Welcome to
Forest Bloom Outdoor Preschool
A Reggio-Emilia Inspired Forest School for children ages 2-6 in Golden Gate Park
Welcome!
This fall marks our second year of outdoor preschool and our first as Forest Bloom. We are two experienced educators with a background in Reggio-Inspired programs in San Francisco. Our small program encourages children to play, learn, and explore nature. We offer activities like outdoor art, music, yoga, and more. Preschool should be filled with wonder while nurturing children’s natural curiosity. In our open-air classroom, children form a community of learners, where their ideas are valued. We move through the park daily, providing a routine that allows kids to make choices about their play. They experience the park's beauty and its seasonal changes, learn to interact with peers, and engage in small group projects. Social and emotional learning is key; at Forest Bloom, children learn to manage their emotions, navigate social situations, and form connections with nature, each other, and the Earth.
Our Mission
To inspire a love of learning informed by play and a connection to nature. We aim to support and nurture thoughtful, caring and informed individuals who can be confident in action and thought and become stewards of the earth.
Forest School fosters a child-centric learning approach that emphasizes hands-on experiences in the natural surroundings, promoting creativity and bolstering a child's confidence through problem-solving and risk management. It encourages exploration of the natural environment, with activities such as jumping in puddles, observing insects, running down hills, and reclining in the grass contributing to physical health, development, and self-assurance among preschoolers.
The significance of play within the Forest School setting lies in its capacity to nurture creativity, imagination, dexterity, and various aspects of social, physical, cognitive, and emotional strength in individuals. Numerous studies have established a robust connection between play and healthy brain development.
Our outdoor preschool proves highly beneficial for children, offering them ample space to walk, play, and engage in activities like swinging and catching. The outdoor environment facilitates crawling under bushes, climbing trees, and riding bikes, contributing to the physical well-being and self-confidence of children. Moreover, outdoor play plays a pivotal role in the social growth of children, aiding in the formation of healthy friendships, fostering responses to physical interactions, and encouraging the use of imagination for mutual entertainment.
