Nature & Play-Based Preschool

Preschool students and their teacher smile at each other during circle time

Building Foundational Learning Skills through Joyful Play

Play is a young child’s essential work and the primary way they learn about themselves and the world. In our Preschool classrooms, imagination is nurtured, movement is encouraged, outdoor time is celebrated, and artistic expression is woven into the rhythm of each day.

Through a gentle daily flow of free play, outdoor exploration, circle time, stories, handwork, seasonal crafts, and practical activities, children strengthen fine and gross motor skills, build social capacities, exercise creativity, and form a strong foundation for emerging literacy and lifelong learning.

A balanced day

Imaginative Play
Play provides our young students with invaluable social benefits, creating opportunities for interaction, cooperation, and communication with their peers. Through play, young children learn vital skills such as sharing, taking turns, resolving conflicts, and developing empathy, laying the foundation for positive social interactions and mutually respectful relationships in their early years and beyond.
Outdoor Experiences
We know that spending time outdoors in a variety of weather conditions throughout our four seasons has a positive impact on the mental and emotional well-being of our youngest students, reducing stress and promoting a sense of calm and tranquility. Time outdoors also helps children develop a deep sense of connection and respect for the environment, fostering environmental stewardship and a lifelong love for nature.
Artistic Activity
The integration of artistic activities into the rhythm of each day allows young children to develop their natural capacities and experience their innate creativity. Students engage in watercolor painting, beeswax modeling, coloring, seasonal crafts, and practical arts like felting and weaving.
Meaningful Work
Our preschool students engage in both play and meaningful work. Participating in chores fosters a sense of purpose, responsibility and belonging. By helping with tasks such as setting the table, folding napkins, cooking and baking, watering plants, filling up bird-feeders, or tidying up, children learn the importance of contributing to their community. Caring for the classroom and the outdoor play area develops a sense of pride and ownership in a child’s environment.
Sample Daily Rhythm
- Arrival in the play yard8:20 – 8:40 am
- Outdoor play8:45 – 9:30 am
- Circle time9:30 – 9:45 am
- Snack10:00 – 10:30 am
- Outdoor play / Craft + creative activity10:30 – 11:45 am
- Story time11:45 am – 12:10 pm
- Lunch12:15 – 12:50 pm
- Cozy time1:00 – 1:15 pm
- Nap / Rest1:15 – 1:45 pm
- Wake up / Tidy up1:45 – 2:40 pm
- Outdoor play / Snack / Goodbyes2:40 - 3:00 pm

Additional Information

Our Preschool program is for students who are 3-years old by the start of the school year and mostly self-toileting.

Interested in learning more about our Preschool program? Schedule a conversation with admissions

Learn more about our tuition rates and program schedules.

We offer a variety of opportunities throughout the school year for current and prospective families to learn more about CLWS and Waldorf Education. View the calendar

The CLWS Early Childhood Summer Camp program is led by members of our Early Childhood faculty and is built on the same gentle rhythm found in the Waldorf school year.

Early Childhood Summer Camp is designed for children currently enrolled in CLWS Preschool and Kindergarten programs.

Typical Summer Sessions/Hours (subject to change prior to confirmation in February):

Summer Camp typically runs for 7 weeks, Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
$450/week per child (subject to change before confirmation in February)
Ages: 3-6 (rising first grade)
No modified or partial-week schedules offered and no sibling discounts for summer camp.
Families may sign up for one or multiple weeks of summer camp
Families signing up for all 7 weeks will be given enrollment priority
Space is limited