Childswork Learning Center

Childswork was a saving grace for our family. Our child had gone to a wonderful coop preschool and then entered the public school system for Kindergarten. For our daughter, who was young for her grade, the transition to a system in which she was required to sit for the majority of the day, completing sheet work in classroom with 30 other kids and one teacher, was rough. We quickly realized we needed a different option. Based on the recommendation from many different sources, we checked out Childswork. We knew immediately we had found a better fit for our daughter. The exploratory play based, small student to teacher ratio and opportunities to learn through multi-​sensory experiences was so much more developmentally appropriate. Sadly, our public school system (especially for the K-​3 grades) is not designed to address learning in the way children at that age are cognitively, socially and emotionally developing. The extra year of this developmentally appropriate exploratory (though not a free-​for-​all) teaching approach fostered our child’s social/​emotional development, readied her for academic success in 1^st grade and most importantly allowed her to LOVE school and enjoy learning. Thank you Childswork!

Wow, what an incredible find!
My husband and I relocated our family up to Portland from Los Angeles and chose Childswork based on proximity to our new home. We were fortunate in that our son was only waitlisted for about a month (well before the school year began) before a spot was offered. I knew NOTHING about Childswork before touring the school for the first time and was really blown away by this gem of a school. The tuition is very reasonable (we are a single middle-​income family), the fundraising efforts are not terribly invasive, and the involvement of parents with the school community is top notch. In our case, we receive photos and daily briefings from my son’s classroom. My son really enjoys going to class and I am already seeing how much he has grown and developed in his short time there. Great play-​based instruction and a safe, healthy classroom environment. Could not have found a better school for our family.

I think your experience here depends on which teachers you have. Some, probably the ones referenced in all these five-​star reviews, are great. The tuition is very reasonable (difficult to find in Portland). The school is large with a great outdoor playground and a big indoor gym (perfect for rainy days) as well as lots of extras like Spanish, STEM, and cooking classes. Unfortunately for us, the teachers in our particular classroom seemed miserable and we felt like they just didn’t like our kid. Ultimately, we ended up at a much smaller (less institutional-​feeling) preschool with a happier experience.

What a fantastic preschool. I was a substitute teacher here for a couple of years, and I learned so much from the highly competent and heart-​based teaching crew. I was impressed that 3-​year-​olds can put on their own jackets and clean up their lunch tables, as well as learning emotional skills and conflict resolution. In fact, it seems that you can teach a preschooler just about anything if you are patient and break it down in a way they can relate to. In this environment, children tend to feel successful and proud.
I didn’t go to preschool as a kid, but working at Childswork made me wish I had!
By the way, it’s been about 8 years since I taught there, and I’ve had no connection to the school since then. I just decided to write a review now because I was recommending it so highly to someone who asked me if I knew a good preschool.

The school is keeping $ 2000 that we put down as a deposit. School does not start for six weeks and they just don’t care. Told them that we had fallen on hard times and wondered if we could get a scholarship. Kim *helpfully* told me about a welfare to work program. I gave notice that we wouldn’t be attending and they told us so sorry you won’t be attending and you signed in your contract no refund, which we did, so we loose June’s tuition payment, and a full deposit for two students. When we need this money the most Child Works is not a great place, they have a waiting list, these spots will be filled. I want to cry.

What a spectacular school! A friendly and nurturing environment for little ones. Cannot recommend this little gem enough.

I cannot say enough good things about Childswork Learning Center. I feel very fortunate that my son was able to be part of the Childswork community for three years. The teachers and administrators are fabulous. They hold the children in high esteem and they honor them with encouragement, respect and a confidence in their innate abilities. I am a better parent simply by having had exposure to such great teachers. The diversity of program options (from the many different classroom choices, enrichment programs, before and after care offerings, and the winter, spring and summer camps) are extremely supportive of the needs of the children and their families. My son sums it up best. When I asked him if he liked school he said, «I don’t like school Mommy. I love it.»
Brenda W.

Childswork is one of the best preschools in Portland. This is my son’s third year and my daughter’s second. My husband and I have found their teachers to be creative, caring professionals. We have valued their insights about our children, as they have valued our input as parents.
When I started researching preschools when my son was a toddler, I had heard so much about Montessori that I assumed that was the way to go. As I looked into other approaches, I realized the emergent curriculum was a better fit for our family. While the daily schedule is structured, providing a sense of security for the children, the curriculum itself is driven by the children’s own interests. Walking the halls you will see that one class is interested in urban planning, one in bats, another classroom is so full of plants it looks like a garden.
The other thing I did not realize when I started researching Portland preschools is the range in education you will find among teachers. I toured some beautiful, chic facilities with natural hardwoods, but when I scratched beneath the surface… At Childswork, each class has two educators – the lead teacher, who usually has a master’s degree, as well as a full-​time co-​teacher. We feel secure knowing that our children are spending their day with people who have more experience, more training, and more understanding of early child development than we do. (And we thought we knew a lot.)
I would call Childswork a hidden gem, except for the long wait list to get in. Parents, don’t wait. You can learn more on their website:
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«We are very disappointed that you decided to place xxx in another school»
(and they are keeping the money that we left in their office for a few hours!)
WOW ! THANKS !
This school looks great. Our visit was interesting and we were really impressed by a preschool that looks like a high school. The teacher that gave us the tour was extremely competent and motivated.
We dropped 50 $ towards a non-​refundable (upon enrollment) 150 $ registration fee, but — due to availability — we changed our mind and choose another school. They probably did not like that. It was a matter of few hours and, regardless the prompt communication, we were told that refunds were not possible. What refund? We’re just asking not to deposit our check: that was not a refund!
Now we’re told that our daughter was already put in a class :) hence the impossible refund! That was very quick considering the spot was months away !!!
I share the same frustration found in other reviews about the management of the school:

Having spent 5 wonderful years with my two kids at Childswork, I am very sad to be done (though really looking forward to both kids in same school — one drop off/​pick up — woohoo!!). As one reviewer noted, it is an excellent blend of being child-​directed, but with appropriate boundaries. I cannot say enough good things about the teachers and how caring and nurturing they are of the kids. They really meet them where they are and really excel at developing social skills — particularly with my son, who was very shy.
The flexible before– and after-​care options have been a life-​saver as my own job has changed over the years. The Kids Nite Out option made for some great date nights — the kids stay and play at Childswork in the evening, while the grownups do their own playing. :)
I strongly recommend taking a tour and seeing if it is a good fit your your child. They also do flexible summer camps, which is a good way to test the waters.

I am an admittedly biased reviewer of Childswork Learning Center, as I taught their for a few years. Nevertheless, I still consider it to be an amazing preschool in the Portland area.
Sign up for a tour if you’re interested in sending your kid here to get an idea of what it’s like. Children direct much of their own education and curriculum, deciding democratically what it is they would like to study. Then from there, their investigations take off.