Our son began attending Loving Space this last fall and although he usually has separation anxiety in other contexts, he has transitioned well to going to the preschool. Sherry, the director at the preschool, was so helpful in engaging and distracting him the first few weeks when we left after dropping him off. He’s very fond of Sherry as he is the other teachers. We have also been very impressed with Sherry’s responsiveness to any questions we have had. We appreciate that the school is always rotating the activities and arts and crafts, so that our son has the chance to explore different textures, activities, etc. Overall, it’s a creative and loving space - just like we hoped. -Mark and Michelle

My son spent 2 years at Loving Space preschool & also 1 year at the kindergarten. We absolutely loved everything about it! The teachers are amazing, the projects are so perfect for their age & ability, and their combination of teaching methods fit my sons personality perfectly. He absolutely thrived in the environment they create for their kids. To this day, he still tells me how much he misses being there and I wish he could have been able to have this experience all the way through grade school and beyond. I feel so thankful that he had the time he did in such a magical place! Thank you Loving Space - you guys are awesome!

Both of my youngest children went to A Loving Space and the name means everything. These folks taught my children to love them selves and others; to honor them selves and others; to cherish the exploration of learning and creativity. I would make time to read and play when I picked my children up so I could spend time at A Loving Space. It is too bad they dont teach elementary, junior high on up to high school as my children would have been enrolled all the way through.

I cant say enough about how wonderful of an experience my boys had @ Loving Space Preschool and Kindergarten! The teachers have such a special way of connecting with the kids that makes them feel listened to & that their ideas are important. They are encouraged to be creative, independent thinkers and celebrated for their unique qualities. After my boys graduated they started 1st grade in public school and took the self motivated confidence they learned @ Loving Space with them. Their 1st grade teacher told me she can always tell when a student has come from Loving Space because they are always such great kids!

Both my daughters attended Loving Space School. One, for a year of preschool and one year of Kindergarten. This was by far a phenomenal start to her schooling in the public school system! My other daughter attended the preschool for 3 years and enjoyed it immensely. They both speak highly of their experiences while in attendance and still desire to go back to the school to visit the amazing teachers! They are now in 4th and 8th grade! I would highly recommend Loving Space Schools to anyone!

I love love love Loving Space! It’s one of my favorite places on the whole planet! I worked there for 2 ½ years and left about 16 years ago when I moved to another city. Now out of state, I visit the school every time I come back to Bellingham. Some of my fondest memories come from Loving Space, and so are my best friends!I suggest that you look at the photos on the Loving Space Facebook page- that will show you how creative the activities are, and how the children learn through play.The owner and kindergarten teacher, Abby Franklin, has over 20 years of teaching experience, and, in fact, also teaches classes to parents and educators on learning in creative environments. She has a lot of early childhood education herself and is a great resource and advocate for children and learning.It’s a great testament that many of the teachers have been at the school for many, many years. They love it and find it as rewarding as the kids. Parents comment that their children are more than ready to attend the first grade after graduating from the kindergarten, and that they go to elementary school with a lot of confidence socially and academically.I really cannot recommend Loving Space enough. If you’re on the fence, I suggest talking with a current student, graduate, parent, or teacher. You can also tour the school with your kids to see if it is the right fit for you.I love love love Loving Space!

Both of my kids went through Loving Space preschool and then kindergarten. Both of them loved the experience, despite being very different kids of kids. I cant think of a way that a school could be more welcoming and warm - and just all around awesome. I dont think there were than a handful of days that we picked them up in the same clothes theyd worn to school that morning - and there was usually some epic art project or seriously fun story involving creative play that went along with that. If youre a helicopter parent, this is not your place, but if youre more on the freerange side of things, you owe it to yourself (and your kids!) to check it out. My 13 and 8 year olds still talk about their amazing teachers and are both still in touch with friends they made here.

This is not a terrible place by any means, but it had enough negatives that we took our son out of it. First, its expensive. Second, the teachers didnt really bother to engage him. The approach seemed to be to let everyone do their own thing, but we could have our son not socializing at home, we dont need a center for that. Finally, the schedules are pretty inconvenient. If you are working full time their closing in the middle of the day wont work for you. Also, all of these factors mean that it its a pretty homogenous group of kids.This place is pretty popular with a lot of people, but I wouldnt recommend it for most.

I had the wonderful honor to be a teacher at Loving Space when I lived in Bellingham, WA. It was hands down the best job Ive ever had. What I learned from the other teachers and, most importantly, the children, I will take with me for the rest of my life. It is a nurturing environment where children can grow and learn and love. When I have kids I hope that I can find a school just like Loving Space for them to grow up in. Miss you all!! xoxo

Both of my kids attended Loving Space for preschool and kindergarten and I cannot say enough wonderful things about it. They are now in 4th and 8th grades and remember those years and those teachers as the best of their school experiences. Loving Spaces philosophy teaches kids to love learning, embracing trying, support their peers, make mistakes, and be fearless. Learning is beautiful, messy, silly, kind, cooperative, fun play.As a professor, I can say that philosophy grows far better college students than does a program oriented toward traditional metrics of success such as early reading (Nothing is wrong with early reading, especially if your children love it, as mine do, but it shouldnt be the way we measure success in early childhood education). I want my kids to be creative and take chances, not learn how to jump through hoops. Its important to me that they can celebrate mistakes and bravely forge ahead.These teachers got my kids. And the sense of community for the families involved is unparalleled. I have such genuine affection for all of my kids Loving Space teachers.

This school is such a gift to our community. The teachers at both the pre-school and kindergarten have this magic with children that is something to aspire to. Every single child is seen, and understood, and important, and supported. What a beautiful foundation to lay down during these very formative years.My 2nd grader, who went to both the pre-school and kindy often talks about how he wishes he could still go to school there. My daughter is currently attending the pre-school, and we just couldnt be any happier. Love, love, love Loving Space!