Menu
Parenting
By Sarah Thompson
Updated: Dec. 17, 2020
Originally Published: July 15, 2017
No chalkboards, no formal teachers, and no homework—this is how countless children in the United States define summer. However, at Casa Sulà in Costa Rica, this is the very essence of school.
Casa Sulà, a private institution inspired by the Centro Experimental Pestalozzi school in Ecuador, was established about a year and a half ago. It combines Montessori principles, Jean Piaget’s research, and contemporary child psychology, all guided by its three core facilitators who prefer the term “guides” over “teachers.”
The cheerful building, painted in vibrant yellow and pink, features terra cotta tiles and is filled with diverse materials for children to explore, ranging from art supplies and cookery items to books, science lab tools, and interactive games. Outside, students can immerse themselves in a lush riverside forest—a true paradise for kids.
When my daughters were young, we spent countless hours outside. They were captivated by simple joys: digging in the sand, sorting stones, observing bees buzzing around our lemon tree, and transforming an ordinary brick pathway into a canvas with paint, only to clean it off again with the hose.
At home, they chose their own activities, often finding delight in playing with cardboard boxes by coloring them and creating makeshift curtains from streamers. I usually stepped back, allowing them the freedom to entertain themselves, while keeping a watchful eye for safety. I engaged with them when invited, encouraging them to tidy up before moving on to new activities.
While I embraced their freedom to play, I occasionally felt anxious. Unlike some parents I knew who were focused on early literacy and numeracy, I wondered if my children would fall behind when they began kindergarten. Though I didn’t believe in pushing them to read by age five, societal pressures and traditional educational methods often made me question whether we were prioritizing experiential learning over academic achievement.
Casa Sulà presents a refreshing alternative. The school’s philosophy focuses on teaching children how to learn at their own pace and in alignment with their interests. Classrooms are designed with various environments—home, art, science, and reading—each stocked with materials for creative expression. The outdoor area includes climbing structures and open spaces for water play and running. Adults are present to support the children in their pursuits, allowing them to explore their interests for as long as they desire. With around 45 students aged 3 to 15, the school draws families from 29 different countries.
I spoke with a parent, David Mercer, whose two children attend Casa Sulà. He shared that his 6-year-old son observed an adult crafting a ukulele and expressed a desire to create one himself. With no instruction or time constraints, the boy collaborated with a peer, dedicating over two months to the project, ultimately producing a beautiful instrument.
Can you imagine your child in an environment where they can choose their interests and pursue them without interruption? Casa Sulà believes that when children are ready and motivated to learn, they will do so independently. There are no deadlines, grades, or tests; the focus is on fostering a love for learning.
The school actively involves parents, meeting monthly to discuss each child’s progress and hosting bi-monthly community parenting discussions. Casa Sulà invites “families interested in innovative education who trust their children to learn instinctively through independent play.” This invitation resonates with me as a parent; it encapsulates everything I desire for my girls, yet their educational experiences have, at best, been inconsistent compared to what Casa Sulà offers. Why is that?
I’m not an expert, but it seems we’ve lost faith in our children’s ability to learn outside of structured, task-oriented environments. Perhaps we fear they won’t acquire the “right” knowledge without strict guidelines, often prioritizing financial success over their happiness. We can become so consumed by homework, tests, and grades that we overlook the myriad ways to help our children explore their passions, strengths, and the joy of learning.
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the competitive, test-focused aspects of education and ignore what aligns with our children’s natural inclinations and learning styles. Casa Sulà promotes values like love, joy, respect, kindness, diversity, inquiry, and independence. As one of the founders, Maria Gonzalez, aptly states, “Children are inherently good. Contrary to the belief that they must be taught everything, we believe they come equipped with the ability to learn.”
Every child possesses a unique ability and desire to learn, which is innate within them. We need more educational environments like Casa Sulà, where curiosity is cultivated—not according to standardized curricula or test scores, but in ways that inspire children to learn and thrive simply for the joy of it.
If you’re curious about home insemination, check out our other blog post for more insights. You can also find valuable information on pregnancy at March of Dimes.
In summary, Casa Sulà represents a transformative approach to education, emphasizing independent learning, creativity, and a nurturing environment for children. We should advocate for more schools that adopt similar philosophies, allowing children to explore their passions and develop a lifelong love of learning.