Blog
Articles by our staff on education, therapy and child development.
Nursery in Saska Kępa — from age one, what to know
What does a day look like for an 18-month-old in nursery? Adaptation, Aktywnie w żłobku subsidy, costs, what to expect from day one. A practical guide for parents in Warsaw Praga-Południe.
Preschool in Saska Kępa — how to choose, what to look for
Practical guide for parents searching for a preschool in Saska Kępa and Praga-Południe (Warsaw). 10 questions worth asking, red flags, and what you can't check online.
Therapeutic activities in preschool — what it means in practice
What parents can expect from preschool-based therapy — SI, TUS, speech therapy, psychology. How qualification works, what happens during sessions, when to expect results.
Psychological therapy in preschool — when your child needs a child psychologist
Signs that a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-year-old needs psychological support. How therapy differs from workshops. What happens at a session, when a parent conversation is needed, when a diagnosis. A practical guide for parents.
Praga-Południe for families — where to enrol your child, where to play, where to eat
A guide to Warsaw's Praga-Południe district from a parent's perspective. Playgrounds in Saska Kępa and Grochów, children's libraries, family-friendly cafés, parks, family trips. What we've actually tested over 16 years.
Preschool adaptation — the first week without tears (a parent's guide)
How to prepare a 3-year-old for preschool so the first days aren't a drama. A real day-by-day timeline, what to expect, what to avoid, and what signals tell you adaptation is going well.
Parent, take them to the playground — what is being built in your child at the swings, bars and sandpit
Four bridges connect the playground to the writing line in first grade: hand-eye coordination, brain stimulation, body schema, and stable shoulder support. A practical guide for the parent who wants to understand what is actually happening in the child while running around the playground.
Big movements build small hands — why gross motor skills are the foundation of fine motor skills
Running, jumping, climbing, crawling. To the child — the purest form of play. To the brain — the foundation that precise hand and finger skills are built upon. The third part of our series on hand skill development in preschool-aged children.
Cooking with our Krasnoludki — the hand skill quietly built in every kitchen
Cutting, measuring, mixing, kneading. To the child — a fun shared activity with a grown-up. To the brain — a complete workout for fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, force control, and mathematical thinking. Part two of our series on hand skill development.
5 Myths About the Autism Spectrum — What Every Parent Should Really Know
You don't grow out of autism. It's not the parents' fault. It doesn't only affect boys. We address five of the most common myths that hurt children and their families.
Maths in the Rhythm of Music — How the Skrzaty Group Learns to Count by Dancing
Numbers in a workbook? In the Skrzaty group, numbers dance, clap and jump. We show why maths combined with movement and music goes much deeper into a child than any lesson at a desk could — and what exactly a four-year-old's brain takes from it.
Mr Handyman and the Dwarfs — Why We Let Children Use Real Tools
A drill, a hammer, a saw, a screwdriver — in our preschool these are not toys. A child who holds a real tool in their hands feels they are being taken seriously. And that is the moment when something cracks open that no educational blocks could ever build.
Sensory Play in Preschool — How the Simplest Activities Build Fine Motor Skills
Jelly, semolina, potato starch with water — for a child it is magic, for the brain it is a full-blown training session. Why sensory play is one of the most important elements of everyday life in our preschool.
The Wisemen Before School — How We Prepare Children for Reading and Writing Through Play
Letters at a desk in a workbook? At our preschool, letters are shouted in mid-jump, laid out from sticks, drawn with a finger in sand. Because before a child starts to write, their body must be ready — and their head must be full of images. We tell you what preparation for reading really looks like.
Hand Therapy — What It Actually Is, When a Child Needs It, and Why We Call It "Therapy"
The word "therapy" stirs anxiety in many Parents. It sounds medical, sounds specialised, sounds as though something is wrong with the Child. In reality hand therapy is one of the most broadly developmental activities we know. In a sense, every Child needs it. And every Child draws something good from it — regardless of whether they have any difficulties or not. We explain what hand therapy really is.
Dragon Day — when our Krasnoludki take an exam in dragonology
Every brave little one became a Keeper of a Dragon Egg. Every one passed the DRAGONOLOGY exam. Every one practised fine motor skills and prepared their hands for writing — but didn't know it, because for them it was pure adventure. We tell you how, on Dragon Day at preschool, we connect mythical narrative with very concrete, therapeutic work on the hand.
Krasnoludki in Kraków — why we hold a full theme day at our preschool every now and then
The Wawel Dragon lulled to sleep with a song, salt-dough Kraków pretzels on the table, an obstacle course leading to a treasure hidden under the sleeping dragon. What looks to a child like the most beautiful play is, for the brain, a multi-layered lesson in memory, fine motor skills, historical empathy and a sense of community. We tell you what a theme day is and why it matters so much to us.
Spring in the Studio — When a Child Paints a Flower They Have Just Touched, Something Happens That Cannot Be Taught Any Other Way
In our art sessions we have a rule. Before a Child paints a flower, they first have to see it. Go to the garden. Touch the leaves. Smell. Count the petals. Lean down as low as they want. And only then return to the studio and pick up the brush. We call this child-led painting. And spring is the season in which this pedagogy bears its fullest fruit.
Skrzaty and the Wawel Dragon — What Happens in a Three-Year-Old's Head When They Hear a Legend for the First Time
This month the Krasnoludki are getting to know Krakow. And our youngest, bravest, most curious Skrzaty have made friends with the Wawel Dragon. Sounds banal? Not at all. Because what is happening in a three-year-old's head, when for the first time in life they meet a mythical creature from Polish tradition — has within it a pedagogical depth no one measures, but which stays for life.
Gifts for Parents — What a Child Builds When They Make Something for Their Loved Ones
In the last week of the Easter Bunny Factory, our Krasnoludki were not creating for themselves. They were creating for their Parents. Each Child, using their own talents, was preparing a gift. It seems a simple act — but what happens then in the Child's brain is one of the deepest pedagogies we know. We tell why a gift made by a Child is, for the Child themselves, a priceless exercise in adulthood.
A whole week at the Easter Bunny's Factory — what a five-day adventure in a single world teaches a child
For five days before Easter our Krasnoludki worked at the Bunny's Factory, solved tasks left by the Trickster, and on Friday set out on the trail of hidden gifts. This is more than a theme day — it is a week-long narrative that teaches the child patience, anticipation and the power of tradition. We tell you what stays in the brain after such a week.
Bilingual Preschool — Will My Child Confuse Languages?
'My child mixes Polish and English — is that normal?' A teacher from the Art Academy program explains why code-switching is actually a good sign.
The Easter eggs the Krasnoludki saved — what hides behind the traditional egg painting in preschool
The Easter Bunny came to the preschool in despair — all his helpers had fallen ill. Without hesitation, the Krasnoludki rolled up their sleeves and saved Easter by painting the eggs. What looks to a child like an interesting game is, for the brain, simultaneous training of fine motor skills, perseverance, empathy and a deep rooting in Polish tradition.
Positive Discipline in Preschool — Raising Children Without Punishments or Rewards
Positive Discipline is not permissiveness. It's a method that teaches children responsibility instead of obedience. Here's how it works in practice.
Sensory Processing Issues in Children — 10 Signs Parents Often Overlook
Hates dirty hands? Can't sit still? These could be signs of sensory processing disorder. An SI therapist explains what to watch for.
When to See a Speech Therapist — Speech Development Milestones Ages 1 to 6
Is your child speaking as much as they should for their age? A child psychologist explains speech development norms and 7 warning signs to watch for.
Easter Bunny Factory — Day 3, the Wednesday When Chicks, Ducks and Millipedes Came to the Preschool
The Wednesday of the Easter Bunny Factory is, for us, the day of animals. The first day opens. Tuesday introduces the work. And only in the middle of the week, when the Krasnoludki are already up to their ears in the Easter narrative, do we let chicks, ducks and a surprise — millipedes — into the room. We tell why the day of animals in the middle of a thematic week is a pedagogical masterstroke.
How to Choose a Preschool in Saska Kępa — A Guide for Parents
What to look for when choosing a preschool? Teaching methods, staff, location — a complete guide.
The Easter Bunny's Factory — day 1 opens a week the Krasnoludki will not forget
The preschool turns into a real factory. The Krasnoludki get aprons, ID badges, their own work stations. They paint wooden bunnies prepared earlier, mix in the kitchen, await the first Easter surprise. We tell you why the first day of a theme week determines whether the whole narrative will work.
French in Preschool — Why Start Earlier Than Most Parents Think
Siedmiu Krasnoludków is the only preschool with French in Praga-Południe. A teacher from the Les Petits Français program explains why a third language in preschool is not a luxury.
The Mędrki are counting down — how we prepare our oldest Krasnoludki for going to school
The Mędrki increasingly think about first grade. In our preschool we prepare them for this moment not with notebooks, but through play and movement. They train concentration, coordination, hand skill, spatial orientation. We tell you why the best school readiness is built through joy, not stress.
Social Skills Training (TUS) — What It Is and Why Your Child Might Need It
TUS (Social Skills Training) isn't therapy for 'difficult children.' It's skills training that helps kids make friends, manage emotions, and resolve conflicts. Who should consider it?
School Readiness at Age 6 — What Your Child Should Know and How to Prepare
School readiness isn't just about knowing the alphabet. A special education teacher explains the 4 dimensions of readiness and offers a practical checklist for parents.
Animals in Preschool — How Alpacas and Goats Support Child Development
Alpacas, goats, dogs, and snakes — our unconventional teachers. How animal contact develops empathy, emotional regulation, and sensory integration in preschoolers.
Preschool in Saska Kępa — A Guide to Local Options 2026/2027
How many preschools are in Saska Kępa? Public or private? What should you look for? A practical guide for parents searching for a preschool in the area.
Self-Confidence and Strengths — What Happens in a Five-Year-Old's Head When They Hear, "What Are You Good At?"
In our preschool, one of the most important exercises we do with the Children is a question that is not really an exercise at all. "What are you good at?" — a simple question to which an adult usually cannot reply in fewer than three sentences. For a five-year-old it is even harder. And even more important. Because how a Child learns to answer that question in preschool determines their whole adult relationship with themselves.
LEGO Robotics in Preschool — Can a 5-Year-Old Learn to Code?
Programming in preschool doesn't mean screens and code. It means building, testing, and logical thinking. A special education teacher explains what LEGO robotics really looks like for 4- to 6-year-olds.
Krasnoludki in Toruń — the Leaning Tower, Nicolaus Copernicus and fragrant gingerbread
This time our Krasnoludki set off to Toruń. They built the Leaning Tower from blocks, drew a city plan, made friends with Nicolaus Copernicus and baked fragrant gingerbreads, with which they proudly treated their parents. The third of our "imagined journeys around Poland" — and another proof that learning geography and history in preschool begins from dough and taste.
Mess on the Table, Magic in the Head — Why We Do Not Tidy Up in the Middle of Children's Art
If any of you walks into our room during an art session, you will see a table that would take a normal adult's breath away. Paint splashes. Buttons scattered across the surface. A jar of water mixed with the palette. Brushes lying just any old where. Crayon shavings on the floor. And a child standing bent over a sheet of paper and absolutely happy. We tell why this mess is — for us and for the Child — priceless.
Fat Thursday at Krasnoludki — when even doughnuts help with learning to write
Kneading yeast dough, rolling, shaping balls, frying, decorating with icing sugar. Fat Thursday for the Krasnoludki is not just a day of tasty feasting — it is also one of the year's richest opportunities to train fine motor skills. We tell you why our five-year-olds bake doughnuts — and what their fingers gain from it.
The Most Wonderful Person in the World — Why a Child's First Lesson in Love Has to Be Towards Themselves
In our preschool one of our favourite moments looks like this: we lead the Child up to a mirror and tell them we are about to show them Someone. Someone for whom they should always be the best friend. Someone in whom they must always believe. Someone they must always defend. The most wonderful person in the world. And then the Child sees themselves in the mirror. This moment is, for a teacher, one of the most important in the entire year.
Carrot Cake Day — healthy sweets in the preschool kitchen
A cake without baking and without sugar? Yes — and delicious, made by hand by the Krasnoludki. Peeling, grating, mixing, blending. A whole day devoted to healthy baking (or rather — non-baking). We tell you why teaching a five-year-old that you can make tasty sweets without shop-bought additives is one of the best things we can give them for their entire adult life.
Owls in the classroom — why we invite real animals to the preschool
A barn owl standing a metre from a five-year-old who is seeing talons and feathers up close for the first time in their life — that is an image that stays in the brain for years. We tell you why every few weeks we invite real animals to our preschool, what is being built in the child during those moments, and how these encounters change their relationship with nature for life.
Cooperation in a Group — What a Child Really Learns When They Build, Cook and Play With a Group
Cooperation is one of those skills no one will lay out for a Child on a piece of paper. It can only be taught in one way — through real, daily, slightly imperfect attempts. In our preschool, one of the places where this happens most strongly is Social Skills Training. We tell what is specifically learned there and why the adult life of our Krasnoludki begins right here.
Farewell to the Land of Snow — what winter at preschool builds in a child
Our Krasnoludki prepared the snow themselves in the classroom — splashing, squelching, shaping, building snowmen. And then the same thing, but on real snow in the preschool garden. What for the child is the purest play is, for the brain, one of the most powerful forms of learning — sensory, multisensory, embodied. We tell you why winter is for us such a precious developmental tool.
Paper Lanterns in the Darkest Month — What a Child Builds When They Make Their Own Light With Their Own Hands
January in Poland is the darkest month. The sun rises late, sets early, and between these two moments the world is grey. At Art Academy we have a specific answer to this — we teach Children to make paper lanterns. Small, colourful, hand-cut and hand-painted. Each Child returns from the session with a lantern they take home and hang in their room. And the January darkness becomes a little less dark.
Krasnoludki in the kitchen — when our classroom turns into a real Italian restaurant
On Friday our Krasnoludki turned into real chefs. They kneaded pizza dough, mixed ingredients, prepared a salad of tomatoes and mozzarella. And at the end — proudly served their parents their culinary creations. We tell you why days with international cuisine are so important for the development of an open, curious five-year-old.
The Krasnoludki at the Bauble Factory — What Happens in a Child's Head When They See How Adults Work With Their Hands
One December day we took the Krasnoludki on a trip to a real bauble factory. But not the kind from a production line — to a craft workshop where adult people every day make Christmas baubles with their own hands. The Krasnoludki watched. Each bauble — formed, silvered, painted. And then they made their own masterpieces. In this text we tell why a visit to a real craft workshop is, for a Child, one of the deepest experiences a preschool can give them.
Krasnoludki in Poznań — potatoes, goats and St Martin's croissants
The Krasnoludki travelled to Pyrandia — the land of potatoes, goats and croissants. They practised the Poznań dialect, painted gypsum miniatures of the merchant houses, illustrated the legend of the Poznań goats and baked real St Martin's croissants. The second of our "imagined journeys around Poland" — and another proof that getting to know the culture of a region begins with laughter and taste.
"Where does the hedgehog patter at night?" — what is built in a child when a real hedgehog appears at preschool
One of the most beautiful Polish children's poems, known for generations. One November afternoon, its hero pattered all the way to us — our Krasnoludki met a real hedgehog. About why literature, autumn and a living animal weave themselves together into one of the deepest lessons of preschool pedagogy.
A Feeder for the Reindeer — What a Child Builds When They Build for Someone They Will Never See
In November something special happens at our preschool. The Krasnoludki, before the first Christmas lights even appear on the streets, are already starting to think about Father Christmas. This autumn — together with Mr Screw — they decided to take care of his helpers and built something truly beautiful for them: a feeder for the reindeer.
Elfy in the Warsaw kitchen — from cucumber salad to a visit at the "Capital" restaurant
The Elfy began the day with culinary workshops, during which they prepared Warsaw-style cucumber salad themselves. Then they went to the restaurant "Stolica" ("Capital"), where waiter Jan took their orders, delivered the dishes and presented the bills. A whole day of Warsaw flavour, atmosphere and social role-play. We tell you why children adore pretending to be adults — and what is built in their heads during such play.
Warsaw, my city — what is built in a five-year-old's head when they spend a whole month getting to know their city
For the entire month of October our Krasnoludki learned about Warsaw — the coat of arms, Wars and Sawa, the Golden Duck, the bugle call from St Mary's tower, puzzles with the city's symbols. What for the child is fascinating play is, for the brain, a key stage of building identity — the sense that 'this is my city, my country, my culture'. We tell you why regional education in preschool matters so much.
A Glass Marble, Some Paint and a Tray — What Art Teaches a Child When They Cannot Control the Result
At Art Academy we have an unusual exercise in our repertoire. The Child takes a tray, places a sheet of paper on it, drips a few drops of paint, drops in a glass marble and… tilts. The marble rolls on its own. The paint follows it. On the paper an image emerges that no one planned. This is process art. And it is one of the pedagogically hardest exercises I know — because it teaches the Child what the adult mind fears most. To let go of control.
Thursday "ciaptanie" with the Skrzaty — what hides behind playing with sensory dough
"Squelch squelch, squelch squelch — and out of the dough, a world has been made". In our Skrzaty nursery group every Thursday begins with mixing flour, salt, oil, dyes. What for a two-year-old is the most enjoyable play of the week is, for the brain, simultaneous training of fine motor skills, emotional self-regulation, stress reduction and first chemical experiments. We tell you what "ciaptanie" is and why we love it so much.
Mędrki and the adventure with the letter M — how our oldest preschoolers prepare for learning to read
The Mędrki read a recipe for velvet mass on their own, found the ingredients hidden around the preschool, counted them, mixed them and kneaded them. And then — they traced the letter M in the fragrant mass and looked for it in the recipe. This is "learning through play" in its purest form. We tell you how we teach letters in our Mędrki group — and why this method works so well.
Autumn Leaves as Material — What Happens in a Child's Head When They See That the Veins on a Leaf Form Perfect Graphics
In October at Art Academy we have the peak of the season — because the outside world delivers material no other season gives us. Autumn leaves. Each different. Each with its own veins, like a drawing made by someone no one named. I tell how we use these gifts so the Krasnoludki learn English — and discover along the way that nature is the greatest art gallery in the world.
A Cage for Gapcio, Szaruś and Beza — What a Child Builds When They Build a Home for a Rabbit
Three rabbits live with us — Gapcio, Szaruś and Beza. The children know them by name, check their water every day and can tell when one of them is having a bad night. When it turned out their old hutch had become too small, the Mędrki and Elfy groups stepped in along with Mr Screw. They picked up real boards, real screws and a real drill — and they built the cage. From start to finish.
Skrzaty and the gifts of autumn — what is built in a two-year-old's head when they collect chestnuts, acorns and leaves
From chestnuts come hedgehogs. From acorns — dwarf caps. From colourful leaves — bouquets for decoration. For our youngest Skrzaty, October is the time of the most beautiful gifts from the outside world — and at the same time one of the deepest autumn lessons. We tell you why these "simple" games are far more developmental for a two-year-old than you might think.
Mędrki and the letter O — how brain gym helps with learning to write
The Mędrki don't just learn letters on paper — they practise them with both hands, cross the body's midline, check mouth position in mirrors, and write in groats, flour and rice. This is brain gym in its practical application. We tell you why learning to write begins with crossing movements, not with a pen.
Mędrki, the letter O and a waffle recipe — when learning to read becomes a detective adventure
The Mischief Wind scattered cards with a waffle recipe all around the preschool. The Mędrki had to gather the recipe back together, find all the letter O's in it, combine the ingredients and bake the waffles. This is how our oldest preschoolers learn the letter O — through real detective work. We tell you how learning to read can be an adventure children look forward to all week.
Krasnoludki Apple Day — when each group makes something different from the same fruit
The Skrzaty pressed apple juice. The Elfy made a fruit salad. The Mędrki baked apple cookies. Three groups, one fruit, three completely different kitchen projects — and one shared moral about independence. We tell you how we organize "Apple Day" and why dividing work across the groups is more pedagogically valuable than you might think.
Mędrki Autumn Play — What Happens in a Five-Year-Old's Brain When They Learn to Read Through Conkers
Autumn is not only leaves, conkers and pumpkins. It is also one of the most surprising pedagogical opportunities in the whole year — because a child learns then in a way that cannot be reproduced in any classroom or from any textbook. Just look at what is happening in the hands of our Mędrki between an October pinecone and a letter laid out from twigs.
Lady Autumn Came to Us Worried — Why the Krasnoludki Make Friends with the Seasons as with People
One September day Lady Autumn entered our preschool. Worried. Sad. Afraid no one liked her any more and would not want her to stay. The Krasnoludki Masters quickly showed her that things were quite the opposite. Together they gathered the Treasures of Autumn, wove wreaths, drew colourful trees. We tell why personifying a season is one of the most beautiful pedagogies for the youngest — and what specifically is built in a Child's head when they treat autumn as a real Lady.
Preschoolers' Day — when our new Krasnoludki are officially inducted
An obstacle course, the spells of Wizard Squirrel, a magical sensory mixture, and a solemn induction into the ranks of Skrzaty, Elfy and Mędrki. For the child — the most beautiful day of the entire preschool year. For us — a fundamental moment of building group identity. We tell you why we celebrate Polish Preschoolers' Day with such care and emotion.
Tree Bark as an Art Material — Why in Art Academy We Teach English While Holding a Piece of Forest
In my Art Academy programme we have a rule. Before a Child begins art work, we first go with them to the forest, to the park, to the garden. They touch. They gather. They smell. And then they come back to the studio with something real in their hand — a piece of tree bark, moss, a twig. And only out of that material does art emerge. I tell why nature is the best art material I know — and why children who use it learn English better too.
A Goat, a Rooster and a Duck at a Praga Preschool — What Happens in a City Child's Head When They First Touch a Real Goat
One September morning, a herd entered our preschool that any country farmstead would have been proud of. A dog, ducks, hens, a proud rooster and a real goat. For our Krasnoludki — most of them children of the city, born and raised between the blocks of Praga Południe — it was the first such encounter of their lives. And that encounter, as it turns out, changes something in a Child's head that no book, no video, no game ever could.
The Importance of Mental Health in Preschool Children — How to Support Your Child
Mental health in preschool-age children is just as important as their physical health. During this period, emotions are intensively formed and social skills develop.
Art Activities in Preschool — How to Develop a Child's Creativity
Creativity is one of the key competencies of the future. In preschool, art activities provide an excellent space for developing imagination and emotional expression in children.
Healthy Preschool Diet — The Key to Proper Development
Healthy eating is the foundation of every child's proper development. During preschool years, the body grows intensively and the brain develops at a rapid pace.
Benefits of Early Education — Why Start Your Child's Education in Preschool?
Early education is the foundation upon which a child's future development rests. Research shows that the earlier we begin working with a child, the more benefits they gain from education.
The Magic of Books — How to Develop a Love of Reading in Young Children
Reading books is one of the most beautiful ways to spend time with a child. From the earliest years, children can experience great joy from engaging with books.
Play and Learning Through Movement — How Physical Activity Impacts Child Development
Movement is life — these words perfectly capture the importance of physical activity in every child's life. In preschool, children spend time on games that engage their bodies and help develop motor skills.
Colours Around Us — How to Develop Creativity in Young Children
Colours surround us everywhere and have a huge impact on children's development. Through play and discovering new shades, children learn to express themselves and develop their creativity.
Emotions in Preschoolers — The Key to Understanding Yourself and Others
Emotions accompany us throughout life, but for young children they are particularly intense and not always easy to understand. During preschool years, children are just beginning to learn to recognise and name what they feel.
Preschool Education — The Foundation for the Future
Preschool education is not just playtime — it is a crucial moment in a child's development. We focus on comprehensive growth: intellectual, emotional, and social.