We have some 2/4 day spots for 3 and 4 years olds from 9am to 12pm. The available slots are as follows:

• Mon / Wed
• Tues / Thurs
• Mon - Thurs

Please call (206)763-2081 or email to schedule an observation.

I am so excited to announce that starting in September 2008 Blake, Orcas and Vashon classrooms will be for 3 to 5 year olds. We will no longer offer the 2's class but will continue with Messy play Day. And the K-2 class will stay where it is, doing what it does best!

The board and staff voted unanimously that the 3 to 5 model is the best direction for the school as a whole and the staff are so happy to bring the focus back to what preschool is designed to be-for 3 to 5 year olds. It’s how we started and what we believe to be best practice in early childhood education. We tried the age segregation thing and for many reasons it just did not work for us. One of the biggest reasons is that when you have a group of children all working out the same developmental struggle at the same time in the same space it becomes overwhelming-like fuel to a fire- is the best way I can describe it-especially at the 4/5 year old age. This is a time for physical challenge and if all the other kids are focused on physical challenge guess what happens? It’s all physical all the time. The other big developmental stage is at 3 when they are really just learning social skills. Practicing how to ask for a toy instead of taking it, going to the bathroom themselves, pouring their own juice and having to wait for a turn are all emotional experiences for 3 year olds.

Some of the reasons the 3 to 5 model works so well are the opportunities for growth that it provides at every age. The 3 year olds get to see where they are going and the 4/5 year olds get to show what they know by helping and working with the younger children (the best way to learn is to teach someone else!) Probably the greatest skill we see across the ages is the development of empathy. Being able to connect to the emotional experiences of others is a learned skill that takes time and practice, it’s also important to have coaching from a teacher who understands the importance of such experiences. At CSWS teaching empathy is ingrained in everything we do. The multi-age classroom is set-up to challenge and engage each level and children can participate in activities that wouldn’t ‘typically’ be offered to them. Children get a chance to repeat important work too. Repetition is a powerful way to learn for a child-how many times have you read your child’s favorite book? You wouldn’t not read it just because you’ve read it before! Think of the experiences you have had together while reading that book, the questions that were asked and the joy that was shared.

What we know is that when children have access to materials that both stimulate and challenge them they learn and when they have access to materials they can easily accomplish and know they learn. When children can make friends with people of different ages and abilities they learn. When children encounter tough times and have to work things out they learn. When children have access to the rich diversity of materials and experiences we provide they learn.

Preschool is a Learning Experience and in the early years
Learning can and should be FUN!