Question

Hello!  Can you please share with me any local preschools and kindergartens that use a play-based curriculum?Hello! Can you please share with me any local preschools and kindergartens that use a play-based curriculum? Bonus points for also nature-based? Or even better, a local forest school? We live near PEHS, if that helps for location. Thank you!  

Answer 1

Not nature based but play based- Great Adventures through the Park District. It's a great program.  

Answer 2

David did the hidden oaks nature center preschool and we loved it!  

Answer 3

Bonnie McBeth Learning Center is play-based.  

Comments

@peekaboo2 do you happen to know if they have openings for the fall, or does it fill up with the lottery along with the full day kindergarten?  

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There are still openings. They are doing lottery registration now and will open it up to others after that.  

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@peekaboo2 Oh perfect, thank you!  

Answer 4

Early childhood in Romeoville (off Dalhart & Normantown) does

Answer 5

KLA Schools of Plainfield - A Reggio Inspired School is what you are looking for! They have an excellent play/nature based program built on the Reggio philosophy.  

Answer 6

Pilcher park has their little sprouts program in the lockport park district program packet.  

Answer 7

Free forest school of Chicagoland group has meet ups. The closest one is at hammill woods but not sure when they will start up again.  

Comments

@alveolus We love Free Forest School! ❤️

Answer 8

Great Adventures Plainfield park district. We loved it there for the 2 years my daughter went.  

Answer 9

We love hidden oaks. They got outside every day unless raining or below zero. My kids especially loved when it snowed bc they got to go play in it! They would collect leaves and sticks and do crafts. The teachers are amazing. I’m still in Bolingbrook, but looking into Plainfield/shore wood. And I will still be willing to take the drive for my 4th when he’s old enough.  

Answer 10

KLA schools rocks! They do a lot of nature based things, including the kids working in their garden. Since quarantine my kindergartner was sent seeds from the school so he could garden on his own!  

Answer 11

My daughter starts Great Adventures in the fall. We went to an open house and loved it!  

Answer 12

Plainfield park district. Great adventures both my kids have gone. My son will be going one more year next year. They are amazing

Answer 13

3rd vote for Hidden Oaks! We did preK there this year and loved every second of it. The kids spend at least an hour outdoors and the curriculum is nature based as well. We did 3 and 4 year old preschool at another Bolingbrook park district location because we lived there at the time and all were great but Hidden Oaks was phenomenal!  

Answer 14

Hidden Oaks has a nature, play based preschool in Bolingbrook. The Morton Arboretum also has a preschool!  

Answer 15

We did Great Adventures through the park district. My kids and I loved it. My kids are older now and all doing amazing.  

Answer 16

Bolingbrook park district has a seedlings program that is nature play based! It’s located at hidden oaks off boughton. My daughter goes there and we live by the joliet mall. You pay a little more for being non resident but we love it. Both of my kids have gone there. My daughter is in their pre k program next year. My son is older and says he misses it.  

Answer 17

Wow, thank you so much for all the wonderful input! I appreciate it!  

Answer 18

For sure Bolingbrook Park District Seedlings Program at Hidden Oaks Nature Center. All of their Preschool programs are play- based.  

Answer 19

KLA Schools of Plainfield is a Reggio Emilia inspired preschool with a curriculum that focuses on in depth projects that are based on the children's interests. We have a Nature Explorer certified playground and a gardening program where the children plant their own seeds in our garden beds and harvest them at the end of summer/early fall! Let me know if you are interested in more information!  

Comments

KLA is amazing. You can’t get better

Answer 20

KLA Plainfield

Answer 21

The Hobson School in Naperville

Answer 22

Apple Tree was play based back when my kids went. I assume they wouldn't mess with a good thing! =)

Comments

Yes, Apple Tree is beyond woooondeeerful. They are play based for sure.  

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My kid is currently on the waiting list for apple tree. We signed it in feb. And havent heard anything yet :(

Answer 23

The Children’s Courtyard is an awesome place to learn and grow! Check us out!  

Answer 24

Hobson School