Walnut Creek parents, you may have heard rumors about a particular preschool that’s all the rage. You won’t see Whispering Pines on every single flyer or billboard. A true gem in the preschool in Walnut Creek, most people find it by chance, through friends or neighbors, or even just by accident. Why, then, does it have an enchanted effect on everyone who finds it? Alright, let’s reveal everything.
Envision staff members who know your name and are prepared to talk about the weekend’s soccer games as soon as you drop off your child. That’s the way it is here: people put each other first. “It feels less like drop-off and more like leaving my child with family,” one ecstatic parent tells me. Honestly, getting out of the minivan at 8 a.m. is a bit less of a chore when the heat is so noticeable.
A kaleidoscope of imagination awaits you in the classrooms. In the STEM areas, children can play with basic robots while also engaging in finger painting crafts. The instructor staged a mock farmer’s market last month. The children had fun playing cashier, exchanging plastic fruits, and practicing their counting skills in real time. “Now my son makes me remember to eat my veggies because ‘Miss Molly says broccoli is brain food!'” a father chuckled. That reasoning is irrefutable.
Playing outside cannot be negotiated. Teachers still let students stomp around in puddle boots even as rain clouds roll in. “They come home muddy and tired—with stories I couldn’t even dream up,” a mother said. Daily, it’s a new adventure.
Some daycares take pride in the number drills and sight word programs they offer. The values of wonder and generosity are central to Whispering Pines. As the vegetable patches in the playground flourish, so do the friendships. Teachers include music and Spanish into their lessons. The class guinea pig goes from doing yoga poses with the mats one morning to investigating bugs under a log the next. Everyone is kept guessing by the curriculum, and learning is not seen as a work.
Communication is a recurring theme among parents. Pictures of happy kids or their newest creations show up in inboxes every day. If you have any questions or concerns, like where Baby Bear’s left shoe went or if anyone is sick, the teachers will respond quickly.
What is particularly charming? On birthdays, the entire class makes a card, signed with squiggles of crayon and timid smiles. Word gets around quickly, and these small things foster a very loyal parent community.
Although it lacks sheen, Whispering Pines is sincere. You know you’ve found the right place when your little one dashes over to embrace a pal. I hope my child experiences this kind of happiness. If you’ve been looking, maybe you should start keeping an eye out for this hidden preschool now, before word gets out.