Welcome!
Founded in 1950 by members of the Brown University community, Brown Play School is now an independent preschool serving three, four and five year-olds in the greater Providence area. Originally a cooperative nursery school, we have since changed to a partnership school where parents and families are encouraged to participate but are not expected to fulfill specific teaching duties.
Just minutes from the east side of Providence in Rumford, Rhode Island, we offer a unique program that encourages children to be open-minded, creative thinkers who are intrinsically motivated and who will continue to ask questions and seek knowledge as they grow and mature. Our curriculum is based on the Reggio Emilia philosophy of child-centered play and learning. There is a strong focus on art exploration and a dedicated art studio where our students create an impressive array of paintings, self-portraits, clay sculptures, and much more!
Brown Play School offers a wide variety of educational centers that rotate throughout the school year. Students also benefit from many special “extras” including our greenhouse, an extra-large playground, yoga, woodworking, and music. Families select a 3, 4 or 5-day program for three-year olds and a 5-day program for four and five year-olds. The day can start as early as 8 AM, with pick-up options at either 11:45 AM or at 2 PM for our “lunch bunch.” We hope you will visit us soon!