Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Lancaster. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.
Best Teachers
Earned the highest teacher quality score in Lancaster. This dimension weighs staff tenure, qualifications, warmth reported in parent reviews, and consistency of care across classrooms.
Most Compassionate
Earned the highest compassion score in Lancaster. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.
Best Culture
Earned the highest culture score in Lancaster. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.
Best Arts & Music
Earned the highest arts & music score in Lancaster. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.
Best Extracurriculars
Earned the highest extracurricular score in Lancaster. This dimension covers enrichment programs — languages, STEM, yoga, cooking, field trips, and other activities beyond the core curriculum.
Full Ranking Detail
childcare
Explore Me A Story ~ Mindful Nature Preschool is a Reggio Emilia-inspired, play-based preschool in Lancaster serving children from 6 months through age 5. Founded by Joanna, an educator with 30 years of teaching experience and published author, the center emphasizes child-centered exploration, discovery, and creative expression through integrated music, art, movement, sensory play, and mindfulness activities. Reviewers consistently describe an engaging, welcoming, family-like atmosphere that supports whole-child development across social, emotional, physical, and cultural dimensions. As a part-day program (8:30–11:30 AM) without a state quality rating on file, it functions as a specialized preschool option rather than full-day childcare and may have limited enrollment capacity.
Safety6.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music8.0
Infant care6.0
Kindergarten readiness7.0
Teacher quality8.0
Compassion9.0
Management7.0
Culture8.0
Extracurriculars8.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Play-based, child-centered approach emphasizing exploration and discovery under the philosophy "Play, Explore, Discover, Express Yourself." Values the creative process over end products and incorporates literacy, children's yoga, and mindfulness.
Programs & activities: Reading/literacy, music, sensory "messy play," mindful nature experiences, and yoga/mindfulness. Offers preschool classes, an enriched kindergarten preparation program, and a summer program.
What sets it apart: Marketed as a Mindful Nature Preschool with a whole-child focus (social, emotional, physical, cultural). Director has 30 years of teaching experience and is a published children's author (Ladybug Magazine).
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 10 in Lancaster
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Explore Me A Story ~ Mindful Nature Preschool -->
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 10 in Lancaster</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Lancaster. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.</span>
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Best Teachers
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<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/columbus/lancaster/explore-me-a-story-mindful-nature-preschool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
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<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Teachers</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest teacher quality score in Lancaster. This dimension weighs staff tenure, qualifications, warmth reported in parent reviews, and consistency of care across classrooms.</span>
</span>
</a>
Most Compassionate
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Explore Me A Story ~ Mindful Nature Preschool -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/columbus/lancaster/explore-me-a-story-mindful-nature-preschool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-compassion.jpg" alt="Most Compassionate - Explore Me A Story ~ Mindful Nature Preschool - Lancaster, OH" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Most Compassionate</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest compassion score in Lancaster. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Culture
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Explore Me A Story ~ Mindful Nature Preschool -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/columbus/lancaster/explore-me-a-story-mindful-nature-preschool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-culture.jpg" alt="Best Culture - Explore Me A Story ~ Mindful Nature Preschool - Lancaster, OH" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Culture</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest culture score in Lancaster. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.</span>
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Best Arts & Music
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Explore Me A Story ~ Mindful Nature Preschool -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/columbus/lancaster/explore-me-a-story-mindful-nature-preschool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-arts.jpg" alt="Best Arts & Music - Explore Me A Story ~ Mindful Nature Preschool - Lancaster, OH" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Arts & Music</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest arts & music score in Lancaster. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Extracurriculars
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Explore Me A Story ~ Mindful Nature Preschool -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/columbus/lancaster/explore-me-a-story-mindful-nature-preschool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-extra.jpg" alt="Best Extracurriculars - Explore Me A Story ~ Mindful Nature Preschool - Lancaster, OH" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Extracurriculars</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest extracurricular score in Lancaster. This dimension covers enrichment programs — languages, STEM, yoga, cooking, field trips, and other activities beyond the core curriculum.</span>
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This recognition is awarded independently by Creative Minds Montessori based on publicly available parent reviews and public records. Centers do not pay for or request these rankings. Scores reflect editorial synthesis of verified parent experience — not center marketing materials. Rankings are updated periodically as new reviews are analyzed.
