A group of young children wearing colorful costumes and butterfly wings stand on a grassy play area, looking up with excitement as a butterfly floats above them.

Welcome To

Little Caterpillar Academy

Nurturing Bilingual Early Learners in Issaquah, WA

Born to Play.

Built to Explore.

Curious to Learn.

English & 中文 Bilingual Immersed.

At Little Caterpillar Academy, children learn through play, exploration, academic learning, and everyday experiences in a safe, nurturing environment. English and 中文 are naturally woven into daily interactions, while thoughtfully designed indoor spaces, outdoor play, and close family partnerships support each child’s growth, confidence, and love of learning.

在小毛毛虫学院,孩子们在一个安全、温暖、充满关爱的环境中,通过游戏、探索、学术学习以及日常生活体验来学习与成长。英语与中文融入每天的学习与生活,结合精心设计的室内学习空间、宽敞的户外活动区域,以及与家庭的紧密合作,支持每一位孩子自信成长,爱上学习。

About Us ▸

Individualized.

Love.

Care.

Our dedicated team of bilingual educators each brings over 10 years of experience in early childhood education. They provide attentive, individualized care and design engaging activities that support language development and social-emotional growth in a warm, nurturing environment.

Meet Our Team

❊ FAQs

You’ve got questions,
we’ve got answers

  • Little Caterpillar Academy serves children from 12 months to 6 years old. Children are placed in classrooms based on age and developmental readiness to ensure they receive appropriate care and learning experiences.

  • We have two classrooms, each designed to support children at different developmental stages.

    Toddler Class (12 months to 30 months)

    Our Toddler Class focuses on helping young children feel safe, secure, and confident as they begin exploring the world around them. Learning happens through movement, sensory play, repetition, and warm, responsive interactions. English and Mandarin are naturally integrated throughout the day in meaningful, real-life contexts. The classroom environment is calm, predictable, and nurturing to support emotional security.

    Preschool Class (30 months to 6 years old)

    Our Preschool Class supports growing independence, curiosity, and early academic foundations in a play-based, engaging environment. English and Mandarin are woven naturally into activities, routines, and peer interactions, supporting confident bilingual development while preparing children for kindergarten. English and Mandarin are woven naturally into activities, routines, and peer interactions, supporting confident bilingual development while preparing children for kindergarten.

  • Classroom placement is based on age, developmental readiness, and individual needs. Transitions are planned thoughtfully, with communication between teachers and families to ensure children feel comfortable and supported.

  • English and Mandarin are integrated naturally throughout the day during play, routines, stories, songs, and everyday conversations. Children experience both languages in meaningful, real-life contexts rather than through formal lessons, allowing language to develop naturally and with confidence.

    Each classroom has a dedicated English teacher and a dedicated Mandarin Chinese teacher, who consistently use their respective languages during interactions, activities, and learning experiences. This immersive approach helps children connect language with relationships, actions, and daily life, supporting strong bilingual understanding in a warm, supportive environment.

  • Individualized care begins at enrollment, when parents and guardians share detailed information about their child’s routines, strengths, interests, and specific needs. Teachers and families work together to establish an individualized care plan that supports each child’s well-being, development, and learning.

    Ongoing communication is an essential part of this partnership. Teachers share daily updates during drop-off and pick-up, and children’s progress, challenges, and milestones are discussed in greater depth during twice-annual parent-teacher conferences. Care plans are reviewed and updated each year in collaboration with families to ensure they continue to reflect each child’s growth and evolving needs.

  • Little Caterpillar Academy does not offer short-term, drop-in, or one-week enrollment. Our program is designed to provide consistency, stability, and meaningful relationships, which are essential for young children’s well-being and development.

    Enrollment is based on ongoing care rather than temporary attendance. This allows children to build strong connections with teachers and peers, settle into daily routines, and fully benefit from our play-based, bilingual learning environment.

    If you’re unsure whether our program is the right fit, we’re happy to discuss your family’s needs and help explore appropriate options.

Have More Questions?

Contact Us

One School. Every Moment. Many Smiles.

A smiling child in winter clothing holds a snowball while standing on a lightly snow-covered playground.
A young child in a red traditional Chinese outfit stands smiling in front of Lunar New Year decorations.
A young child stacks wooden blocks on an outdoor play table.