Koalaroo Preschool — Daycare & Preschool in Barrie, Ontario

What parents say

• Ashley Smith

  I had looked at other preschool/daycares and I just didn’t have a good feeling about them. I called to see if Koalaroo had any openings and the minute Annie answered the phone, I felt at ease. The centre is clean and organized. The staff are so warm and caring. The menu is incredible and the backyard play area was surprisingly large and very well kept. My son was very shy and had a hard time saying goodbye and someone would always go out of their way to hug him or hold his hand to help him through the transition. He is off to school now but I couldn’t be more grateful to Annie for helping set him up for success this coming year. I would highly recommend Koalaroo to anyone!

• Amber Fulford

  My Daughter is heading into her second year at this wonderful school and I couldn't be more pleased! Koalaroo has an incredible educational program and the progress that my Daughter has made in the last several months is astounding. They have a fabulous hot lunch program with incredible foods from all around the world and my once picky toddler is now eating a wide variety of foods. Can't recommend Koalaroo Preschool enough! I wanted to post another review of this wonderful preschool but since you can only post one, I'll add an update here! Koalaroo was the absolute best childcare decision I could have made for my daughter. She attended for 2.5 years and it set a solid foundation for her early school years. By the time she started kindergarten, she had social skills and independence that set her up for success. Thanks to Koalaroo's Magic 100 Words program and Jolly Phonics, she also started school knowing how to read and write. Now, several years into school her reading scores are through the roof and considered "above average" and I give Koalaroo so much credit and appreciation for setting her up for this kind of academic success. The food program is phenomenal and introduced her to so many new foods that she still talks about Chef Steve's cooking to this day! Thank you to Annie and her wonderful staff for such a great program and experience.

• Sam Dunn

  Our son loves Koalaroo and his teachers. We just moved here temporarily from NJ and decided to enroll our almost 3 yr old in a preschool and visited several preschools. Annie gave us a tour and we liked how everything was clear and straightforward. Our son enjoyed his last two weeks and every morning he gets so excited on our way to Koalaroo. We like everyone there and I would definitely give it 6 stars if that was a thing.

• Mike Konarski

  My son has been attending Koalaroo for 3 years. Annie and Chef Steve have created such a wonderful atmosphere it only yields happy and joyous children. The lessons are constructive and built for each age group and the meals are amazing! Chef Steve has created a 2 month menu with meals from different parts of the world. My goal was to send my son to KBS after Koalaroo. His transition was seamingless! Thank you Annie, Steve and everyone at Koalaroo for helping mold my son into the wonderful boy he is today.

• janine innes

  I can't say enough about how much we LOVE Koalaroo! There aren't enough stars to express what a wonderful experience we have had. My daughter has been attending Koalaroo for 2 years. She is so happy there and has learned so much. She is now heading to big kid school and we are so sad to say goodbye. Koalaroo is such a special place. The teachers really care and are so nurturing. They are also exceptional at setting boundaries for the kids and teaching manners. No other preschool in Barrie, the surrounding areas, or the GTA that compares. We thought our prior preschool experience elsewhere with our older daughter was fine until we saw what an outstanding job they are doing at Koalaroo. They work on literacy numbers right from the youngest toddler age and they help the kids build all of the skills they will need to excel at big kid school. The kids have so much fun and feel like part of a real community. The kids love the freshly renovated outdoor classroom where they learn and play during outdoor time. The indoor classrooms are clean, well lit, and very kid friendly. The food is outstanding. Most of the parents feel the kids get better food than we adults do at work and home. The menu is diverse and allows kids to experience and love such a broad variety of healthy foods. The teachers also make sure that every kid has eaten enough. They truly get to know each kid and make sure all their needs are met. Mrs. Meechan and the other teachers also work so hard to make every part of every day enriching. They also have several special days throughout the year that the kids loved (mother's day, father's day, Christmas concert, apple picking field trip, easter hunt, book week, and so many others). The summer camps are great. Each week has a different theme and the teachers have so many creative ideas for crafts and activities. My older daughter attended camp with my younger one the last 2 summers and they both had a great time. My younger one will be there again this summer and she can't wait. I am sure there are other great things I have forgotten to mention, but in summary I am just so grateful that we got a spot at Koalaroo and that my daughter had this great experience. She is so prepared for big kid school and she has become so confident. She (and we) will truly miss Koalaroo.