Kinderforest
A Nature-Based Early Childhood Experience
Ages 3-6
We are fully human only while playing, and we play only when we are human in the truest sense of the word.
- Rudolf Steiner
Kinderforest Program
Ages 3–6
Program Groups
Our Kinderforest program welcomes children ages 3–6 through three developmental groups, each offering a nurturing environment where children grow through play, imagination, meaningful work, and connection with nature.
Buttercups | Ages 3–4
A gentle introduction to early childhood learning through play, rhythm, and exploration.
Hawthorns | Ages 5
A rich early childhood experience that nurtures independence, creativity, and growing confidence.
Golden Hawthorns | Ages 6
A transitional program for children preparing for first grade, offering deeper Waldorf-inspired learning and outdoor exploration.
Weekly Schedule
Monday–Thursday
Buttercups: 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Hawthorns: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Golden Hawthorns: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Flexible Attendance
3-, 4-, and 5-day options are available depending on the group.
Additional Care
Early drop-off and extended care options are available.
Our Daily Rhythm
Morning Welcome & Free Play
Children begin their day with imaginative play, outdoor exploration, and meaningful activities that encourage creativity and connection.
Circle Time
Seasonal songs, movement, verses, and age-appropriate activities bring children together while honoring the developmental needs of each group.
Snack & Mealtime
Shared meals offer a moment to slow down, practice gratitude, and strengthen friendships through simple daily rituals.
Storytelling & Creative Work
Nature stories, fairy tales, handwork, and artistic activities nurture imagination, curiosity, and self-expression.
Play and Snack:
Reuniting, they enjoy more playtime and another satisfying snack, fostering camaraderie.
Outdoor Play & Exploration
Time in the garden, forest, and surrounding natural spaces invites movement, discovery, cooperation, and a deeper connection with the changing seasons.
Closing Rhythm
The day comes to a gentle close through familiar songs, transitions, and farewells, helping children carry a sense of warmth and belonging home.
Our Philosophy
Heartsong’s Kinderforest grows out of a love for children and a deep connection to the natural world.
Rooted in Waldorf-inspired education, we recognize that young children learn through movement, imitation, rhythm, repetition, and meaningful experiences.
Our role as educators is to create a nurturing environment, offer a steady daily rhythm, and model calm, purposeful work—allowing children to explore the world with confidence, wonder, and joy.
Our Core Pillars
Nature as the Classroom
Kinderforest is rooted in the farm, gardens, and forest. Our 40-foot greenhouse, warmed by a wood-burning stove, offers a cozy gathering space, while the surrounding natural world becomes an extension of our classroom.
Children spend meaningful time outdoors throughout the seasons, exploring the land, observing its changes, and developing a deep connection with nature.
Play that Builds the Whole Child
Play is at the heart of our Kinderforest experience. Indoors, children explore simple, natural materials such as wool dolls, wooden toys, silk cloths, seeds, shells, and found objects, allowing their imaginations to lead the way.
Outdoors, the gardens, fields, forest, and seasonal creek invite movement, discovery, and endless opportunities for exploration.
Through imaginative play, children naturally develop social skills, cooperation, problem-solving, early numeracy, balance, and coordination.
Story as Nourishment
Storytelling is a cherished part of our daily rhythm. Through animal stories, nature tales, simple fairy tales, and puppet plays, children enter worlds filled with imagination, wonder, and meaning.
These stories meet children where they are developmentally, nurturing emotional understanding, offering gentle guidance, and helping them experience the goodness of the world.
Song and Seasonal Rhythm
We sing throughout the day—songs for the seasons, transitions, gathering, and moments of joy.
Music and familiar rhythms help children move gently between activities, creating a shared sense of warmth, security, and belonging.
Mealtime as a Social Practice
Mealtimes are peaceful, meaningful moments in our day. Children gather with their teachers, wash their hands, light a candle, and sing together before enjoying lunches brought from home.
These simple rituals invite gratitude, connection, and a sense of belonging around the table.
Art as Process
Art at Kinderforest is an invitation to explore, create, and discover. Children experience wet-on-wet watercolor painting, modeling with colored wax, drawing with natural beeswax crayons, and seasonal crafts using materials found on the farm.
We value the creative process over the finished product. Some creations are brought home, while others return to nature—each experience offering opportunities for imagination, expression, and wonder.
Interested in Kinderforest?
We’d love to learn more about your family, answer your questions, and help you explore whether Kinderforest is the right fit for your child.
Want to explore program costs first? View Kinderforest Program Fees