IN OUR OWN WORDS:

What Chickpeas Families Have to Say About Chickpeas

We absolutely loved Chickpeas the first time with our big girl and we love it even more now with Aviva.  The teachers are loving and patient, and it translates into a warm, stimulating environment.

- Adine, mom of Ariella and Aviva

My daughter Isabella spent two fun-filled years at Chickpeas.  I really feel that who she is today has a lot to do with her experience there.  She learned how to share, work out her differences with others and to be responsible and empathetic.  Anika, my younger daughter, came to Chickpeas shy and insecure and now has a booming social life. It is truly a special place, and a family environment.

- Lijah, mom of Isabella and Anika

We learned about Chickpeas from a very good friend whose daughter was thriving in the school— creatively, emotionally, socially—so we went to the Open House and felt enthusiastic and impressed.  We loved seeing the children's art work hanging on the walls, the enormous number of blocks and materials that encourage the children to build from their own imaginations, and the welcoming warmth and sense of community imparted by the teachers and families.  We feel so very fortunate that now Sophia is a Chickpea and that her important initial school experience is in a fun-filled, creative and nurturing environment.

- Rebecca and Jack, parents of Sophia and Sabine

When I used to substitute teach and teach music at Chickpeas in the mid-late 1990's, I was very impressed with the overall "vibe.”  I had taught at other pre-schools and felt that Chickpeas seemed to be run the best.  It was mellow, relaxed, fun, and exciting.  Kids were generally happy and well-adjusted. I thought "semi-circle" was a brilliant conclusion to work time.  I remember thinking that when I had kids, I would like for them to go to Chickpeas.  I even wrote a song called "Chickpeas (a Pre-School for Champions),” which is on my first CD! My wish came true and my daughter, Ruby, is an attendee. Amazingly, I find the school to have all those same good qualities I had observed almost ten years ago, even with a different group of parents and teachers. Ruby has really gained a lot in her sense of herself and ability to take action for what she desires. Her speech is growing in leaps and bounds.  She also really likes being at school.  I can't say enough good things about the teachers who are so caring, down-to-earth, and supportive.

- Rob, dad of Ruby and Chickpeas music teacher

To tell you the truth, we had applied so late in the year we were only on waiting lists, and Chickpeas was the only place that called us back. But we had always heard great things about it. And we've been pleasantly surprised ever since. Sammie can't wait to go to school every day. It's a real community of families working together to make the most nurturing and supportive environment for our children. I love the way everyone, including the teachers, are so heartfelt about Chickpeas. I guess it tends to be the nature of a co-op school, but I think it is indicative of Chickpeas. And I'm glad to be a part of such a fabulous bunch of people.

- Yuna, mom of Sammie, William and Mia

I picked Chickpeas originally for my first daughter on the strength of friends' recommendations and after touring many other preschools.  We were attracted to its philosophy, space, affordability, flexible schedule, and the sense of community that comes from a cooperative structure.  My first daughter went for two years, and now my second daughter attends.  All three of the excellent teachers have been here for both children, providing a wonderful sense of continuity and comfort.  We love the creativity and imagination that Chickpeas fosters through art, pretend play, and activities.  Because it is a cooperative, we feel like we really get to know the other families and children, and have a say in their preschool experience.  Since parents are welcome at all times, we often stay for part of after school with both our daughters to play and hang out, and they never seem to want to leave! As working parents, we really appreciate that Chickpeas is open more days than the regular school schedule and goes through July.  It makes our lives easier to manage, and the flexibility of the after school program and early drop off, as well as being able to buy or sell days if needed, is great.

- Margaret, mom of Phoebe and Abbie

Our daughter is pretty independent and she transitions easily -- she was doing fine in her preschool last year and would probably do fine almost anyplace we sent her, but as soon as we went to the Chickpeas Open House, we felt that we'd found an environment where Ella would not just do fine, but would flourish.  We were right.

Given the time to get into her projects, materials that excite her (she LOVES trash art!), and teachers who really support the kids‚ creativity rather than just presenting them with defined projects to complete, Ella now regularly brings home artwork that amazes us.  She’s been really excited to learn sign language and is always talking about her teachers.  Probably the best indication of how much she loves Chickpeas is that when we pick her up, she doesn't want to leave, and since the school is such a welcoming place for parents, we usually end up hanging out, getting the opportunity to spend time with Ella’s friends, as well as the teachers and other parents. 

- Alisa and Colleen, moms of Ella and Zelda

Hennie is pretty outgoing, and had also been going to a day care for two years that follows the Bank Street philosophy, but the transition was even easier than we had expected.  There has not been a single day that Hennie has not been excited about going to school. We will be thrilled to have little sister Mette follow in her footsteps.

- Hege, mom of Hennie and Mette

When Briana came to Chickpeas, she was very much aware of the older children who “knew it all,” and the true benefit of attending a mixed-age program is only realized when the younger set get to be in that position the next year.  There has been a huge social-emotional developmental boost--the self-confidence she has gained from knowing the routine and being able to help the newer children through the process cannot be duplicated anywhere else. My son was at Chickpeas for both years, and for children like him, who are slow to warm up, highly sensitive and not fond of transition, the benefits of staying two years with the same teachers and routine were immeasurable beyond words. I knew that Briana was resilient and would not have had a problem transitioning to pre-K at her brother’s school, but I never doubted that Chickpeas was the right choice.  The public school academic curriculum starts so young, and this short age of innocence is so precious and fleeting.  Pre-K in the public schools is modeled on the K academic curriculum and even though play is structured into the day at choice time, it is just not the same as Chickpeas where there is a true emphasis on creativity, free expression, and play for play’s sake—where it is understood that play is children’s work, and that is how they naturally learn and grow. 

- Stacey, mom of Briana and Andrew

My son had previously been in two other preschool/daycare programs, and I had been unhappy and frustrated with both of them for varying reasons.  I've found that in Park Slope, if you ask someone about the preschool that their child goes to, it will more often than not be "the best.”  I became pretty skeptical.  I had always felt drawn to the cooperative aspect of Chickpeas but couldn't anticipate how fully I would come to appreciate this.  All I can say is that it feels thoroughly rewarding and fulfilling to be an integral part of my child's early childhood education.  At Chickpeas it really is OUR school, and it feels totally comfortable to hang out there, share with the teachers, make suggestions for change, etc.  It's a wonderful feeling.  The added bonus of Chickpeas is that while it is truly "child-centered,” it is also much more parent-friendly than any place that I had seen.  There are fewer days off, much better after school programming, more access to teachers and a longer school year.  I have been truly thrilled with Chickpeas and can't say enough wonderful things about it.

- Carla, mom of Zev

When Jonah and I made our before-school visit in the summer before he started Chickpeas, Jonah was drawn first to the easel, where he picked up a paintbrush and filled the large paper with colors and swirls.  Then he discovered the water table, a make-believe “swamp” filled with blue-green water and plastic sea creatures that day.  At the end of the work time Jonah seemed proud to be able to help the teacher empty the water table, and eagerly joined the children in “semi-circle,” where two children were chosen to show or describe their projects. Jonah has come home with wood sculptures from found objects, sand paintings, collages made from everything from pine needles to tinsel, and lots of drawings and paintings.  We’ve also seen some of the long-range creative projects, including a board game and dollhouse furniture that different groups of children had created with the teachers.  As rich and stimulating as these projects are, they’re also simple, with a focus on found and recycled materials.  We appreciate the creative opportunities that abound at Chickpeas!

- Nancy, mom of Jonah

As soon as my husband Arlo met the teachers at the Open House, he knew that Chickpeas was the place for Ronan.  After reading their website and doing my own word-of-mouth survey, I marked Chickpeas as definitely my first choice, and we both valued cooperatively-based childcare.  Ultimately, however, it was my husband’s intuition that was the basis for our decision.

Even though we knew that Chickpeas was the best preschool for Ronan, we felt anxious in those weeks before school started. Because of his low muscle tone, which was further compromised by months of restricted activity because of asthma, our son requires special services.  How would he, along with his physical therapist, occupational therapist and speech therapist, fit into the Chickpeas schedule?  We feared that because his endurance, agility and social skills would not be as advanced as that of his peers, he might shrink into the woodwork.  Also, he was accustomed to a class of only six kids and three teachers.  Would he be lost within the larger class size?

Well, we have seen Ronan flourish on so many levels!  The jump in his creativity, social skills and language skills is astounding and delightful.  Just by wanting to keep up with all of his new friends and to be part of the fun, he has made major breakthroughs in coordination, strength and endurance.  We rejoice with the teachers as they share with us his latest exploits, which display his expanding courage and self-confidence, and how he has gone from being a child too shy to join into semi-circle time to someone whose overly-enthusiastic participation needs to be reined in at times.

We shouldn't have worried about how he and his team of helpers would fit in.  They, too, have been embraced by the Chickpeas family.

- Tracy and Arlo, parents of Ronan

Mere words cannot describe the love we have for Chickpeas!

- Sally, mom of Roger