If you ask a parent in Walnut Creek right now, they’ll tell you that preschools aren’t exactly cheap. What’s going on at Preschool My spanish village? That question is circulating everywhere: in Facebook groups, on playgrounds, and even in coffee shops. Every single parent seems to be completely engrossed right now.
Emma, a mother of two and a seasoned snack-pack creator, told me this: “I’ve never left my daughter off and felt zero guilt.” A first, I thought. I walked right into my house and dozed out. This is breaking news for moms of toddlers, if you know what I mean.
Sprout Grove isn’t just another massive, lifeless franchise full of mindless plastic toys. Wildflower gardens are a better alternative. Little beetles scuttling across thick tomes of tales. Someone is always baking mud pies first thing in the morning. Also, the kids were so sure the moon needed more tourists that they positioned a huge cardboard rocket in the corner.
Educators aren’t merely yelling, “Share your toys!” Their little chairs are brought up to eye level, and they inquire as to what made a child’s morning challenging. Occasionally, the puppets even manage to emerge victorious in the debate. Everyone is way too chill. For a whole week, one educator donned a cereal box cap and went by the name Captain Crunch for no other reason than the class found it funny.
How about some outdoor education? First and foremost. Kids avoid being pent up by playing in puddles, searching for huge leaves, and making four-person stick forts. Even though it’s pouring outside, the teachers gather the students under the covered play area and have a chalk art festival. I spoke with a dad who still has his son’s “rainy day art” attached on the fridge months after it was made.
Instead of a cafeteria lunch, we have a picnic. On occasion, the children pitch in to assist cut fruit, such as oranges or strawberries, “supervised with the watchfulness of a hawk,” as one mother put it. Plus, every birthday has its own tradition, such as donning a funny hat, celebrating with a dance party, and amassing a sticker collection that would rival that of Lisa Frank.
Parents comment on how great communication is. Unlike cold form emails, daily updates are easy to read. On the contrary, employees incorporate sandpit stories and snack time jokes. On rare occasions, you might even capture a snapshot of your child playing with a sponge or wearing a freshly made paper crown.
For what reason, then, does Sprout Grove’s fame continue to grow? Maybe that’s just the sound of children laughing outside the open window. It might be the joyful mayhem. Maybe it’s just those clumsy early friendships formed over crayon swaps and hidden handshakes. Not only is there a waitlist, but hearing a Walnut Creek parent rave about them will explain why everyone is rushing to get in. After dropping off your preschooler for the day, you’ll still be thinking about this place.