My child attended DIG from age 2 years 10 months to 3 years 11 months and we were both completely happy with this decision. She had never been in the care of anyone besides her parents or two grandmothers until DIG. I was so worried about how my child would be treated somewhere, and this was the place I trusted to drop my child off for the first time. The teachers treat the children with respect and give them freedom while keeping them safe. The (real dirt) yard is one of the best. It is indoor/outdoor free-flowing, and surprise surprise, my child chose to spend most of her day outside. She loved being barefoot all day - shoes are optional. It feels tranquil and is fully shaded, I never put sunscreen on her. There is a pet bunny rabbit and a raised garden bed, slide, outdoor "kitchen," tricycles, trucks, dinosaurs, a water table, and DIG even spent a full week or two replacing the yard ground completely after the Palisades fires, which I deeply appreciated. There is also a tinkering room, pillow room, and light room. This is play-based and not an academic program, which is exactly what a 2 or 3 year old needs. My child did not attend for 4+ years old so I can't speak to that. After her time at DIG, my child went straight into TK at SMMUSD and is doing great there too. Take a tour - the day I took a tour I felt good and that tells you everything. ~ Edited to add: How could I not have mentioned the parent support group offered for free with a certified social worker who is aligned in philosophy! This a wonderful benefit! And, your child can play on the yard while you attend! DIG might not be ideal for you if your child still naps. It is possible to do, but there will probably be only 1 or 2 children who do (there is a room with bed where they can do that) but there is not a "class nap" culture. My child had already dropped her nap when we started, so I was specifically looking for a school who wouldn't try to force her to nap or force her to stay quiet and still while others napped, and so DIG was perfect for us in this regard. read more

We feel incredibly grateful to have found DIG Childhood Center. From the very beginning, the environment has been warm, nurturing, and thoughtfully designed for young children to truly thrive. The teachers are exceptional -- attentive, patient, and genuinely invested in each child's development. It's clear they take the time to understand every child's personality, helping them grow. My son looks forward to going every day, which says everything. What stands out most is the balance between structure and creativity. The program encourages curiosity, independence, and confidence, while still providing a safe and consistent routine. The communication with parents is also excellent -- I always feel informed, included, and reassured. The space itself is beautiful, clean, and intentionally set up to inspire learning through play. You can tell there is a strong philosophy behind everything they do. If you're looking for a preschool that truly cares and goes above and beyond, DIG Childhood Center is an absolute gem. We couldn't be happier with our experience. read more

My son was there for 2 years and the open layout and lack of structure at Dig hurt him. I noticed that some kids thrive off the loose play and those parents love Dig while another subset found that their kids came home too disregulated. I observed a fair amount of attrition during our time there. My regret was not switching my son to another program. I thought the transition might be too destabilizing. Big mistake. Not wanting to repeat such an experience, when applying for elementary schools, I paid hefty educational consulting fees to ensure that I was informed of the behind the scenes operation and quality of care behind each school. I do not recommend sending your child there. read more

DIG is such an amazing place for young children to grow and learn. The teachers are incredible--truly caring and respectful, and they apply all the latest research on how to foster a growth mindset and encourage social and emotional learning while giving kids room to be kids. It seems like everything I have read and tried to implement at home, DIG is already doing. The community is also great! I have a very demanding job and was worried about the family involvement component, but it hasn't been an issue. Everyone at DIG is really understanding, and we are given space to participate how and when we can. We did a ton of research on different westside preschools and are so happy we found DIG! read more

We have been at dig now for almost a full year. I cannot express in words accurately how much we love it. My daughter stayed home with me exclusively throughout Covid so she got a late start into a program at 3 1/2. I worried about the transition, about how she'd do with other adults, without me, with other children. I feared she had become feral My worries were erased almost immediately upon meeting with the director and having our first play date with the school. She fit right in. The teachers are extraordinary. Watching them on my parent provider days is like being witness to actual magic sometimes. The philosophy is unlike any other school I met with. A mix of all the good things from all over. I grew up in rural Alaska and was outside as much as possible and I think this is the closest my little city child will ever get to that kind of childhood. The freedom to be a kid is fleeting. They nurture it here, no rigid academia for 4 year olds. She comes home happy and VERY dirty. She amazes me everyday with her new vocabulary and understanding of emotions and how the world works just by interacting in a thoughtful way at school. Simply put we just love it. The community is amazing. I tried several mommy and me's before the lockdown to try to "build my village" and nothing clicked. Within weeks of being here we had new parent friends, an active community to build for our family. Supporting parents to support the children. We went on a family camping trip with 16 families and it was honestly perfect. I didn't think it was possible with so many children and I was wrong. Even my husband really enjoyed it and his patience is much more limited than mine. The school is fantastic, the teachers are fantastic, the families are fantastic. I could literally go on forever. But I won't. Just check it out. You won't regret it. One thing that I forgot, they didn't require my daughter to be potty trained simply because she was older than 2. She wanted to take her time and I was happy to oblige. The school helped with that. I would say they followed my lead but really they followed her lead, as is there philosophy and we painlessly potty trained her when she was ready with zero struggle. read more

DIG Childhood Center - Watering the garden at dig. They plant and grow food and plants for pollinators - Preschools Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Coming out of lockdown and seeking a preschool for our child who hadn't really been socialized except with adults was a daunting task. Other parents recommended DIG and we loved the philosophy so we took a tour and the rest is history, I suppose. My child was able to transition really well into the program (and I don't really have an easygoing kid) and I completely credit that to the director and teachers. There is a significant amount of parent involvement required, and I understand that's daunting for many folks (it was for us!), but having done it now, I can tell you that it's a big part of how the program creates continuity between home and school and gives a sense of community and an opportunity for learning and connection. Watching the teachers interacting with the children taught me a lot and most kids love having one of their grown ups there. In addition to their philosophies about the kids (child-directed, non-academic, play based, non-judgmental, etc.), they are also actively doing what they can to model and practice responsible practices in terms of other important issues: low waste environment, staff actively being trained in an anti-racism philosophy, parent support meetings, scholarships for those with financial need, and probably more I'm forgetting. This is a school that cares about the children and the community as a whole, which includes the staff and families, along with our greater community. We love this school and absolutely recommend it to families seeking an incredible place for your child(ren). Oh, I almost forgot: the kids get REALLY dirty. If that's an issue for you, this may not be your place, but if you feel like kids deserve to be able to play hard and get messy, check this school out for sure. read more

My almost 4 year old has been at DIG for a year now and we couldn't be happier! I'm an outdoor educator so, an outdoor play based curriculum was exactly what we were looking for! The cherry on top is their anti racist and anti biased education, for me. They hear every child and support them through validation, active listening, and empathy. Kids are encouraged to imagine, share their feelings, and learn how to be a community. We all share our birthdays together, seasonal get togethers, and an amazing graduation and good byes to families. We love DIG! The teachers, the space, the education, the philosophy, the support; it's truly a gem! read more

Such a a happy place for kids and grown-ups. We love the outdoor classroom and the support you offer. Teachers are amazing. Thanks DIG! read more

DIG Childhood Center - Preschools Near Me - Los Angeles, California

If anyone is looking for a preschool or looking to switch from their existing one then I highly recommend considering DIG Childhood Center. Since swapping from a more traditional preschool to Dig my son is so much happier, his social emotional skills have improved a lot and he genuinely wants to go to school. A bonus for the whole family is that he is now hardly ever sick. I wish I'd put him in Dig sooner! Those long months of back to back sicknesses, common in traditional preschools, which made our whole family miserable have gone. Dig is like the essence of childhood distilled, I wish I could have been a Dig kid myself. The children are largely outdoors in a natural landscape with plants, dirt and trees not just asphalt and are supported by teachers who genuinely care about raising happy and emotionally intelligent children. It's child led, play based and developmentally appropriate with support for the whole family and a real sense of community. What's important to me about Dig is that parent's actually get to experience what the school is like, there's no secrecy or facades put on by the teachers like I've seen at other schools - teachers that are all smiles at the school gate but different once the parents have left. The teachers are compassionate, skilled and dedicated people and they're genuinely like that *all the time*. I do 2 parent provider shifts at Dig per month and can honestly say that the teachers really are wonderful for the entire school day. Dig holds free monthly parent support groups, I've been to several and found them to be really useful. Dig is more than just a school, its a community. Dig also has TK aged children so it's a great option for those families skipping TK or homeschooling. My daughter now also goes to Dig and she loves it too, we really don't want to leave and will be so sad when we we age out. read more

This place is such a hidden gem. My daughter has gone here for 3 years and I wish I would have known about it for my son. My daughter can't wait to go to school every day and she is sad there is no school on the weekends. It is a magical place where kids are allowed to be kids. The teachers are the best in the business and love each child like their own. If more places like this were available I feel like the world would be a better place. read more

I started looking at preschools when my daughter turned one. I'm a full time working mom so I was looking for long hours, provided lunch, nearby location, and kindergarten preparation. Then my daughter became a two year old and all of the sudden my top priorities shifted entirely to emotional regulation, potty philosophy, drop off approach, space to run, specifically barefoot, and support for overwhelmed mothers like myself. I wanted to be patient, loving, supportive, but what was actually coming out of my mouth was "stop it." It wasn't working. We started at Dig this fall when it opened up in the Mar Vista location. For weeks at the start I sat in the corner on a chair while my daughter got to know the teachers. She would glance over to me or check in and then in phases my presence was no longer needed. Unlike every other drop off practice we had ever tried anywhere this one worked. No tantrums no tears no massive mom guilt. She just started to feel comfortable with the people and the place and over time she was fine, like literally "bye mom see you later." When she or others do get upset the teachers help them. They get down on their level and help the kids to work through it, like transcribing a note to the parent they're missing. Same deal with potty. The school is so supportive. No tears or fears or guilt or shame or deadlines. Also no strange expectations like a diaper until they're dry. They just help you do it the way you're trying to do it as a family and withhold judgement, it sounds so simple but it's incredible. My daughter has had a few bags of undies come home and they're not labeled as accidents they're just bags of wet undies and we wash them. She has 100% learned the whole process of potty and now unless she asks for help none is needed. She plays so hard that she sometimes comes home like a noodle. Today in fact she came home like a noodle. She has always been an active and enthusiastic kid and this has allowed her spirit to be free. She will spend hours in the pillow room throwing her weight around or swatting in the mud river or yarn bombing a sapling. She's learning to read through doing and learning the foundations for STEM through their ever changing play based curriculum. Cooking, sewing, diffuser paper, fixing broken stuff, watching pumpkins rot, goo, bugs, pets, compost, card games, .... it's endless. They have immersive focused projects and also manage a total free flow that is beautifully controlled by the team of exceptional teachers who have been working together as a team forever and the super low teacher kid ratio. It does take time to be part of the co-op, more time than I had planned to afford as a working mom. But it's been worth it, it's literally teaching me how to be a better mom. Trying to be preschool teacher for four hours each month is like taking the master class in parenting a threenager. You must volunteer in the classroom BUT you get free training in how to do it and watching the teachers in action is the best education of all. Plus unlike my intention to read a stack of parenting books, I actually do this on the regular because I have to. Also there are free parent support groups taught by Barbara Olinger and community events and nights out and camping trips and just a lot of opportunities to connect with people trying to keep judgment at bay while going through the same thing at the same time. So we love it. read more

DIG Childhood Center - Laundry from today - 3 pants, 2 shirts, 2 undies. Looks like a immersion into water, mud, and some sort of washable blue dye. - Preschools Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This review is being written by an alumni family. We are well out of the preschool world and still look back very fondly on our experience at DIG. It was truly a transformative experience as a parent and a simply sweet and authentic experience for my children. The outdoor classroom, play based curriculum and community (great teachers) are all just amazing and it has shaped our family to this day. I wish we could have continued beyond preschool! read more

We absolutely love Dig. My daughter started here at 2 1/2 and has thrived ever since. As a COVID kid, I didn't know how she would do in a school/group environment but my fears were totally unfounded. The flexible separation process was key (mainly for me) in the transition and now she is excited to go to school, see her friends and teachers, and get dirty. The community is caring and welcoming and the parent participation requirements have been a true delight. If you are considering preschool, take a tour and if you're like me, you'll know immediately if it's the right fit for your family. read more

Impossible to list ALL the best qualities of this Early Education Center. I toured school best and far all over the Westside but this one was exactly what I was looking for. I really wanted my daughter to spend time outdoors, but the forest/nature schools fell short and so I kept looking for programs that offered outdoor time. I have to say the pictures of the children playing in the rain happy as can be is what sold me on this program. Things only got better from there, they had a heart centered approach to the transition of starting a new school, not so much for my daughter but for me. They were patient with me until I was ready to leave and return. During this transition I got to see how genuine the staff was with the children. How respectful, thoughtful and patient they are with the children. Parent participation was important for me in selecting a program and I felt that DIG was one of the best Parent Participation programs around. They are so well organized it's really refreshing! read more

what can I say about DIG that the other reviewers have not said already. I wish I attended a school like this growing up. The amount of empathy, understanding, conflict-resolution, freedom, and overall joy this place holds is not comparable to any other schools around. their philosophy and the way the center is structured, if it were it were up to me - should continue onwards to high school and beyond. Thank you Nina, Amanda, Gina, Paolo and all the other teachers. you've really given us a new light on this whole parenthood thing. read more

Preface: I'm not a paying parent. I called to inquire about more information and the lady who answered the phone pointed me toward their website. Literally didn't answer a single question. Even as basic if they have any openings. Not pursuing them any further... if they are just going to point everyone to their website and be so hands off, how can I expect them to be hands on in other situations. Moving on... read more

DIG has great qualities and we're happy overall. However, there is room for improvement. I'm going to start with the positives; the place is spectacular. The outdoors and indoors are filled with light, plants, pets. You feel you are in an oasis. The other amazing component of DIG are the teacher; loving, kind and fun. My son loved them all. Now, the things I felt weren't working for us are, first off, for being a non-judgemental space, it had too many unnecessary rules. For instance kids cannot wear anything branded. Their reasoning behind it's because if they wear a branded character they will act like that character as opposed to act like themselves. But wouldn't that apply to a non-branded character too? In any case, my son doesn't act like a mouse when he wears a mouse shirt or a Mickey Mouse one, but if he did, what is the problem? Play and pretend is part of their curriculum anyways. For us it meant a whole new expense in clothing since half of it was branded. The other thing that we were very attracted to initially, it was for the promise of community. But again, some rules around it, made no sense. Parents were not allowed to have "adult conversations" with other adults inside the school and you were not allowed to talk to other prents around pick up time. So That made it very difficult to bond and meet other parents. And lastly, it's not a school for everyone. It requires a lot of parent involvement, so if both parents have a fulltime job or have other siblings, it can be very difficult to juggle. read more

We love DIG! The teachers are some of the kindest, most attentive and nurturing people I have ever met. My boys are able to explore and run and play while learning how to develop friendships and cooperate in group play. They are given the freedom to choose which activities they want to participate in and are encouraged to follow their own interests. While the program is child-led and play based, the teachers provide limits to ensure physical and emotional safety. Each child is treated with respect and accepted as an individual with unique interests and needs. As parents we have found the parent support groups to be invaluable during tough transitions and challenging behaviors at home. Due to strong parent involvement my husband and I have also developed meaningful friendships that we imagine continuing beyond the preschool years. DIG is truly a magical place and we can't recommend it enough. read more

Our son is in the toddler program, which precedes the preschool. We love Dig! From everything we'd read, play-based is the way to go for preschool as young children learn by playing. We found an exceptional play-based preschool in Dig. When I drop off our son, he runs off with barely a goodbye! He is so happy to be there. The teachers are warm and creative. There is a big yard, where the children run, bike, paint, play with trucks... and last week, sifted through flour with coconuts! (There is a rotating activity station.) The other parents are welcoming and down-to-earth. There are lots of community activities too, like the bike-a-thon in the Dig parking lot, a holiday party with caroling, and a camping trip. We cannot recommend Dig enough. read more

Dig is magical. My two daughters both attended (Dig and YWCA Co-op) and my son was in their toddler program. It may sound over the top but I actually get misty eyed thinking of all that Dig gave my family- A foundation to know what we wanted in terms of education. A whole child, play centered approach. My instincts to let my little girls be little was fully supported. I became a better parent because of Dig. Learning conflict resolution from listening to teachers was amazing. I had a few moments where I questioned if a true child-led play approach would prepare my daughters for kindergarten. But I went with my gut and I am glad I did. Both girls entered into school with self-assurance and good communication skills along with confidence. These are things that are more important than rote memorization of letters and numbers. My girls have a foundation which will carry them forever and it all comes back to Dig. read more

Our son just finished at DIG after 4 wonderful years there. I can't recommend this lovely preschool enough! The teachers and Director are wonderful people who treat the children with love, respect, and compassion. We always felt like our son was safe, happy, and loved - what more could a parent ask for? If you are looking for a preschool that encourages play, independence, kindness and confidence then this is the right place for you. Graduating and moving on from DIG is hard to do, hopefully one day they will start an elementary school. Thank you DIG, we you. See you real soon! read more

Our now four year old has loved DIG (and its predecessor, YWCA Coop) for over a year. I fell in love with the place well before he was old enough to go when I toured the Big Yard and saw space for kids to play in the dirt, stack milk crates, put on a puppet show, and experiment with the water table at their leisure. DIG has great indoor and outdoor spaces, particularly outdoor. The building itself is aging a bit but the kids don't notice and each room is filled with something interesting and perfectly appropriate for 3-5 year olds. The program is very thoughtfully put together, with lots of free time to roam among the 7 or so themed spaces punctuated by a few scheduled whole-group activities, like morning meeting, lunch time, etc. Staff is loving, super professional and experienced, and in our experience has had nearly zero turnover. It is a cooperative preschool, so expect to contribute your time. Personally, I love playing with the kids and with the preschool's various rooms and activities, particularly the Tinkering area, so it's not much of a burden beyond the hectic scheduling of a family of five that I face. And it is a non-profit and private preschool, so don't be surprised to be regularly asked to contribute your dollars beyond tuition. The community is great, very supportive and extremely knowledgeable about parenting and non-judgemental. read more

I found this preschool by accident and I'm so glad I did! This school has transformed my son from a shy and trepidatious child into one with confidence and an enthusiasm for playing with his friends and engaging in all kinds of different projects and activities. The separation process took a while (a very long while) and the teachers and director were supportive of both our needs and the sensitivities of our son. There is so much that I love about this school but some of my favorite aspects are the emphasis on supporting children's emotions ("big feelings" is a term you will hear a lot), the creative and artistic environment, the wonderful and engaging teachers, allowing the children to follow their own interests, the encouragement of connecting with nature and the outdoors, the low child to teacher ratio, the mixed age grouping, the healthy snacks, the garden, the pets, and so much more! The school is a co-op so every parent is required to be involved with fundraising, maintenance days, a parent job, and teacher support hours. Though things can get a bit disorganized at times, this aspect makes the school a true community all working together to create the best environment for our kids to play, learn, and develop. I can't say enough good things about this preschool. Our son has developed a curiosity and a love of learning that will stay with him for the rest of his life. read more

We are so pleased to have found DIG! The teachers are experienced, knowledgeable, creative and attentive. The kids have SO much fun and are free to imagine, create and play. It's such a special community to be a part of for the whole family. read more

We wanted a place where our son could play freely and gain experience through play with others. There is so much to love at DIG! The teachers are so warm, helpful, experienced, and patient (with children AND adults.) The space (currently the outside areas during the pandemic) creates safe, open-ended play areas for children to build, explore, pretend, create, rough-house, and discover. I decided based on previous separation anxiety, to stay present at the school as my son adjusted. I'm so glad that I did! Not only did we have a plan for leaving for longer and longer periods which allowed him to feel safe and get to know his environment, but I got to witness the freedom and joy that DIG creates space for. I was also able to act as a parent-provider once a month as part of the partial co-op (currently parent-providers on hold during pandemic.) Being at DIG, you learn so much! How presence and openness create a space of exploration where children are not judged. Discipline comes in the form of checking in and making plans that work for those involved. The majority of the time is unstructured and child-led. In addition, there are parent support groups and provider trainings. It is truly a nurturing community, and we all benefit from being part of it! I encourage you to contact Nina at DIG and become part of something wonderful! read more

DIG Childhood Center - A visit to Big Yard, we played drums, and the kids climbed and played pretend and watered the plants and each other. - Preschools Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This school has been a breath of fresh air for me and my family. It's been a welcoming environment for both my child and for me. What I love about the school most is the 4:1 student teacher ratio allowing the children to explore safely, the commitment to healthy snacks, the outdoor environment and the dedication to less waste. The staff takes in the individual needs of the children and the parents making the transition into preschool easy and enjoyable. read more

We have been a part of the DIG community for over a year and the support and community we have all gained from it is innmeasurable. With the very rare teacher:student ratio I felt it was the only place our son would get emotional support and learn tools that will help him later in life. I'm not one for being confined to one room and neither Is our son, which is another bonus to this place, the children get to choose from an array of daily activities indoors or outdoors. If you haven't toured this place please do! read more

As a parent at this school since 2011 (and continuing until 2017!), I'd affectionately call this place the "dirt in the shirt" preschool. Kids are encouraged to dig, play create, and explore in a safe environment with a 1:4 teacher/student ratio. Yes, that's 1 teacher for every 4 children. They go to school ready to play, and learn a lot in the process. The teaching staff, most of whom have been there since the school opened, teach by observing children's needs and interests and intervening only when necessary. I have learned so much about how to parent my own children by watching these teachers in action. Take a tour of the school to get a small taste of how incredible they are. The proof is in the pudding: we now have a daughter who has graduated and is more than "kindergarten ready." Without any boring worksheets or stay-in-your-seat lessons, she has grown into a curious, confident, smart, and happy 5-year-old who thinks of school as a pretty fun place to be. read more

This review is for Cottage Activity Time, which is the "pre-preschool" program at the Santa Monica YWCA. We had an incredible experience and are so happy we went. Our son was 2 years 7 months when we started, and he was VERY clingy and didn't want to separate from us at all. This program features a parents sitting area in the corner of the playground to allow for a phased separation - parents can gradually spend more and more time away until the child is able to spend the entire 2-hour session on their own. For a lot of kids this spanned a few class times. For others it took a little longer, maybe 2 or 3 weeks. One parent told us it took them a full 2 months to get to that point. Well, we had them all beat. It took about 4 months for us to be able to do a normal drop-off and leave for the full 2 hours. I should mention that our son had a variety of delays, both physically and with speech, so that may have had something to do with our extended timeline to separation. The great thing is, the staff was so cooperative and supported us in every way through it all. There was no pressure to speed up the separation, as they seemed very much in tune with when our son was getting close to being separation-ready. On top of that, they really helped encourage him to get involved with some of the activities. Their normal philosophy is to step back and let kids discover things on their own, but our son has a more laid-back, less gung-ho/exploratory personality. So instead of sticking to a rigid ideology, they made a point of helping him here and there when he needed it and gradually he was able to do more and more of what the other kids were doing, despite still being a little behind physically and speech-wise. The staff - from the team teachers to Barbara, the program director - was incredible and it's very evident that they all care deeply about the kids and their welfare. We really can't say enough about how great they were and how much they helped us. We're now moving on to public preschool to accommodate our son's therapy needs but we'll never forget Cottage Activity Time! read more

My son has had the best 2 years at YWCA and we're grateful for the next few months before he graduates. Great parent involvement, a beautiful environment, plenty of space for kids who love to build their own little cities (mine!), petting and feeding the pets, excellent leadership and teachers. I know we'll look back on these days and remember with great fondness how beautiful they were, how amazing it was to stop time, let children be children and learn through play based activities and art, grow vegetables and herbs in the garden, climb the wooden decks and be a community in their own little kingdoms. Thank you! read more

I started my daughter in the toddler program here. It's been a perfect introduction to school and separation for her. The teacher child ratio is low, and she gets lots of outdoor play. It reminds me a lot of the kind of preschool I went to growing up. It's not modern and fancy, feels more homey and down to earth. I like that I pick her up at the end of her time there and she's got actual dirty (earth!) on her hands and feet. The teachers are kind and very supportive. I'm happy we found this place, it's like an extension of home. read more

Dig has been an amazing everything for our family. Our oldest daughter (4.5 now) started there when she was 2 in the toddler program. Very easily she transitioned to the preschool. In Dig we found teachers that we trust and rely on and a community that we love. Dig offers not only the typical school experience of dropping your child off and picking him up a couple of hours later, but monthly parent support groups provided by an expert in 0-5 licensed clinical social worker, 4:1 ratio, outdoor classroom, family camping trip, playdates, and more. Knowing that my child is contained there whatever her emotions are is a wonderful feeling. At Dig children get to explore the world while learning how to respect boundaries, negotiate limits and value nature, creativity, initiative, friendship and more. They are heard and respected. They learn how to listen and respect. They are never punished or shamed. They are accepted for who they are. They work on conflict resolution and they are always supported. I don't have enough words to describe how amazing this first school experience has been for us. I encourage anyone who's looking for a preschool to go and check it out. read more

Beautiful school. The best outdoor space I have seen out of all the schools in Santa Monica. It is really important to me that my child has lots of fresh air and space outside to run around, this seems like it could meet those wishes. read more

We are so lucky to have found this gem of a school. Our son started at DIG with the Toddler Program since he was 2 years old. He is now in his first year of Preschool. We wanted a school that is going to support our son's socio-emotional development in a loving, nurturing, and non-judgmental way, while allowing him to explore and have his play be child directed as much as possible. DIG embodies all of that! My son gets the opportunity to play outside as much as he wants and it is a genuinely child-led, play-based school. The curriculum is enriching and interesting.The kids are learning life skills in an organic way and not just being thrown flash cards at them. There is a tinkering room where they get to use real tools; a pillow room where they get to get their ya-ya's out and bounce around; they have a beautiful yard (aka: "Big Yard") outside where the kids get to play in dirt, make mud pies and rivers, ride tricycles, climb structures, run around barefoot, and watch a garden grow on hale bales! The director and teachers are some of the most patient and loving people you will ever meet. They treat each child with love and respect. It makes my commute from Santa Monica to Mar Vista worth it. read more

My daughter has been at DIG from from age 2 1/2 - 5 1/2 and it has been a great fit from Day 1 when she impatiently waved me away at drop-off. DIG's teachers are loving and respectful of each child's choices and preferences, while also being very clear about limits and safety. The school has an unheard of 1:4 teacher-to-child ratio, which means that while the kids have a real sense of independence, they are never unsupervised. It also means that kids are not corralled into classrooms or into groups where they are all doing the same activity like at other preschools (which have to use this format because they have fewer teachers.) At DIG, each kid makes their own decision about what kind of play they are doing at any given moment. The teachers set up a sensory rich environment that changes every day and the kids take care of the rest- exploration and imagination are the name of the game! The ratio also allows kids to have close relationships with their teachers and to learn how to be assertive. There is a real emphasis on social and emotional learning here and I credit my daughter's confidence and social maturity to this. By the end of preschool, the kids are often resolving conflicts on their own which is truly amazing to see. I also loved the emphasis on nature and the outdoors. My kid came home dirty every day and as an apartment-dweller I could not have been happier. At the same time, my husband and I got invaluable parenting tips and wisdom from the school's parent support groups and from volunteering at the school (nothing improves your parenting like being on the front lines!) read more

It's a really special school. My son went here and we had to change schools due to a move, and we miss it. There is a 4 to 1 child to teacher ratio which is quite rare, and the teachers are excellent. At my son's current preschool, when the kids have free play, the teachers are busy preparing the next curriculum project and seem to be merely watching the children to make sure there is not a major conflict or that no one gets hurt. They seem to not have an understanding of my son's personality or his strengths and weakness in socialization. This is quite common at most preschools. At Dig, the play is the kids work. If my son had a difficult interaction with another child at Dig, I could ask a teacher the next day about it. They will know exactly what happened, and the events that led up to it, and give me valuable insight on how I can guide my son. It depends on what you are looking for in a preschool. Currently, my son is learning about all the countries and some facts about each one. That's fine, but he has the rest of his life to fill his brain up with information. In the preschool years, I want him to learn social skills and gain emotional intelligence. That is what a child will learn at Dig. read more