The Playgarden began as a neighborhood playgroup created by parents who wished to offer a home setting inspired by Waldorf principles. We offer 2-, 3- and 5-Day programs for children ages 2 1/2 to 6 including Kindergarten age children. We offer a play-based curriculum in a homelike setting providing a nature-rich and wonder-filled learning environment.
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The Playgarden began as a vibrant Jacksonville Beach neighborhood playgroup in 1995 formed by parents who wished to offer an early childhood educational setting inspired by Waldorf Principles to their own children.
These founding parents, supported by a grant from the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida (previously called the Jacksonville Community Foundation) saw the need for a whole child approach and developed an innovative format that included parent/child classes, playgroup, parent education discussions, handwork workshops, community puppet shows, and seasonal festivals.
These founding parents, supported by a grant from the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida (previously called the Jacksonville Community Foundation) saw the need for a whole child approach and developed an innovative format that included parent/child classes, playgroup, parent education discussions, handwork workshops, community puppet shows, and seasonal festivals.
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The Playgarden is a Jacksonville Beach pre-school and kindergarten located just blocks from the beach. It is a perfect place for children preschool to kindergarten to explore, grow, and create. In early childhood, daily life experience is the "curriculum". The child's relationships to the caregivers and to the environment are the two most important aspects through which the child can experience healthy life rhythms and routines.
Our Executive Director is Ms. Laura Cruz. She is responsible for all administrative functions of the school and keeps our school home happy and bright. Ms. Laura served as a Dragonfly teacher for two years, enjoying outside play at The Playgarden, where she won our hearts with her caring disposition and grace with the children.
The Board of Directors is legally and ethically responsible for all activities of the organization. Under Florida law, the "Board of Directors" means the group of persons vested with the management of the affairs of the organization. The Board may delegate certain responsibilities to various committees or staff of the organization, but Board Members are expected to oversee and protect all of the corporation's operations and assets.
Reviews (5)
Carrie Zarka Dooley
Dec 09, 2018
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My daughter Zophia went here for 4 wonderful years! She is now a thriving 4th grader with amazing artistic skills, incredible balance, a great sense of self, strong intellectual capacities and she is an impeccable problem solver. I highly recommend this school to any child starting at age 2 and 1/2. The community is wonderful for the whole family and once you enroll your child, you may have just found a wonderful new place to call home! The wisdom the teachers carry is astounding being led by Miss Adana in the cottage with a true organic food program, and a strong rhythm of the seasons.The Forest
Joe A.
May 24, 2017
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Joe Alberti
Jul 22, 2016
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This preschool and kindergarten is truly one of a kind. No one place can educate in a homelike setting like The Playgarden. While being homelike it still provides an environment that educates through play and natural occurrence learning. Their forest program is the only one in the SE USA. No one offers anything like them. All of my kids will go here for years to come.
Shakti LifeKitchen
Oct 02, 2015
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This dear sweet Playgarden by the Sea is an organic haven for early childhood education. The organic food and natural environment feeds all the senses of the growing child. The teacher's deep wisdom allows them to connect with love with each child and provide a nourishing space for each child to be inspired to learn and move with confidence. The curriculum follows the seasons of the year creating a deep sense of reverence for community and the Earth we live in. The children graduating from this preschool haven are good stewards to our planet, kind to one another, creative, excited to learn and
Matthew Garner
Aug 27, 2015
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The Playgarden is absolutely the best place for children 2.5 to 6 years old. I currently have two children there and a third will be joining them soon. There is no better place for your child to play outside for hours on end and and it is one of the only places I have seen where the children never want to go home. They teach children through rhythm, songs, stories, domestic arts, imaginative play and take weekly field trips to the beach and local playground. I can't say enough about this preschool except that my children are the sweetest and most smiley after a day at the Playgarden. We love it
