Preschool, Kindergarten, Infant, and Toddler Care
Enroll now For Summer 2026 and the 2026-2027 School Year!
Call 417-881-4398 for more information or schedule a tour by following the link!
Take a little stroll with us around our campus…
Our Mission
Kingswood Programs is a Christian Preschool, Kindergarten and Infant/Toddler care program in Springfield, MO committed to excellence in education. We accomplish this by providing a diverse, well-balanced and developmentally-appropriate educational experience for each and every child.
We believe that your child’s ability to comprehend, create, discover, enjoy, reason, and worship are God’s gifts. Our goal is to provide children the opportunity to learn and grow in a loving environment where an emphasis is placed on each child’s physical, emotional, social, cognitive, language, and spiritual development.
Our Story
Kingswood Programs Preschool and Kindergarten is housed inside King’s Way United Methodist Church in southeast Springfield. Kingswood was established in 1964 by Maxine Tacke as a kindergarten program. Preschool classes were added in 1970. Countless youth and young adults look back with fond memories of their early learning experience and Christian values taught to them during their days at Kingswood.
More About King's Way UMC More About The CenterExcellence in Education
Our Programs
Preschool programming is available for age 2 and up, and is offered with a three or a five days a week option from 9:00 a.m. to noon daily. Preschool classes offer an age-appropriate and nurturing educational environment, with activities in line with state and national curriculum standards.
Our preschool classes are designed to help children develop physically, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually. We accomplish this through creative, developmentally-appropriate lessons and activities.
We incorporate music, art, learning centers, gross & fine motor activities, and chapel time into our curriculum. Our desire is to partner with families to help children reach their full potential.
There is much to love, enjoy, and experience at Kingswood Programs!
Kindergarten was a dream that became reality for King’s Way United Methodist Church in 1964 and was taught by Maxine Tacke. We are excited to make that dream a reality again! We believe that kindergarteners learn best through hands-on, exploration and discovery. The world makes more sense when it is experienced physically.
About Kindergarten
Our Kindergarten program is designed to stimulate children’s curiosity to learn more about the world and to delve deeper into things that interest them. Class size will remain small with both a teacher and teacher aide. Our goal is to help your child become comfortable in a classroom setting and introduce basic learning skills while supporting the development of each child’s self-concept.
Language & Literacy
- Recognize and write all upper and lower case letters of the alphabet
- Write first and last name
- Phonics and Phonemic awareness – use initial sounds and sound patterns to read words and blend consonant/vowel/consonant to write words. Children will learn that letters and sounds go together to form words.
- Recognize and use rhyming words
- Retell a story using detail
- Write simple sentences using sight words and phonic skills
Math
- Use physical materials to solve simple addition and subtraction problems
- Concept of time using clocks and calendars regularly in the classroom
- Recognize and write numbers with a goal of 1-100
- Basic measurement skills
- Graphing activities
- Count by 1s, 5s, and 10s to 100
Science
- Use simple experiments to introduce kindergarteners to the process of scientific inquiry
Social Studies
- Expand the knowledge of the world beyond home and classroom to the larger neighborhood and community
- Develop classroom rules that help people get along with one another
- Identify maps as a representation of real places
- Identify the flag as a national symbol and recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Students will have technology available as a learning tool and be offered enrichment opportunities to enhance their learning experience.
Kingswood offers both infant and toddler care for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 2 years.
Our Infant and Toddler program is offered as a three day or five day a week program from 7am to 5:30pm. We provide a nurturing environment for infants and toddlers to grow, learn and socialize. This age range is broken up into classes according to age and development. They will become familiar with a daily schedule full of opportunities for exploration, art, music, play, milestone development as well as naptime.
Extended Care
Available for our preschool students, extended care is intended for children who need a longer day of care at Kingswood. Extended care is offered Monday through Friday from 7 am – 8:45 am(early care), 12 pm – 3 pm(enrichment/extended day), and 3 pm – 5:30 pm(late care). Extended care includes a lunchtime, rest time, and opportunity for open play, exploration, and enrichment during our 12 pm – 3 pm session and free play activities during our early and late care.
At Kingswood, we value your child’s safety, development, and creative spirit. We strive to create an environment that is inclusive, flexible, and highly customizable. One of the ways we accomplish this is by offering a variety of extended care options to families. Whatever your schedule, there are options to fit most families!
Also, to ensure children’s safety, Kingswood is committed to a low teacher-child ratio with 2 teachers in most classrooms. All of our teachers have been background checked by Missouri Family Care Safety Registry. We have yearly sanitation and fire inspections as well as an inspection by The Office of Childhood-Child Care Compliance.
Afternoon Enrichment
A multi-age learning opportunity for our Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students offered Monday through Friday afternoons until 3 pm. This time is designed as an extension of their scheduled morning session and offers daily themed activities.
Whether your child is interested in building, art, nature, science, math, reading, movement or building friendships, our extended day curriculum will most likely fit their needs and interests. Pre-k and Kindergarten families also have the option of adding early and late care to their schedules as well. See tuition information for more.
To enroll and get started, click the link below! We can’t wait to meet and serve you and your child at Kingswood.
Our Facilities
Kingswood Programs occupies the Children’s Wing of King’s Way UMC during school hours. Built in 2001, the Children’s Wing is a space created specifically with a child’s learning needs in mind.
- Two enclosed playgrounds
- Bright, clean space with large classrooms and wonderful natural light
- Children’s library, music room, and art room
- Children’s activity room with complete A/V support
- Resource Room, full of craft supplies, sensory learning items, and curriculum supplements
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