Prairie Flower Children's Center

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Prairie Flower Children's Center An independent, non-profit nature-based early childhood education center in Ames, Iowa, that has been serving families for over 25 years

PFCC is part of the largest, fastest-growing independent educational movement in the world (http://www.waldorfanswers.org/Waldorf.htm). At Prairie Flower, we strive to build a community in which children's hearts, hands and heads are nurtured at each stage of their development, and where families are strengthened by their involvement.

We had an excellent first week of Little Song parent-child club at Prairie Flower! While it was very hot, we played in t...
09/05/2026

We had an excellent first week of Little Song parent-child club at Prairie Flower! While it was very hot, we played in the little creek and kept cool enough. Little Song is for children 15 months to their third birthday and a caregiver. We meet each week from 10 a.m. to noon on either Tuesdays or Thursdays to explore the nearby woods and enjoy stories and songs together. We still have space for a couple families in each group. We would love to include you in our Prairie Flower family!

🌿 What if preschool didn’t have to rush childhood?At Prairie Flower we are nature-based, child-led, and play-based! We b...
09/01/2026

🌿 What if preschool didn’t have to rush childhood?
At Prairie Flower we are nature-based, child-led, and play-based! We believe children learn best when they have the time, freedom, and space to follow their curiosity.

✨ Child-led learning builds confidence, independence, and a love of learning.

🪵 Risky play allows children to test their limits, solve problems, make decisions, and discover what they’re capable of.

⏳ Preserving the pace of childhood means giving children permission to slow down, wonder, imagine, get messy, try again, and simply be children.

Because childhood isn’t a race to the next milestone.

We believe in letting children play, explore, take healthy risks, and grow at their own pace. 🌱

If you’re looking for a preschool that values play over pressure and childhood over hurry, we’d love to welcome you. ❤️

So much hard work and dedication went into this picture perfect afternoon full of Gaga Ball! The summer school agers rai...
08/26/2026

So much hard work and dedication went into this picture perfect afternoon full of Gaga Ball! The summer school agers raised $750 over 3 self-planned bake sales to get the Gaga ball pit! A huge thank you to everyone who baked, attended and donated toward this dream!

Five weeks from today will be our first Little Song meeting for the Fall session. We've got a couple years under our be...
07/30/2026

Five weeks from today will be our first Little Song meeting for the Fall session. We've got a couple years under our belts after restarting this program, and it has been very rewarding for all involved. Check out what some of our families have to say on the second image.

Go to prairieflowercc.org/parent-child-club to find out more and enroll.

Please share with all your friends with toddlers!

Little Song Parent-Child club traipsing through the field. We're wrapping up for the summer, but starting back up again ...
05/21/2026

Little Song Parent-Child club traipsing through the field. We're wrapping up for the summer, but starting back up again in September.

Looking for new ways to support Prairie Flower? Consider joining the board! We’re currently looking for some new members...
05/14/2026

Looking for new ways to support Prairie Flower? Consider joining the board! We’re currently looking for some new members - especially those with backgrounds in early childhood education, accounting and a passion for our mission!

Details and applications are available on our website:
https://www.prairieflowercc.org/board-of-directors.html

Today was a magical, scavenger-hunt kind of day! 🌿✨We explored the woods with wide eyes and big smiles, discovering mush...
04/29/2026

Today was a magical, scavenger-hunt kind of day! 🌿✨

We explored the woods with wide eyes and big smiles, discovering mushrooms, money, bones, lost belongings, and all kinds of creatures along the way. The questions were endless, and the learning was completely student-led!

Some of the wonders we explored today:
Where does that path lead?
Why is the prairie black?
What’s under here?
Who dug this hole?
Did the spider catch anything in its web?
Why does that mushroom have water underneath?
Can we eat these?
Is this poison ivy?
How do you know it’s a baby deer?

At Prairie Flower, our play-based, child-led approach gives children the agency and freedom to follow their passions and curiosity—leading to deep, meaningful learning every single day. 💛

Ms. Amy makes and stirs mud in the forest with Little Song friends. The chilly, unpredictable weather does not keep us i...
03/14/2026

Ms. Amy makes and stirs mud in the forest with Little Song friends. The chilly, unpredictable weather does not keep us inside!

Help support Prairie Flower Children’s Center this month by donating your bottles and cans at Ames Bottle and Can!
01/17/2026

Help support Prairie Flower Children’s Center this month by donating your bottles and cans at Ames Bottle and Can!

We are looking for a few more families to join our Winter session of LIttle Song Parent-child club.We try to spend at le...
12/16/2025

We are looking for a few more families to join our Winter session of LIttle Song Parent-child club.

We try to spend at least half of our time outside during each meeting. We'll explore the snowy woods, enjoy songs and stories about animals and adventures in the snow, and connect to the nature around us. Toddlers have a chance to play with others, while parents connect.

We offer a free trial day, too. Please reach out with any questions: [email protected]

https://www.prairieflowercc.org/parent-child-club.html

Address

1517 Northwestern Avenue
Ames, IA
50010

Telephone

(515) 292-4312

Website

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