Fall 2026 Openings

This Fall, we still have a limited number of openings in our Blue Skies (2–3 years), Moon Beams (3–4 years), and Rainbow Birds ( 4–5 years) classrooms.

Each classroom is thoughtfully designed around children's curiosity, relationships, and meaningful experiences. At Pike Market Child Care & Preschool, children don't simply learn about their community—they become active participants in it.

Blue Skies (2-3 years)

Walk into Blue Skies and you'll notice something right away: children are busy doing real work. Some are carefully pouring water between containers, others are shining flashlights through colored acrylic, and another small group is comparing what happens when light, shadow, and transparent materials come together. The room is calm, purposeful, and full of discovery.

Blue Skies is a place where toddlers are trusted to explore. Rather than moving everyone through the same activity, teachers thoughtfully prepare environments that invite children to investigate with all of their senses. Water, light, natural materials, art, and dramatic play become tools for asking questions, testing ideas, and building confidence.

This year, a simple invitation with flashlights and translucent materials sparked weeks of exploration. Children experimented with color mixing, discovered how shadows changed as they moved their lights, and excitedly shared their observations with one another. Another favorite investigation began outdoors with cups, funnels, and water, where children discovered volume, cause and effect, and the joy of working together. These experiences may look like play—and they are—but they are also the foundation of scientific thinking, language development, cooperation, and problem-solving.

Moon Beams (3-4 years)

Walk into Moon Beams and you'll find children asking questions, testing ideas, and learning from one another. A simple collection of tubes might become an engineering challenge. A magnifying glass transforms an ordinary object into something worthy of close study. Morning meeting becomes a place where children share observations, build on one another's thinking, and help shape the investigations ahead.

At this age, children's imaginations and reasoning are growing rapidly. In Moon Beams, teachers create environments that encourage children to wonder, experiment, and revisit ideas over time. Rather than rushing from one activity to the next, children are given the time and space to make discoveries, solve problems together, and express their thinking through conversation, art, movement, and play.

One investigation this year began with children's fascination with how objects moved through tubes and ramps. What started as playful experimentation evolved into careful observation as children adjusted materials, predicted outcomes, and collaborated to create increasingly complex pathways. Another day, a child examined a natural object with a magnifying glass, sparking conversations about texture, pattern, and what happens when we take time to look closely. Even everyday experiences, like pouring water or gathering for a group discussion, become opportunities to build language, scientific thinking, and meaningful relationships.

Moon Beams is where children's curiosity deepens into investigation, and where they begin to see themselves as capable thinkers whose ideas are worth exploring.

Rainbow Birds (4-5 year olds)

One of the first things you'll notice about Rainbow Birds is that learning doesn't stop at the classroom door. On any given day, children might be observing the Seattle waterfront from a rooftop garden, sketching plants growing above Pike Place Market, interviewing a chef about where food comes from, or following a question that began during a neighborhood walk.

In Rainbow Birds, children are encouraged to become thoughtful observers, problem-solvers, and active members of their community. They ask questions, share ideas, document their discoveries, and revisit them through art, writing, construction, dramatic play, and conversation. Rather than memorizing facts, they learn how to think critically, collaborate with others, and see themselves as capable contributors.

One investigation this year took children to a rooftop garden overlooking Elliott Bay. Armed with clipboards and sketchbooks, they carefully observed how vegetables and flowers grew in an urban environment, recording what they noticed and comparing their ideas with one another. Another day, a simple conversation with a local chef became an opportunity to learn about food, community, and the many people whose work helps Pike Place Market thrive. These authentic experiences help children develop curiosity, confidence, and a genuine sense of belonging in the world around them.

By the time Rainbow Birds children leave for kindergarten, they have practiced asking thoughtful questions, working collaboratively, solving problems, and sharing their ideas with confidence—skills that prepare them not just for school, but for life.

The PMCCP Difference

At Pike Market Child Care & Preschool, we believe children learn best through relationships, play, and meaningful experiences. Our teachers observe children's interests, ask thoughtful questions, and design environments that invite exploration rather than simply delivering lessons. This allows curriculum to emerge from children's natural curiosity while supporting their cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and creative development.

Our location in the heart of Pike Place Market makes this approach even richer. The Market is our classroom. Children regularly explore parks, gardens, businesses, public art, and the vibrant neighborhood surrounding our school. These real-world experiences inspire investigations that simply couldn't happen within four walls.

As a nonprofit, we're equally committed to building an inclusive community. Our sliding scale tuition helps make high-quality early learning accessible to families from a wide range of backgrounds, creating classrooms where children learn alongside peers with diverse experiences and perspectives.

Finally, we believe that children thrive when they are known well. Strong relationships with families, continuity of care, and thoughtfully maintained teacher-to-child ratios allow educators to respond to each child's unique strengths, interests, and needs.

The result is a community where children don't just prepare for the next classroom—they develop the confidence, curiosity, empathy, and resilience they'll carry with them for years to come.

Enrollment is now open for our remaining Fall 2026 openings in Blue Skies, Moon Beams, and Rainbow Birds.

There is no application deadline. We accept applications on a rolling basis until each classroom is full. Once a classroom reaches capacity, families are invited to join our waiting pool for future openings.

The best way to experience PMCCP is to visit us. We'd love to show you around, answer your questions, and help you discover whether our community is the right fit for your family.

Ready to take the next step? Visit our Contact page to schedule a tour, ask a question, or begin the enrollment process.

We look forward to welcoming your family to Pike Market Child Care & Preschool.