❤️ Every Child Is Known ~ 🌱 Childhood Comes First ~ 🤝 Learning Through Play ~ 🏡 Small by Design ~ 😊 Confident Kids ~ 📚 A Lifelong Love of Learning ~ 🌎 Inclusive Community ~ 💵 Tuition Never Rises ~ 🎉 First Week Free ~ 🧩 Two-Week Trial ~
❤️ Every Child Is Known ~ 🌱 Childhood Comes First ~ 🤝 Learning Through Play ~ 🏡 Small by Design ~ 😊 Confident Kids ~ 📚 A Lifelong Love of Learning ~ 🌎 Inclusive Community ~ 💵 Tuition Never Rises ~ 🎉 First Week Free ~ 🧩 Two-Week Trial ~
Now Enrolling Children Ages 18 Months +
Play-based child care and preschool in the Belmont neighborhood of North Lincoln, designed to feel more like an extension of home and less like an institution. Beloved by families for over 11 years!
✓ Full and part-time care
✓ Professionally-developed preschool curriculum
✓ Nebraska Child Care Subsidy accepted
✓ CACFP-Approved Meals included
✓ First week free or welcome gift
✓ Two-week trial period
✓ No Application Fees or Deposits
Trusted by Lincoln Families for 11 Years
Why Families Choose Foundations
Learning through play
Children learn through stories, art, movement, building, pretend play, exploration and plenty of time to wonder.
Small by design
A smaller setting means children are known as individuals, not numbers moving through a system.
Familiar faces every day
Consistent teachers and relationships help children feel secure, confident and understood. This also helps families to never question who is with their child.
Your tuition rate stays yours
We do not raise tuition for actively-enrolled families, so you will never get a surprise hike.
Child Care
INFORMATION
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Our facility at 2900 N 14th Street Ste. A is a childcare center for children who are eighteen months to eight years old, open 6:30am to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday. The entire facility serves as a home-like space for a small group of students that includes an open classroom area, kids' clubhouse, group activity space, kitchen, art & dining area, as well as an outdoor classroom where children can explore nature and sensory activities.
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Foundations provides child and family-approved meals, Breakfast, Lunch, and Snack. We also ensure children are following their bodies’ hunger cues by offering smaller informal snacks throughout the day. We make our meals in-house on a rotating menu that offers as many fresh, raw produce as possible. Click here to view a sample menu.
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Foundations is operated by a director and directly overseen by the President of the company, who supervise and administer to a staff of six full-time and two part-time teachers. We typically observe a 1:6 teacher to student ratio center-wide.
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Visit Foundations during our peak curricular time of the day, see the play-based curriculum in action, and spend some time getting to know an administrator and staff. Schedule your tour online by clicking here, calling us, or texting us.
RATES
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Full time tuition for 18 months - two year olds is $260/week.
Part time is considered no more than 3 days per week and is $200/week.
We accept the Child Care Subsidy (Title XX) and our provider ID is 11910320.
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Full time tuition for three year olds is $250/week.
Part time is considered no more than 3 days per week and is $190/week.
We accept the Child Care Subsidy (Title XX) and our provider ID is 11910320.
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Full time tuition for four-six year olds is $240/week
Part time is considered no more than 3 days per week and is $190/week.
We accept the Child Care Subsidy (Title XX) and our provider ID is 11910320.
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Full time tuition for seven-nine year olds is $230/week.
Before & after school tuition for children enrolled elsewhere is $190/week, plus $40 per day when there is no school.
Part time is considered no more than 3 days per week and is $190/week.
We accept the Child Care Subsidy (Title XX) and our provider ID is 11910320.
Curriculum & Philosophy
Play is the curriculum, not a break from it.
Our classrooms combine play-based learning, literature, process art, movement, hands-on exploration and Montessori-inspired principles.
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At Foundations, free play is at the heart of our approach. However, we also offer structured learning through Little Wonders Curriculum, a Reggio Emilia-friendly program that nurtures Pre-K readiness in three engaging modules:
Pre-Literature – A weekly deep dive into a children's book, featuring daily readings, vocabulary discussions, and play-based group activities that bring the story to life.
Block Play – A monthly book study combined with hands-on S.T.E.M. experiences, encouraging problem-solving, creativity, and spatial awareness.
Little Masters Art – A monthly book study introducing a famous artist, followed by open-ended, process-focused art projects that inspire creative expression.Play Based Education (All Ages)
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At Foundations, we blend the child-led philosophies of Montessori and Reggio Emilia into a play-based learning environment that values curiosity, independence, and exploration.
Unlike traditional methods, we don’t force children to sit for worksheets or memorize the alphabet. Instead, we scaffold learning through one-on-one interactions, following their natural excitement and interests. Our environments are designed to encourage:
Freedom of choice – Children engage in activities at their own pace, guided by teachers who offer support and encouragement.
Deep, meaningful learning – Through hands-on exploration, children develop critical thinking, creativity, and social-emotional skills.
Developmentally appropriate practice – We respect the unique growth of each child, meeting them where they are and helping them flourish.
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At Foundations, we believe that play is the work of childhood. When children play, they’re not just having fun—they’re learning essential skills that prepare them for school and for life.
🎶 Music & Movement
When children sing, dance, and explore rhythm, they’re developing language, memory, and coordination—all while expressing big feelings through joyful movement.🎨 Process Art
We don’t focus on perfect crafts. Instead, children explore materials like paint, glue, and clay at their own pace. This open-ended creativity supports fine motor skills, self-confidence, and early math and literacy foundations.🌳 Outdoor Play (Rain or Shine!)
Running, climbing, digging, and exploring the outdoors strengthens muscles and minds. It encourages risk assessment, problem-solving, and teamwork—especially in puddles and mud!🧱 Blocks & Loose Parts
Building towers or inventing something with everyday objects teaches balance, cause and effect, early math, and spatial awareness. It also gives children a chance to collaborate and think like engineers.🎭 Dramatic Play
When a child pretends to run a grocery store or go to the doctor, they’re making sense of the world around them. These role-play moments develop empathy, storytelling skills, and the ability to negotiate and cooperate with peers.🌿 Independence Through Freedom
Children at Foundations are trusted to explore and make choices. That might mean getting messy—really messy! We embrace it, and offer on-site laundry support. Independence builds confidence and self-direction, which are crucial for lifelong learning. -
At Foundations, we believe that childcare should feel like an extension of home. That’s why we offer resources and support to help ease the burden on families:
✔️ Laundry facilities – Available for families to save on laundromat costs.
✔️ Take-home meals – Leftovers from our hot lunches can be boxed up for dinner.
✔️ Little Free Pantry – Stocked with food staples, snacks, and household essentials.
✔️ Printing & Xeroxing – Free access for family needs.
✔️ Event space – Families can host birthday parties & gatherings in our facility at no cost.At Foundations, we don’t just care for children—we care for families.
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Free & Reduced-Cost Tuition
Check to see if you qualify for Nebraska’s Child Care Subsidy, which can pay all or some of your child care tuition at eligible programs like ours, or apply for Siding Scale Rates, offered by Foundations for a limited portion of enrollment.