Play Mountain Place

I cannot recommend PMP highly enough. We are completing our 8th and final year and I am going to miss being connected with it on a daily basis profoundly. Being at PMP has supported our entire family s growth. I am saddened to see a few negative reviews here. In trying to understand why those would appear, I have a couple of thoughts: While I think this school would be great for any child, I recognize that it isn t always right for every family because it demands a lot of every family. It takes a willingness to look at our own programmed responses and baggage and learn new ways of being with our children and each other. This takes courage and work and not everyone is up for that. I do think every type of child can thrive here. I ve seen kids on the boisterous, even aggressive, end of the spectrum learn compassion and empathy, and I ve seen kids on the more timid, gentle end of the spectrum come into their own power and find their voice, and everything in between. It s beautiful to witness. For families who are up for it, a world of possibilities opens up and the way we interact with all of those around us shifts into something deeper and more meaningful.
--Submitted by a parent

My son has been a student at PMP since he was 3, and I'm confident that he will graduate having learned many things that will serve him well for the rest of his life. At the age of 10 he knows how to identify and express his feelings, how to say when something isn't working for him, how to negotiate, compromise and resolve problems, and how to listen and provide emotional support to others. He feels capable of facing and handling difficult issues, he operates under the assumption that he has something of value to contribute with both peers and adults, he is compassionate (as much as one can be at 10!,) and he's experienced himself as a powerful person with a voice and an ability to impact his world. My son has mastered things I watch adults struggle with every day. Much of this he got from being at PMP. He learned to read at 9, and months later was devouring novels far beyond his grade level. (Clearly some things are easier to learn than others.) The approach is definitely not for every family, and like any other option it doesn't provide everything, but I think it provides the important stuff. I'm grateful our family had the opportunity to go to PMP.
--Submitted by a parent

Our son is in his 8th year at Play Mountain, starting at age 3 He loves it. If there is a philosophy, it is to let kids be kids, let them have a childhood, keep parental agendas out of the way. While occasionally this leads to problems, on the whole it is a much saner way to raise a child than to burden them with expectations, homework, tests, grades, etc. in their primary years. It has certainly opened our eyes as parents. There is a curriculum--emotional intelligence. Our son is a late developer and he has benefitted immensely from PMP, and from the sensitivity of the staff. He is now a bright, savvy child who hasn't been emotionally shut down, and who can hold his own with anyone. He talks about his feelings, and this hasn't come naturally to him. He knows what he's interested in, and he's had time to explore it. This school isn't for everyone. Special needs children may do better at a school which caters to them. As for the bullying mentioned here, if you can find a school without bullies, more power to you. I have seen bullies get away with it at PMP because they were clever enough to hide their acts from teachers. I have also seen bullies removed from the school.
--Submitted by a parent

I love this place. The approach of child-centered organic learning through empowering the students practiced at PMP since the 50's is not for everyone. You must be very sure that this approach is in line with your family's values, & is right for your child, & the admin helps with that decision. As prospective parents, we observed for over an hour, & then had a private 2 hour interview with the principal. It has a wonderful energy, having been in the same buildings since the beginning- & though it might be in need of some renovations, the teachers' salaries are raised every year, which makes for lots of happy, experienced & loyal teachers. The aesthetic is child oriented, & won't impress those parents looking for sparkly modern spaces. My kids spend as much time as they want outside, & the play yards are filled with "dirt" that gets raked every day, & is just what my two boys want to be playing in. My grade school boy plays with other very compassionate kids of all ages. Discrimination based on "things we can't control about ourselves" (overheard a teacher say that to a child)e.g. sex, age, race, etc. is not ok- reflected by the diverse community. & the parental support is amazing.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm a former student,and I would have to agree with the post of April,27 2010.My experience was one of being bullied by older children,and a staff either unable or un willing to deal with the situation.The"problem solving"and "conflect resolution"taught at Play Mountain,only taught the bullies how better to manipulate.As for academics,they were severaly defecent.

This school is a whole person journey. The whole family goes on the journey and LA feels like a loving community. Whole children grow to successful adults. I have seen it all.
--Submitted by a parent

I have had three children attend Play Mountain for a cumulative total of 27 years. Now in their teens, they are remarkably sane. They have opinions, confidence, ability to explain their thoughts and feelings in ways that are uncomonly sophisticated for their age. The only problem I ever had was that reading is not promoted (though taught if kids ask - which they rarely do). And yet, it hasn't really mattered with my children - they all adjusted to public schools and are doing very well. There was an initial bump in the road where they had to learn public school work habits but that was quickly overcome because PMP kids have more confidence. The person who said "Kids that bully, tease and gang up on more vulnerable kids is common, while the teachers do nothing concrete to help." must have sent their kids to a different Play Mountain, maybe somewhere on Mars (their review is that off the facts - if they actually believe what they write, they need psychological help to even breathe).
--Submitted by a parent

My son currently attends PMP and we love it. There is no doubt in my mind that I am a better parent because of the school. I have had a very different experience from the other parent who posted. The teachers are incredibly engaged and not overwhelmed at all. There is a 7:1 ratio and teachers are right on top of conflict resolution. The entire philosophy is based on teaching kids in an organic and child directed way, which numerous child development studies have shown is much more effective and relevant to kids. What I know is that their approach works. My son is very skilled at problem-solving, empathizing/understanding others limits and voicing his needs.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is AMAZING. I went to PMP for ten years and it was awesome. Despite what the other comments say, you need to check this out!

While the first year is wonderful and nurturing with amazing staff, the second year (what is called Big Nursery) is overrun by too many kids and not enough teachers. Kids that bully, tease and gang up on more vulnerable kids is common, while the teachers do nothing concrete to help. Any problems that come up with school philosophy, you will be told it is your issue as a parent and you don't understand the philosophy. Dogma rules here. If you want to spend a hefty tuition (and a lot of volunteer time and extra $$) on what amounts to letting your kid run wild Lord of the Flies style at a dirty playground, than PMP is for you. If you rather have a school that truly practices humanist (equality and loving environs), developmental and experiential learning, look somewhere else.
--Submitted by a parent