Questions Parents Often Ask
We understand that every parent wants the very best start for their child. Our FAQ section provides helpful information about our learning environment, experienced educators, daily routines, and commitment to your child’s growth and happiness.
How do children this age play together?
At this stage, children often engage in parallel play—playing beside one another, observing, imitating, and gradually learning how to share space and materials.
These early interactions gently lead to collaboration as children grow.
How does language develop in this classroom?
Language expands rapidly during these years.
Children learn through conversations, storytelling, songs, and daily dialogue with educators and peers. As language grows, children gain greater confidence expressing their thoughts and emotions.
What about independence and potty training?
Sprouts are eager to do things themselves.
Children begin caring for their belongings, dressing for outdoor play, and participating in classroom routines. Potty learning often begins during this stage, and educators work closely with families to support each child’s readiness.
Why does my child say “no” so often?
The famous “no” is actually an important developmental step.
Children are learning to express preferences, test boundaries, and understand their influence in the world. Educators guide these moments with calm presence and respectful communication so children develop emotional awareness and problem-solving skills.
Will my child make friends?
Yes—this is often when the first friendships begin to emerge.
Children start noticing one another, returning to familiar play partners, and sharing experiences. These early connections help children develop empathy and a sense of belonging within their classroom community.
The Rhythm of a Sprouts Day
The rhythm of the day is flexible, allowing children to follow their natural curiosity while feeling supported by a predictable environment.
Growing Confidence
The Sprouts years are full of discovery, independence, and emotional growth.
Children leave this stage with stronger communication skills, greater confidence, and a deeper understanding of how to navigate relationships with others.
How do children this age navigate and play together?
In Sprouts, children become much more aware of one another and begin exploring what it means to truly play together.
This is the age where parallel play flourishes and the first foundations of cooperative play begin to emerge. Children become curious about others’ ideas, materials, and interactions while also learning how to express their own needs, boundaries, and emotions.
You may see children building side-by-side, observing each other closely, joining into play, negotiating materials, or experiencing moments of frustration as they learn how to communicate and connect.
With the support of attentive educators, children begin developing language, emotional awareness, confidence, and the early social skills that help them navigate relationships and community.
The Dot To Dot Experience
How Can Our Team Help You to Reach Your Goals
Learning About You
Schedule a 30-minute call with our professional to discuss your goals and how we can help. This phone or Zoom call also outlines who we are and our process.
Organized Meeting
Meet with our team to gather the necessary data for your Financial Plan. We’ll discuss your finances, lifestyle, and goals, including investments, assets, expenses, and income.
Plan Meeting
Our advisor will present your personalized financial plan, ensuring it aligns with your evolving needs and goals, and provide clear steps to help you reach your financial objectives.
Implementation
Your advisor will send a copy of your plan with an actionable list of recommendations. We’ll implement and manage these, keeping you updated.
What parents experience at Dot To Dot
QianTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My child attended Dot to Dot three years ago, and it remains one of the most meaningful experiences of his early childhood. He absolutely loved it there. Even now, long after graduating, the staff still greet him warmly by name and seem genuinely happy to see him; it really speaks to the kind of community they’ve built. We always felt like we truly belonged at Dot to Dot. Now in first grade, my child still asks to go back and visit. He misses everyone deeply, including the animals! Their child-led, inquiry-based approach is incredibly valuable. Honestly, no public TK program can rival the kind of thoughtful, nurturing education they provide. And as a bonus, the farm-to-table food they serve is amazing. We are so grateful to have been part of the Dot to Dot community.Posted on Google Gavin ArnoldTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We couldn’t be happier with our experience at Dot to Dot. From the very beginning, it was clear that the Reggio Emilia approach is truly at the heart of everything they do. The emphasis on curiosity, creativity, and child-led learning has had such a positive impact on our daughter. She is so happy and confident when she’s there, and it’s been wonderful to watch her grow not just socially, but academically as well. We’ve been especially impressed with how they’ve supported her early reading skills and helped prepare her so thoughtfully for elementary school. What really sets this preschool apart, though, is the staff. Every teacher and team member is incredibly warm, attentive, and genuinely caring. They create such a nurturing environment where each child feels seen, valued, and loved. We feel very grateful to be part of this community and would wholeheartedly recommend Dot to Dot to any family looking for a supportive and enriching early learning environment.Posted on Google Xime BellidoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My two kids have been attending Dot to Dot—my oldest for two and a half years and my youngest for six months—and I LOVE this place. It is truly a gem for any parent seeking a nurturing and creative environment. There are so many aspects of this school that I love: • Nutrition: They provide high-quality, nutritious vegetarian food. I especially like the food atelier, where the kids don't just eat, but learn about what they are putting into their bodies. • Creative Expression: The art atelier is incredible. It gives the kids the opportunity to explore various materials and learn how to use them. • Imaginative Play: One of my favorite things is how the staff constantly rotates the "provocations" (their version of toys). This keeps the environment fresh and encourages the kids to use their imaginations in new ways every day. • Dedicated Staff: The staff genuinely cares about the kid’s development and well-being. If you are looking for a school that prioritizes emotional growth and creativity, Dot to Dot is absolutely the place to go.Posted on Google Emily ManoogianTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Both of our kids have gone to Dot-to-Dot, and we have had an amazing experience! They really have a level of care and thoughtfulness that is truly special. Here are a few of the things we love the most: 1. Emotional Intelligence. The school does not punish or shame kids if they do something 'bad'. They are true educators in that they help them through the issue, reflect with them, and teach the to use their words. I have seen this be extremely effective for both of my children as well as their classmates. The children do improve their behavior and they are able to understand their emotions and communicate it. This is a main goal at this age. 2. Food. The food program is wonderful! The kids get healthy, organic, fresh, vegetarian food every day, including many different cultural foods. They also get special cultural foods for every holiday. Our kids favorite, is they get to go to the food atelier every week to learn about food and make food with Chef Aaron (who everyone loves)! The kids will eat food at school (and love them) that they would never have tried at home (lentils, brussel sprouts, raw veggies, etc). The food is delicious, and it has set up an insanely good foundation for our kids. 3. Art: They also have an art atelier with Ms. Frieda where they get to learn about different art mediums and create individual and group projects. The Made Visible Exhibition is also super cool and is a great way for the kids to learn and work together as well as having individual work highlighted. 4. Education. Our daughter is now in kindergarten in Poway and is far ahead of her peers, testing at a 1st or 2nd grade level. Dot-to-Dot more than prepared her for kindergarten. 5. Extra engagement. As part of Reggio-Emilia, they are focused on the kids interests and use that as a medium for teaching. They also get to take field trips that have been lovely, and this year, they now bring in other materials based on the children's interests. For example, they brought in fossils to discuss dinosaurs and time. They also teach independence as they see the children as capable (of reasonable tasks) and respect their thoughts. 6. Care/Love from the staff. The teachers and staff know the kids, their siblings, and the families. My daughter graduated from Dot-to-Dot 8 months ago, but if she comes to pick up with us, all of her previous teachers and the administrators run over to give her a hug and regularly ask about her even if she's not there. 7. Our kids love it! My son loves going every day and my daughter wishes she could still go there. 8. The other families are also wonderful! We've made many friends and there are even mom groups that meet weekly. Each class has also had a group whatsapp chat which has formed a warm community. 9. Professional development. The teachers are regularly getting training for Reggio-Emilia education and improving. The teachers are also warm and very loving! Of course, there will always be small issues that come up, but the head of the school and the teachers are always available to meet and take constructive comments very seriously. They are always trying to improve, and as we are in our 4th year with them, it shows. Note: other reviews mentioned more time off. The school heard this and has less days off this year and moving forward. I am so glad that we found Dot-to-Dot and that both of our kids have been able to attend and grow there! I highly recommend!! For reference, my daughter attended from 2.5-5 years (Sprout, Roots, and Stems - until Kindergarten), and our son started around 20 months in seedlings and is now in Sprouts.Posted on Google Pooja DadhaniaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I highly recommend Dot to Dot. My son has attended Dot to Dot for over 3 years. We love the school for many reasons. The educators and administrators have provided our son individualized and loving care. The educators are phenomenal. They are supportive, creative, and engaged. They respect and nurture the children and bring the children's ideas to life in the classroom. There are open channels of communication between parents and the school. The school also fosters a wonderful community. We have been very happy here!Posted on Google Vivek NarayanadasTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cannot recommend Dot to Dot more strongly. Our kids have been in a number of different day cares, and we have not found a more supportive and encouraging environment for our kids. The teachers have been consistently wonderful, building lasting bonds with and helping our son to grow; the administration has been supportive and worked creatively with us to help spot and address issues; the children develop close friendships. I really can't imagine a better environment. Having read some of the negative reviews, I am honestly taken aback. Our experience could not have been more positive. We found the administration open, supportive, willing to talk and engage. We found the teachers attentive, caring, and never had any doubt that our kids were extremely well cared for. It is fair to say that the school is closed more often than others, but it is nice to see how much care and attention they pay to staff development which i think contributes to the environment. We are very happy that our son has been part of the Dot to Dot family, and look forward to our younger son joining the school as well.Posted on Google