Brooklyn Sandbox
- Park Slope
548 6th Avenue, Brooklyn 11215, NY
See Map | Get Directions - brooklynsandbox.com
Reviews (41)
Review from the Spring 2024 Early Education Survey
REVIEW: The small classes and the teachers at Brooklyn Sandbox are great. There is a lot of focus on going to Prospect Park 2 days a week, even in bad weather. They have muddy buddy suits to play on rainy days. There are also weekly art and music programs. There is a large focus on community and social justice.; Amenities: Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Has early morning hours, Provides meals; What would you change? Sometimes the social justice aspect seems more important to their curriculum than typical learning such as days of the week, holidays, or numbers.Brooklyn Sandbox Experiences?
My son went for PreK and loved it! Wonderful teachers and they are outside all the time. He really found his voice to speak to his ideas and make friends. I highly recommend it!Brooklyn Sandbox Experiences?
We have absolutely loved our experience at Brooklyn Sandbox (started in the 2's, currently in the 3's). Such loving and thoughtful teachers/administrators, great communication (enough to really have a sense of what they are working on week-to-week, but not so much that the teachers are constantly having to get "content"), real focus on social-emotional learning, etc. Play is front and center, with just enough structure to feel intentional. We also love the nature days (2x a week) and art program.Review from the 2023 Summer Camp Survey
Location: 16th Street and 6th Ave. How old was your child when they attended camp this summer? 4.5 Review: Our son loved the Sandbox Summer Camp! He attended 3K at the Sandbox before starting the summer camp and it felt almost seamless to the school year. Of course there was a lot more fun and activities outdoor when the air quality was safe. The Sandbox communicated clearly regarding any change in the original plans and kept the kids happy and safe. Along with the fun the team at the Sandbox have given a lot of content and introduced the kids to cooking, story telling at the library, to live animals, and much more! Our son was very happy and came back every day with lots of stories. It was good to have the option of a nap time through the day, as our son needed it just a few times. Recommending this summer camp, and looking forward to our son attending it again next year!! Would you like to add anything related to COVID and how the camp handled it? The communication regarding COVID was very clear, and fortunately there were no positive cases through summer camp!Review from the Spring 2023 Early Education Survey
Review: Brooklyn Sandbox Review Overall LOVE LOVE LOVE the school, the teachers and staff. Our son has grown so much in the past year while in the 2s program and I think it’s a solid program with vision, heart and positivity. Our daughter also attended and we’ve been so happy there. I highly recommend Brooklyn Sandbox for families. Communication - Good communication with teachers and administration, it feels like they are partners in childcare and I always felt I could trust and rely on their guidance. They have always been accessible via in person chats, email or a phone call. - We also get newsletters with pictures and write-ups at least 2-3 times a week so parents knew what was happening in the classroom The Teachers & School - We loved our teachers this past year. They were so loving and were experts at how to handle this particular age (2s). I always felt comfortable asking them questions and leaning on them for guidance. - The vibe of the school is so positive and and I’ve always felt my child was well looked after. I loved that the school has a creative, play based approach and always brought out the best in our kids, whatever curiosities they may have. Curriculum - A focus on social emotional growth and uses the Reggio Emilia curriculum. They have all sorts of stimulating activities in the classroom (books, blocks, puzzles, I could name dozens) aside from having art and music teachers come in weekly. They also have a great backyard for kids to run around and a lovely garden next door. - The best part in my opinion is their Nature Play, which is twice weekly trips to Prospect Park. I love this so much and feel so lucky that the kids get this. Other Notes - Found their hours were really helpful with options for after school - They provide parent only sessions to provide guidance on the tough stuff like potty training or managing tough behaviors - Really great parent community Amenities: Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Has early morning hours, Provides mealsReview from the Spring 2022 Early Childhood Education Survey
Location: 548 6th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Type of facility: Preschool, 3K, Pre-K Review: This is a review for the 3s program. We are looking forward to pre-k with Sandbox as well. We love the school, as does our kid! The teachers have been phenomenal: caring, nurturing, creative, and seemingly inexhaustible. They strike a perfect balance of respecting children as people and of understanding how young they are and how much support they sometimes need. The curriculum has been genuinely child-led, with the teachers following classroom passions that ranged as much as you would imagine for three-year-olds! The politics of the school and classroom are wonderful. They've learned about consent, race and gender in extremely age appropriate ways-- with joy and positivity and also fostering a real sense of social justice. There is a great balance between structured activities and free, imaginative play. The class goes to prospect park weekly, which the kids love. The teachers and administrators have all been accessible and communicative. They send newsletters about what's going on in the class 3x per week. They have been receptive and responsive to any questions, collaborative in their approach to addressing any behavior concerns, and genuinely interested in getting to know families. It is clear how much they love the kids, and they put extraordinary energy into their work. We can't recommend the program more highly! What amenities does the facility have? Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Has early morning hours What would you change about the program, if anything? Nothing! Is there anything you would like to add about how the school is handling the pandemic? The school has been very covid-cautious. They've set up weekly testing for staff and kids (cheek swabs), required masks, and implemented quarantining policies for any positive cases.2’s program this fall
Highly recommend Brooklyn Sandbox on 6th Ave and 15th Street (for those looking in South Slope). My older daughter attended and we have been so happy there.Review from the Fall 2021 Early Childhood Education Survey
Type of facility: Preschool Review: We love this place! Warm, nurturing environment. Nature walks to prospect park twice a week. Outdoor, masked family events. Regio Emilia based curriculum. What amenities does the facility provide? Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Has early morning hours What would you change about the program, if anything, and why? N/a Is there anything you would like to add about how the school handled the pandemic? The school was collaborative by hosting a zoom discussion and issuing surveys around comfort level of pandemic protocols. Kids wear masks and we have a contract regarding protocols for travel, illness, etc.Review from the Fall 2021 Early Childhood Education Survey
Type of facility: Preschool Review: Brooklyn Sandbox is a very special place. I feel so lucky my daughter went through this program. We were in their 2s, 3s and stayed for the 4s program during the pandemic. Each year, I felt my daughter grew so much socially, emotionally, verbally and gained so much while at Sandbox. They have talented teachers who are very engaged with the kids and help each kid reach their potential. One of the best things is their outdoor trips to Prospect Park. This is rare and highly valuable for kids growth. I could see my little one develop a love for adventure and nature. They follow a play based, responsive and highly engaging Reggio Emilia curriculum. Through regular newsletters, we'd be able to see the types of activities they did and felt connected to our child's day in this way. I give the director and owner top marks as well for communication in all things big and small. They go way beyond in terms of providing parenting zoom sessions to deal with matters like potty training or sticky situations at home - I honestly felt like they were teaching me to be a better mom and so glad to benefit from their wisdom. Pre pandemic, they hosted once a month parent nights out and we took advantage of that too. I think the best evidence I had to show my child loved Sandbox is her running to their door every morning. I feel this was the best decision to go to Brooklyn Sandbox! What amenities does the facility provide? Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Has early morning hours What would you change about the program, if anything, and why? nothing Is there anything you would like to add about how the school handled the pandemic? Their communication was exceptionally strong and their policies well written and led to high follow-through in the classroom and in the families/community. I felt my daughter was always safe as they made decisions that centered on safety for kids, teachers/staff and families. Also it's notable that they are only 3 classrooms and knowing that made me feel there was less likelihood of transmission. They are super responsive and in comparing notes with other families, I found that Sandbox handled the communication re protocols and safety very well. I really admired them for this. The pandemic was a stressful time and knowing they were transparent, fair and quick to action was a relief.Review from the 2019–2020 Daycare, Preschool, Pre-K, and K Survey
Review: Warm, supportive, socially conscious, inclusive, Emilio Reggio based program. Focus on lots of nature based play (2x a week nature walks for the “big kids” in 3’s/4’s program to Prospect Park, Greenwood Cemetery, etc.) Outdoor space at the location too. Child led learning (ie “Discovery Time”). Art incorporated daily. Music class pre-Covid. My child loves the sense of independence she has at school - the daily schedule is up in words and pictures so the kids can follow along and know what to expect. Lots of support with the social-emotional transitions of being back with other kids after being at home for many months. Teachers and staff are completely accessible and available to parents (parent-teacher conferences, teacher supported zoom calls for parents, social justice programs, etc). Parents of all backgrounds are welcomed and supported - judgement free. Super comforting safety protocols in place in order to keep everyone safe: kids are temperature tested every morning before entering the school building, parents sign off that they are not experiencing any symptoms at home, parents do not enter school building after initial 1-on1 “welcome back” class tour, classes are in pods so teachers and kids do not mix with other classrooms, follow DOH mandates for Covid protocol. Haven’t had a Covid case yet in our classroom, 3 months in. Parents are very conscious of minimizing exposure with others outside the classroom. Lots of respect for the safety of others and the desire to keep healthy kids in school. We wish we could keep going with Sandbox through Kindergarten and beyond! Would highly recommend to anyone. Amenities offered: Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Has early morning hours What would you change about the program, if anything, and why? Meals are not provided and there is a cooperative snack schedule for each classroom (meaning every family has to contribute snacks 3x in the year), so if you’re looking for complete meal package with your childcare this would be one drawback. We don’t find it onerous. Sandbox also follows the DOE schedule and do not provide coverage on days school is closed. So that puts burden on working parents to find coverage for all those school closing days.Review from the 2019–2020 Daycare, Preschool, Pre-K, and K Survey
Review: Pros:- (i) Location - great location for south slope and close to prospect park for class excursions (which are done weekly) (ii) Parents can sign up to provide snacks for the whole class so every child gets same snack (iii) Have early morning hours and late pick up (8am to 6pm) (iv)Send journals of the class activity daily with photos everyday Cons:- (i) Do not provide any meals or drinks (ii) Early morning drop off from 8 to 9, the kids mandatorily have to be in a very small space outdoors regardless of weather (rain and snow included) (iii) They choose to follow DOE schedule (even though they are not required to as a preschool), therefore closed for a large number of days (closed for 28 days between August to June period - NOT related to covid).They also take three weeks off between August and June ( a winter break, mid winter week, and spring week) Full payment is required for all days off. (iv) High Teacher turnover - had three teachers change in the first four months we were there and this was disruptive to the students to say the least (v) Lack of diversity in students. Overall we were underwhelmed with the quality of care that our child received and will choose another provider after year end. Amenities offered: Has early morning hours What would you change about the program, if anything, and why? Closed for a large number of days across the year, and full payment is required, which means parents have to pay for a whole month of care additionally2's Programs for Sept 2021
We had a great experience at Brooklyn Sandbox in south slope2019-2020 Year Review
Review: We have a relatively shy, quiet two-year-old who started at Sandbox this year as her first extended time away from her parents. She's also younger than almost all the other kids, so we were worried about how she'd fare. Her teachers have been amazing and have coaxed out so much language and exploration from her. One of the two main teachers left in December, which was a bummer, but our kiddo took it pretty well - they did a week-long transition to introduce the new teacher before the prior one departed. I love how much time they spend outdoors, the emphasis on play and independent exploration, and the ongoing theme of homes, family, neighbors, and habitats. They also send home at least one journal each week plus a newsletter on Friday, with pictures and quotes. It's adorable. The teachers have been warm and (quite literally) cuddly with my toddler, who went from a tearful first week to screaming with delight when she realizes it's a school day. I've also spent some time in the classroom - parents are welcome to come for "playdates" - and it's been reassuring to see the calm, consistent way the teachers all interact with the kids. … About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours, Cooperative snack program …2019-2020 Year Review
Review: Love Brooklyn Sandbox! Warm, intimate setting with caring teachers & administrators. Emphasis on outdoor play & learning (nature walks 2x a week for 3’s program). Follow Reggio Emilia approach. Very welcoming & encouraging of parent involvement. My child has blossomed there! We would definitely do it over again. In fact we wish there was a 4’s program, that’s how much we love it. … About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours … What would you change? They follow the DOE calendar to get the best teachers (which means you’ll have to find coverage during school breaks & holidays unlike a daycare)Review from the 2019 PSP Daycare, Preschool Survey
We love Brooklyn Sandbox. The teachers are outstanding, fostering my child's independence and confidence while being loving, warm presences in her life. I've learned so much from talking with and observing them. The director and owner are also wonderful and very responsive. The kids go outside frequently in all weather; the 2s class goes to Prospect Park about once a week and also makes good use of the beautiful community garden next door and local playground. In the afternoon, kids are often in the small outdoor play area in the back. They have weekly music and art class. The care they put into helping children develop social and emotional skills is evident in the interactions I witness between my child and her classmates. I have only positive things to say about Brooklyn Sandbox. DETAILS: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours What you would change: I wish they had UPK!Review from the 2018/2019 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey
Sandbox is clearly a positive environment for many families, as documented by the school's detailed daily newsletters and beautifully crafted yearly portfolios, and most of our child's classmates seemed to thrive there, but it wasn't the best fit for us. While the reasons for this were due in part to factors which are particular to our child, our experience at Sandbox also differed from our experience with the two other early childhood programs we've participated in, most notably in the following areas: There was relatively frequent teacher turnover, with just one of our child's original teachers remaining through the year. There was one instance in which we were discouraged from speaking to our child's teacher before class without the education director present - other programs have always made teachers readily available for this type of spontaneous communication, within reason. When our child had difficulty with one of the daily class routines, the first proposed solution was to have one of us accompany our child to class each day (rather than to consult us about ideas that the teachers might try to implement.) Despite stated emphasis on principles of Reggio Emilia, with its "hundred languages" of children, we were told that some of our child's unique special interests were outside the scope of the program, and there seemed to be more of an emphasis on participation in group activities, whether our child seemed enthusiastic or not. We appreciated the school's overall focus on diversity, but we found that staff members seemingly had a harder time sensitively addressing peers' questions about our child's differences (due to a disability) than in other programs our child has participated in. Although contact information for other families was provided when we requested it, we were initially discouraged from trying to set up playdates - again, something we never encountered at other programs. With all this said, our child did enjoy many of the activities at Sandbox - there were energetic music classes, an interesting variety of class trips, and many visits to the lovely community garden located right next to the school. Staff are clearly knowledgable about child development, even if communication could be improved. Based on our overall experience, though, we will not be sending our younger child there. About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hoursReview from the 2018/2019 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey
Great small school. Teachers and administration went out of their way to accommodate needs my son had. Reggio Emilia approach with lots of outdoor time. About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours What would you change? Would like a language enriched approach. Elicit more speech out of kids as the loud kids sometimes take over.2018 Review
Our son attended the 2’s program at Brooklyn Sandbox, and is now about to enter the 3’s. We LOVE this daycare! The staff are highly trained, engaged, and generally just lovely people. We love how attuned they are to our child's learning and needs, and they are great about communication (during the school year we get an email newsletter each day, and at the end of the year an epic portfolio binder with pictures and observations on what our child has learned). All of our questions and concerns have been thoughtfully and thoroughly addressed, and our teachers provided amazing support and guidance during the time that we went through potty training. Most of all we love how much outdoor time our son gets—at minimum once a day and often two or three times. Our son has learned to pedal and steer a tricycle, and enjoys playing in the sandbox and climbing structure in the back garden. Plus the center has a plot at the community garden, and the kids are often taken in to observe plants and explore. What would you change: The only cons (which depend on the parent’s preference) are that parents have to provide snacks for the entire classroom approximately 3-4 times a year, parents also provide lunch, and the center follows the DOE schedule (which I’m told is standard for early childhood education, but it’s a lot of days off!).Review from the 2017/2018 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey
We enrolled our son in three's program. The school's child development philosophy closely follows that of the Reggio Emilia. On a practical level, this means lots of documentation about your child's activities and progress throughout the year, and excellent communication with the parents. Our son's teachers were smart, friendly and creative. Ditto for the administrators. Sandbox offers a warm and loving environment, and an ideal introduction to school, IMO. About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours What would you change? In an ideal world the space would be bigger but it's Brooklyn so ...Review from the 2017/2018 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey
The teachers and program directors at the sandbox are all wonderful. They helped make my daughter (and us!) feel comfortable with the transition into her first away from home learning experience. They hosted several great educational seminars for parents (managing difficult behavior, potty training, etc.) and it's a very warm environment. They also send daily emails with pictures and activities the kids did which I love. The only reason we are switching programs for her 3's is that they do not have universal pre-k and I wanted to get her into a school that has that major benefit since we are not zoned for a good public school. They were very understanding of that decision as well. About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours, Provides meals What would you change? It would be great if they re-considered applying for universal pre-k.Review from the 2017/2018 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey
Very welcoming space. Nice classrooms. Really take child's cue in terms of transition when first starting. They are very involved in child's development and will reach out if concerned or just want to discuss. Curriculum is led by the children's interest and the daily newsletter really shows that. Small outside space for children to get some energy out. Lots of sensory place, imagination play, etc. No lunch provided and parents take turns providing a snack. They also provide a few talks during the year in the evening regarding topics like potty training. About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours What would you change? Would love UPK option at this location.Review from the 2017/2018 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey
I LOVE Brooklyn Sandbox. My daughter was there for the 2s and 3s. It's been great for her. Sonja and Laurie, who run the show, are incredibly kind and decent people, who have been, throughout, very responsive to whatever I've brought up. The school puts a premium on letting the kids decide what they want to do, though there's always social and emotional learning going on. Sandbox is basically teaching my girl how to be an empathic and considerate little person. The teaching staff has changed a little bit, but everyone the've brought in has been great--attuned to the kids and their needs, and well as whatever social dynamics are happening in class (for better or worse). As for the facility, it's always super clean (it even smells nice?), has a nice outside area, and is very close to two playgrounds, which the kids visit regularly. They also do art and music. In sum: I wish *I* were living my child's life right now. Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours.Review from the 2017/2018 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey
Can't say enough how much we love this school! Teachers are great, creating emotional safe space to develop and grow and thrive. Great adjusting to each individual child. In whish hey had pre-K too. Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours. What would you change? Nothing and I'm usually not that easy :)Review from the 2017/2018 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey
This is an excellent, loving, amazing school. A true gem. My younger daughter was in a 3s classroom this year. Love the small class size - about 12 kids and 2 teachers. Love the activity, exploration, art and music. Love the outdoor space and that they play outside mostly everyday. Love the daily news email updates we get with photos of the kids letting parents know what’s going on and helping us talk about their day. Love that the teachers truly know my child and are interested in her growth. We sent our older daughter to a different well known park slope preschool and Brooklyn Sandbox blows that one away in terms of the staff quality, preschool education, and overall experience. Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours. I wouldn’t change a thing. Brooklyn Sandbox is fantastic.Review from the 2016/2017 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey
About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours Review: We loved the teachers; We loved the daily communication and updates; We loved the curriculum approach that follows the kids' interests. The classroom evolved throughout the year. Outdoor play yard space is great during warmer months. Parents are invited to come into the classroom. We weren't thrilled with being in basement classroom and lack of light but it never distracted from their learning and fun. When the weather is nice- they are outside. What would you change about the program, if anything, and why?Review from the 2016/2017 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey
About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours Review: Our son loves Brooklyn Sandbox. His teachers are wonderful. They have helped make our son into a more confident, respectful, and independent toddler. They use the Reggio Emilia approach where the children's interests guide the curriculum. Their daily routine includes music, art, dance, and a lot of indoor and outdoor play. They encourage parent feedback and participation and also provide a daily email with photos.Review from the 2016/2017 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey
About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options Review: Sanbox is a very nurturing environment where the teachers care very much for the kids. The instruction is very creative and encourages creativity and social emotional skills and problem solving. My 4-year-old son loves it! What would you change about the program, if anything, and why? I would have like more effort to bring families together to create more of a community.!Re: ISO: 2s Program in South Slope
I second the shout-out for Brooklyn Sandbox. The location was convenient for us, and we found the school to be so amazing. The teachers are wonderful, caring, attentive, and so creative! Sonja (owner) and Laurie (director) are very supportive of the teachers and caregivers, and closely involved with the families and children. They visit the community garden often, which is a wonderful perk right next door! Our daughter has thrived the past two years in the school. I am really going to miss it, as we are moving to UPK in the fall. One thing to consider is that they are on the public school calendar, so there are many holidays to cover outside of school.Re: ISO: 2s Program in South Slope
We loved Brooklyn Sandbox! On 6th Ave and 16th street, it's close to your location. Our son attended the 3s program and had a great experience there. I'm sure the 2s program is just as wonderful. The teachers are caring and attentive. And the class feels like an extended family. He made many friends there. The program is inquiry led. There are music and art teacher guests and a backyard play-space. They offer full, half and school day options. The school sends daily updates with photos and engages family communication. Sonja and Laurie, who ran the program, are fantastic - very involved with the children and always helpful to parents. It really is a special introduction to school. Highly recommend!Re: All day pre-school recs?
We loved Brooklyn Sandbox! They have 2-4 year olds. The regular day is until 3, and they offer extended day until 6.Review Submitted via Fall 2015 Daycare/Preschool Survey
PROGRAM: 6th Ave bet 15-16th Street TIME: 2 days a week part days AGE: 2-3 years REVIEW: WE have had tremendous experience at Brooklyn Sandbox There are 3 teachers for our childs 15 student classroom. Their philosophy and creativity I found impressive. they also invite paretn sto sign up and come in and participate in the classroom. There are daily snapshots which include conversations between the children about an activity they did that day. The board outside the classroom is always being updated with pictures of what the children are doing. Teachers are very openand approachable about speaking about any issue you have and they have parents night out where kids play togehter for a few hours once a month. This school has dealt with transitions extremely well. Our daughter had been at home and was her first experience away form parents and they were excellent at handling the transition at my childs pace. Theya re warm welcoming and very knowledgable about childhood development from physical and emotional perspectives. Teach conferences were also very comprehensive. Our daughter's language skills, compassion and passion for learning have all increased from her brief time at this school so far. I would highly recommend this school. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND? (Hi/Rec/DoNot) Highly recommend WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN? Probably notRe: Feedback on Brooklyn Sandbox
Our son is in the 3s program at Brooklyn Sandbox and is having a great time there. He has had the same three teachers since the start of the school year - no turnover. The teachers and staff at Brooklyn Sandbox are warm, friendly, attentive and supportive. The program itself uses play-based learning and they encourage exploration and discovery using science experiments. There are weekly music and art classes with visiting teachers. Social/emotional development is fostered in building independence skills and relationships between students, all called friends. The school is clean and bright. And there is an outdoor space in the backyard with some riding toys, a climbing structure and sandbox. Our son loves running and playing outside, so having this space is a great bonus to an already wonderful program.Review Submitted via 2014-2015 Daycare/Preschool Survey
Program: 4s Class Length of time: Full time / 5 days per week Child’s Age: 3-4 years Type of facility: Privately run daycare/preschool with multiple classes and teachers REVIEW: 2014-2015 was the first year that Brooklyn Sandbox was open. I found that programs were well-organized, information was communicated well, and my child's teacher has been better than I expected. Sandbox uses the Bank Street method of teaching, which is play-based, child-centered learning. Classroom explorations incorporated multiple layers of education in a way that my child was excited about every day. They incorporated math skills, story-telling (by the children), reading, art, music, science and movement into classroom activities. My son was sad when he didn't get to go to school during holidays, and spoke enthusiastically about his friends, teacher, and activities. We had two parent-teacher conferences that were very well prepared. I am a picky parent, but have no complaints about this school and will be sending our 2-year-old there next year. Would you recommend? Highly recommend Would you send your child again? AbsolutelyReview from the 2014 Daycare/Preschool Survey
Program: 3.5s/4s Length of Time: Full Day & 5 days/week Child's Age: 3-4 years Review: The school, while new, is extremely well-thought out and follows a broad curriculum with a solid and gentle approach. The teachers seem to get both flexibility to plan curriculum that is born out of the children's interests and guidance from the very experienced Educational Director. The activities and lessons get at so many ways of learning in very creative ways (involving children in incrementally increasing decision-making, lots of outdoor time and movement-based learning, but also lots of beginning reading, writing, and math skills, plus 2 art lessons and 2 music lessons/wk from specialist teachers who come in). The facility is an excellent mix of beautiful rooms and a private outdoor space with a great climbing structure and a sandbox. I also appreciate that it's on a quiet block. Communication is easy, fast, and consistent. Daily emails with photos and short captions are a really helpful way to start conversations with our child about what the school day was like (and make us feel more connected to his experience). Weekly emails detail the connections between what students are doing and what skills they're working on. We've also had help from the school for potty training, transitions, etc. and I have found it easy to schedule a call/email, etc. Parents' night out and parenting workshop series are also pluses. There are options for shorter days, but we need the 8-6pm full day option and I appreciate that it's all in one location and that in addition to the emails and notes around the building about what kids are up to, I can also check in with the people who've been with my son all day to see how his day was. Brooklyn Sandbox is a very warm and loving place and they have really encourages our son's love of learning. We couldn't be happier with the school. Recommend (Hi/Rec/DoNot) Highly recommend Would you send your child again? AbsolutelyRe: Feedback on Brooklyn Sandbox
Our family joined the Brooklyn Sandbox community when they opened their doors in September and we are very happy we did. My daughter's transition from her previous daycare into preschool was especially challenging but the teaching staff worked tirelessly with us to accommodate her needs (and ours) daily. We have seen her take enormous strides in her social and cognitive development in these short five months and have to give credit to the wonderful educators at Sandbox. The daily reports and weekly newsletters (all emailed) help us feel connected to her far-too-many hours away from us so we can better discuss the days/weeks adventures each evening. We have found the teachers thoughtful and supportive of each unique child. For example, our daughter has a severe dairy allergy and they are always especially considerate of this whenever cooking with the kids to make sure they make the appropriate adjustments to their recipes so she can participate with her classmates in every activity. Similarly we have been home sick this week and upon returning were welcomed with a Get Well Soon card created for her by all her pals ;-) The team at Brooklyn Sandbox go the extra mile and we are truly grateful to have found them! (Reviewed Jan 2015)re: Brooklyn Sandbox parents
Wanted to share the love here as well. My daughter is in the 3s class at Brooklyn Sandbox and I'm overwhelmed by how much both of us love this place. I was nervous as well, jumping into a brand new place and not knowing what to really expect. My daughter was in a school for her 2s and while this school was fine, I really can see the deficiencies when compared to Sandbox. I was very compelled by the driven and passionate director, she seemed very invested in the program, most importantly the vision for how she saw classrooms functioning to support the emotional and education development of the children there. Everyone at this school is absolutely 100% invested in caring for the best care of our children, from the directer to the assistant teachers. Every response and interaction with the children seems so deliberate (in a great way), challenging and supporting them. I adore the innovative projects that I see them do each week, both in her projects but also the daily emails we get with photos. Many programs claim to run a child-directed classroom, but I don't think it actually happens in an effective manner all that often - it does here. They roll with the interests of the children but actually make these interests educational. You can just tell that the teachers are thoughtful and motivated, its not all the same stale stuff. Most importantly my daughter is beyond happy and loves going to school everyday. There are all sorts of other perks - long hours, their own playspace outside, complete openness with parents (they have windows in the halls to watch the classroom if you want, or you can sign up to spend a day in the classroom if you want), parents night out. I could go on, but obviously I'm just very happy with our experience there so far. I'm also happy to answer any other questions, feel free to message me. (November 2014)re: Brooklyn Sandbox parents
Just wanted to post how happy we are so far at Brooklyn Sandbox. Picking a preschool is so daunting, and choosing one that is new it was a little scary. We are so happy we chose to put our son in (he's in the 2's class). Everyone is warm, loving, and engaging, and they are very respectful not only of my son's transition and his needs, but also of ours as first-time preschool parents. My son comes home singing new songs, or talking about things he did in school. We are very happy and I highly recommend it. Feel free to message me with any questions.Review from the 2014 Daycare/Preschool Survey
Program: 2's Length of Time: 2 school days a week Child's Age: 2-3 years Review: The Brooklyn Sandbox opened up it's doors September 2014. The staff and teachers are professional and although they just started, everything is running very smoothly. For my daughter it really feels like a second home and she can't wait to go. They structure their attention on all levels of development on each child individually. The parents are properly informed about all aspects. After each day parents get a small summary with pictures about what the children have been doing/learning. Each week a newsletter about what happened and what's to come. They even have a parents night out on specific Friday's! Parents get to choose which workshop they want to have organized. A music teacher and art teacher are on staff. I love how they respect your child's inner world and try to take out the best. My daughter is flourishing! Recommend (Hi/Rec/DoNot): Highly recommend Would you send your child again? AbsolutelyReview from the 2014 Daycare/Preschool Survey
Program: 2s Program Length of Time: 2 days a week full time/extended day Child's Age: 2-3 years Review: I love the frequent communication we receive from the directors and teachers. I get daily emails about events and reminders as well as newsletters. Teachers aim to include at least one picture of my child in the newsletter each week. I appreciate the school's commitment to providing art, music and foreign language education. After attending for only two months, my daughter comes home singing songs that she has learned from school. The teachers show a lot of attentiveness and enthusiasm. Even at the end of the long day, my child's teachers seem energetic and engaged in what each child is doing. Recommend (Hi/Rec/DoNot): Highly recommend Would you send your child again? AbsolutelyReview from the 2014 Daycare/Preschool Survey
Program: 3s program Length of Time: 3 half days Child's Age: 3-4 years Review: This is a new program this year and I love the energy and commitment from the director and the teachers. You can really tell they are fully committed to the vision at the school. They are using a bank street style education and it is highly based on following the children's interests and developing social and educational activities spun off of the children's ideas. My child comes home beaming from school everyday, and has displayed some wonderful social and emotional development at home as a result of her positive interactions with her teachers. her teachers are warm and bright and very involved with each moment and every child. Parents are invited to be as involved as they wish to be, which is important to me. I also love that I get daily emails with some photos and descriptions of what each child in the photos is doing/learning/saying. Recommend (Hi/Rec/DoNot): Highly recommend Would you send your child again? AbsolutelyReview from the 2014 Daycare/Preschool Survey
Length of Time: 3 full days/week Child's Age: 2-3 years Review: We love Brooklyn Sandbox so far. My 2 year old son started in their first 2's class at the end of September, and we have so far found it to be a wonderful, warm, organized preschool. It is our son's first school experience and they've helped to make his transition easier. His teachers are warm and very engaging, as are the directors. Everyone who works there is very involved, and the communication from both the teachers and the administration is great. Our son is already more comfortable in social settings, and he's already learned so much in the first few months. He comes home smiling and talking about his day, his friends and teachers, and singing songs. Everyone there is very sensitive to his needs as well as to ours as parents. We are so happy we sent him there! Recommend (Hi/Rec/DoNot): Highly recommend Would you send your child again? Absolutely
