Frequently Asked Questions

What ages is Forest Bloom for?
Our program is for children ages 2.5-6. We may accept children slightly older or younger depending on the needs of the group and the balance of the ages of the children.

How many teachers are with the children?
We keep our group size small and have a low child-teacher ratio. Our group size is 7-9 children in the group with 2 teachers. This gives us the opportunity to connect with each child daily and get to know the children in our group. A multi-age group is also beneficial for the children.

How do I know my child is ready for Forest School?
Please consider whether your child is truly ready and able to participate at an all-outdoor forest preschool. These indicators are a pretty good determinant that your child is ready to fully engage and be engaged in Forest Bloom’s program:
- Able to walk on their own small distances without needing to be carried. We do pace ourselves to go at a speed where even the tiniest among the group can keep up and take enough breaks to avoid over-exhaustion.
- Able to regulate emotions in a developmentally appropriate way
- Exploring their independence - going to the restroom by themselves, opening their lunch themselves, keeping track of and carrying their backpack themselves
- Stays with the group rather than running ahead or away. Stops when adult asks them to do so
- Child is prepared and wants to be outside rain or shine

Why a multi-age group?
Multi-age grouping is a great way for children to learn. We know that children learn from each other. All the children work on building a community of learners who care for each other, communicate, and cooperate together while learning new skills and routines. Older children benefit from multi-age grouping as they mentor younger children, sharing their knowledge and experience. This builds on their sense of responsibility and empathy skills while the younger children are exposed to a more sophisticated level of thinking and skills. Meanwhile, this setting builds confidence in younger children as well as enhances their language and behavioral skills alongside maximizing intellectual potential.

This is an article by Peter Gray about mixed-age groups.

Do you offer part-time or flexible schedules?
We offer a 10-month 4.5-day (M-F) program.
Our program is intended to be a preschool program where we engage in play-based and child-led experiences that build on each other and build community. We feel that children do best when they have a consistent routine and know what to expect each day.

Do children need to be toilet trained to attend?
No. We work with each family and support the child where they are in this process. We have on-site restrooms and we also have a portable potty for children to use.

Do I have to buy special gear for my child?
Forest Bloom is an outdoor, all-weather school, and we go on hikes every day to explore and interact with our natural surroundings. Hence, it’s important that each child has weather-appropriate and comfortable non-slip walking shoes or boots, an appropriate backpack, a sun hat or beanie depending on the temperature, and good rain gear. You can find a list of gear and what to pack here.

How do I communicate with the teachers?
We are always available to talk with you about your child. We can talk with you in person, over the phone, or by email. For families enrolled in our program, we have a weekly blog to keep you informed about the week. We have a parent/teacher conference scheduled during the year and we can always arrange additional times to meet with you.

I would like to participate, what can I do?
We value parents as partners. If it is safe to do so we would love to have families participate in our program. If we are able to, we will invite families for special events, field trips, or casual projects and hikes. We also appreciate any skills or talents that families can offer to enhance our experiences.

What about the San Francisco weather?
We love all the weather in San Francisco. The best way to prepare for a San Francisco day is to dress your children in layers with comfortable well-fitting shoes. We also recommend a warm hat as well as a sun hat. We help children learn to be comfortable in all weather. The children quickly develop body awareness and how to self-regulate in the outdoors. We also encourage them to remove or add layers during the day. Through a combination of proper clothing and movement, the children are able to stay warm and reasonably dry for the school day. On warmer days we ask children to see if they are feeling warm and they may need to remove a layer. On rainy days the children should have rain gear including rain pants with rain boots. Please let us know if you need gear recommendations.

What about risky play?
A huge benefit to outdoor education is learning about reasonable risks. Children learn to be safe through risks. They develop so many valuable skills playing in nature including good judgment, self-confidence, persistence, resiliency, and pride in their accomplishments. We work with the children to help them experience the urban forest and encourage them to try new challenges that they feel comfortable with. Children in our program will walk on trails, balance on logs, climb hills, and rocks as well as walk on paved paths. We always inspect the areas we visit to make sure they are safe.

What about kindergarten?
Our program prepares older children for kindergarten as we are able to explore many skills and concepts that they will use in a school-age program. We are very experienced with the kindergarten process and will be glad to guide your family through this process and write kindergarten recommendations if needed.

Forest Bloom and SF Rec and Park?
Forest Bloom is not affiliated with the park department. We have a great relationship with the park and we follow all park rules. We make sure children and adults tread carefully so we can preserve this beautiful resource. We are mindful of our footprint and do our best to be waste-free.

Is Forest Bloom licensed?
At this time outdoor preschools in CA are license-exempt. In CA only schools with actual buildings are licensed. We do follow all licensing guidelines and SFDH and CDC guidelines.

I would like more information, how do I contact you?
We would love to set up a time to connect. We are available to meet in person or on the phone. You can contact us via email: at forestbloomschool@gmail.com or give us a call at (415)735-5135. We are currently using the Wonderschool platform for enrollments.