5 Best Preschools in Calgary [2024]

A preschool acts as a foundation layer for your child which prepares him for senior classes where more attention is given to academics than playful learning. Not only does a good preschool equip your kid with a basic education concept but also with emotional and social ethics and that’s the very reason why every parent should choose preschool wisely.

Various survey reports have confirmed that the right choice regarding preschool can leave long-term benefits which include better focus, better health, higher earnings, and a clean criminal record. By ticking off rigid criteria, we’ve extracted the five best preschool Calgary institutions for parents who want nothing but only the best for their kids.

Best Preschools in Calgary 2024

1. Preschool 101

Website	https://preschool101.net/
Address	20 Panatella Boulevard NW, Unit 20, Calgary, AB T3K 6K7
Contact Details	Phone: 587-353-8101 Email: [email protected]
School Hours	Thursday: 8:30 am–3:30 pm Friday: 8:30 am–3:30 pm Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed Monday: 8:30 am–3:30 pm Tuesday: 8:30 am–3:30 pm Wednesday: 8:30 am–3:30 pm

Preschool 101 is best for children who never get tired of playing. Here, the kids are taught through playful activities which increase their curiosity, making them active explorers, creators, and participants. The school strongly believes that no one teaches students the right way to play so they take responsibility for it. For this purpose, they instruct their teachers to indulge children in fun play sessions that are appropriate for them as per their development stage and age.

These programs then give your kids the strength to think and survive in different situations. Unlike other schools, they see every kid as an individual, with a different learning style and pace. At the same time, they preach the message that difference doesn’t mean wrong or imperfection. Instead, two people who are alike are perfect in different ways. Most importantly, they maintain a safe and secure environment at the school, making your child feel at home.

Customer Reviews

” Really Great Preschool with excellent staff ” – Yketa Warenka

” I had a great experience with the school. My son loves it and we are glad to have chosen this place for our son. I would Strongly recommend this place for my friends. ” – Mehdi Qurbany

2. Apple Tree Preschool

Website	https://appletreepreschool.ca/
Address	352, 2335 162 Ave. SW Calgary AB
Contact Details	School Phone: 403-252-1161 Email: [email protected]
School Hours	Thursday: 8:30 am–4:30 pm Friday: 8:30 am–4:30 pm Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed Monday: 8:30 am–4:30 pm Tuesday: 8:30 am–4:30 pm Wednesday: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

Apple Tree Preschool offers innovative but unique pre-kindergarten and junior kindergarten programs in which your children of 3-5 are allowed to grow, think, learn, and manage challenges positively. No rigorous or tough activities are conducted to make your child learn new things. Instead, the school works on a purposeful playing strategy that equips your child socially, emotionally, and of course academically.

All the programs and events conducted in this facility share the same objective; to contribute to children’s physical development, intellectual growth, literacy & language expansion, and emotional/social discipline. Children are kept so engaged and immersed in the fun activities that they’ll be excited to show up again in the classrooms. The school also offers ESL support free of cost for students who are learning English as their second language.

Customer Reviews

” Apple Tree Preschool is wonderful. Highly recommend this fine program for your children. Kind, caring staff with an age-appropriate curriculum. ” – Nancy Staples

” Apple Tree Preschool is sensational. I could not imagine a better experience in a preschool. They are supportive of many different types of learners, provide engaging and exciting activities, and work on developing motor/language/social skills in a positive and healthy way. The teachers are pleasant and kind and lead by example with their use of kind words and gentle behaviors. The administration is very transparent and communicates in an efficient, yet very effective, manner. If you are looking for a place for your child to grow in leaps and bounds and a child that will be supported in many different ways during their time at preschool, then Apple Tree is the place for you!! Be warned though – you may need a bigger fridge to display the abundant and BEAUTIFUL art your small person will make there ” – Sara Swanson

3. Kids @ Play Preschool

Website	https://kidsatplaypreschool.ca/
Address	356 Cranston Road, Calgary AB T3M 0S9
Contact Details	School Phone: 403-200-5437 Email: [email protected]
School Hours	Thursday: 8:30 am–4:30 pm Friday: 8:30 am–4:30 pm Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed Monday: 8:30 am–4:30 pm Tuesday: 8:30 am–4:30 pm Wednesday: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

Want to grow your child as a man of sufficient self-esteem, leadership qualities, problem-solving attitude, and competitive nature? If so, Kids @ Play Preschool is the right place for him. In this early education organization, your child is exposed to a secure, challenging, nurturing, but creative environment. There, he is indulged in open-ended, routine, and structured classroom activities to foster golden traits in him.

At the same time, your kid’s identity and individuality are preserved. Instead of forcing them to learn something out of their interest, they are encouraged to use their unique talents to take risks, converse, observe, reflect, and collaborate.

As a generous part of the community, the school offers a child care subsidy with which the overall cost of child care is reduced incredibly so that eligible families could afford quality early education for their kids.

Customer Reviews

” Excellent preschool. Both our daughter and son attended and really enjoyed their experience. Kind and caring staff and a great learning environment. ” – Candace DiGiacomo

” My daughter is obsessed with Kids @ Play! She started going when she was 3 years old and is currently attending kids @ play. The teachers and atmosphere are just so great and my daughter learns a lot and gets to play a lot also. She’s always asking when her next day of school is! I love how organized it is there, they send a newsletter a month before and it’s so clean there too. Super cute place! I highly recommend this pre school program to anybody. We love Miss Brittney, Mrs u and all the other teachers that help assist. ” – Sophia D

4. Grey Matter Montessori

Indeed, a child of such a young age of around 3-5 years needs a play-based learning environment but that environment should also be balanced by sufficient academic activities. Keeping that in mind, Grey Matter Montessori school provides your child with a well-rounded kindergarten/preschool environment where the full Montessori program is combined with the international kindergarten curriculum.

In this way, your child starts learning the facts of life at such a young age and at the same time, the hunger and love for exploring more and more in him, day by day. While dealing with educational institutions, you can rest assured that your child is being attended by professional faculty who strictly abide by IPC standards.

These standards make them follow a rigorous code of ethical and professional conduct. For this purpose, they even provide detailed training to their teaching staff with which they become able to exhibit best teaching practices. Individual lockers are also provided to your little champs at the facility where they can keep their belongings.

Customer Reviews

” My son was 3 years old when he first started at Grey Matter. Over his first year, I noticed he developed quite a few new skills. He learned to perfectly recognize all the letters and their sounds and by the end of the year, he was able to sound out and read small words! All the teachers and admin team always show a kind, nurturing, loving attitude towards all the children. A special shout-out to Ms. Claudia who worked more closely with my son. I am so happy with my experience with Grey Matter. I would highly recommend them! ” – Alisha Adatia, OD

” I would 100% recommend Grey Matter to any parent thinking of enrolling their child in preschool. The teachers are kind, compassionate, patient and genuinely care for all of their students. Special shout out to Ms Irene who was my boys’ teacher for 2 years… an absolute gem. Shirin and the other owner are excellent as well, very professional, approachable with great communication back to the parents. Thank you GM, our kids speak so fondly of their experience there! ” – RS KS

5. Highland Park Preschool

Website	https://www.highlandparkcommunity.ca/preschool/
Address	Highland Park Community Association, 3716 2 STREET NORTHWEST, CALGARY, AB, T2K 0Y5, CANADA
Contact Details	Phone: 403-276-6969 Email: [email protected]
School Hours	Morning classes: 9:00 am – 11:30 am Afternoon classes: 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Are you one of those busy parents who can’t manage to pick up and drop their kids off to and from school daily? If so, Highland Park Preschool will impress you. Many parents have confirmed that the school is super punctual with their drop off, and pick up schedule and you totally rely on them. Both the environment and teaching staff there is exceptional. Your child will spend his entire day staying busy in art & craft activities, sports, brain games, learning, reading, and whatever he loves to do.

For example, if your kid is more of an outdoor lover, he would love the planting events where children are encouraged to plant seeds in the springs. The administration ensures smooth and constant communication with parents so they could be aware of their children’s progress. Besides, the school also has launched a volunteer model program that enables parents to attend class with their kids, once a month. In addition to being an organized and well-run preschool facility, it’s also super affordable.

Customer Reviews

” Our 3 year old is halfway through his first year here. He loves the teachers: they spend their days doing crafts, games, sports, reading, learning etc. From a parent point of view they are miraculously punctual with pick up, drop off etc., and we love the reliability. The administration is fantastic and communications could not be better. We have also really enjoyed the Volunteer model, so we can have our chance to be part of the class once a month. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a safe, fun, and dependable place to take their children. ” – Jade – Google Review, Jan. 2023

” This is a great community preschool. It is well-run and organized, very affordable, the teachers are kind and welcoming, and they offer fun, high-quality programming for 3 and 4 year olds. Both my children have attended or will be attending this preschool. The kids get to participate in various activities like circle time, crafts, snack and gym time in a large, bright, indoor gym. They also get outdoor time and my son was very excited to show me the seeds they had planted in their outdoor planters last spring. We would definitely recommend the school! ” – Felicia – Google Review, Jan. 2023