Our Classes

Our Classes for 2024-2025

All admissions information contained here, including class age requirements and class groupings, is updated for the 2024-2025 year.

TCGP’s program offers heart-centered living arts education and a nature-based curriculum via daily outdoor programming.  We use our play garden yard, outdoor classroom and Grant Park, for nourishing care and learning. Though mostly an outdoor program, we incorporate use of our indoor classrooms for parts of the class rhythm each week and anytime we experience inclement weather.

All enrolled children are required to have seasonal-specific outdoor gear with a personal supply list provided by the school well in advance of the school year. See the current year’s list below.

Regarding a child starting preschool and, in our view – the primary criterion of eligibility is the child’s emotional readiness to be separated from their parents. All placement decisions for admissions are determined by The Children’s Garden teaching staff based on a child’s age and development, any previous preschool experience and personality. When forming our classes, careful thought is given to the class make-up as a whole, striving for a healthy balance of gender, age and temperaments.

Class groupings below for the coming school year:

TWO YEAR OLDS – 3 mornings/week (Starlings). Children are generally already 2 years of age before the year begins, or “on the cusp” and turning 2 within about 75 days of August 31, 2024 to enroll in this class. Children may be in diapers/pull-ups or progressing with their pottying in this class grouping. A young 3-year-old (late summer birthday) not yet ready for the older class may be considered for this class, too.

  • Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday mornings each week, 9:15am to 12:45pm
  • Child-teacher ratio is 12:2 (maximum)

THREE YEAR to FIVE YEAR OLDS (Mixed-Age, Owls & Robins). Children must be a minimum of 3 years of age or older before July 31, 2024. Children ready for this class need to be able to comfortably initiate their own needs regarding self-care and help, including toileting, for the pace of the mixed-age class. This class grouping is made up of Three’s (Robins) & Pre-K to K age (Owls) children who spend 2 mornings/week in Grant Park, outdoors, hiking, moving, playing, carrying backpacks with personal gear. Teachers carry outdoor travel potties and supplies. Kindergarteners whose parents wish for their 5 year old to stay an extra year are welcome to enroll. 

  • Monday-Friday mornings each week, 9am to 1pm
  • Child-teacher ratio is 15:2 (maximum) 

Admission to The Children’s Garden Preschool is open to children regardless of race, creed, color or national origin.

Child Required Personal Supply List for the Year (updated annually, in spring)