If you are looking for a preschool, I cannot recommend KuiHwa's school enough. Our son went there…read moreuntil we moved to France. Here in France we toured over 12 schools across the country and I haven't been able to find any that are on par with the quality provided at Seedlings. I know many parents have different priorities when it comes to school, so I'll describe what we were looking for and found at this school.
- we believe the first 7 years are the most crucial for a child's mental, emotional and intellectual growth. That it sets the framework and capacity of a child's lifelong development into a healthy, respectful, compassionate and intelligent adult. We wanted a preschool that believed this too, and didn't provide a "one size fits all" cookie cutter, year after year do the same thing approach
- we wanted a safe, warm, and respectful environment that honors and respects a child and meets them at their developmental level. No shaming, no harshness, no making children feel guilty (because why should we do that to a young child anyways?) if you're looking for a school that will scold and belittle a child, do not put your kid in this school. But if you're looking for a place that will love your child, really see them and celebrate them for their individuality, and take a respectful and open communication approach when any conflicts arise amongst the children, then enroll your child here!
- we believe a child loves to learn ... And does it best through play. We believe and trust in their instincts to grow and feel deeply about how they want to grow up. We believe that a child should be given the tools and confidence to be curious, a warm and rich environment to explore and learn from, and a supportive but not imposing adult presence to validate and provide opportunities to understand their interests deeper. If you want your child to come home memorizing their ABCs, songs, perfectly written letters and bring you back worksheets and colored in cookie cutter illustrations then this school isn't the best fit. If you want your child to "learn" through the same materials and work exercises that are based on memorization and not critical thinking, self respect or true creativity... then this place might not be good for you. But if you want the teachers to be there, really present with your child while providing enough autonomy and independence so the children can freely explore their environment and cultivate a LIFE LONG love of, confidence and intellectual tools to continue learning, then this school is it.
- we wanted a natural, play based and healthy environment that is more small community/home/tightly knit feeling than institutional. Children want to be outside all the time, playing with sand, mud, sticks, leaves, to discover crystals and bugs, to see how the sun light and water grows the vegetables, and how paint changes when mixed with other things. How different materials feel on their skin. How it feels to swing and climb. To play with toys that aren't the flashy, colorful "we shall mindlessly entertain your kid" types but the kind that teach balance, construction, problem solving and that engage a child's brain.
- we wanted our son to be kinder/elementary ready, but not through forced memorization, forced and repetitive tasks and regurgitation. We wanted him to want to learn for himself, for his own interests, for his own growth, and not because he would get rewards, praise or stickers. We wanted him to gain the muscle memory of holding and using a pencil and making confident lines through his own personalized approach, instead of a one size fits all method.
Gosh, I could keep talking about how amazing KuiHwa and her school is. My son and I miss them so much. We have been in France for six months and my son still talks about KuiHwa, the school and his friends. He is doing well in his current school which is much more traditional and "academic," and the teachers have observed that he is able to be more creative and thoughtful than his peers who went to a traditional preschool. Thank you KuiHwa, we miss you terribly!