Habibi’s Hutch Preschool

Sending my son to Habibi’s has been my biggest parenting win. (Too bad my older daughter never got to go.)
I LOVE this place. My son loves it. Every grandparent we take to visit loves it. It was literally the highlight of my father-in-law’s week-​long visit from Ohio!
Yes, they get structure here: lunchtime, naptime, Question of the Day, set classroom with VERY consistent teachers. But the play is unstructured. The kids use their imaginations while learning to navigate childhood and all the emotions that come with.
This little gem from the other last night puts it perfectly. My son said something and I asked if he learned it at Habibi’s. He says, in a grumpy voice (this is almost 9PM, late for him), «No! I don’t learn anything at Habibi’s. I only learn to be nice!»
I’d call that a success. And he does learn other stuff – but it doesn’t feel like learning. And he can articulate his feelings – at 4 years old! He will tell his sister, «You hurt my feelings!» instead of hitting her. I think all kids could benefit from learning to interact and express their feelings.
I will say that going from a regular preschool/​daycare to this place was an adjustment. My son is pretty laid back. He never comes home half-​naked with paint all over his body. Instead, we’ll find him with a friend, ‘reading’ a book on a picnic table. Well, that first month, almost every teacher I ran into had something to say about my son. So even though they weren’t his ‘main teacher’, they were all very observant. One teacher noticed how laid back he was and told me he made friends with a couple other laid-​back kids, another teacher telling me — I don’t even remember what. But it made me feel better knowing he was adjusting, in his own way. I’d say it took two, maybe three weeks. But all the teachers continue to let us know how he’s doing; it seems like the teachers really communicate well with each other. And I love that all the teachers know all the kids and vice versa.
Don’t expect to do a drop-​in visit and get a great tour. Their focus is ALWAYS the children so you won’t get undivided attention unless you schedule something or wait for them to free up a teacher or director/​owner. Oh, and the owner, Andrew, is awesome. He’s there every day at drop-​off and the kids LOVE him.
It’s not for everyone, but if this sounds good to you, do it. You won’t regret it. My husband and I continue to pat each other on the back for this decision.

I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to write a review for the best preschool on earth!
My Son went there for years and is now thriving in Kindergarten.
Here is what I love about HH:
1. Kids get to be kids. No academics! And to all my mom friends that were worried about this aspect: only one month in kindergarten and he’s already learned everything that he would’ve been taught in pre-​k.
2. By allowing all of the kids of all ages to play and interact together, the kids naturally learn priceless lessons about caring, empathy, leadership, and love.
3. The teachers don’t seem to «discipline» instead they TEACH your child how to maneuver through the chaos of childhood. They let the children experience the consequences of their actions. There are countless studies backing this method up. Children learn respect by watching others be respectful. NOT through discipline. Discipline should come from within so when the little birdies leave the nest and parents are no longer calling the shots, the child will be able to make sound decisions from within instead of latching on to another «shot caller» and potentially following the herd to a bad place.
4. LOVE. So much love from the teachers and kids. Hugs, cuddles and open hearts all day long.
5. Female AND male teachers. So great for my son to be surrounded by quality, loving, caring, MEN and WOMEN.
Cons: Sand EVERYWHERE. Totally worth it.
The experiences your children have at this age shapes and molds them into the adults they will become. I am more than thrilled that this place played a part in shaping the man my son will become.

Us choosing Habibi’s? Parenting WIN! We nailed it! Go, us!
Our son started at HH when he was around 16 months. When he and a friend or family member have an issue (sharing, hurt feelings, etc), our almost 4 yr old has the ability to say, «I need to talk to you.» And then he clears it up. People question why we choose to send him to what I lovingly refer to as «hippie preschool» and this is exactly why. To us, placing him in an environment that teaches young humans how to navigate the world socially and emotionally is far more important than him sitting at a tiny desk most of the day «learning.» By the way, he has learned a ton. They don’t do so at desks, they do so in the field, so to speak.
Most adults I know don’t have the social skills our kiddo has been learning from the kind, silly, loving teachers at HH over the last 2.5 years. We are so grateful.

I LOVE Habibi’s. My son has been there for 1.5 years. He thrives in this school and my 18 month old twins will be starting shortly. I will list some pros and cons for reference.
Pros:
It is old fashioned like we grew up. Free play. Playing outside. Exploring your surroundings. Interacting with other kids in real life situations. Learning how to resolve conflict using words and expressing feelings. Finding respect for others and treating them as you would want to be treated. Team building to accomplish various activites that the kids use their imagination to create.
They are inside for big rains and very cold days. In the summer, there is lots of sunscreen/​mosquito spray, shade and unlimited access to water.
My son feels safe there. He knows all of the teachers and they all know him. It is one big family. Lots of positive reinforcement and redirection. The teachers have a ridiculously low turnover rate. I haven’t seen one leave yet and most of them have been there for 5+ years and even 10+ years. There is a real atmosphere of love and caring and fostering the kids personal growth. That can be helping them to address and name their feelings, teaching them how to ride a bike or being creative with them… painting (a lot of times they paint themselves and eachother!), clay work, dance parties, potions, gardening, cooking «lessons», building fairly wings.etc.
The director doesn’t sit a desk all day. He is out on the playground with the kids and teachers. He is in touch with what is happening. He know how the kids are doing and what the teachers need to be successful. He actively encourages and moves the culture of the school in the right direction.
My son has learned his ABCs, counting and basic words in Spanish, songs and other preschool like learning. I didn’t expect this based on the free play and was so pleasantly surprised.
I like that I get to control what my kids eat by bringing their lunch.
There is some structure. Lunch, snack and naps are regular so the kids know what to expect. Hand washing and hygene is taught and enforced. They help with potty training and are so encouraging.
Cons:
This list is so much shorter! I only send my son in second hand clothes. they will get ruined between paint and potions and whatever else they are experimenting with. Sometimes a piece of clothing gets lost.
And the same as other daycares/​schools. Occassional bites, scratches.etc. This doesn’t actually bother me, but other parents might want to know.
Overall, Habibi’s is in line with my parenting style. I love it and would recommend it to any parent. It is worth checking out!

I am so grateful that my daughter has the opportunity to thrive and grow at Habibi’s. If you believe that children need a highly structured, formal environment, or lots of quiet, independent skill building, this is not the place for you. If you want you child to gain irreplaceable social skills, learn to articulate their thoughts and feelings, and fully experience the exuberance and creativity of early childhood, you — and more importantly your child — will love it.

What can I say I’m in love! This is a great preschool for my toddler son. The staff is so caring and patient with him. The way they interact with the children you can tell it’s a passion not just a job.
The energy is amazing here. You can tell kids are just having a blast. I know if I was a child I would want my parents to send me here. Many of the older kids at Zilker just love this place. I know that’s a sign that it rocks if kids love it.
This is a great place because most the child’s time is spent outside exploring. What a better place to learn.
Words of wisdom don’t send your child here with expensive shoes or clothes. They will be lost maybe. Also if you need to run errands make sure you have a change of clothes and some wipes in the car. You never know how they will look when you pick them up from Habibi’s. That’s the fun!!!

My almost-​four year old girls have been going to HH’s since they turned two and it has been such an amazing experience for them. Here are just of few of the things that I love… my girls always want to go to school and get bummed when it’s the weekend, they play with kids of all ages, they get dirty and painted and get to play in their underwear, they play outside most of the time, they regularly have dance parties complete with bubbles and loud music, the teachers are amazing and really love the kids, the play area is always different — a new couch to jump on one day and a new tire swing the next… I have since moved further away from the school and have looked around at other preschool options but there’s really nothing else that comes close to HH’s. I feel like this is the one time that my kids will get to really play and have fun and be kids and I can’t think of any better place for them to do just that.

Their approch here is different, but not for us. I walked in the unlocked front door to find no one to greet me. I could have been anyone just walking in off the street. I had to hunt someone down to show me around while I encountered a few children. The staff is friendly and very helpful. Also, watching their approch to discipline, or lack thereof, did seem to work but is quite unorthodox to our approach at home (there is no timeout). The kids did seem to be having a great time, though. However it was 63 degrees out and windy and I saw a few kids walking around barefoot or shirtless. I understand that the rules are loose, but I would not want my child to get sick because they are allowed to make those decisions on their own. Also, the teacher/​child ratio seemed off, but it was hard to say who was watching who because it is such a loosely controlled chaos. I’m sure children have fun here, but I prefer a bit more structure. This school is not my cup of tea…

I count sending my son to Habibi’s Hutch as one of the best decisions we have made for him. If you believe the point of preschool is to learn your numbers and ABCs, then this place would drive you crazy. But if you think children should be allowed a safe environment to play, explore, and experiment, then the Hutch is ideal. Since the kids spend most of the day running around outside, my son comes home happily exhausted, usually filthy and/​or painted, and full of new insights and ideas. Kids of all ages are mixed up together, so he has learned to negotiate various social situations in a way that traditional preschools can’t teach. I marvel at how patient he is with his younger cousins, and how fearless he is approaching older kids to play. There is very low turnover among the teachers, who are all devoted, caring, and interesting people. They hold conversations with the kids, tell them stories, arrange dance parties, and generally support their creativity. And more importantly, they never talk down to them. My son is always treated with respect and love. I appreciate that there are several male teachers also, so that the kids are growing up with teachers of both sexes being the norm.
I really can’t recommend this place enough. Stepping through the gate every morning is like entering a magical place, full of love and art and, most importantly, happy thriving children.

My son spent 3 years at Habibi’s before graduating in 2010 to go to kindergarten. He was previously in a Montessori school that didn’t interact with the children and even yelled at them for piling rocks (omg.) on the playground. My son was miserable.
After a short transition to Habibi’s he met some great friends. In addition, my son has two mothers so it was great that some of the teachers and the Director are men. It allowed him to have more male influence and also see how men can be just as good caregivers to children as women.
All the teachers are wonderful and work with the children all day long. Seriously it can be hard to have much conversation with them because they put the kids first, everytime. In addition the parent community is one of the strongest I have ever seen. Kid’s come from all walks of life with artistic, academic, scientific and business oriented parents.
I will say that if you send your kid here, they will come home messy every day. But dang… isn’t that a sign they had FUN? Kids need to be kids as long as possible and Habibi’s enforces this.

I love Habibi’s. But more importantly, my daughter LOVES Habibi’s. All the teachers greet her, they are there to comfort her on the sad drop off days but those days are rare. Mostly she is clamoring out of the car to get inside and get on the swings.
I also love the laid back feeling there. Kids can run around, interacting with all sorts of goodies and not just some playset ‘designed’ for kids. It’s all about their imaginations and interacting with their peers. My favorite moment is when I pick my daughter up and she is covered head to toe in paint and has the biggest grin on her face. She usually wants to kiss all the teachers goodbye.

My son has been attending Habibi’s Hutch for the last year and he is now 2 ½. He loves Habibi’s! You’ll really have to see for yourself, I toured many daycare/​pre-​school facilities before choosing Habibi’s. The kids re outside much of the day and are free to play in mixed age groups… it really is a child-​life preserve. I visited a few Montessori’s where 2 year old kids were expected to sit at group tables most of the day and do hands-​on activities that appeared cater more to the quick clean-​up for the teachers instead of the imaginations of the kids… not at Habibi’s. You would never hear someone reprimand a Hutchster for spilling potion all over their shorts or for painting their side-kick’s elbow blue. Children are encouraged to vocalize their thoughts and feelings and if a child does hurt another child (one of the only «serious» offenses) he or she is dealt with in a nurturing and caring sort of way… I’ve seen it in action, the wrong-​doer apologizing, the victim accepting a quick group hug and off to the swing-​set.
The «facility» is amazing. There are two houses, one for the big kids and one for the little kids that share a huge lot complete with 80% or so coverage from the sun with UV sun shades in various color, 2 big covered patio areas for snack or crafts, a big hard cement tricycling surface for wheeled toys, two gardens, potion-​making stations, a swing set, and many nooks and crannies among the different play-​scape installations that allow for children to explore and imagine their day away. Of course there are structured times like meals, snack, music, cooking class and nap, but most of the day is formatted so children are interacting with their peers and teachers. The kids move form sector to sector where a different teacher will be either story-​telling, leading a pack in a game of chase, assisting with clay, picking tomatoes in the garden or supervising the swing-​set. This format allows the children to move around more freely instead of being herded from activity to activity. I also like that I get to pack my child’s lunch… there’s no fish-​stick smell at Habibi’s. Each child brings a snack to share once a week such as a box of crackers or a bag of apples, or even some popsicles if it’s really hot. Basically at the end of the day I pick my kid up and he’s happy, exhausted, and covered in various hues of potion and paint– it works for us and we’re very lucky to have found such a great «child-​life preserve»