Kirkland · Licensed center

Totem Lake KinderCare

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What the state has found

Someone reported concerns to the state, and it found all 3 valid, most recently in September 2025. The state also cited rules at 2 of its 4 licensing inspections since February 2024.

Of the 239 Seattle-area centers with 4 licensing inspections, 15% had rules cited at 2 of them, as this center did. 29% had rules cited at all 4, 7% at none.

Complaints the state found valid

Someone reported a concern. The state investigated and found reasonable cause to believe a licensing rule was broken.

Received Jul 25, 2025Valid complaintresolved Sep 3, 2025
The state’s report (PDF)
Received May 21, 2025Valid complaintresolved Jun 12, 2025
The state’s report (PDF)
Received Jun 19, 2024Valid complaintresolved Jul 29, 2024
The state’s report (PDF)

Of the 202 Seattle-area centers licensed for 71 to 114 children, 134 (66%) have no valid complaint in the last three years; 20 (10%) have three or more, as this center does.

Licensing inspections

Aug 19, 2026No rules cited
Dec 30, 20254 citations

  • “An inhaler was observed onsite but did not have an authorization on file.”

    WAC 110-300-0215(3)

  • “It was observed that the program did not complete any disaster drills in 2025.”

    WAC 110-300-0470(4)(b)

  • “The program missed a July and Sept 2025 drill.”

    WAC 110-300-0470(4)(a)

  • “It was observed that not all immunizations were printed within the last 12 months.”

    WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2)

Dec 10, 20243 citations

  • “One child had diaper cream on site that was expired and a medicaiton form was not completed by the parents. One child had Claritin on site, when their doctor's note was written for Zyrtec. The Claritin was expired. In multiple classrooms, diaper creams were accessible to children.”

    WAC 110-300-0215(3), WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(ii), WAC 110-300-0215(3)(c)

  • “It was observed that the program had not completed a disaster drill. It was observed that there was no fire drill completed for S.N. 2024”

    WAC 110-300-0470(4)(a), WAC 110-300-0470(4)(b)

  • “It was observed that not all files had current immunization records within the last 12 months. One CIS form stated "not complete" and a plan was not created with the parents.”

    WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2)

Feb 7, 2024No rules cited
Read every record and the state’s reports

Across KinderCare's 33 locations in the Seattle area, it cited something at 81% of 135 visits.

State record — Washington DCYF

Last visit
August 19, 2026
On file
4 visits since February 2024 — 2 cited nothing · 3 complaint investigations
Most serious
Serious — An inhaler was observed onsite but did not have an authorization on file. · December 30, 2025

Washington DCYF publishes the licensor’s own observation and a risk level for every citation it issues at a licensing visit, with the inspection report attached as a PDF.

Aug 2026 Licensing visit nothing cited Report (PDF)
Dec 2025 Licensing visit 4 findings

Licensing visit · December 30, 2025

Emergency preparedness plan

WAC 110-300-0470(4)(b) · Short Term

It was observed that the program did not complete any disaster drills in 2025.

Emergency preparedness plan

WAC 110-300-0470(4)(a) · Short Term

The program missed a July and Sept 2025 drill.

Immunizations and exempt children

WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2) · Long Term

It was observed that not all immunizations were printed within the last 12 months.

Medication

WAC 110-300-0215(3) · Serious

An inhaler was observed onsite but did not have an authorization on file.

Report (PDF)

Jul 2025 Complaint 1 valid issue

Complaint · Received July 25, 2025 · Resolved September 3, 2025

The state’s report (PDF)

May 2025 Complaint 1 valid issue

Complaint · Received May 21, 2025 · Resolved June 12, 2025

The state’s report (PDF)

Dec 2024 Licensing visit 3 findings

Licensing visit · December 10, 2024

Immunizations and exempt children

WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2) · Long Term

It was observed that not all files had current immunization records within the last 12 months. One CIS form stated "not complete" and a plan was not created with the parents.

Emergency preparedness plan

WAC 110-300-0470(4)(a) / 110-300-0470(4)(b) · Short Term

It was observed that the program had not completed a disaster drill. It was observed that there was no fire drill completed for S.N. 2024

Medication

WAC 110-300-0215(3) / 110-300-0215(3)(a)(ii) / 110-300-0215(3)(c) · Serious

One child had diaper cream on site that was expired and a medicaiton form was not completed by the parents. One child had Claritin on site, when their doctor's note was written for Zyrtec. The Claritin was expired. In multiple classrooms, diaper creams were accessible to children.

Report (PDF)

Jun 2024 Complaint 1 valid issue

Complaint · Received June 19, 2024 · Resolved July 29, 2024

Reported to the state by the program

Serious injury, valid issues and self-report are Washington’s own fields on its complaint listing.

The state’s report (PDF)

Feb 2024 Licensing visit nothing cited Report (PDF)

Shortlist replaces people’s names in the state’s text with initials. This is done by rule, not by hand, so it can miss a name or shorten a word that isn’t one. The state’s report, linked on each row, has the original.

Openings, Working Connections subsidy, tuition, ratios and staff, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.

How they teach

Developmental

“Our whole-child, play-based curriculum gives kids the freedom to learn and explore.”

What it costs

Siblings
sibling discounts

A day here

Hours
7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, 5 days a week
Meals
Meals and snacks provided, developed by a registered dietitian; families with special dietary needs may bring lunch by arrangement with the director
Outdoors
Outdoor play decisions follow state licensing rules plus center guidelines based on temperature, humidity, and wind chill
Diapers
Center provides diaper changes as needed until the child shows interest in toilet learning
Updates for parents
KinderCare App: messaging with the center director, progress updates, and photos
Schedule
full-time and part-time

Details

(425) 828-3583

Website
kindercare.com
Address
11404 Slater Ave NE
License
PL-21124, active
Quality program
Early Achievers Level 3
Ages they serve
6 weeks to 6 years

Nearby

The eight closest of the 14 other licensed centers in ZIP 98033

Programs in Kirkland on the Seattle guide

Run Totem Lake KinderCare? Correct or add anything here, free.

Add what is missing
Sources and dates

Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.

How they teach

What it costs

State record

From Washington DCYF’s published reports, last checked October 11, 2026.

A day here

  • Meals, Outdoors, Diapers, Schedule — Checked July 2026 kindercare.com
  • Updates for parents, Hours — Checked September 2026 kindercare.com

Details

From KinderCare's quarterly report to the SEC, filed August 13, 2026. sec.gov

Medium means the middle half of Seattle-area’s 859 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 41 to 114 children. Small is 6 to 40; large is 115 to 323.

The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.

Nearby

The other centers’ visit lines are from Washington DCYF’s published reports as Shortlist read them on October 11, 2026.