School

Daycare (starting at 2 months), Preschool, Pre-K

Spectrum Station

Infant (6 weeks), Toddler, Preschool, Pre-K, Elementary thru fifth grade in five locations across the metro

Pembroke Hill - Early Childhood

Preschool and Pre-K programs, starting at age 2

Barstow School - Early Childhood

Preschool and Pre-K programs, starting at age 3

Spectrum Station

Infant (6 weeks), Toddler, Preschool, Pre-K, Elementary thru fifth grade in five locations across the metro

Northland
Northland Preschool

Parent’s Day Out and Preschool programs, ages 2-5

Sunbeams Preschool

3 – 5 year old Preschool, full day options available through Parents’ Day Out program.

Little Lambs Preschool

Daycare (6 weeks) thru Pre-K programs. Three Northland locations.

Merry Moments Preschool

Preschool programs, ages 3-5

Gerner Family Early Education Center

Early childhood special education, preschool and pre-k programs.

Pine Ridge Church

Parent’s Day Out programs for 0-5 and preschool for 3-5.

Talented Tots Learning Center

6 weeks to Pre-K, and after school care for elementary school students.

Christ Lutheran Pre-Kindergarten

Pre-Kindergarten for those 2-6 years of age, all-day options. Summer learning program in June, July, and August.

Lil' Vikings Early Education Center

Infant thru Pre-K programs.

Olathe
Connections Preschool

2-5 year olds

Dinosaur Den

Infant thru fifth grade.

Little Blessings Preschool

Infant (6 weeks) thru school-age programs.

KidZone Learning Center

Infants (6 weeks) thru elementary age programs.

The Little Green Schoolhouse

Infants thru six years old.

Little Blessings Preschool

Preschool program, summer camp.

A Step Above Academy

Infants thru Pre-K programs

BUGS Early Learning Center

Infants thru six years old.

Children's LIghthouse

Infant (6 weeks) thru after-school programs, up to age 12.

Kiddi College

Infants thru school-age programs

Hope Academy

Birth thru age 5.

Little Learners

Toddler (1 years old) thru Pre-K

Canterbury Academy - Prairie Ridge

Infants thru Pre-K programs

Discovery Academy

Infants (6 weeks) thru six years old.

Goddard School - Olathe Northwest

Infant thru after-school programs

Aldersgate Preschool and Discovery Days

20 months thru Pre-K.

KidsPark

Hourly childcare for days, evenings and weekends.

Open Minds

Infants (6 weeks) thru Pre-K programs. Summer Discovery Programs for elementary age.

ShiningStars

Weekly classes focusing on building confidence, boosting communication skills, and fostering creativity.

Top Flight Kids

Infants thru 5 years old.

Country Kids Day Care

12 months thru 12 years old.

Rising Star Academy

Toddlers thru school-age programs, including summer.

Kids R Kids Learning Academy

Infant thru school-age programs, including summer camps.

Agape Montessori School

Infant (6 weeks) thru 6 years old. Two Olathe locations.

Johnson County
Calvary Lutheran School

3-year-old Preschool thru Pre-K

Village Church on Mission Weekday Preschool

3 – 5 year old Preschool

Red Bridge Early Childhood Center

Part-time Preschool for 2.5 – 5 year olds

The Childhood Development Center at the J

12 months – 5 years

The Heritage Preschool

Kids Day Out, 3 & 4 year old Preschool, Pre-K classes

Global Montessori Academy

18 months – 12 years old.

Brookridge Day School

2.5 years – third grade

Rolling Hills Preschool

Kids Day Out (18 months), Preschool, Pre-K and Transitional Kindergarten

Bethany Lutheran School

12 months – 5 years old

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Lee's Summit
Learning Ladder - Blue Springs

18 months to Pre-K

Primrose School - Lee's Summit

Now enrolling ages 1-5.

The Goddard School

18 months to Pre-K

Liberty
Creative World School

Programs for infants through school age.

Hilltop Preschool

Age 1 through Pre-K

Early Education Lab School

Ages 3-5 years old. Taught by high school students.

Johnson County

Picking a Preschool: Things to Consider

picking a preschool

“In the KC area, we are fortunate to have an abundance of preschools to choose from (so many it can make your head spin!). Consider the different preschool philosophies and which one is the best fit for your child.”

Why Preschool Graduation is Worth More than a Worthless Diploma

preschool graduation

“All of these hours spent with their school family are not just a blip on their life’s radar to be lost, ignored or forgotten.”

Tips for Picking the Right Preschool

toddler

We all want to make sure we’re giving our children every advantage and opportunity we can. That means ensuring their education begins early—and gets off to the right start.”

Sarah McGinnity
Sarah grew up in Manhattan, Kansas (Go Cats!), she moved to Minnesota where she met her husband, Shea. Realizing how much she hated snow in May, she convinced him to move to Kansas City in 2010. Together they have lived in Midtown, Waldo, the Plaza, and now Overland Park. Sarah is mom to four kids including a teenager and a toddler. She has her master’s in urban administration and is passionate about making Kansas City a more equitable and supportive community. In between the crazy, she likes to drink coffee, run, hike, travel as much as possible, and experience all things Kansas City!