Infant or Toddler Class

Winner: Sponge School
In this crowded category, Sponge School soaked up the most votes by parents who desire foreign language exposure for their kids. Voters praise Sponge’s “wonderful interactive language courses and exceptional teachers,” and its success in “introducing foreign language to young children in an engaging and effective environment.” At locations in Seattle, Bellevue and Redmond, Sponge offers Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin and French. Courses cater to kids ages newborn-4 years old and caregivers together, or just kids, ages 3 and older. Sponge’s in-school programs provide foreign language education in local elementary schools as well. The goal, as one reader puts it, is “building global citizens.”

Finalists:
Polly-Glots’ foreign language classes also fulfill your wish for potentially bilingual (or polyglot!) children. Voters appreciate the dual benefits of Polly-Glots’ classes, proclaiming that “language classes are super fun” and that “language makes us smarter!” French, Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin and Japanese are offered at several Seattle locations, in Kirkland and in some area elementary schools.

Many parents seek out music classes, and Sunshine Music Together earns high praise from you. Your comments range from the succinct — “My kids LOVE it!” — to the verbose — “An unparalleled music and movement program that is fun for both children and adults!” Classes meet in Seattle, on the Eastside and at North End locations.

While Hop to Signaroo’s name is fun and cute, this class addresses parents’ serious desire to communicate with their babies. Hop to Signaroo teaches American Sign Language to hearing families in many Seattle-area locations, including hospitals and private homes. The class “allows communication between adults and babies prior to their speaking,” says one reader.