Day Care Center & Preschool Kansas City, KS
Welcome to Exploring Minds Academy
Day Care Center in Kansas City, KS
Our Kansas City, KS location provides a safe, nurturing, and educational environment for children ages 6 weeks through 12th grade, with programs for Infants (6 Weeks and up), Toddlers (12 Months and up), Preschool (Ages 2.5-4), Pre-Kindergarten (Ages 4-5), Summer Camp, and After School Care. Children enjoy a rich variety of activities including yoga, music, art, gardening, and second language learning throughout their time with us. Our highly qualified teachers are trained in developmentally appropriate practices and complete continuing education hours each year, ensuring individualized care that meets the educational, physical, cultural, and social needs of every child.
Exploring Minds Academy
- Monday: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Thursday: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Please call (913) 262-8460 to check for availability and schedule a tour.
Our Day Care Services
infants
2 weeks - 12 months
Warm, responsive infant program with individualized schedules, primary caregiving, and early communication support through sign language, singing, and narration.
TODDLERS
1 - 2.5 years
Autonomy-focused toddler program where children explore defined interest centers, build social-emotional skills, and grow in confidence through play-based learning.
PRESCHOOL
2.5 - 5 years
Play-based preschool with seven learning centers where children build kindergarten readiness through cooperative play, creative activities, and outdoor exploration.
Pre K
4 - 5 years
Structured Pre-K program with small-group instruction, project-based learning, and enrichment in yoga, music, art, and Spanish.
Summer Camp
4 - 5 years
Adventure Quest Summer Camp with 12 weeks of hands-on activities, field trips, and rotating themed adventures, running May through August.
before/after
k - 3rd grade
Before and after school care with homework support, enrichment clubs, structured activities, and free exploration time.
Check It All Off
Your To-Do List
Off County Line Rd. and Erie Pkwy, we’re easy to find and minutes from great restaurants, lovely parks, and superstores so you can easily navigate your to-do list around pick-up and drop-off times.
Directions to Our Day Care Center in Kansas City, KS
Our Kansas City, KS day care center at 3112 S 51st St is convenient to families throughout Turner, Blue Jacket, McAnany Estate, Quivira Highlands, Woodland Place, Shawnee, Merriam, Cunningham Heights, Mission, Argentine, and surrounding communities.
Turn-by-turn directions from downtown Kansas City, KS
- Get on I-670 W in Kansas City from W 12th St 4 min (1.4 mi)
- Take I-70 W and I-635 S to Shawnee Dr. Take exit 1C from I-635 S
- Continue on Shawnee Dr to your destination 3 min (1.2 mi)
-
Turn right onto Shawnee Dr
Pass by McDonald's (on the left) 1.0 m - Turn right onto 47th St/County Line Rd
- Turn right onto S 51st St 440 ft
- Turn left 30 ft
Spacious Playgrounds
For Healthy Movement
and Happy Friendships
Outdoor play helps children strengthen motor skills, collaborate, and flex social-emotional muscles; and with two acres to do it on, they’ll make new friends, grow stronger, and stay healthy.
Know Your Child
Is Always Safe
Our campus is outfitted with 24/7 security cameras, our staff is meticulously background checked, and we’re located just minutes from the Erie Police Department, so parents can trust their child is always safe.
Hear What Parents Have To Say...
"Our daughter is welcomed each morning with a warm smile..."
We found Ms. Pamela Piekarski, who has 40 years of early education experience, is bilingual and raised three daughters, and her staff were courteous, professional and made time to address our concerns in a timely manner. Our daughter is welcomed each morning with a warm smile. I wholeheartedly recommend Exploring Minds Academy and encourage parents in need of day care to consider this center a legit possibility.
"The care in both the infant and toddler rooms has been great..."
We could not be more thrilled about Exploring Minds Academy. Its location also feels secluded and safe. The care in both the infant and toddler rooms has been great. We love the clear communication from staff and our child is excited to go to “school,” as well as excelling academically. We are consistently in awe of the center’s influence on our child’s sign language knowledge, manners, and verbal development.
"They teach my kids a lot of things like eating all their food..."
My kids love it here! Everyday they bring home something new they made and they are so proud of it. They teach my kids a lot of things like eating all their food is called "making a happy plate". They can say thank you and I want more in sign language. The staff is great and Mrs.Pamela actually cares about our life outside of school and will help you out if you have any problems going on.
"Curriculum based center focuses on learning through play with positive directives..."
Exploring Minds Academy is a curriculum based center that focuses on learning through play and redirecting with positive directives. It shows through kids that have passed through their doors that have gone on to succeed in their academics. The teachers are consistently being trained in new areas on how to teach your children. I highly recommend enrolling your children at Exploring Minds Academy!
"The staff & administration are all very trustworthy & I've never had a problem..."
My kids have been coming here since 2014 & they all have enjoyed it here. They have loved all of their teachers & have been well taken care of by all the staff over the years. The staff & administration are all very trustworthy & I've never had a problem with leaving my children here. I highly recommend enrolling your kids here as the curriculum is outstanding especially when entering kindergarten & at an affordable price.
"We have been comforted by the ample experience of many of the teachers..."
Exploring Minds has been our first and only daycare for our family and we couldn't have asked for anything more. We have really enjoyed the openness of the play area at Exploring Minds. We have been comforted by the ample experience of the teachers and have come to rely on daily reports supplied by the school. All in all, we are truly humbled to have such a dedicated team looking over the youngest member of our family.
"We absolutely love all the teachers and the smaller, more family-like feel..."
My son has been in the infant room at Exploring Minds since he was 2 and a half months old and it's been an amazing experience. We absolutely love all the teachers and the smaller, more family-like feel. He gets to be around babies/toddlers at different developmental stages, which has just been so valuable for him. We're incredibly grateful to everyone at Exploring Minds and so thankful he was able to get a spot there.
"Their days seem very well structured with times for creativity, learning and play..."
Our daughter has attended this daycare for about two years and we have been very happy with them. They are big advocates for outdoor time, which I love, and their days seem very well structured with times for creativity, learning and play. They provide healthy meals, which is a big convenience for the parents. Our toddler is happy, thriving and enjoys her days at Exploring Minds Academy.
"The staff and teachers do a great job of staying organized with activities..."
We love this cozy little center. The staff and teachers do a great job of staying organized with activities that the kids actually make or participate in. They have focused daily lessons at circle time. They also provide transportation to many other full and half day school programs. The program is truly affordable unlike most and I feel like they do just as much with the kids if not more. It may not be brand new but they are well established.
Frequently Asked Questions
Exploring Minds Academy of Kansas offers programs for children from 6 weeks through 12th grade, including Infant Care (6 Weeks and up), Toddler Care (12 Months and up), Preschool (Ages 2.5-4), Pre-Kindergarten (Ages 4-5), Summer Camp (Kindergarten-12th Grade), and an After School Program (Kindergarten-12th Grade).
The center is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. The center is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Exploring Minds Academy uses a curriculum with roots in Montessori, High Scope, and Conscious Discipline principles. Teachers are trained in developmentally appropriate practices and complete continuing education hours each year to stay current on the latest innovations in early childhood development.
Infants at Exploring Minds Academy receive primary caregiving, where one consistent teacher handles most feedings and diaper changes to build a deep, secure attachment. Babies follow individualized schedules based on their own biological rhythms, and families receive real-time updates through a parent communication app throughout the day.
The Preschool program (Ages 2.5-4) focuses on transitioning children from parallel play to cooperative friendships while building kindergarten readiness through seven learning centers, visual schedules, focused circle time, and play-based exploration guided by highly experienced early childhood teachers.
The Pre-Kindergarten program (Ages 4-5) prepares children for elementary school through small-group instruction, project-based learning, upgraded learning centers, and enrichment activities including yoga, music, art, and Spanish. The goal is to build both academic skills and the emotional confidence children need to thrive in kindergarten.
Adventure Quest is Exploring Minds Academy's summer camp program offering 12 themed weeks of hands-on activities, field trips, and special events running May through August for children Kindergarten through 12th Grade. Themes include Art Explorers, Mad Scientists, Space Explorers, Mini Chefs, and more, with flexible weekly enrollment so families can choose the weeks that work for them.
Yes. Exploring Minds Academy offers both before and after school care for children in Kindergarten through 12th Grade, including Homework Club, enrichment club rotations, and unstructured outdoor play time in a warm, welcoming environment.
Families of infants receive real-time updates on feedings, sleep, mood, and milestones through a parent communication app.
Call (913) 262-8460 to check for availability and schedule a tour of the Kansas City, KS location. The team is happy to show you around, answer your questions, and help you find the right program for your child.