With his superhero bag in one hand, little Timmy enters his Walnut Creek preschool My Spanish Village. Along with himself, who will rescue the day? he muses. Like the California wildflowers outside, here ordinary adventures flourish and social skills grow.

It takes more than just heating some popcorn in the microwave for a friendship to form. Like establishing a garden, it needs some sunshine, some care, and, oh yeah, a dash of patience. Here, educators play the role of gardeners, planting the seeds of love and camaraderie in the hearts of young, impressionable minds.

Picture a place brimming with little masterpieces and budding geniuses. All of them are vibrant and full of ideas. Cooperation flutters like fairy dust in this beautiful mayhem. Blocks turn into fortresses, and crates become spacecraft bound for Mars. The number of stickers needed for the rocket can be a point of contention between Jack and Little Lucy. They each wear compromise like a superhero cape among giggles and glue sticks.

Empathetic interactions are emphasized in Walnut Creek preschools. Sharing goes beyond mere caring in this kind of environment; it’s embraced with starry stickers and high-fives. As a means of teaching students to listen and speak out, educators often employ humorous situations. More so than lullabies, the question “How about we take turns?” resounds in these classrooms.

Then comes snack time, when tact becomes paramount. Apple slices or chocolate chip cookies? In a typical democratic procedure, little hands are raised, votes are tallied, and a decision is reached. They pick up skills in decision-making and equity in the midst of all the discussion and crunching.

Puppets deliver stories that teach valuable lessons about kindness, cooperation, and sharing through imaginative storytelling. Words and life lessons are taught to children. There are times when a dragon just wants a buddy, not to be killed.

Learning goes beyond the written word and arithmetic in this earthy enclave. It’s about the sound of footsteps harmonizing. It’s the kind of bonding that’s better than eating a cookie for lunch. It’s about a young boy named Timmy who, in the course of life’s delightful adventures, meets his superhero squad.