A play-based, screen-free preschool on five acres in Vista. Ages two to five, year-round, for over fifteen years.
Nestled on five sprawling acres, we blend a child-driven forest school philosophy with the Reggio Emilia approach. Rain is a curriculum, not a cancellation.
Gardens, nature walks, art from found materials, climbing, water play, music, and unhurried time under the big tree.
Our teachers watch what captures the children's curiosity and build learning from it — a practice called emergent curriculum.
A puddle becomes a lesson in volume. An acorn collection becomes counting, sorting, and sharing. A ladybug becomes a week of questions about how living things grow.
Balancing on logs, climbing a little way up a tree, running on uneven ground — with teachers close by and clear limits in place.
Children learn to judge for themselves, build resilience, and trust their own bodies.
Vocabulary, reasoning, persistence, self-regulation — the abilities that actually predict how a child does at school. They grow best through rich play and conversation, not worksheets.
Our graduates walk into kindergarten confident, curious and ready.
Children thrive on knowing what comes next — and within that rhythm they choose much of their own play. Teachers lead stories, music and projects every day.
From age two to kindergarten — same trees, same teachers, same friends.
The earliest start in a real nature program — little ones dig, splash, sing and explore all five acres at their own pace, with potty-training support and all the patience in the world.
Children move up when they're ready. Reading, writing and math readiness woven through art, music, movement, science and nature — all day long.
Wonderfully, yes. Muddy knees, sandy shoes, paint on sleeves — we consider this evidence of a day well spent.
Messy, sensory play builds fine-motor strength, scientific thinking and comfort in a child's own body. Send sturdy play clothes and a change of clothes.
We handle the learning; the washing machine handles the rest.
“I can't really say enough good things about Big Tree… Ms. Rebecca, and all of her staff, are some of the warmest, kindest, and patient women I have met. Most days it is quite hard to convince my kids to come home, they are having such a blast!”
“She is growing leaps and bounds socially, emotionally, and academically… The nature hikes, the incredible outdoor play spaces, the dancing, the art, the yoga, the songs — seriously, it makes me want to go to preschool again.”
A morning on our five acres tells you more than any web page can. Bring your questions and watch the children at work.
