Little Earthlings Forest School, LLC

• Staff & attitude▲

• David

We have had such a wonderful and special experience at Little Earthlings! My son attended for two years, from about 3.5 to 5.5, and it was truly a gift. To get to have those years spent outside, digging in the dirt, surrounded by the trees, running and climbing has been invaluable. I felt like David and the teachers truly knew my son for who he was and developed deep and meaningful relationships with him. They are always available to talk and share advice. The childcare philosophy they practice is deeply respectful of what each child needs and of the developmental stage they are at. As an educator myself, one of my main concerns when choosing preschool was that so many ask developmentally inappropriate things of young children, and when I toured this school, I knew they were doing it right. I am excited to have my next child attend!

• David

My daughter absolutely thrived under David's care. He has an exceptional gift with children AND parents. I benefitted as a parent from listening and watching him interact with my child. He kept her safe in an urban outdoor setting while permitting her the freedom to explore and create. My son didn't formally attend because we moved out of the area too soon but absolutely adored David and the school, spending time around drop off and pick up playing with the other children.

• David

My kid’ experience at David’s Little Earthlings Forest School was fantastic. I love the program, attention to nature, and team-building. We got to learn, explore, and experience. My kid (now 10) still remembers Grandpa Tree and loves to explore GG Park beyond the tourist attractions. And she was 3-4 at the time. Thank you, David!

• Staff & attitude▲

• David

We’ve had both our children attend Little Earthlings, and Teacher David's impact has been incredible. Both our children thrived in this environment which focuses on emotional awareness, confidence, and resilience—all while learning through nature and play. We see the benefits of this approach even now as our eldest excels in elementary school. If you value gentle/respectful parenting, this is the place to be. As my husband and I look back on our parenthood journey, Teacher David Calabrese stands out as one of our top 3 influences, and we are forever grateful for him and the Little Earthlings program.

• Would recommend▲

• David

Little Earthlings is AMAZING! David and the other instructors create such a loving, safe, and magical world for kids. Our two kids both went to Little Earthlings and have such a connection to nature and the outdoors, but also self-confidence and social skills, too. David is a true master of early childhood development, and gives kids the room to grow and explore their own abilities without having to be on an adult's agenda. Not only does he guide and inspire our kids, but makes us better parents, too. Highly recommend 👍

• David

I can’t say enough good about Teacher David’s Little Earthlings Forest School and its profound effects on my now 11yo daughter. She was in his first cohort in Golden Gate Park as a new 4yo. We followed him there from a cooperative pre school where we first saw his experience and care in action on a daily basis. David is a gifted early childhood development practitioner. He sees a child’s spark and gives it space and fuel to grow. My daughter’s leadership, problem-solving and confidence grew in bounds while in forest school with him. She continues to thrive in SFUSD. In summer as a rising 4th grader, she rejoined as a junior teacher. That junior teacher program grew this past summer as it’s a huge win for the young children, older and adults alike. We also remain in regular contact with the community David naturally creates. Good things happen in nature under David’s watch.

• Staff & attitude▲
• Communication▲

• David
• Cait

Our daughter started at Little Earthlings a little before she turned 3 and it has been life-changing. The teachers are extremely attentive, creative, compassionate, wise, and sincerely care for and love being around children. They are present in a way I have never seen in the world of childcare. The teachers have deep knowledge of Golden Gate Park, as well as expertise in local plant life (which is hugely important when you have toddlers out in nature). The kids learn to identify plants, know what is edible, what is medicinal, and what is poisonous. Now my 3 year old daughter teaches me about plants when we walk in the park. The schools founder, Teacher David is gifted with children, speaks their language, and can communicate and teach in a way that they can relate to, absorb, and remember. Teachers Beeta and Cait are equally gifted with kids, and keep the group safe while giving them lots of freedom to explore through play, adventure, wonder, and dirt. Our daughter has grown so much since starting at Little Earthlings, and we have learned and grown as parents. Best school in the world!!!

• Staff & attitude▲

• David

Our son has thrived under the care of David at Little Earthlings. As parents sending our first child to their first group care setting, we craved an environment that would allow our son to develop in his own time with little interference. What we found at Little Earthlings was exactly that - and much more. From the wonderful and compassionate teachers to the community of parents to the early childhood development guidance from David, we could not be happier with our experience at Little Earthlings! Our son has learned valuable lessons & skills in a nurturing outdoor environment that will last a lifetime.

We’ve sent both of our kids to Little Earthlings, and it’s been an incredibly formative experience for them. The name of the school perfectly captures David’s magical approach—he understands that kids are new creatures on this earth, trying to figure things out, and he gives them the space and support to do so in a unique and special way. The open and safe environment creates a magical space where kids are able to build confidence, develop essential skills, and let their minds flourish. Even though our kids have grown out of the program, we still send them back every summer, and our eldest is excited about becoming a junior counselor.

• Communication▲
• Would recommend▲

• David

We loved sending our two children to Little Earthlings Forest School. Early childhood development was super important to us, and David, the leader, is a bona fide expert. He truly connects with every child on their level, and can explain to adults why and how to communicate and handle the nuances of a developing kid. He runs a great school with happy kids who explore nature in a fun and safe way. And he makes us better parents in the process, too. Highly recommend.