Montessori Preschools in Lakeland + Polk County
Montessori education is centered on independence and self-direction. Montessori education is traditionally hands-on and encourages plenty of play and collaboration with the other kids in the class. Classrooms are often mixed-age (covering 2-3 years) and teach children how to work together and learn from each other as they master life skills.
Below you’ll find a directory of Montessori Preschools near you in Winter Haven and Lakeland.
For more information on Child Care Options including VPK, holiday camps, and articles explaining the different types of child care providers, visit our main Childcare Guide.
Helpful Articles:
Daycares, Preschools, and VPK – Making sense of childcare options in Florida (plus daycare assistance info)
Florida VPK Information – Eligibility + How to Apply for VPK
Useful Resources:
DCF Childcare Search – Childcare facilities in Florida are licensed by the Department of Children & Families. Visit the link to research local providers.
Polk Early Learning Coalition Website – The ELC has a wealth of information on their website including How to Select a Child Care Provider, Applications for VPK Certificates, Eligibility for School Readiness Funds, and much more.
We recognize that finding a daycare or preschool with available space can be a daunting task. If after contacting the daycares on your list you are still having trouble finding an opening, visit the Lakeland Moms Group on Facebook and to ask your fellow moms if they know of a preschool or daycare with availability. Also, if you are pregnant and are interested in Montessori child care, it is never too early to start doing your research, some places may be willing to put you on a waiting list.
Our Preschool & Daycare Guide contains both sponsored and free listings. This is by no means a comprehensive list, there are almost 400 registered child care providers in Polk County. Visit myflfamilies.com for a full list.
HELPFUL TIP: Use the filter button (3 horizontal lines) to narrow down the list by city and/or category. All city filters are a general geographic area, check each listing address for a specific location. Use the map at the bottom to find Montessori Preschools Near You.
Cypress Junction Montessori is a quality preschool and K-8 charter school in Winter Haven. Cypress Junction serves students in K-8th grade under the charter as a free public charter school that offers an authentic Montessori education. Preschool offers full & half day options, and accepts VPK vouchers, the ELC’s School Readiness Funding, & offers scholarships through our Early Learning Scholarship Fund.
Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse and Lakeland Montessori Middle are Polk County Charter Schools serving children age 3 through 8th Grade. It is our mission to facilitate the well-rounded, advanced and challenging authentic Montessori curriculum that instills a sense of wonder and awareness about the universe and the child’s place within that universe. We wish to provide an educational environment that sparks curiosity and nurtures a love of learning along with teaching the skills to succeed academically.
Mi Escuela Montessori is a tuition-free, K-8 public charter school in Polk County, Florida, and also has The Children’s House (Casa) preschool for children ages 3–6 (sliding scale tuition). Mi Escuela Montessori fuses two well-researched and innovative approaches to education: the educational program developed by Dr. Maria Montessori and the two-way, dual-language immersion program advocated by most language learning experts.
The basic premise of the Montessori philosophy of education is that all children carry within them the adults they will become. In order to develop their physical, intellectual and spiritual powers to the fullest, they must have freedom – a freedom achieved through order and self-discipline.
Our goal is to provide a balanced program for your child, using the Montessori philosophy and Early Childhood Development principles to develop independence, academics, physical (fine and large motor skills), social and emotional growth, so as to cultivate harmony and integration in your child early learning experiences. Pre-K and Kindergarten Year.
Winter Haven Montessori serves students ages infants to 3rd grade and offers VPK classes both morning and afternoon. Dedicated to providing a challenging educational environment in which each child is empowered to grow to his/her fullest potential academically, emotionally, physically and socially at each stage of development.