It is hard to put into words how special and magical Kindred Montessori is. Our son started at 2.5 years and has since "graduated" to kindergarten, while our daughter who started at 18 months is still there now. Veronica ("Vero"), the owner and lead teacher has a Master's in Montessori Education and is a brilliant and loving guide for the children. They, over the course of 3-4 years, progress from 1.5 year-olds in diapers to capable, confident, independent, and bilingual little people who help to teach and lead the younger kids. Visiting Kindred and seeing the kids in action is nothing short of incredible. Of course there are sometimes tears and conflicts, especially at the start of the year as new students get adjusted to not being home, but the norm is all 12 or so students working on projects that they themselves have chosen, in an environment of serenity that we have never been able to replicate at home. The fact that this all happens entirely in Spanish is an added bonus. Vero and her teachers walk the children in a group to the park every day, rain or shine (rain gear for each student is kept at the school since they embody the idea that there is no bad weather, only bad gear), and their chef prepares delicious, healthy lunches that our kids prefer to anything we have been able to make at home. The children help to prepare their own afternoon snacks, and set and clear their tables for all meals. The entire school and the Montessori "materials" are arranged in a way that encourages curiosity and learning, whether the kids realize it is happening or not. Beyond the classroom, Vero has cultivated a warm community around the school. Both our children still mainly spend time with their Kindred friends (including the annual Kindred Trick-or-Treating!), and the parents are all communicative and supportive with numerous organic get-togethers outside of the school throughout the year. We could not have been happier with our son's experience at Kindred or his preparation for elementary school, and we are already thrilled with our daughter's experience and progress.

Kindred is more than just a school; it is a warm and welcoming community that became our home away from home. We felt that our kids had a safe and nourishing family to go to everyday. Kindred is filled with people that feel like family; they genuinely cared for and respected our children and made us feel at ease. Most importantly, they met them exactly where they were and did not compare them to other kids. The things that we loved about Kindred are too many to list but the major things as a parent that I appreciated was the constant communication, the celebration of each family's heritages, the focus on healthy eating, outdoor time, and the overall spirit of sensitivity, community and belonging.

My 3 year-old had been enrolled at Kindred Montessori for 10 months, starting just after she turned 2. We came to visit at an Open House event, and fell in love. I have a keen critical eye for child care facilities, given my professional background in education. Kindred is everything it claims to be and more. The owner and lead teacher, Veronica, has more than just a deep love of children. She has a vast knowledge of early education and tremendous experience that supports individualization for each child. The Montessori Model is exceptional, and all the better with a strong, experienced leader like Veronica. My daughter has progressed wonderfully in her social, physical, emotional and cognitive developments at Kindred. And while I highly value these progressions, it is the culture of the school that impresses me most. Veronica has created a family-like community that feels safe, welcoming, calm, inclusive and non-judgemental. She goes above and beyond the role of owner and teacher to support each child and family in their unique needs.  Veronica has also hired staff that integrates into the family community there, providing care and guidance in a highly professional manner. As a single Mom living very far away from our family, Kindred’s supportive, responsive and flexible approach has enriched our lives tremendously. When my daughter is there, she is with a new kind of family. Every day starts and ends with warm greeting from staff and classmates. And in between are creative enrichment activities mixed with lots of time to just play outside being a kid.  The school environment fosters independence, with consistent positive discipline and clear expectations. On a single income, the tuition can be a real stretch for our budget. But I whole-heartedly believe it is worth every penny and sacrifice we make for it. I often tell people, “If I were to magically paint a picture of the perfect school for us, it would look just like Kindred Montessori.

My husband and I had been looking for a Bilingual Montessori in our area. So when I found Kindred it was like a Godsend. It was a perfectly located (in North Park), Spanish immersion beautiful Montessori. When I first went to visit I fell in love as did my daughter, she was 18 months at the time. The space is beautiful and perfect for young growing minds. I was impressed by the head guide Veronica Martinez’s study background and experience with children and the Montessori school system. And seeing her interact with my child and the other students warms my heart. I love how much my daughter has learned, how quickly she started speaking in English and Spanish, ande how independent she is compared to other 2 year olds. Kindred  instills good manners, friendship and kindness and open communication during child conflicts. Unlike many other toddler school’s, Kindred also helped support me potty train and within a few weeks my daughter was potty trained! My husband and I are delighted by Kindred, the guides, the other families, the learnings and the independence it has given our daughter. I highly recommend it to all friends!

Kindred Montessori is so much more to me than a daycare or preschool. Kindred is giving my son opportunities to thrive, to learn, to become confident, independent and develop a respect for others. Veronica teaches Montessori-style education and allows each child to flourish while providing them opportunities to learn based on age-appropriate activities. The school environment is beautiful and bright, the teachers are loving and highly educated in the field. Kindred Montessori provides everything I was looking for in a school – Spanish immersion, structure, consistent learning through exploration and responsibility, lots of time outdoors at the park, mostly organic homemade food, eco-friendly materials, crafts, music, yoga, dancing, gardening, hugs, and community. What can I say? – Kindred has got soul. During the first 5 years, a child’s brain develops more than at any other time in life and has a lasting impact on a child’s ability to learn and succeed. I am so grateful that my son will spend his first 5 years in this environment that will enrich his mind, and give him the best start. Kindred is truly “Growing Human Greatness” and I am so happy to partner with Veronica and her team, helping my son see the greatness in himself.

We are so happy that we found Kindred Montessori! Veronica, the owner, and her assistant, Leslee, are wonderful, well-qualified educators. Veronica uses an App, Brightwheel, to provide updates and pictures throughout the day of our little one. I really appreciate the communication, and the pictures always make my day brighter.  We had some basic things that we were looking for in a childcare  (clean, secure, access to outdoor play, healthy meals, etc.) and Kindred met all of our wants and more. Our son is thriving at Kindred. His vocabulary has blossomed in both English and Spanish, he is learning social skills, and he is so excited to go to “school” everyday. The location is ideal as Kindred is less than a block from the park. They go to the Morley Field Nature Exploration area everyday (rain or shine). Kindred’s space is also so appealing. They have an indoor and outdoor classroom and Kindred is set up to foster independence with kid-sized everything. They have the children doing things I would never think to engage my almost two year in. Children help prepare snack, one of our sons favorite activities, learn how to dress themselves, and they will even assist with potty training when the time comes. It’s so nice to feel like Veronica and Leslee are part of our parenting team. Veronica holds parent/guide conferences to check in and is always available to answer any questions or concerns we have about our sons behavior or development. One of the things we were concerned about was making sure our son is offered healthy meals. Kindred has someone who cooks nutritious meals for the children every week. Some other things we love about Kindred include Spanish-immersion, yoga, music, art, gardening, the use of non-toxic eco-friendly cleaners, and cloth diapers. It’s so hard to leave your little one, but I feel confident that our son is happy and thriving at Kindred. We are so thankful for the experiences our son is enjoying and feel confident that he is in good hands.

From the moment I met Veronica and saw her school, I knew our daughter would be at home there. We wanted to find a place where our daughter would be challenged, respected and cherished, and Kindred has provided all of that and then some. The children get to be outside in nature at least once a day. They learn practical tasks such as preparing fruit and growing herbs. Our daughter thrives in the environment there, which is set up specifically for small hands and bodies – everything is her size. She is speaking full sentences and singing songs in Spanish now. An added bonus is the healthy, always home-cooked food she loves eating there. I love knowing that my child is being treated with kindness and respect and is learning how to take responsibility for herself, rather than being disciplined using “time outs” and constant redirection from adults. Kindred has become not just our daughter’s school, but part of our parenting community.