Durgin Pines Preschool is a child daycare & preschools daycare located at 9 Lewis Road, Kittery, Maine ME. Find contact info, location details, and similar daycares nearby.
What Parents Say
Durgin Pines Preschool receives nearly universal praise for its intergenerational program pairing children with nursing home residents ('Grandfriends'), warm and patient teachers, child-led learning approach, and outdoor activities. One parent withdrew their children due to lengthy rest time (90-120 minutes) disrupting nighttime sleep and reported the director was defensive when addressing concerns and made billing errors.
I am so excited to be sending my daughter to the Durgin Pines preschool! As a former employee of Durgin Pines for 16 years I saw first hand how the intergenerational programming has such an incredibly positive impact on both the students and the residents of Durgin Pines. The teachers have always been great, the facility and staff are wonderful and I feel so, so comfortable and confident with my own children being a part of this preschool.
This is the first childcare center/school our daughter had been to and it's been such a great experience. She goes 2 days a week and on school days she is SO excited to go to school. She loves it there! The teachers are all so welcoming, loving, and patient with the kids. They have done well with helping her to potty train. I really like that they go outside daily (weather permitting) and the experience of interacting with the "grandfriends" which not only benefits the kids, but the older adults as well. Another thing that I like about this preschool, is the teachers use a model where they observe the children's interests and use these as topics to base their learning. I love that it's children lead: the children stay more interested. Plus they're only 3 & 4, they'll have sit down/very structured learning the rest of their school years! They use an app to communicate with parents and they are very prompt with responding. They also use the app to give you updates on your child's day which we really enjoy.
The Preschool is such an important part of Durgin Pines as a whole. The interactions with the Grandfriends brings such meaning to their lives and puts a smile upon their faces daily. The learning the children receive helps them to better understand other generations and cultures and improves their communication skills. The teachers provide a curriculum that empowers each child to explore, create and learn through hands-on experiences. This is a great place!
My kids have truly benefited from this amazing preschool located inside a nursing home. The unique setting has taught them invaluable lessons in empathy and compassion while helping them understand how others play and learn differently. The program's student-directed learning approach allows them to explore their interests, which has been incredible for their growth and creativity. The teachers are absolutely wonderful, creating a nurturing and inspiring environment. I couldn’t be happier with this program!
My son LOVES going to Durgin Pines Preschool! This is his first school experience and the teachers have made the classroom so warm, loving, and fun that he is excited to learn every day! The grandfriends are such a magical addition to my son's life, and always a high of his day!