About Ages in Stages Childcare · Seattle
Ages In Stages Childcare is a multi-location daycare and preschool provider in the greater Seattle, Washington area, founded in November 2005 and operated by David and Stacie Blair. The company runs separate infant, toddler, preschool, pre-k, and school-age programs at seven sites spanning West Seattle, White Center, Normandy Park, Des Moines, and Kent. Programs are play-based, with explicit attention to social-emotional growth, and the centers accept subsidized/Head Start families and welcome families of all backgrounds.
Ages In Stages Childcare began in November 2005 as a single Seattle-area daycare and has grown into one of the larger independent early-childhood providers in southern King County, Washington. According to the company's About page, founders David and Stacie Blair opened the doors with the belief that 'every child deserves the best possible start in life,' and the business now operates seven licensed centers — three in the Seattle 98106/98126 zip codes (West Seattle / White Center), one in Normandy Park (98148), two in Des Moines (98198), and one in Kent (98032). Together they serve children from 4 weeks old through age 5 in core infant, toddler, preschool, and pre-k programs, with the Pre-K / School-Age site (8659 9th Ave S) accepting children up to age 13. The curriculum blends play-based exploration with structured learning and emphasizes cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development. Ages In Stages also partners with Washington's Working Connections and accepts families affected by Head Start changes, and the company markets an 'open door' policy that welcomes parents into the classrooms at any time. Staff are described as carefully screened (background checks), and the facilities feature controlled entry points and secure outdoor play areas. Pricing is published only on a per-inquiry basis, though third-party sites list monthly tuition in the $1,280–$3,033 range.
- In business
- 20 (founded November 2005)
- Owner
- David Blair and Stacie Blair (Governors / registered agent, Ages In Stages Childcare LLC, Washington UBI #602552730). Taylor Grantham is also listed as an officer.
- Serves
- Greater Seattle / South King County, Washington — specifically West Seattle (98106, 98126), White Center, Normandy Park (98148), Des Moines (98198), and Kent (98032)
- Rating
- 4.6 (37 reviews on Kinside for the Des Moines location); additional positive reviews on Google and the West Seattle Blog community forums; no single aggregated cross-site Google rating was confirmed in research
About Ages In Stages Childcare
The company's About page states that Ages In Stages Childcare was founded in November 2005 on the belief that 'every child deserves the best possible start in life.' It operates high-quality daycare and preschool programs for children aged 4 weeks to 5 years across multiple locations in Seattle, Normandy Park, Des Moines, and Kent, Washington. The Blairs — David and Stacie Blair — are the named governors of Ages In Stages Childcare LLC (Washington UBI #602552730).
- Founded November 2005
- Owners: David Blair and Stacie Blair (Governors)
- Washington LLC, UBI #602552730
- Programs for ages 4 weeks – 5 years (school-age up to 13 at Pre-K site)
- Headquartered 8658 9th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106
Mission and Values
The stated mission is to help every child reach their full potential through a safe, developmentally appropriate, and family-centered program. Four pillars are publicly named: a safe and nurturing environment, a developmentally appropriate curriculum, open communication and collaboration with families, and holistic development across cognitive, social-emotional, and physical domains.
- Safe and nurturing environment
- Developmentally appropriate, play-based curriculum
- Open communication with families
- Holistic child development (cognitive, social-emotional, physical)
Curriculum and Approach
Ages In Stages describes its curriculum as a blend of joyful play with structured learning. Lesson areas highlighted on the website include play-based exploration, cognitive development (problem-solving and language), social-emotional growth (collaboration, sharing, friendship), and physical development (active play, fine motor skills, outdoor activity).
- Play-based exploration
- Cognitive development through interactive games
- Social-emotional growth
- Physical development — indoor and outdoor
Programs by Age
The company runs age-segmented programs to match each developmental stage. Infants, toddlers, preschoolers, pre-kindergartners, and school-age children are placed in classrooms matched to their needs.
- Nursery / Infant — 4 weeks to 12 months
- Toddlers — 12 to 24 months
- Preschool — 2 to 4 years
- Pre-K — 4 to 5 years
- School-age — up to 13 years (Pre-K / School-Age site at 8659 9th Ave SW)
Locations Across South King County
Ages In Stages operates seven licensed centers spanning West Seattle, White Center, Normandy Park, Des Moines, and Kent. The flagship Seattle center is at 8658 9th Ave SW in the 98106 zip code, with three additional Seattle-area sites on 9th Ave SW, Olson Pl SW, and SW Holden St. All locations share the same 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Monday–Friday schedule.
- 8658 9th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106 — (253) 364-4858
- 9461 Olson Pl SW, Seattle, WA 98106 — Infant Center — (253) 544-5110
- 8659 9th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106 — Pre-K / School Age — (253) 300-1066
- 2808 SW Holden St, Seattle, WA 98126 — Holden — (253) 544-5228
- 19655 1st Ave S, Normandy Park, WA 98148 — (206) 762-5683
- 22038 9th Ave S, Des Moines, WA 98198 — (253) 242-2774
- 24812 36th Ave S, Kent, WA 98032 — (253) 364-5338
Safety and Security
Safety is promoted as a top priority across the company. Stated measures include secure facilities with controlled entry points and secure play areas, thorough staff background checks, emergency preparedness plans, strict health and safety policies to minimize illness, and age-appropriate environments.
- Controlled entry points
- Secure outdoor play areas
- Background-checked staff
- Emergency preparedness plans
- Health and safety protocols
- Age-appropriate classroom environments
Family Communication and Parent Involvement
Ages In Stages markets an open-door policy that encourages parents to drop in anytime and be actively involved in their child's learning journey. Reviews reference a daily communication app that lets parents check on their child throughout the day and view photos of activities.
- Open-door parent visitation policy
- Daily parent communication app with photos
- Welcoming questions about child development
Inclusivity, Subsidy, and Head Start Support
The company states it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, or sexual orientation, and that everyone is welcome at the school. It accepts families using Washington's Working Connections subsidized child care benefit and provides specific support messaging for Head Start families affected by recent program changes.
- Non-discrimination policy (race, color, gender, national origin, sexual orientation)
- Accepts Working Connections / subsidized child care
- Head Start transition support messaging on the homepage
Licensing and Inspection Record
Each Ages In Stages site is licensed as a center-based daycare by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families, with license numbers such as PL-28548, PL-27591, and PL-27580 on public record. The Pre-K / School-Age site participates in Washington's Early Achievers quality-rating program (Level 3). MERIT inspection history is available for individual sites through Washington's licensing portal.
- Washington State licensed center-based daycare (multiple sites)
- Early Achievers participant (Level 3 at Pre-K site)
- Inspections published through WA DCYF MERIT
- Initial license for Pre-K site: 2013-06-21