Business Details
12 Years
experience
Austin Play Garden - Nurturing Early Childhood Development Through Play
Founded in 2014 by experienced educators Claire Smith and Hannah Harper, Austin Play Garden is a play-based preschool dedicated to early childhood development. Our approach integrates Reggio Emilia principles, the Project Approach, and Vygotsky's theories to create a curriculum that prioritizes exploration, imagination, and social growth. We serve children aged 6 weeks to 5 years, offering flexible full- and part-time schedules with optional aftercare. Our classrooms are designed to foster independence, creativity, and secure attachments, with environments that reflect children's work and perspectives. Safety and sanitation are prioritized through age-segregated play areas, daily cleaning routines, and accessible handwashing stations.We emphasize natural play spaces with gardens, water tables, and sensory-rich materials to support diverse developmental needs. Our mission is to combine high-quality education with nurturing relationships, ensuring each child feels safe and valued as part of our school community. With over a decade of experience, we remain committed to evolving our practices based on emerging research in brain development and early learning. Our team of certified educators tailors daily plans to students' interests while maintaining rigorous developmental standards.
Services
Infant Program
Pre-Toddler Program
Toddler Program
Preschool Program
Afterschool Program
Details
- Year established: 2014
Highlights and features
- We offer Reggio Emilia-inspired programs tailored to early childhood development.
- Our mixed-age classrooms promote social growth with strict safety protocols.
- Natural play spaces include gardens, water tables, and sensory-rich materials.
- Flexible scheduling options accommodate full-time and part-time family needs.
- Daily curriculum adapts to children's evolving interests and developmental needs.
Services
Infant Program
Our Infant Program supports children 6 weeks to 18 months through sensory-rich activities and secure attachment practices. Teachers create individualized routines for feeding, sleeping, and exploration while using natural materials to stimulate brain development. The environment emphasizes safety, with dedicated no-shoe areas and daily sanitation protocols to accommodate infants' oral exploration habits.
Preschool Program
The Preschool Program for 3-5 year olds combines Reggio Emilia principles with Vygotsky's theories to foster cognitive and social growth. Children engage in project-based learning through art, pretend play, and collaborative activities that build pre-academic skills. Classrooms feature child-sized furniture and accessible materials that promote independence and creative problem-solving in a developmentally appropriate setting.
Afterschool Program
Our Afterschool Program extends care from 2:30-5:30 PM with structured yet flexible activities for preschool-aged children. The curriculum includes outdoor play in natural spaces, arts and crafts, and social skill development through group games. Teachers maintain continuity with morning classroom practices while accommodating transitional needs during extended hours.
Mixed-Age Classrooms
Mixed-age classrooms promote social-emotional development through peer mentoring and cooperative play. Age differences of 18 months or more ensure appropriate safety measures while allowing older children to model behaviors for younger peers. This approach mirrors family dynamics and builds community through shared learning experiences across developmental stages.
Natural Play Spaces
Natural play spaces feature gardens, water tables, and sensory materials that encourage creative exploration. These environments stimulate diverse developmental pathways through tactile experiences and unstructured play. Outdoor areas include bike paths, pretend play zones, and art stations that align with our philosophy of learning through active engagement with natural elements.
People
Claire Smith
Co-Founder
Claire Smith co-founded Austin Play Garden in 2014 after 15 years of experience in early childhood education. Her background includes roles in public schools and family-centered childcare programs. She specializes in Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum development and focuses on creating environments that reflect children's learning processes through displayed artwork and interactive spaces.
Hannah Harper
Co-Founder
Hannah Harper co-founded Austin Play Garden with Claire Smith in 2014. She brings expertise in Vygotsky's theories and project-based learning approaches to early childhood education. With experience in both public and private childcare settings, she emphasizes social-emotional development through mixed-age classroom structures and natural play environments that stimulate diverse developmental pathways.
Questions
What age range do you accept?
We accept children from 6 weeks to 5 years old across our infant, toddler, preschool, and afterschool programs.
What educational philosophies guide your curriculum?
Our curriculum combines Reggio Emilia principles, the Project Approach, and Vygotsky's theories to create play-based learning experiences that prioritize exploration and social growth.
What are your operating hours?
Standard school hours are 8:15 AM - 2:30 PM with optional aftercare available until 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
How do you handle safety and sanitation?
We maintain separate play areas for children differing by 18+ months, daily toy cleaning, and deep cleans weekly. No-shoe zones and accessible sinks support hygiene for infants' oral exploration habits.
What payment options exist for enrollment?
A $150 non-refundable waitlist fee applies toward the $250 registration fee. Remaining balances are due upon enrollment through PayPal.
Do you offer flexible scheduling?
Yes, we provide 2-day, 3-day, or 5-day weekly options for families while maintaining consistent morning and optional afternoon care schedules.
