Business Details
7 Years
experience
Nurturing Early Childhood Education in Los Angeles
At Seedlings Great & Small, we believe every child is unique, with distinct needs and potential. Since 2019, our West Adams preschool has provided a nurturing environment where play-based learning fosters social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Our founder, KuiHwa Seok, brings over two decades of experience in early childhood education, including specialized work with children facing social learning challenges. We maintain a 1:6 teacher-child ratio, ensuring personalized attention and a curriculum that balances structured and unstructured play.Our outdoor spaces encourage exploration through gardening, creative play, and hands-on activities with thoughtfully selected materials. We prioritize partnerships with families, recognizing parents as a child's first educators, and embrace diversity in all its forms. Our program operates year-round with flexible full- and part-time schedules, offering snacks and a supportive environment for children aged 2.5 to 5 years.
Services
Preschool Programs
Play-Based Curriculum
Outdoor Learning
Flexible Scheduling
Parent Partnerships
Details
- Year established: 2019
Highlights and features
- We offer a play-based curriculum that follows children's natural learning rhythms
- Our 1:6 teacher-child ratio ensures personalized attention and support
- Founder has 20+ years experience in early childhood education and special needs support
- Thoughtfully designed outdoor environments promote physical and creative development
- Flexible full/part-time schedules with year-round programming available
Associations and certifications
- California Department of Social Services
Services
Preschool Programs
Our preschool programs serve children aged 2.5 to 5 years with individualized learning approaches. We maintain small class sizes and a 1:6 teacher-child ratio to ensure personalized attention. Our curriculum integrates arts, music, movement, and academic fundamentals through play-based exploration.
Play-Based Curriculum
Our play-based curriculum emphasizes natural learning through hands-on experiences. Children engage with open-ended materials and structured activities that develop social skills, creativity, and cognitive abilities. Teachers guide learning through observation and intentional environmental design that supports diverse developmental needs.
Outdoor Learning
Outdoor learning spaces feature gardens, play structures, and natural environments for physical development. Children explore science concepts through gardening, imaginative play in mud kitchens, and sensory activities. Our outdoor curriculum promotes motor skills, environmental awareness, and collaborative play in a safe, stimulating setting.
Flexible Scheduling
Flexible scheduling options include full-time (5 days/week) and part-time arrangements (2-3 days/week) with morning or afternoon half-day options. Our year-round program operates Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:30 PM, with seasonal breaks aligned with national holidays and school closures.
Parent Partnerships
We cultivate strong parent partnerships through regular communication and collaborative planning. Families participate in conferences, school events, and decision-making processes. Our approach recognizes parents as primary educators while providing professional support for children's developmental needs through shared knowledge and resources.
People
KuiHwa Seok
Founder/Teacher
With over 20 years in early childhood education, KuiHwa holds degrees in English Literature and Early Childhood Education. She developed expertise in social learning challenges through work at Social Foundations LA and led Venice Beach preschool programs since 2001.
Questions
What age requirements exist for enrollment?
Children must be at least 2 years 6 months old by September 1 of the enrollment year.
Is potty training required?
No, potty training is not required for enrollment in our preschool program.
What are your operating hours?
We operate Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with seasonal closures.
How do you approach child development?
We use play-based learning with a 1:6 teacher-child ratio, focusing on individualized support through structured and unstructured activities.
What curriculum components are included?
Our curriculum integrates arts, music, movement, math, science, and literature through both guided and self-directed play experiences.
How are parents involved in the program?
We encourage family participation through conferences, school events, and collaborative planning with teachers.
Reviews (2)
Anna Boucher
Oct 01, 2019
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I have 3 children ages 16, 13, and 5. They didnt attend Seedlings but the director of the school, Kui Hwa, was their preschool teacher. Words cannot do justice to the incredible learning each of them experienced with her. Her creativity brings curriculum to life. Kui Hwas work with the children is thematic and project based. She spends one on one time with her students, harnessing their passions into learning. As an example, my youngest son Charlie, is fascinated with all animals. Kui Hwa helped him bring to life his big vision for a homemade Halloween costume, including incredible details
Sondra Lender
Jun 15, 2019
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KuiHwa is amazing. She helped to raise our kids for the last six years as their teacher! Her kindness, calm and intuition with kids has always blown my mind. She knows exactly what to say and do in every situation with children. It has always impressed me the way she speaks to kids like people, with a lot of respect and just enough authority that they listen to her (much more than they listen to me!). Her years of experience show on a daily basis at the school, where the kids are drawn to her for play, comfort and conflict resolution. And she has always been an excellent communicator with us, the
