Visit Bellevue's Newest and Most Unique Play-based Preschool

Alli Drinkard and Jessica Dixon have a love and passion for childcare that can be traced all the way back to when they met as toddlers at a home daycare on Mercer Island.  From then on and throughout high school and college, they were on a path to fulfill their childhood dream to be "daycare ladies."  In 2013, these best friends opened The Growing Tree in Bellevue, a play-based home daycare that provides the same level of comfort as home while stimulating educational growth, promoting self-assurance, and enhancing social awareness, responsibility, and interaction.

Just this year with growing demand and the opportunity to acquire the perfect space, Alli and Jessica expanded and opened The Treehouse, a playcare and preschool, just down the street from The Growing Tree.

The Treehouse incorporates aspects of different philosophies, including Montessori and Reggio, along with Alli and Jessica's personal experiences through their degrees in Early Childhood Education and having worked as preschool teachers prior to opening the Growing Tree.  The result is an offering that is truly flexible and unique for Eastside families.

• The curriculum is play-based and child directed
• The age range is 2.5 - 6 years old
• Children do NOT have to be potty trained
• Includes 3 nutritious snacks
• Parents can choose 1 to 5 days per week for 4 hours between the hours of 7:00am and 5:30pm
• Enrollment for preschool is OPEN throughout the year
• Drop-in care and before/after school care are available

Play and giving children meaningful experiences in an environment like The Treehouse allows them to explore and discover their world.  Learning through play gives children the opportunity to take ownership in their learning.

If children are showing more interest for a month's curriculum unit it may last longer than a month or overlap, or they may move on to a different subject if children are uninterested.  Also, children are given the space to learn at their own pace and the freedom to choose if they want to participate in an activity.  

The Treehouse's curriculum has a monthly theme to which they base their planning and activities around.  Themes are incorporated through playing, reading stories, singing songs, creating art projects, doing science experiments, cooking and baking, and through dramatic play.  Alphabet, numbers, shapes, and colors are incorporated in lessons all year round.