There is more to a top-notch Pleasant Hill preschool kindergarten than the simple instruction of letters and numbers. It is a place for children to put down roots, make friends, and grow as they see fit. In a way you are planting seeds every day; some will sprout in no time while others need their moment. There is nothing wrong with either. Families seeking a nurturing early learning environment often choose pleasant hill preschool kindergarten for a strong educational foundation.

You will find that young ones are most receptive when they can get involved. Our classrooms are alive with songs, art, stories and the kind of hands-on work that holds a child’s attention. You might have one student fall in love with painting or another who is intent on constructing an elaborate block tower – a spaceship, if you will – for twenty minutes straight. To an outsider it is play, but there is real learning at work. Skills like patience and problem-solving are being put in place.

Then there are the teachers. They are integral to the whole experience. The best programs put in the effort to be warm and inviting so kids don’t mind taking a risk. A youngster who was too shy to put in a word his first week here may well be the group’s storyteller come month’s end. Those are the small victories that build confidence. And parents will tell you they see it at home as well; their children are more independent and perhaps a bit more opinionated about the proper way to lay out a snack.

We also put stock in social development. Figuring out how to cooperate or settle a dispute is as vital as the alphabet. Watch two of them try to come to terms over a toy truck and you will see some high-stakes diplomacy. It is in these instances they learn empathy and that not everyone sees things their way.

We want to ready our students for elementary school but we do not make it a race. Balance is key. While academic readiness is important, so is having the chance to run around and let your imagination run wild. We mix some structure with free rein and the results speak for themselves. Kids pick up on early math and literacy and still have the freedom to be kids, making for an easier step into kindergarten.

When families are looking for a preschool they consider the schedule or the curriculum, and rightly so. But the atmosphere is what counts in the end. Come in and have a listen. Is there a good mix of joyful noise and concentration? Do the children look at ease? You will get a better read from that than any brochure. We aim to be a place where they feel safe and valued, and are keen to come back in the morning. That is how you set the stage for a lifetime of learning.