Peppertree Schools of Los Gatos

Here's a few fun pictures of the kiddos harvesting, cleaning and shelling our Fava Bean crop (for size comparison, there's a rubber duck, a small water bottle and a PJ Masks action figure, ha)! Excellent fine motor activity, and required plenty of concentration and patience. They all just kept trying and trying until they got the process down, which demonstrates their persistence! Also, this is a four step instruction; pick up, break open, peal, place bean in bowl, repeat! Ga...rdening offers many more benefits included (but not limited to!) evoking all senses, exposes them to science and scientific concepts as well as complex problem solving! We cooked the fava beans in the microwave, and everyone got a chance to try! Some liked, most were curious, a couple not so much, ha! All had a great time! We're looking forward to planting the Spring / Summer garden soon. Tomatoes, string beans, strawberries, and possibly more... All hands were washed thoroughly before during and after.

We are excited to offer Summer Camp 2020 programs at the Cottage House! There are weekly themes from June 8 - August 14! View our flyer below!! If you have any questions - give us a call or send us an email! We have a full list of themes and program details upon request! We're more than happy to give more information about Summer Camp 2020

Finger-painting in the infant room at the Ranch House! We love to use sensory at Peppertree, especially with our littlest kiddos. Sensory at the infant stage helps early childhood development in many ways. It assists in memory development, promotes nerve to brain connections associated with critical and creative thinking, early attention to fine motor skills, and exposure to the various textures around us! And - of course - it's FUN!

Independent play gives the kiddos time to develop self-reliability, creativity, imagination, and helps them attend to their attention spans individually. Sometimes, the most important developmental tool to give the kiddos is SPACE! Observed space, of course. Independent play can be just as important as group play, and Peppertree loves to allot time for both!

Here are the toddlers threading "Oo Olive Octopus Legs". While emphasizing the alphabet letter 'Oo' with the kiddos, they are also able to participate in an activity that strengthens the little muscles in their hands. Threading not only focuses on fine motor and pre-writing skills, but it also provides an avenue through which the kiddos can experience problem solving and critical thinking. Not to mention -- it's super fun!