Early Preschool Near Portland

Earlier Access to Whole-Child Learning Starting at 2 Years Old

Most preschool programs in the Portland, Oregon area don’t open enrollment until age 3. Our Tembo Tots Entry Level Preschool program begins at 2, giving your child an earlier start in a structured, nurturing classroom built for this exact stage of development. Safari Kid of Tigard is located in Tigard, a Washington County city at the heart of the Portland metro, and serves families throughout the greater Portland area.

Safari Kid is a global early childhood education provider drawing on Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and other respected methodologies. The result is a research-driven, whole-child curriculum that supports cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and language development together, not in isolation. Tembo Tots is designed to ease the transition from home to school, building the trust and routine that can help a two-year-old feel secure enough to truly explore.

Five Developmental Domains in the Tembo Tots Curriculum

The Tembo Tots Entry Level Preschool program is built around five interconnected areas of development. Each domain is addressed through concrete, age-appropriate activities rather than abstract instruction, meeting two-year-olds where they are.

Cognitive Development

Children work with numbers, patterns, and cause-and-effect relationships through hands-on activities that build early problem-solving skills. Open-ended play and artistic projects encourage imagination and creativity, giving children space to think independently from an early age.

Language & Literacy Development

Storytelling, phonics, and language games are woven into daily routines to lay the groundwork for reading and writing. Children are also introduced to basic words in a foreign language and sign language, broadening their sense of communication from the start.

Physical Development

Drawing, painting, and working with small objects strengthen hand muscles and hand-eye coordination. Active indoor and outdoor play, along with simple yoga stretches, support strength, flexibility, and coordination at a pace suited to young bodies.

Social & Emotional Development

Cooperative play, turn-taking, and sharing help children learn to interact with peers in healthy, productive ways. We also help children identify and label their emotions and practice expressing and managing feelings in constructive ways.

Health & Care Development

Guided conversations about emotions and simple mindfulness and breathing techniques give children tools for managing fear and anxiety. Children also practice conflict resolution and negotiation, building habits that support wellbeing well beyond the classroom.

What Makes Us the Right Choice

Families choose us because we treat early learning as whole-child development, not just school readiness. Our educators balance structured lessons with hands-on, play-based exploration so children build curiosity and confidence alongside early academic skills. Instruction is tailored to each child’s learning style, and we track progress through ongoing assessments that let us refine our approach as your child grows.

Our modern, well-equipped facilities are designed to invite exploration. Children engage with arts, music, and cultural activities that build adaptability alongside foundational skills. Regular family events and assessments keep you closely involved in your child’s progress every step of the way.