Iowa City Preschool Guide 2023

Welcome to the Iowa City Moms Preschool Guide 2023! Searching for the right place for your child to learn and grow can be overwhelming, but we are here to help. There are an abundance of preschools, child care centers, and in-home programs to choose from in the Iowa City area. We hope this guide will provide you with the information you need to find the best fit for your family.

Willowwind was founded in 1972 by a small group of local educators and parents who sought to create a different kind of learning environment for local children, one that valued self-awareness, cooperation, and emotional development in equal measure with academic and intellectual achievement. The school’s unique education practices invited child-led exploration, curiosity, creativity, and relationship building, values that remain at the school’s core 50 years later.

The goal of Willowwind’s Montessori preschool program is to teach the child as a whole, equally guiding the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth of each child. Through the prepared environment, calmness of the teacher, and attention to grace and courtesy, we strive to offer an educational experience based upon the teachings of Maria Montessori.

Christ the King Christian Preschool is a well-established preschool that has been providing a positive learning environment for preschoolers for over 30 years. The school strives to lay the foundation for skills that will last a lifetime and provides a nurturing environment to further learning, social skills, and spiritual growth. This play-based program focuses not only on academic activities such as reading, science, arts, and music, but also places importance on teaching young children how to work well with others. The school maintains a low student/teacher ratio in order to better meet the needs of our students to allow for increased one-to-one interaction. Christ the King Christian Preschool is Christian-based but is open and welcoming to all faiths. To learn more about its program, call or email to set up a tour.

UUS Nature Preschool strives to provide an Iowa City nature preschool option to the Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty area that allows children to thrive in an outdoor, play-based environment while inviting children to pre-academic disciplines curated based on student wonder, readiness, and interests.

With a sustainably built, eco-conscious building nestled on our wooded grounds, our preschool classroom provides a safe place to play and create. The majority of our preschoolers’ day will be spent enjoying our outdoor classroom, giving students access to gardens, an outdoor stage, groomed trails, and a natural playscape right outside the classroom windows.

*Please note that while our Unitarian Universalist teachings are deeply in tune with respect to our environment and the greater natural world, our preschool is not religious and our focus is on being kind neighbors to each other who value diversity, environmental consciousness, and a love of staying curious. People of all backgrounds are welcome to attend.

Classroom Lead teachers are certified by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education. Each classroom has a lead teacher and an assistant teacher. All staff members are required to pass background checks and are trained in CPR and First Aid as required by DHS. We value excellence in teaching the whole child customized to each student’s intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs and abilities. In addition to an authentic Montessori prepared environment in each classroom, we also offer specialized instruction in Spanish and Music. Schedule a tour here to learn more