A Flagstaff Preschool That Feels Like Home
Rockhouse has been part of Flagstaff since 1969, welcoming generations of families who know the smell of crayons and the view of morning sun through the pines. From infants to preschoolers, ages 6 weeks to five years, each child is greeted by name and guided at their own pace. We notice small things that matter, like the first steady grasp, the brave try on the slide, the quiet questions during story time, and we build from there.
We partner with families, open from 7am to 5:30pm to fit real days. Our classrooms feel warm and purposeful, with low shelves, sturdy tables, soft rugs, and outdoor play beneath the high desert sky. We celebrate progress without rushing childhood, with clear communication and calm routines that help children feel safe. We are not perfect, but we are present and thoughtful. You can feel that steadiness in the lined up boots, the gentle hum of learning, and the comfort of a place that feels like home.
What Families Can Expect From the First Tour to the First Day
From your first tour, we welcome you into busy, sunlit rooms and invite you to linger. Watch children paint, listen to the soft buzz of play, meet teachers at child level. We answer questions and learn what matters to your family.
After enrollment, we gather details about naps, foods, and comfort routines. Bring a favorite blanket if it helps. Many families start with a visit together, then a short day, building to a full day at your child’s pace. On the first day we greet by name, find the cubby, wash hands, and begin with a familiar song. You receive gentle updates and an end of day check in. We adjust together.
Our Preschool Program for Ages 3 to 5
Children ages 3 to 5 arrive ready to try, to laugh, to question. Our preschool day hums with play that teaches. Towers rise in the block corner. Paint squishes under little fingers. We count pinecones, clap rhythms, and notice patterns. Children hear stories, tell their own, and trace the letters in their names. Early literacy and numeracy grow from these small, joyful moments.
Our teachers watch closely and guide gently. We help children listen to a friend, take turns, and use words for big feelings. When conflicts pop up, we slow down and solve them together. Independence blooms as children pour their own water, pull on coats, and choose the work that calls to them. With patient questions and steady routines, learning takes root. Rooted in Flagstaff since 1969, we welcome the wonders and challenges of each day, side by side with families.
Social, Language, and Pre-K Readiness Without Pressure
At Rockhouse Playschool, social and language skills bloom in everyday moments. Children negotiate roles in a block city, trade paint colors, laugh at a silly rhyme, lean close to listen during a story. Teachers model rich conversation, invite questions, and help children name feelings.
Foundational skills grow through hands-on projects, from sorting pine cones to measuring water. Cooperative play builds patience and problem solving. Pre-K readiness follows, not forced. We meet each child where they are, celebrate small steps, and keep learning joyful. With deep roots in Flagstaff since 1969, we partner with families so confidence has time to take hold.
Infant and Toddler Child Care From 6 Weeks to 3 Years
In our infant and toddler rooms, serving children from 6 weeks to 3 years, we follow each child’s natural rhythms. Feeding happens on cue, honoring breast milk, formula, and family plans for first tastes. We hold babies close, make eye contact, and speak softly so mealtimes feel safe and unhurried. For sleep, we use safe sleep practices, dim the lights, and watch for each child’s signs of tiredness. Familiar lullabies, a gentle pat, and a steady presence help little bodies settle.
Movement unfolds at each child’s pace. There is tummy time on soft rugs, space to roll and crawl, low climbers for sturdy steps, and fresh Flagstaff air when the weather is kind. Our daily flow is predictable and kind, from warm hellos at 7 am to unhurried goodbyes by 5:30 pm. We share notes, photos, and small moments, and we listen. On bumpy days, we slow down together. On bright days, we celebrate small victories. Every day, your child is known and cared for.
Support for Potty Learning, Transitions, and Big Feelings
Potty learning, shifting between activities, and riding out big feelings all unfold at a child’s pace. We watch, listen, and collaborate with your family to choose simple routines that fit home and school, keeping stress low and confidence growing.
- Potty learning: child-led cues, unhurried bathroom trips, choice of small potty or seat, a soft song, calm words when accidents happen.
- Transitions: picture cues, gentle countdowns, a familiar goodbye ritual, and a hand-on-heart breath.
- Big feelings: naming feelings, breathing together, a cozy corner, and rejoining when ready.
Play, Nature, and Early Learning in the High Country
In our high country home, children step outside most days to feel the crisp Flagstaff air and the scent of ponderosa pine. Little hands gather cones, trace aspen bark, and listen for ravens. We watch shadows slide across the playground, follow water after a monsoon, and notice how snow softens sound. Some children jump right in. Others take a quiet moment to watch. Both are learning.
Since 1969, we have walked these seasons with families, caring for children from 6 weeks to five years. Infants feel the calm of connection on a cozy lap. Toddlers sift sand, pour water, and stir mud in the kitchen they create. Preschoolers pack snow into shapes, and plant seeds, then tend the sprouts with care. Teachers name what children notice, ask gentle questions, and keep everyone safe. When the wind bites, we warm up and read together. Nature and simple, hands-on materials invite curiosity, responsibility, and the kind of care that lasts.
Outdoor Play in All Seasons, Weather-Ready and Wonder-Filled
Each day, we step outside to breathe the mountain air and let bodies stretch and move. In sun, we use shade, hats, sunscreen, and plenty of water. In snow, we bundle in layers, sturdy boots, and mittens, and shorten time when temperatures ask for it. Children listen for birds, crunch pine needles, scoop snow, balance on logs, and feel the give of soft earth underfoot. These simple moments strengthen core muscles, coordination, and confidence. They learn to notice, to adjust, to keep trying. Flagstaff’s seasons teach resilience and joy, and we are right there beside them, keeping watch and cheering the discoveries.
Teachers Who Listen and Guide With Care
Our teachers have grown alongside Flagstaff families, and it shows in the way they notice the smallest cues. A baby’s sleepy sigh, a toddler’s paint-smeared grin, the careful way a preschooler lines up leaves from the playground. These details help us support each child’s growth and celebrate the whole person, not just a skill or a checklist, from 6 weeks to five years old.
Experience matters, and so does staying curious. We commit to ongoing training, thoughtful observation, and time set aside to reflect on what worked and what needs a fresh try. We are not perfect, but we are steady, and we keep learning together.
Trust is built in small, honest rhythms: warm greetings at drop off, clear notes about the day, quick check-ins, and longer conversations when you want them.
Safety, Ratios, and Cleanliness You Can See
Safety you can see begins at the door. Families sign in and out, doors stay locked, and visitors show ID. Classrooms have open sightlines and small group sizes that meet or exceed Arizona state ratios. Every teacher is CPR and first aid certified, with regular refreshers and monthly drills. We wash hands often, sanitize toys and surfaces throughout the day, and deep clean each evening. Teachers complete simple health checks at drop off. Outside, we inspect the playground daily, check weather, and offer shade and soft landings. If a bump or spill happens, we call, document, and care. We learn from it, together.
Daily Rhythm, Meals, and Rest That Honor Young Bodies
Mornings begin with a warm hello and an easy handoff. Children hang their sweaters, choose a cozy spot, and ease into the day with open-ended play. A brief gathering follows, with simple songs, stories, and a look at what the day holds. Small-groups invite focused play at the child’s pace, with hands in clay, paint, puzzles, and books. Midmorning snack is shared at the table with water and conversation. We step outside for fresh Flagstaff air, to run, climb, and notice the smell of pine.
Lunch is calm and unhurried. Infants follow their own feeding rhythms, held and watched closely. After lunch, lights soften and stories settle the room. Children rest on their own blankets. Those who do not sleep enjoy quiet choices. Wake-up is gentle, followed by another snack and afternoon projects, garden care, or building. We end with outdoor play and unhurried goodbyes, sharing the day’s small wins. This steady rhythm helps children feel secure, seen, and ready to learn.
Hours, Tuition, and Enrollment Support for Families
Open 7 am to 5:30 pm, our day holds space for early drop-offs and unhurried pick-ups. You can linger for a morning handoff or arrive after work to find paint-splattered smiles and tired, happy feet.
We offer tuition-based care for children 6 weeks to five years. Tuition reflects age and schedule; we share our current rates clearly and help you match a plan to your family’s rhythm.
- Call or submit an inquiry; we listen to your needs and timing.
- Tour the classrooms, meet teachers, and ask every question on your mind.
- Complete the application. If a class is full, we add you to our waitlist and keep you updated.
- Finalize enrollment forms, health records, and start date, then ease into first days together.
Scholarships, DES Subsidies, and Free Options in Flagstaff
Quality early care should be within reach. If your family qualifies, Arizona DES Child Care Assistance can help with tuition. Many families also use Quality First scholarships through First Things First. For preschool-aged children, free options like Head Start and Flagstaff Unified School District programs may be available. Each pathway has steps and timelines, and it can feel like a lot. We are here to sit with you, explain forms, and share what has worked for other Flagstaff families since 1969. Call or stop by between 7 am and 5:30 pm. Together we can map a plan that fits your child, from six weeks to five years.
Calendar, Closures, and Communication With Families
Each summer, Rockhouse shares a simple annual calendar with families, including major holidays and a few staff training days. You will find it in your inbox and posted by the front door. During snowy Flagstaff mornings we watch the roads closely. If weather requires a closure or late start, we notify you by 6 am by text and email, and update our voicemail and social pages.
To keep you connected to classroom life, we send daily notes and photos, a weekly classroom newsletter, and a monthly school update. You are always welcome to call, ask questions, and visit during scheduled times.
How Rockhouse Fits With Montessori Preschool and Other Paths
Families in Flagstaff have many good choices, and we have walked alongside parents as they weigh them since 1969. Montessori classrooms lift up independence, quiet focus, and beautiful, orderly materials. We share that respect for a child’s choice and hands-on work. At Rockhouse you will also find a steady daily rhythm, open-ended play, small-group time led by caring teachers, art that gets a little messy, and long stretches outdoors breathing pine air.
Christian programs place faith instruction at the center. We are not a religious school, though we welcome families of all traditions and practice everyday values like kindness, patience, and service, with room for reflection in a cozy reading nook or a calm corner.
Head Start offers strong supports and clear guidelines for eligible families. Rockhouse is private, with small groups, continuity of care from 6 weeks to five years, and full-day hours from 7 am to 5:30 pm so routines feel consistent.
There is no single right path. Visit, ask questions, watch how your child settles in. We will listen and help you find the fit that feels like home.
Montessori, Academy Preschool, and Head Start in Flagstaff, how we relate
Flagstaff families often look at Montessori programs, including Haven Montessori Preschool, Academy-style preschools, and Head Start. Montessori leans into self-chosen work in calm, ordered rooms. Academy preschools offer lively teacher-led circles, clear routines, and projects that build toward kindergarten skills at a steady pace. Head Start brings strong family services, lower cost, and a focus on whole-child needs. Rockhouse sits alongside these choices, blending play with purposeful guidance, honoring each temperament. Some children bloom with open-ended time, others with predictable cues. Consider your needs and what rhythm fits your child.
Visit and See Our School in Motion
Come see Rockhouse in motion. Step into the classroom, feel the calm rhythm of the day, hear the soft shuffle of little feet and the bursts of laughter. Meet teachers, peek into our infant room, and watch preschoolers build, paint, and wonder. Bring your questions. We will talk about your child’s routines and hopes, from six weeks old through five years, and how we partner with you.
We have called Flagstaff home since 1969, and we invite you to read recent reviews along with our long story here. Ask neighbors, ask friends, and then come see for yourself. A tour lets you notice the small things that matter, the gentle hand on a shoulder, the careful labeling of a favorite blanket, the quiet pride after a first try. We do not claim perfection. We listen, reflect, and keep learning with every family. Schedule your visit today.
