Hawthorne Family Playschool

Hawthorne Family Playschool's mission is to safeguard childhood, teach inclusion and build cohesive communities. We are an exceptional mixed-age (3-5), play-based, cooperative preschool fostering self-awareness, relationships with others, and connections to the natural world.

Our teacher, Susan Eisman, draws from the practices of Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, Reevaluation Counseling, and peace activism. Susan completed her masters coursework in human development and has been joyfully working with young children and families since 1990. She partners with deeply invested parents to provide a nurturing learning community in which children and families thrive.

Children are eager, capable players who learn with zest in stimulating and affirming environments. They are competent problem solvers when given support. Children find deep satisfaction in following their interests, building relationships, and making friends.

Children learn best when they are connected to nature. We provide natural materials inside and outside the classroom and help children to become good stewards of the earth. HFP is certified as an Eco-Healthy Child Care (EHCC) provider by the Oregon Environmental Council. Our play yard is also recognized by The Audubon Society of Portland as a Certified Backyard Habitat.

We believe participating in a parent-run cooperative is deeply rewarding for the children, their families, and the teacher alike.

We limit class size to 14 children to ensure low student/adult ratios and individualized attention.

Parents assist the teacher in the classroom, working approximately twice every six weeks for families in the 2-day program and three times every six weeks for families in the 3-day program. Parents provide healthy, vegetarian snacks for the class on a rotating basis.

We nurture children's ideas, interests, and feelings as they partner with friends and engage in a wide variety of activities. Adults thoughtfully provision the environment so that children learn wherever they play.