Village Playgarden

My son attended Village Playgarden for 2 years and we couldn’t have been happier with the care and education he got under the patient eyes of Kikanza, Geoff and Christine. As new arrivals in LA, we feel incredibly lucky to have found not only a great preschool but a wonderful community of families that have become our friends.
Things we love about VPG:
the mixed-​age class, so kids have experience being both the «little kids» and the older leaders
the commitment to natural, developmentally-​appropriate play that doesn’t overwhelm childrens’ sensitive souls
the healthy, home-​made, vegetarian lunches and snacks provided (my child ate better than I did!)
the magical outdoor play yard with chickens and rabbits and turtles
the use of non-​violent communication, which starts from the premise that any child’s misbehavior is actually an attempt to communicate that a need isn’t being met, so the best way to resolve conflict is to try to defuse the situation and then figure out what is really going on for the child rather than just punish
I could go on and on! I don’t know how we managed to luck out by getting into this preschool, but I am so grateful that we did.

This is an amazing community. It is also a loving, nurturing, and wondrous preschool. I mention those two things because this place is a lot more than just a school. Those familiar with the school, the family who runs it, and the community know that the school will be expanding into a micro-​farm and holistic community resource in some years.
There are no «academics» here. Our kiddos get to play with chickens, tumble over haystacks, knit their own jump ropes, and play in the mud. It’s like going to school in the forest and being watched over by family. The children learn to be mindful and compassionate friends. Because there are only 14 children on any given day, and 20 children in the entire school (rotating days/​schedules), it is a tight-​knit place. We all learn to accept each other’s unique personalities and lend a hand when and where we can.
We truly feel lucky to have found this place. What the negative reviewer said is probably true; there is far more interest in this school than there are spaces and the director is very busy tending to the children and organizing our community. Being patient as a prospective parent, and understanding, is probably a prerequisite to joining this community anyways.
I hope that every parent finds a place that feels «right» to them. For those who feel like this might be a home away from home for their children, I encourage you to visit the community events, like the Winter Market, which will be posted on the webpage and during which there is a meet-​and-​greet for interested families. That’s also a great time to learn about the info session, etc. If you know a family at the school, that’s also a great way to learn more.

I was excited when I found this preschool while doing a search of local Pasadena preschools. Everything listed on the website was exactly what I was looking for so I reached out to the teacher/​owner. A few days went by and I was informed of the first step, which was essentially a mandatory tour. Unfortunately I would be out of town that weekend and asked when the next one would be. Nearly 1 week went by and no response. I emailed her again and received a response that was odd since it didn’t answer my question. The email reiterated the first step in the process and that there was only one tour a year but this second one was added due to high demand. I responded with my original question and clarified that this was for 2014 not 2013. Another couple days went by and no response. I called the preschool but got voicemail — I left a message. More than 1 week went by and I got another email from the teacher/​owner. She was asking if I was going to attend the tour. It was obvious to me that she missed the fact that we had already been exchanging emails. I reminded her of who I was and asked her again when the next tour was. I never heard from her again.
Even though my child is not enrolled here this is horrible customer service. Blowing off prospective students is no way to run a school.