I'm writing this review as a board member and parent of Sweet Pea Cottage. My son attended Sweet Pea in West Seattle for 2 1/2 years and my daughter has currently been there for 1 1/2 years. Both of my children love their teachers and staff at Sweet Pea and our family couldn't be happier.
The mixed age classes have really been beneficial for our kids. Last year, when my son was one of the oldest littles, he grew leaps and bounds in his confidence and leadership skills. As a Kindergartener now, I can really see the difference Sweet Pea has made in helping to shape our confident and empathetic little Kindergartener.
Our daughter, now 4, loves playing with the older kids and learning from them as well as teaching the younger kids the routines. The teachers do fantastic job teaching to all the age groups and making the sure everyone is learning and being challenged academically and emotionally. Our daughter also loves the different rotations they participate in throughout the day. Music is a favorite rotation. She also loves cooking class, French class, show & tell, sports and dance class.
We feel that the Sweet Pea teachers and staff honestly love being teachers and give our kids a true gift by their sharing their experiences and talents as working artists. I truly believe that by employing artists, our children have develop a true love for the arts.
I’m a retired early childhood educator and former head of school (K-12). If my grandchildren lived in the area, this is the preschool they would attend!
As a board member I find it very satisfying to support a preschool that integrates learning so effectively. Emerging research shows that non-cognitive skills - specifically self-control, zest, social intelligence, gratitude, optimism, curiosity and self-confidence are better predictors of academic performance and educational achievement than IQ. The ideal time to help a child develop these healthy skills is in early childhood. All you have to do is visit a Sweet Pea classroom to see that the school has a cadre of teachers who model these behaviors in the classroom and offer daily activities to enrich academic and the all-important foundational social learning that is key to success.
Review from Guidestar