5 /5 Heather Nicholson: --- edit this was my experience from the 2022-2023 school year in a specific classroom. Ive heard from others that the school has changed dramatically since we left for public school. I would make sure to find feedback from parents who are currently enrolled and talk with the staff. Take my comment for what it is - a small snap shot of events in the past-----
I can’t say enough good things about Children’s Garden Apple Tree room.
Last year my son was on an emotional improvement plan at a different pre-school in the area. He had a hard time regulating his feelings and emotions and frequently took 20-30 minutes to calm down.
My daughter was attending Children’s Garden Waterfall room (2nd grade) at the time so I was able to see how much work and effort the school puts into each of their kids. When enrollment opened, we immediately signed our son up for Children’s Garden’s Pre-k classroom. We filled out the paperwork explaining his behavior issues and waited to figure out which class we’d be in. We ended up in Apple Tree and it was the perfect fit. Apple Tree focuses on emotional regulation and daily mediation with the kids. My son came home calmer, was able to talk about his feelings, and taught us all about slowing down and taking deep breaths.
It also turns out that my son was having so many tantrums at the other school because he LOVES learning and he wasn’t given enough time to explore the things they were teaching in 15-minute segments. In Apple Tree, each kids gets to pick what they want to work on and how long they want to work on it. The teachers are fantastic and cater to his needs for more information and more challenging work.
Had he stayed at the other school, I think he would have hated education and authority figures. I know my son is loved at Children’s Garden and that’s a great feeling. I also know that he has the tools to succeed in other classrooms as he moves forward, which was worth every penny.
I want to also throw in a comment about the staff at Children’s Garden. They are lovely, welcoming, and very communicative. The care and devotion they have for all the kids who attend there is clear. I’m so grateful for the impact they’ve had on our family.