The Children’s Garden School

The Children’s Garden School The Children’s Garden School is a pioneering program for early childhood education serving preschoolers ranging usually from 3-5 years old.

The Children's Garden School is an Issaquah preschool & kindergarten located twenty miles east of Seattle, nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in the charming community of Issaquah, King County. It was founded in 1977 by educators Bonnie V. Steussy and David Edfeldt. In 1983 the school became a qualified 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. The school’s masters-level teachers are members of NAEYC and the National Orff Association. The school is located 20 miles east of Seattle, nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in the charming community of Issaquah, Washington. The Children’s Garden is situated in a park like setting of natural woodlands, gardens, and hiking trails. A charming wooden bridge spans a bubbling brook to a creatively designed storybook play yard.

07/20/2026

Never underestimate the power of a work party and friends!

This summer we have teamed up with an awesome set of teens who are passionate about trails! They are helping design and spearhead a new trail on our playground for a school project! We will continue to be working over the next few weeks, if you or your Garden alumni ( Sophomore in High school or older) are interested in volunteering, learning about trail building, and reconnecting please respond to this post!

As June comes to a close, we are excited to welcome a new group of parent leaders to the Children's Garden Board of Trus...
06/30/2026

As June comes to a close, we are excited to welcome a new group of parent leaders to the Children's Garden Board of Trustees!

For more than 40 years, Children's Garden has been lovingly stewarded by generations of volunteer trustees. These dedicated parents have provided leadership, wisdom, and care, helping our school navigate change, strengthen its foundation, and keep our mission at the heart of every decision.

We also hold deep gratitude for the generations of board members who came before. Their vision, hard work, and countless volunteer hours laid the foundation that our school and community thrives on today. The Children's Garden we know and love is built upon their generosity, commitment, and belief in the value of early childhood education.

Serving on the board is an act of service, but it is also a journey of growth. Along the way, trustees develop leadership skills, build lasting relationships, and help shape a community that extends far beyond our school walls. The experience and values cultivated through board service often continue into PTAs, workplaces, and countless other community and professional spaces, creating a ripple effect that reaches far beyond Children's Garden.

To our outgoing trustees, our incoming trustees, and all those who have served before—thank you. Your care has helped generations of children, families, and educators thrive.

Here's to a new year, lifelong learning, and the beautiful work of growing together.

06/22/2026

Summer is of to a wonderful start!

In the busyness of this season, we've been overwhelmed by the sweetness of watching our students grow and change. Ladybu...
06/19/2026

In the busyness of this season, we've been overwhelmed by the sweetness of watching our students grow and change. Ladybugs become Crickets, Crickets become Honeybees, and Honeybees spread their wings and head off to kindergarten!

As we celebrate these milestones and transitions, we're also reflecting on the special relationships that make our community so unique. Alongside our preschool graduates, we've been cheering on our high school graduates too—a beautiful reminder of the lasting connections we share with children and families long after they leave The Garden.

Watching our students grow into curious, capable, and compassionate young people is one of the greatest joys of this work, and we can't wait to see where their journeys take them next.

Nothin' says End-of-Year like a hoedown at the Okee Doke Coral! Yeehaw! What a way to celebrate Our time together as the...
06/05/2026

Nothin' says End-of-Year like a hoedown at the Okee Doke Coral! Yeehaw! What a way to celebrate Our time together as these little buckaroos prepare for the bright horizons beyond The Garden!

06/02/2026

To add to the many wonderful traditions at the end of the school year, this week we had the special treat to participate in a construction project! The Honeybees did a fantastic job helping us build a new bridge for our courtyard. What a fun!

Like the salmon, butterflies, and plants we learn about, our school has its own lifecycle too.Each year, our Ladybugs ar...
05/24/2026

Like the salmon, butterflies, and plants we learn about, our school has its own lifecycle too.

Each year, our Ladybugs arrive small and curious, our Crickets return eager to connect and grow, and our Honeybees burst with confidence, curiosity, and joy. Over the year, we watch each class transform — discovering belonging, independence, imagination, and resilience.

And then all of a sudden, our Honeybees are gearing up for graduating. We find ourselves wondering: how did they grow up so fast? Yet witnessing this growth is one of the greatest privileges of our work.

A silver lining of watching our students move on, is welcoming them back to visit — from kindergartners sharing their new adventures, to teens volunteering in classrooms and even new parents who now have returned to the Garden to experience the sweetness from a whole new perspective! We love staying connected and watching our children continue to grow while carrying a piece of The Garden with them.

Art show 2026 is in the books! We had such a wonderful night celebrating our young people and the important role that ex...
05/16/2026

Art show 2026 is in the books! We had such a wonderful night celebrating our young people and the important role that expressive arts play in our lives!! Thank you to Eastside Community School for letting us use your beautiful space!

05/13/2026

The creek is open!

So many different ways to explore and enjoy it today — splashing, investigating, creating, and cooling off together. Across the board: smiles, inquiry, and the perfect way to enjoy this hot PNW day!

It is a true privilege to witness children grow up. As we are just one month away from our own Honeybees class graduatin...
05/08/2026

It is a true privilege to witness children grow up. As we are just one month away from our own Honeybees class graduating, we also want to honor and celebrate another very special group of Gardners.

This group has reached an exciting new milestone — they are graduating high school! We want to give them a huge congratulations. We KNOW the world is a better place with their creativity, curiosity, resourscefullness, and ability to connect with others out in the world.

We are so lucky to still share community with many of these amazing young people. Some have returned to work at our summer camp, some we run into working in coffee shops and restaurants, and others come back weekly to volunteer in our classrooms. We’ve even had the honor of writing job and scholarship recommendations for them — YES! This is what community over time looks like, and we are so excited to witness the new chapters ahead.

We love these lasting connections and celebrate the growth, accomplishments, and new perspectives our bright alumni continue to bring into the world. As Belleamie and Chat-o would say, “Bravo!
And,
May the long-time sun shine upon you. ❤️
And,
Please come back to visit!

Address

12706 Issaquah Hobart Road SE
Issaquah, WA
98027

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