We can help you make that decision and think you should take a tour of our site, attend an open house, or meet with the Director of Education.
First, children must be at least 3 years old and be potty independent. This means being able to articulate the need to use the restroom, pull pants up and down, getting on and off the toilet, and generally being familiar with the routine of using the restroom in a public building. Our DHS license does not allow us to use Pull Ups or diapers. Your child must be comfortable being taught and experiencing potty outside on occasion.
Our preschool is open to 3 and 4 year olds and is a mixed age classroom. We will maintain a ratio of 1 teacher for 8 children at all times. Our maximum capacity for each session is 14 children. This is one part of the magic of our preschool program.
We find the morning session is better for younger preschoolers and the afternoon session is better for older preschoolers. Children enrolled in the afternoon session should not be napping about one to two months prior to the start of school.
For safety reasons, given the outdoor model of our school, your child must be able to stay with a group and must be able to acknowledge and respond to verbal instructions from trusted adults.
Next, consider your family values and your child’s interests. Children that attend a nature-based preschool are outdoors 30-70% of the time learning in the context of nature. Nature is the core of the curriculum and teachers implement high quality early childhood practices and facilitate inquiry-based learning. Like all preschools, one of our goals is kindergarten readiness, but our approach looks and feels very different. If your family values align with this educational model and your child would find joy in this setting, a nature-based preschool might be a good fit.