Puddle Jumpers is the most gentle way to start your daycare preschool journey. The small classroom sizes of 8 kids, the coop model where some of the time you are at school along with your kid helping care for them, has made a welcoming and positive foundation for what school is. My daughter is obsessed! She loves our teacher, Michele, the community, and the friends she has made a Puddle Jumpers. As a parent I value the connection to community, meeting other parents who live near by with young children, and time spent with my daughter is a social setting (I like being a fly on the wall and seeing the way she interacts with the other children and grownups). It is also unique in terms of coops in that it accepts children as young as 18 months, and it is completely parent run, so if there is literally something not working for the current group of families, we all meet and vote and change that policy. I feel so thankful that I haven't had the experience of being locked into a care model that I only later realized was somehow not the right fit, but felt forced to subscribe to the schools rules (potty training is a good example of this, there was so much flexibility in terms of how we as a group would take it on and each family can go about it at their own pace and way and pass on their preferences to the other parents) read more

An exceptionally loving and supportive and well-run community. Our family loves it. There's no better co-op in San Francisco for kids age 18 months to 3 years. read more

Puddle Jumpers is magical! When I first discovered this play-based community almost a decade ago, I was a new parent who was super protective of my young daughter (see my previous review in 2016!) PJW gave me the tools I needed to develop as a confident caregiver, all while being able to witness my daughter's growth alongside her in the classroom. The teacher, Michele, is a child whisperer! She is such a special and gentle soul, and she is the heart of the school. Under her loving guidance, the children become creative explorers of their world. She teaches them to appreciate people from all walks of life, to respect flowers and wildlife, to expand their minds through art, dance parties, and pretend play, and to notice the beauty in our urban environment. She meets them on their level, exactly where they are, every day - whether they come to school sad to leave their parent, or are going through a challenging developmental stage - she has seen it all, and is a strong and intuitive leader whom both kids and parents rely on. Fast forward to today, I have known Michele for almost a decade and never cease to be amazed at how she can turn every day into a magical experience for the kids. My youngest daughter is now turning 3 and I am so sad that this is the end of our PJW journey! She is thriving and loves Michele, her PJW friends, and the other parents like they are family - and indeed they are. Every day at drop off, I can walk out the door knowing that she is being cared for in all respects - not just the basics, but other parents warmly welcoming her and engaging her because they know and love her, just as I know and love their children. This is not your typical drop-off-and-go school, it's an immersive experience for the whole family. I have witnessed wonderful acts of kindness, and the community coming together to support parents in times of both happiness and sorrow. It honestly gives me hope for humanity! A coop is a lot of work, but its benefits to our family have been lifelong. I have been a part of multiple schools since first joining PJW with my oldest daughter - public, private, coop, and home based - and Puddle Jumpers is so special. No school is perfect, but in my mind, PJW comes pretty close. read more

Puddle Jumpers has been the best first daycare experience for our family. When we started our son at Puddle Jumpers, we wanted a place where we could know how, where, with whom he spent his time as a transition from being a baby to being a toddler. Being at Puddle Jumpers means joining a community. As a co-op, it is work, to be sure, but it feels so good to have other parents who I know and trust take care of my child, and to be trusted to do the same. Our son has thrived here, and looks forward to going all the time. He talks about his friends, he talks about Teacher Michele, he talks about what he does each day. And because we're a community, there is an ad hoc childcare community - some parents might look after each other's kids on the weekend, and it works out great because the kids already know them. We love Puddle Jumpers - our time here has gone so quickly, and we'll miss it! read more

Puddle Jumpers was the best decision we made for our new family and I can't recommend this co-operative daycare enough. This play-based school was our daughter's first childcare experience when she started at 17 months old. As a baby born during the pandemic, she was used to being with one of us at all times and we wanted an affordable daycare experience that allowed for an easier transition and for us to be involved in her care. We were also struggling to find a community of parents and we wanted to make lasting friendships. Now she is almost 3 and getting ready to leave PJW and I can't believe all of the magic, care, and joy this community has brought us. The type of care and attention your child receives here is unmatched. We truly care for one another's kids, pouring the same amount of love and attention into each child, as if they are our own, and what the kids (and parents) receive is an extended family. Two parents work at all times alongside the head teacher, Teacher Michele, who is beyond amazing. She puts so much thought and love into how she cares for and teaches each child. She is an artist, child development expert, decades-long preschool teacher, and person who is full of play, creativity, and wonder. Teacher Michele is constantly creating new art projects for the kids, putting on puppet shows, and taking them to the PJW garden plot and on various adventures around the Mission District. PJW is truly a part of the vibrant Mission community and the kids go to the parks, farmers market, museums, and fire stations twice a day. The co-op model requires some extra effort and work, but what you get in return is tenfold. The parents at PJW have become our closest friends and it completely changed our experience of parenthood. If you can join PJW do it! I always say I feel so good taking our daughter to a place where I know she will have a way better time versus staying home with me. She LOVES PJW! read more

COVID made for a really challenging childcare environment, especially for new parents in a town with no extended family nearby. some neighbors told us to check puddle jumpers out. since it was the closest option, we figured it wouldn't hurt to reach out and give it a try - and we're so fortunate that we did, because it has been such a positive part of our family's life here, especially as the pandemic has made it so much more difficult to connect with other families with kids in a responsible way. there are a few other co-ops in the mission, but most of them are significantly larger. PJW, by design, is small and intimate. no one blends into the background and everyone has an active role in the stewardship of the space and the kids. the responsibilities you take on are balanced by the support you get from each other and teacher Michele, who is incredible. on top of all that, the kids love it. our daughter is so excited for PJW days that she makes us sing the circle songs at bedtime! read more

We've been part of Puddle Jumpers for several months and absolutely love it. Especially during this pandemic, it's a relief to be an active part of our child's community and interact closely with the other parents to make health and safety decisions. In times like these where many families are lacking community because of social distancing, this school has given us a safe and supportive bubble to be part of. And best of all, our son has friends to play and socialize with. I also cannot say enough good things about the wonderful teacher they have at the school, Teacher Michele. She is incredible at her job and all the kids simply adore her! read more

My daughter absolutely loves Puddle Jumpers Workshop and talks about the kids there all the time. She also loves the other parents and runs up to them and gives them big hugs, which just makes me so happy. The space (located at the Polish Club in the Mission) is charming and huge, and there are a bunch of local parks that the kids go to twice a day. There are music classes, garden days (where they play with water, mud, magnifying glass, learn about bugs and sample fruit at the local community garden), art classes and a variety of play-based sensory activities. Today, they learned how to bake toddler-friendly granola and banana bread! The two teachers are both incredibly talented, experienced and knowledgeable about how to work with children, keep activities varied and fun, empower the kids to resolve conflicts, foster autonomy and mutual aid. The teachers are also and great at communicating with parents. We're so lucky to have them! It's a parent-run co-op (the oldest in SF), so it does require a time commitment. My husband and I both work full time, but we're fortunate enough to have some flexibility and we each work shifts at the daycare depending on who is less busy. Kids grow up so damn fast and soon my baby will be off to school, so I'm really grateful to have this time where I can see what she gets up to all day and get to know her social life. It's also enriching to be part of a community of like-minded parents with kids the same age. We can exchange ideas, experiences and support each other inside and out of the co-op. It feels very old-school San Francisco, which I love, but is also very new-school in some practical ways (we all communicate together via Slack). The daycare is only from 18 months to 3 years old and stops admitting kids at 2 years old because it is a significant time commitment to be part of the co-op, both in terms of learning the ropes, and then training other new parents as kids age-out and are replaced by new families. Drop-off is from 9 to 9:30 and pickup is at 4:30 because parents need to clean up the space. Kids usually come back from the park after cleanup at 5. So it definitely doesn't give you a full 8 hour working day on days where you're not on shift. Parents shifts are usually half days. There are also administrative jobs that you have to do as part of running the coop as well as a monthly meeting. It's a time commitment, but if you're able to swing it, it's really incredible fun. read more

Puddle Jumpers Workshop - Kids learning to cook - Preschools Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Love, LOVE that this is my child's first school experience. It's from ages 18 months to 3 years old so developmentally the children are in the same growing stage together. This has helped my son tremendously with confidence and new skill implementation as he see's his peers communally eating, sitting still for teacher lead stories and instructions, potty training, and learning to play side by side. My son is learning to communicate his feelings as he learns and understands his autonomy and capabilities are greater than I thought he had at this age. Thanks Teachers Alyssa & Teacher Michele! Being in a Coop, new families should know parent participation is required and jobs are assigned based on proficiency. Running a school is undertaking, so bear that in mind but the price reflects this. At a non-coop, dropping your child off with no involvement in the business operation is the norm and their higher costs mirrors that. But your child's day is separate to your own. Choosing this type of care was originally our path until I read that 85/90% of a childs brain is developed by age 5 and so who better to mentor our child through his most significant years, than us, his parents! Co-ops allowed our family to have involvement in our child's development as well as give us the breaks necessary to have our own professional life and he with his peers. Being apart of our child's most important developmental years, (before elementary where teachers stop us at the door), is monumentally rewarding. When my second child is of age, she too will be given the same opportunity and I look forward to rejoining the community. Learning from the community is a benefit that is priceless. I had a whole community helping me with potty training! How fantastic is that!!! Thanks PJ Families! I appreciate the love. I've learned so much about how best to be a parent (as well as run a small daycare/school business!) There is so much love and care in this community that as we age-out and graduate, I hope we find that in our next Co-op school. Some epic things about PJ: - On Super Tuesday, kids learned about voting for their fav fruits, animals & mode of transportation. - Yearly field trips include overnight family camping trip, zoo visits & pumpkin patches. - the quarterly beer&pizza school-cleanups. read more

See all

We started at PJW when Dorothea was 18mo and it was amazing from day one! Teacher Michele is great, the parents are great, the community is great. It has brought us together, and includes us as participants in our daughter's learning and care. Teacher/Parent to kid ratio is always better than 4:1. They get outside time, artistic time, they have their own garden to tend and learn about growing food, they do science play, and so much more. It's really spectacular and we are so glad we found this very special group! read more

Puddle Jumpers Workshop - Preschools Near Me - San Francisco, California

As my son turned 2 it became apparent to me how important having time with kids his own age was becoming. Given that we're in the middle of a pandemic, we didn't have a lot of leads to go on for care and after a couple virtual tours at other places, I knew that PJW was going to be the best fit for us right now. We needed a community as much as we needed social interaction for him and that's exactly what PJW is about. Teacher Michele is amazing with the kids and jumping into running a daycare with all the other parents has been a challenging, but wonderful experience. You know exactly who's taking care of your kids and what's happening day in and day out. It is work, but you really start to see it as helping out a friend and not just giving time to a school - it's a very heartfelt way to be a part of a community and I'm looking forward to the rest of our time here. read more

We were welcomed into Puddle Jumpers Workshop four months ago. What a wonderful child care co-op with a delightful community of teachers, parents and kiddos. Each family contributes some time toward managing the cooperative and the duties are divided up so that its not overwhelming on any individual family. The age limits requirements for the kiddos are 18 months to 3 years old. Our little one started at 18 months and it feels like he developed so much faster because he was able to see and learn from the other tots along with the teachers and parents. All of a sudden, he was coming home singing or humming new songs and saying words that we haven't taught him. It has also been a great learning experience for us. As first time parents, we are learning on the go and its great to be able to ask another parent how they handle certain situations (instead of looking things up on youtube as usual). Last but not least is the the tuition. The tuition is very affordable. read more

PJW is a vibrant, cooperative community of committed parents and beautiful kids. We love and look out for each other's children as if they were our own. We protect, play with, comfort, and encourage the kids. And sometimes we have remind them how to better share, play, and coexist with each other. We strive to create an environment of safety, joy, and consistency for these precious, developing little people. We've been sending our daughter to PJW for a few months now and already we feel like an integral part of the community. I have total trust in any of the co-op's other parents when they are taking care of my daughter -- a rare feeling for a newish parent. She started at 18-months and was smaller than most of the kids. But the bigger kids and the watchful parents and teachers ensured that our daughter didn't get knocked around or overlooked. Now, she comes home talking about her friends at PJW by name. We are experiencing the joy of making friends for the first time through her eyes. And we've noted the positive effects, in terms of rapidly increased communication skills, ability to share, and physical hardiness, of belonging to a social, sharing, playful group. I look forward to growing closer to the PJW family over the coming months and would encourage any interested parents to come to an open house and check it out for yourselves. read more

Puddle Jumpers Workshop - Hugs! - Preschools Near Me - San Francisco, California

Puddle Jumpers is the absolute best! Our son started last October and has been thriving. We love being a part of a community where we get to know and learn from other families. Teacher Michele is experienced, skilled, extraordinarily caring, and full of joy! We are very grateful to have found this special place. read more

We sent our first child to PJW and the experience was great, so we're sending our second now. Parent participation means you know firsthand how your child is doing, and also make new friends with the other parents. read more

My daughter has been at Puddle Jumpers for almost 7 months and we couldn't be happier. My partner and I work opposite schedules which allows me the time to work my shifts while watching my child grow so quickly. I love both teachers Michele and Kate to pieces. They both love their jobs and we have learned so much about our kids development as well as the development of the other 15 family members. It is a lot of hard work since we do run the whole show from admissions to accounting to marketing to maintaining the building. We work together to keep it going. We have monthly meetings to discuss business and concerns and just to catch up with what our kids are doing. We also have monthly park dates and bar nights with the kiddos which are quite fun. If you don't mind working for your community and changing other kids diapers Puddle Jumpers just might be for you. read more

I can not say enough good things about PJW. We have been members for about 9 months. It has become an intrinsic part of my sons and my life. I would say that Pjw is a non-traditional type of daycare, firstly because it is a co operative. As parents, we run the whole show, from creating a wholesome schedule of activities to making lunches to changing diapers :-) However the number of shifts worked per week is relatively low. For example a child attending four days a week equates to the parent(s) working one full day at the co op. Although this isn't the best option if both parents work full time, I have seen many families do it and it is work-able. Pjw is an excellent transitional environment. My son started at 19 months old and was one of the youngest- shy, curious, clingy. Now he is on the older end of the scale. He radiates happy boy energy and that type of fearlessness that children exude when they are given the freedom to play and discover and grow alongside their peers. Yes, it is hard work. Sometimes you will be in a room with 8 screaming toddlers, trying to navigate 'taking turns' with a popular toy, while another child needs a diaper change and the other parent is busy making lunch. It can be stressful, however unlike the start of your parenting journey, Pjw DOES come with a handbook :-) and a community of loving people who really care about you and your child. Very often we will discuss as a co op issues such as sharing, separation anxiety, hitting, napping (etc). And we always get through these issues. If you are thinking about joining Pjw, then please go to an open house to ask questions and see if it is a good fit for your family. Details I believe are on the website. read more

I got a great compliment from a stranger at the airport today, "I cannot believe she is only two and a half. Her vocabulary is amazing. I am sure you know this." My daughter has been a "Puddle Jumper" for over a year. We are so fortunate to have found this place. What caught my eye is the low tuition, as I was not working last year. I started working early this year, and my husband and I agreed that we need to keep our kid in PJW as long as possible. He found a way to go part-time for the rest of this year, so that we can stay in the co-op. We have taken turns working shifts, and we get to know every adult who takes care of the kids very well. The ratio at this school is unbeatable in a daycare setting (3 adults : 8 toddlers). The main teacher is absolutely amazing with kids. My daughter adores her and imitates her regularly at home. This place is perfect for any helicopter parent wishing to transition their kid to group care. Major Con: Quite a bit of work and contribution is required from each family in a co-op. read more

Puddle jumpers workshop has been such an incredible program full of parents who care so much for your kiddos. We have an incredible teacher who is a foundation and the core of the daycare. She is brilliant! She is constantly working to improve her craft and gets the kids to learn at their own pace in the most magical way. This parent run daycare has truly been the best thing that has happened for us during uncertain times. As a new parent, I've have also learned so much from the teacher and all the parents. Without family in the area, Pjw has been the "village of friends" that has helped us is so many ways. We all pitch in to cook healthy meals, clean, make decisions for the daycare, and we get to watch the kids grow. They get to do so many different activities daily from playground time, to painting, to riding cars, watering and taking care of our garden, and so much more. My toddler is thriving at this daycare and is becoming more confident, happy, loves to signs songs, and play with her friends and mama's and papa's. Come join us! You will love it here! read more

Lovely. Great teacher. Amazing kids. And wonderful parents who are concerned about all the children and creating a supportive community in which to raise happy healthy kids. My son started there when he was 18 months old and it has been delightful watching him grow and thrive. And now he's old enough to ramble on about all the fun he had, which park they went to, what they made, what song he sang, who napped and who didn't, etc. and so on. And it's close to our home, which is super as I'm lazy about driving. Then why only four stars you may ask. Well, because there's no 4 1/2 star option. (I suppose I could/perhaps should round up.) Although I love the co-op concept and PuddleJumpers in particular, it can be challenging if there are two parents who are employed full-time. That being said, I feel blessed that my partner and I have a flexible enough schedule that enables us to still do the co-op. Being a part of this community and having helpful guidance from a knowledgeable teacher has made me a better parent. It's worth the challenge and occasional headache. read more

We were a little worried about our 18-month-old's first child care experience outside the home, but we could not have found a better, more nurturing place than Puddle Jumpers. I think the secret is the working parents. You're not dropping off your baby with strangers or even friendly employees. You leave your child with parents whose children you'll be watching later, so you always know that they're showing your little one the same patience and attention that they'd want you to show theirs. And then there are the teachers: professional, creative and unconditionally loving. Most importantly, our child loves it. On the way home, I kept hearing, "Funagoo, Mama! Funagoo!" I finally figured out what it means: "Fun at school, Mama! Fun at school!" read more

Our family choosing a co-op was the benefit of allowing us to actively participate in our child's upbringing in a daycare setting. Puddle Jumpers families believe in providing a parental support for a stronger community, an enriching and developmental program for younger children. We all want our daughters and sons to be provided with socialization skills, nurturing love and a foundation for learning. Puddle Jumpers Workshop approach allows children to be children, they are given the opportunity to gain a new and exciting understanding. Our children have opportunities to learn through music, acquire language through art, develop their abilities to relate to one another through play, and solve problems together in the playground and during snack time. At Puddle Jumpers Workshop, parents are teachers and students, our children are our teachers, and we all are partners in a collective learning environment. read more

Puddle Jumpers Workshop parent coop has been such an incredibly positive experience for our family! The coop--which is a small, very participatory organization--has been a true blessing during these odd times. We started with our 20 month old just as lockdown hit. Because of how small we are (just 8 kids a day, 16 families total when at full capacity), we were able to implement stringent safety protocols and reopen in June 2020 as soon as SFDPH allowed. Our daughter absolutely adores the wonderful coop experience, loving the time she spends with our incredibly creative teacher, the lively kids, and the loving papas and mamas who work on each shift. The coop is only for kids between 18 and 36 months, which makes for a really focused and rich experience in terms of developmental sharing. As parents, we really relish the chance to be directly involved in our daughter's growth along with the other kids', and have truly enjoyed the experience of running the organization. (The organization is all parent run, except for the work of our great teacher!) I love that the program is a full day, from 9 to 5, and flexible in terms of how many days a week you can attend. I cannot recommend the opportunity more. I feel that we have joined a lifelong community of supportive families. read more

See all

My daughter absolutely loves her "school" and has done really well at PJW. We chose a co-op daycare because I still wanted to have active participation in my child's education, and I wanted to create a community of families that felt the same. I believe that the PJW's family values reflect on their kids, and I have been very happy with the type of child that it attracts. Besides that, it has been a great way for us to transition out of a nanny care, to a "school" format, and I believe it will prepare my kid well for her start at preschool next year. I feel very grateful to have an extended network of families that care for my daughter and look after her with such dedication. I am also very respectful of the teachers and the level of commitment, professionalism and sweetness that they present. read more

Puddle Jumpers Workshop has been an amazing experience for my little one and our family! We enrolled our toddler when she was 2 as her first playgroup/childcare program. She had been at home with me 24/7 previously and Teacher Michele and the other PJW families made her transition seamless. Teacher Michele is a magician with toddlers; always knowing how to communicate with them, letting them explore their imagination, creativity, and emotions. As PJW is a parent run coop you also get the added bonus of supportive families to share tips with and build new friendships! read more

Our son has been at puddle jumpers now for eight mths through the Covid pandemic. It has honestly been a lifesaver. Seeing him make friends and have an outlet for all his energy was incredible. The co-op model means that I'm involved in his school life, and I get to see where he is on the scale of temperament and development. It's been a great learning experience. read more

Our son started PJW when he was 18 months and it's been a wonderful experience. Each family is so involved, so loving and so energetic in making this co-op work. I feel our son has made wonderful little friends and talks about his classmates everyday. We've met so many great parents all going through the same things in raising kids in the city. It can be a lot of work at times, but, as long as your willing to be an active participant, it'll definitely pay off! read more

We've had our son in Puddle Jumpers since he was 20 months old - nearly a year and a half now - and it's been a wonderful experience for all of us. I feel PJW has had a really positive influence on his ability to play with other kids, spend time away from home, be with Mom and Dad when we are helping other kids, become more independent, and to discover new things about life. From the start, he loved going there. It was an adventure that was all his. Now some of the older kids have moved on and it's given him a chance to show the newer, younger kids the ropes. He's so full of conversation at this point that he tells us everything he did throughout the day. Because we work shifts at the co-op, we know what he's talking about. We are involved, and we get some time away as well. It's a nice balance. As for the co-op aspect, it works well for our family. We both work shifts (though you don't have to) so we get the benefit of participating. We've met great families and have learned to work together to make PJW a better place for our children. It's also great to have caring people around you who have already gone through whatever your child is currently going through. They can offer insights, or maybe just a bit of commiseration. I think if you're interested in a social setting for your child, with caring parents, a consistent plan for the day, and wonderfully dedicated teachers, than PJW is a great place to check out. Go to an open house, schedule a visit, ask questions, and you'll know pretty quickly if it's a good fit for your family. BTW, we've had a daughter since he started, and we have every intention of her going to Puddles as well. Time flys. read more

Our time at PJW has come to an end and my kid misses it every day. There were many aspects of our time there that our family appreciated. Here's a few: 1. The schedule - it allowed free play, some more structured activities (art, music class, yoga, etc), park twice a day, snack and lunch time. And its all day not just half days! 2. The community aspect - having other parents to be able to talk to about child development, help each other out with watching each others kid 3. Sharing - It's a small school and I liked that there was almost two of everything but not more. Therefore, when theres eight kids wanting two trucks, they learn to share and take turns. Also, each meal is provided by one family and shared (although this is pre-covid-era) and because of this, my child helps serve others at the table and shares his food. 4. Being involved in my kid's life but also in other kids' lives. I got to see kids learn to speak, potty train, and grow up! read more

Our daughter started at Puddle Jumpers when she was 20 months old she loves it--and so do we! The teachers are wonderful and dynamic. All of the parents have welcomed us and been incredibly caring with our little girl. There are never more than 8 kids at the school on any given day with 1 teacher and 2 parents. They get outside and go to the park twice a day and have a great indoor space as well. We joined Puddle Jumpers because we wanted our daughter to get a chance to spend some time in a group setting while still having lots of unstructured time for play. We also wanted to participate in her care. So far, our experience has been wonderful! read more

While I won't miss remembering we have snack and lunch at the last minute, I will miss almost everything else about Puddle Jumpers, and I'm sure my kids will too. As anyone who's been there a little while can attest to, PJW is a roller coaster full of mini dramas and epiphanies, forgotten snacks, hilarious falling down games and last minute scrambles to cover shifts. But ultimately what it meant to me was a place full of different personalities and backgrounds who shared the most important thing, a love of children and an endless patience and sweetness that is overwhelming once you have a chance to step back and look over your time there. Every day we handed off the most precious parts of our lives, and every day they came home exhausted and full of burbling stories and experiences and new relationships, growing every day into their little selves in a place that was safe and caring and ultimately joyful. How that all happened in a school where most of the "teachers" (because they were parent teachers whose kids aged out) left and were replaced during our time there, is a beautiful mystery I will always treasure. I'll always be thankful for all the great people who were there for our kids when we couldn't always be and for holding our kids when yours were pulling at your shirt, and thanks for being there for us when we were struggling with shifts or forgot something or needed a friend. There are a few times in your life when a THING happens and you know it's a THING. And it's a THING that the rest of your life will wrap around in some way. Puddle Jumpers was one of those THINGS. read more

PJW is a dynamic place filled with thoughtful parents working together to enrich the lives of their young children. We started there when our son was only 18 months and although it was hard for him to adjust to being in a new place with people that he didn't know, the response from the teachers and parents was supportive and they helped us all through that difficult time. This experience and the parent involvement is ultimately the best part of Puddle Jumpers. You hear from a community of people with kids in the same place as yours. They give you information about the challenges they are facing in school and at home and how they are dealing with those challenges. We team potty train kids, help them nap at school and give them tools for sharing and creating friendship bonds with adults and children. Our son now sings the circle time song and goodbye song at home, talks about his love of the teachers and mentions the names of his parent and child friends. He loves his music class and the other rotating enrichment courses dance and yoga. PJW has been an exceptional place of growth for all of us. As a family, there are friendships we have created that will last for years to come. I am not sure that happens often in a school. We are sad that we are aging out and will miss all of the children we have gotten to know. read more

I am a current Puddle Jumpers parent. My son is 2.5, and has been at Puddle Jumpers for almost a year now. We love Puddle Jumpers. It has been a great place for our son. He's happy there, and we adore the community we've connected with through the co-op. read more

My daughter has absolutely thrived at Puddlejumpers. She loves to go and it has helped her development a great deal. She began potty training early because of the influence of being around the other kids all day. I call PJW a 'warm hug' of a school because it is really just about being loving and nurturing to the children as they discover the world around them. The parents and teachers are so supportive and really involved with the kids at every moment. It is a big committment as a parent to be involved in a co-op, but when you know your efforts are going to help your child, it makes everything you do worth it. You have an opportunity to really set the standard for what you want at the school and influence the way things are run. I am very glad we sent our daughter there for a year. read more

Our daughter has been attending PJW for a few months now, and our experience could not be more positive. Teacher Claire and Teacher Michelle create a very productive, safe, and educational environment for the kids. Meanwhile, the parents are all involved (it is a co-op, after all) and complement the teachers quite well. Good habits are formed and energy is burned in positive ways. Of course, as a co-op, PJW is only as good as the parents and teachers who work there, and in our experience everyone has been fantastic. The location is good and near a park, while the PJW building itself is large and even has a small parking lot (a rarity in the Mission!). Our daughter looks forward to attending PJW each and every day we attend. It's tough to sum it up better than that. read more

My son started at Puddle Jumpers when he was 18 months and he looks forward to it everyday. There is a max number of 8 children a day and 2-3 adults at all times. I feel my son is getting a fabulous first school experience and I have learned so much from working with the kids. I don't think the co-op experience works for everyone, but it sure works for us. Anne-Lise read more

My daughter started at PJW when she was just over 2 and it was still Little People's Workshop in Noe Valley. PJW took all the wisdom and good energy from LPW and has given it new life in the Mission! It is amazing to be part of such a diverse and incredible group of parents. The school welcomes all families, and is a true expression of community. Working at the school each week is a joy, and being part of our daughter's first school experience has been immensely rewarding. Highlights: brand new classroom, with all natural light, wood floors, a plot of our own at the organic community garden at Parque Ninos that the kids work on twice a week, a professional teacher every morning, and musicians most afternoons, daily outings to the park, lots of cool toys, and amazing art projects. We highly recommend visiting and joining this wonderful school. We will be sooo sad to leave!!! We have made amazing friends and have fallen in love with all the kids here!! read more

Puddle Jumpers Workshop - At the Garden - Preschools Near Me - San Francisco, California

I don't have kids myself, but my nephew just graduated from PJW and as a mostly outside observer (and occasional drop-off/pickup assistant) I can say I'm really glad he and his parents are part of this community. Friendly, helpful and compassionate parents and teacher working together to create an awesome gem of a program in San Francisco. If I had a kid or knew more parents I'd be sending them here. read more

We are Puddle Jumpers Workshop, formerly Little People's Workshop, newly relocated to the Polish Club right here in the Mission. We are one of the oldest San Francisco's parent run Cooperative for children ages 18 months - 3 years. We host year round admissions and currently have openings for 2-3 families. If you are interested, please visit our web site to schedule a visit! We are so excited to bring another Cooperative nursery school to the Mission and are looking for families of all backgrounds! Hope to see you soon! Best, Parent - Puddle Jumpers Workshop read more

Our daughter has been at PJW for a year, and loves it. She, and we, have really benefited from being part of a great nurturing community. It has been a great resource for us, as we had only been in SF less than a year when we had our daughter, so didn't know many families. We transitioned very smoothly from a nanny share to pre-school, as the parents are all so involved, which is the great advantage of the co-op system. Of course this may not work for everybody, but it did for us and we are both working parents. The school has a great space, and is well located near many playgrounds. We liked the way the families share the snacks and lunches between them - this was a great time-saver for me, not having to create a daily packed lunch. We are very emotional at the prospect of leaving the co-op in 6 weeks time... read more