More and more families living abroad are deciding to return to Lithuania. For those raising young children, one of the main concerns is how to find a suitable educational institution. This question was faced by Karolis’s family and Rūta’s family, both of whom returned to Lithuania from the United States.
Karolis, the father of three – and five-year-old boys, recalls that they began searching for an educational institution several months before their return to Lithuania.
“The transition period for the children caused the most anxiety: their kindergarten, friends, and place of residence were all changing. It’s a significant shift for kids. We speak Lithuanian at home, but in America it was difficult for the children to use the language in practice, so naturally they learned to communicate in English. We were very worried about whether we might encounter kindergartens in Vilnius where teachers or children might not be willing to communicate with them in a foreign language,” says Karolis, a programmer.
According to Rūta, the mother of a five-year-old boy, returning from abroad was more difficult than expected: they had to manage paperwork, return to work, and adapt to a new environment. She admits that their first, rushed choice of a kindergarten in Vilnius turned out to be a mistake.
“At the time, it seemed like the right decision. However, after a few weeks, we felt that the environment and the nature of education did not meet our child’s needs. Our son is very active, creative, and curious – he needs engagement and interaction. We felt he lacked activities, challenges, and vibrancy. As a mother, I strongly rely on my intuition – and in my heart, I didn’t feel at ease. I could see he wasn’t truly happy, and that is the most important thing to me,” says Rūta.
Ultimately, both families chose the bilingual early education school “Eureka,” which operates in five locations in Vilnius and Kaunas, where their children were given the opportunity to continue their education in two languages.
Adaptation
According to Karolis, a member of the community at the “Eureka” Žvėrynas branch, the brothers joined different age groups due to their age difference. Despite this, they adjusted smoothly to the rhythm of the educational institution, and the children adapted very well within three weeks.
“We expected a long phase during which we would have to deal with the children’s reluctance to go to school, but overall everything went quite smoothly. We followed the adaptation plan provided by the school and gradually increased the time spent at ‘Eureka.’ At first, we brought them in for a few hours, then until lunchtime, and only later for the full day. This contributed to a very positive final outcome. The children quickly made new friends, both from Lithuania and from abroad,” says Karolis, the father of two boys.
Rūta, the mother of a five-year-old, is happy that from the very first week at the “Eureka” Šnipiškės branch, there was not a single day when her son did not want to go to school.
“Adaptation was surprisingly easy – for both my son and myself. From the very first visit, we felt a special sense of warmth and professionalism. The next day, he stayed for a trial half-day, and we could barely get him to come back home – he liked it that much. I don’t worry at all about whether he feels good there – I know he does. He comes back with stories and impressions, he has started eating willingly, and has become even more open. Sometimes you just feel that you’ve chosen the right place – and then peace of mind comes naturally,” Rūta shares her experience.
How are the children progressing?
Karolis, the father of a three – and five-year-old, says that a bilingual environment was one of the top priorities when choosing a school. The parents expected that it would help the children communicate more easily, but they did not have high expectations regarding progress in Lithuanian.
“To our surprise, the children’s Lithuanian improved quickly. The older one used to avoid speaking Lithuanian, but within a couple of months the situation completely turned around. Now, in our close environment, we speak only Lithuanian. The younger brother spoke very little before attending “Eureka”, but now his speech is gradually developing and improving. It’s true that he still needs to work on the pronunciation of certain sounds, so we’re glad that the school offers sessions with a speech therapist,” says Karolis.
Rūta is also pleased with the educational results. According to her, it is important for a child to strengthen their Lithuanian language skills while also maintaining their English abilities, which will be important in the future.
“In just a month, we’ve seen tremendous progress. His Lithuanian has improved significantly – although he has always been a quick learner, now he speaks more fluently, clearly, and even more politely. He is proud of himself, actively participates in activities, and shares a lot about the weekly topics. We can see that he has become even more engaged, active, and curious. He’s interested, he looks forward to every day. That’s the greatest proof that the environment suits him,” says Rūta, the mother of a five-year-old.
Comparison with education abroad
Karolis, the father of two boys, compares “Eureka” with three kindergartens they tried in Washington State, USA, and says that the latter is not inferior in terms of educational quality. At the same time, he points out some differences.
“Here, the educational program is communicated more clearly and is based on relevant themes. We’re especially pleased with the contextual excursions regularly organized by “Eureka”, which the children really enjoy. We like the school’s organization, as well as the friendly and professional teachers. Finally, we really appreciate the Friday evening events for children, which give parents a bit of time for themselves,” says Karolis.
Rūta, comparing it with two kindergartens in Texas, notes that at “Eureka” there is a strong sense of attention to the child in every detail, and the environment is thoughtfully designed, cozy, and oriented toward the needs of young learners. She also highlights the consistent, discovery-based weekly structure of learning, which begins with exploration and experience and concludes with the children’s own reflection and presentation. According to her, the education is deep, purposeful, and at the same time very human.
“In Lithuania, the sense of safety allows for organizing trips to the city, museums, and educational spaces – this has become one of our son’s favorite activities. In the U.S., such opportunities were not available. We love the morning meetings, hugs, daily discussions, and morning exercises. Each week has a clear them – children don’t just talk about it, they experience it, experiment, observe, and reflect. The education here is lively, structured, and meaningful. Out of all our experiences in Lithuania and abroad, ‘Eureka’ is undoubtedly the best for both us and our son. For us, as a returning family, it has become not only an educational institution but also a safe start to a new chapter of life in Lithuania,” says Rūta.
Reserve a place in advance
“We are sincerely grateful to the parents who agreed to share their experience at “Eureka”, If you are interested in early childhood, preschool, or primary education, we can arrange an in-person or remote presentation, during which you will get acquainted with our unique educational philosophy, learning environment, and teaching team. In addition, if needed and upon signing an agreement, we can reserve a place for your child in advance,” says Birutė Mačiulienė, the founder of the “Eureka” school.
The bilingual school “Eureka” invites children to enroll in its branches in Vilnius and Kaunas:
- Šnipiškės (Lvivo St. 21, Vilnius) – for children aged 1–6
- Žvėrynas (Ukmergės St. 126, Vilnius) – for children aged 1–6
- Naujamiestis (Vytenio St. 4, Vilnius) – for children aged 1–6
- Valakampiai (Vaidilutės St. 71, Vilnius) – for children aged 1–10
- Žaliakalnis (Aukštaičių St. 45, Kaunas) – for children aged 1–6
You can learn more about “Eureka” on their website: www.eurekamokykla.lt, or by contacting the school administration via email at vilnius@eurekamokykla.lt or by phone at +370 603 51681.