Greenlake Toddler Program
Anoo and Kristen first met in 2004 at Puget Sound Community School when Anoo was full time faculty member and Kristen was a part time volunteer. In 2006, they became pregnant and, serendipitously, gave birth to their son’s on the same day just doors away from one another. Now, their boys play together regularly while mama’s talk about education, early parenting, being a women in today’s world, and the joys of food. With complimentary skill sets, we provide a loving, supportive, playful, mindful and creative space for your toddler.
PHILOSOPHY AND APPROACH
We believe in the passion, creativity and deep curiosity of every child. These elements form the guiding lights of our work with children. We are keen observers of children, seeking to nurture their inner beings so they can be their best selves. While we have many skills and passions to share, we choose our activities based on the curiosity of the children and their interests. We value being in the outdoors as much as possible and in engaging in meaningful living activities that connect us to the natural world and other people. We believe that children learn best by experiencing the world around them with their whole beings. We aim to provide an environment in which children learn about themselves, the world around them and find their life’s work in their passions.
SPACE AND LOCATION
We are located in a home on East Green Lake Drive North, less than a 100 feet from the park itself. Our space includes a playroom, a kitchen for cooking and eating, a backyard for running about, a front yard to grow food, all the facilities and amenities of Green lake park and the surrounding areas.
THE OFFERING
We believe that activities should be truly driven by children’s curiosity and passion. Our repertoire of skills enables us to engage children in yoga, cooking, dance, gardening, most sports, swimming, hiking and music.
Dates: April 13-June 26 with the possibility of continuing into the summer
Time: 8:30 – 12:30 pm, Monday to Friday
Food: We will provide a wholesome snack and lunch.
Cost: $15/hour per child.
If you love our philosophy but not our schedule or love our location
but not the cost or just have some questions, contact us, we want to
hear from you!
ABOUT ANOO PADTE
Have you ever had the opportunity to pause and observe a toddler? They are always exploring, curious about everything around themselves, determined to find their place in the world and constantly being authentic. I like to think of toddlers as the true representation of a person’s inner being. In my work as an educator, I strive to preserve, nurture and sometimes restore the toddler authenticity in all my learners.
Having worked with high schoolers for several years, I have come to realize that it is far more powerful to preserve and nurture authenticity in a human than it is to restore it. This is why, my Masters work in education is focused working with children from birth onwards, creating spaces and environments in which they can be their truest selves, finding their inner talents and applying them to passions.
When I am not researching children, I find myself engaged in cooking, gardening, mountain climbing, running, conducting international non-profit work and tinkering with technology like I did for several years in a past life.
ABOUT KRISTEN TSIATSIOS
Throughout my adult life, I have found myself in a dance between being student and teacher. In February, I received my MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts through Goddard College. This program was self-directed and designed. It showed me the benefit of having great mentors guide a process. I aspire to pass on this gift to as many individuals and communities as possible. My credentials as a teacher and facilitator span ages and interests. I have taught toddlers, teens, seniors and every age in between everything from creative movement, yoga, original performance, cooking and real life community lessons of backpacking through old growth forests. I am an award winning choreographer and co-owner of Jubilee Event Engineers. Since birthing my son, my priorities have shifted from creating large scale performance spectacles and events to cultivating intimate play and creativity at home. In my spare moments, I practice yoga, tend my vegetable garden and backyard chickens, cook, sing and dance.