• Does my child have to be toilet-trained in order to start at school?

Definitely not! We believe that there is a range during which this will happen for each individual child, and putting any kind of pressure on them will only be counter-productive, so we do not make that a requirement for starting school here. They can come at any stage of this process and we will happily support them where they are, which will help them move on to the next stage. We encourage children to be as self-sufficient as possible, by encouraging them to take care of as much of this process as possible. This is about them and their own bodies, and we want to be respectful of that. One of the benefits of being in a mixed-age program is that your child, if they are not yet potty-trained, will be surrounded by children who are, or who are at the same stage that they are, and this is very validating and encouraging for them.

• Do we need to send food with our child?

Yes you do. If your child is here for a half day they will need one snack and a water bottle. If they come for a full day they will need 2 snacks, a lunch, and a water bottle. We recommend some kind of grain, some kind of protein, and some type of fruit or vegetable. We ask that you do not send sweet treats in their snack/lunch and only water in their bottle please.

• What type of clothing should I send my child in?

This is a place where children are working and playing, and we want them to be free to do so without worrying about getting their clothes dirty or getting paint on them. We want children to come to school in “work clothes”. These would be the kind of clothes that you would wear if you were going to paint your house or work in the garden. We don’t put smocks on children as this interferes with the flow of creativity. Many children will not participate in art if they have to stop and put on a smock. And we want kids to feel free to do art when they want and for however long they want.

• What are your hours?

We are open from 9:00 to 5:30 Monday thru Friday. We offer morning half-day sessions that run from 9:00 to 1:00, and afternoon sessions that go from 1:30 to 5:30, and children can also come for the full day. They can arrive any time after the starting time of those sessions.

• How many children are in your school at each session?

  We are licensed for 30 children.

• What is the ratio of children to teachers?

We maintain a ratio of 6:1, and that is better than what is required by state law .

• How much fun will my child have?

LOTS!