A new nonprofit school devoted to helping infants and children with special needs opened in Bothell as a part of the Northshore School District on March 3.
Kindering was established in 1962 by five young Eastside mothers of children with special needs and offers early intervention services for children from birth to 3 years old with developmental delays or disabilities. The center treats children with delays caused by autism, cerebral palsy, chromosomal abnormalities, vision impairment, extraordinary complications of prematurity, or abuse and neglect.
“Decades of research have proven that ages birth to three are the most critical phase of brain development for any child — a one-time opportunity to make a powerful difference,” said Mimi Siegel, Executive Director of Kindering.
Kindering services include developmental assessments, physical, speech and mental health therapies, special education, childcare consultation, nutrition/feeding therapy, outreach to homeless shelters, foster and kinship care interventions, family counseling and parent education.
“Our expansion of opening the school in the Bothell area will relieve space in Kindering’s Bellevue site to include infants and toddlers coming from Renton, which will fulfill an urgent request by King County Division of Developmental Disabilities and the Renton School District,” said Rebecca Schaechter, Kindering development officer. “This helps the overflow of students at our Bellevue location and also the overflow of students in the Northshore School District.”
The Bothell campus is located in the Northcreek office park and the new location will colocate with Bright Horizons Childcare as well as a new branch of pediatric associates, creating a pediatric campus. So far, 100 families are sending their children to the new school.
Rachel Robbins decided to send her son Ethan to school. He was born with delayed motor skills and was unable to do the things other babies his age could do.
“At age one he still could not sit up and I knew he needed more help and support in order to become more independent and functional,” Robins said. “I wanted to send him to Kindering because it sounded like this school would be willing to put kids in need first and make sure they succeeded.”
Robbins said she’s already seen a difference in her son since he started attending Kindering.
“He went from doing nothing and just lying there to almost walking, so it’s been a complete transformation,” she said. “He is like a completely different child and just seems so happy.”
Kindering is hosting an open house on April 24. Current alumni and families are invited to attend from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. There will also be a VIP reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Bothell’s Kindering is located at 19801 North Creek Parkway.
For more information, call 425-747-4004.
