Neighborhood Play Garden

We wouldn’t be where we are without Neighborhood Playgarden. The school has supported our family over the last years in more ways than I can count. The school is play-​based and places great emphasis on outdoor play and outdoor education via weekly hikes (rain or shine) and daily adventures in the garden, which has a wood shop, a tree house, vegetable beds, chickens, a bunny, and a large sand play area. The teachers are very knowledgeable and hands-​on in just the right way: not too much and not too little. The community is tight — annual camping trips, potlucks, and regular parent work shifts ensure that everyone knows each other pretty well. The school also sponsors craft nights and parent education classes, which have been invaluable in our development as parents. We feel very fortunate to have found this little gem of a preschool just a few minutes from home.

Unless you feel like being ignored and your money being taken from you I wouldn’t encourage any association with this place (as evident from the one star 2013 review). On 1÷24÷14 I enrolled and paid online for the 1÷29÷14 Diaper Free Toddler class which ended up being cancelled last minute at 9pm the previous night for low enrollment. In the cancellation email Julie Fellom offered a refund or rescheduling. I opted for the refund. Almost 2 months, six emails and 2 voicemails later still no refund. As a parent I would NEVER enroll my child in a place that doesn’t practice common courtesy and honesty.

Currently witnessing this school at mothers playground this morning and am appalled at the poor teacher/​child ratio and lack of supervision. One child repeatedly threw sand at my friends 2 year old while another child went through her bag. Meanwhile, another child attempted to take the swing away from my 2 year old. when i told she had to wait her turn and share, she said, «i hate sharing with whiney babies.» No action by any of the supervising adults was taken. i will
make sure to tell all my friends to steer clear of this preschool.

We are a new family at NPG this year and could not be happier with our experience so far. Though we just started I have felt part of the community since I started the application process about 10 months ago.
There are so many things that I feel set NPG apart from a more standard preschool experience — the homey, magical indoor playroom/​kitchen, the beautiful adjacent garden and outdoor play area, the exceptionally nutritious food, the emphasis on free play, nature and outdoor activity (weekly hikes!), the parent education program, the emphasis on community and parent involvement (it’s a co-​op of sorts), and the director herself, Julie Fellom, who is a «kid-​whisperer» and sage advisor to all parents in the community. Julie empowers parents and families to help create happy, competent, responsible children.
At the beginning of every school year the entire community of parents, teachers, and children go camping at Camp Mather. Having done it now, I think every preschool should do something similar — my children and I started the school year already feeling like we knew most members of the community outside of school, which helped all of us so much in the big transition to starting school life. It would have taken a long time for us to get to know the other kids and families the way we already do. This is a truly special place and we feel so lucky to be part of it.

My daughter has attended NPG for two years and we have been extremely pleased with the experience. It is a community that is supportive to both children and parents and truly nurtured our child’s development. The space is amazing with lovely view from the storybook interior and has fantastic backyard play area with gardens, painting areas, children’s hideouts, a rabbit and a chicken. Julie has an incredible depth of knowledge about children and learning and I give her and NPG a vast amount of credit for helping to teach our child and prepare her for the next steps. Her sensitivity to their emotional needs is unparalleled. Julie has the support of a balanced team that complement each other and provide rich daily activities ranging from arts and craft work to field trips, movement classes, visits by Tree Frog Treks, and they cook fantastic lunches. This school is good for parents that are comfortable with being involved. There are responsibilities given to each which ultimately brings people together. It has been good for our daughter to see us involved with the other kids and rewarding to us be able play a supportive role. We augmented our SF Public School application process with 4 private schools applications. Based on interviews with us and our daughter, we got into every one! To me this is not the ultimate gauge of a preschool, but it does reflect on the quality.

Our daughter has been there for a year, and we have been very pleased. It is a nurturing environment that promotes a tight-​knit community of parents, complete with camping trips, celebrations, and parent education. I would recommend this school to anyone looking for a small, Waldorf-​based experience for their child and their family.

Neighborhood Playgarden is delightful oasis for young children and their families in the middle of the city. The mission of this parent participation program is to create sustainable community for urban parents. And they really do it well! Our two children thrived in the exceptionally warm and loving care provided by the teachers over the 4 years we were there. As parents we were provided with a range of parent education classes, from potty training to discipline to parent hand crafts. We also loved the two annual family camping trips, as well as the seasonal festivals! And the food is so delicious! A hot breakfast awaits children and parents each morning! Our whole family found good friends and strong support in the community.
The school suffered extensive flooding due to a city water main breakage at its upper Castro location in fall of 2008 and had to relocate to two different locations before the repairs were completed at the original site. They are back in business on Grand View. And it is more beautiful than ever!
If you are looking for a warm and homey preschool program that welcomes parents as well as children, be sure to check out Neighborhood Playgarden!