About us

La Simbiosis is a multilingual community nature program that provides a healthy space for children to explore social dynamics, nature, and what there body, minds, and spirits are capable of. Children will develop resilience, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills. If your child struggles with anxiety, is ready for school preparatory skills, or you are weary of your child getting sick at daycare, our nature program for ages 2-6 is a beautiful option. Children have the freedom to play in a mud kitchen, create music, and witness nature's miracles on a daily basis. Our curriculum follows nature-based themes that we will engage with through play, songs, problem-solving, and creation, while focusing on Spanish and English language development. We also offer a Caretaker-and-Kids program for parents wanting to find community in nature alongside their little ones and other families.

Philosophy

La Simbiosis takes a holistic approach to child and community development, in which children learn through nature, relationships, and intentional language development. We believe that in a context of trust, children can take healthy risks to learn about themselves, others, their environments, and good communication within them. Wonder, relaxation, and exploration occur naturally, and, as teachers, we provide purposeful structures within this environment for problem-solving, engineering, art, collaboration, and critical thinking. The teaching is created based on a combination of student interest, CA preschool standards, and problem-based learning, all at developmentally appropriate levels in play-based exploration and activities so that children are equipped with life and academic skills. Ultimately, our vision is to provide space for children of diverse backgrounds to imagine, create, problem-solve, and explore while learning skills to make them successful in communication, relationships, nature, and life endeavors.

Vision

The vision of Simbiosis is to provide space for children of diverse backgrounds to imagine, create, problem-solve, and explore while learning language and skills to make them successful in communication, relationships, nature, and life endeavors. Our mission is to cultivate symbiotic relationships with nature and our community by developing environmental stewards and increasing the value of minority languages and cultures through research-based language instruction, child-center pedagogy, and practical social emotional development skills.

We provide a healthy environment where growth and learning occur naturally at individually appropriate rates, in an open, fresh space.

TEACHERS

Kylie Takashima, Director, Teacher

My desire to find a quality preschool for my own children that would be emotionally safe, relationally rich, and holistically stimulating, prompted me to start La Simbiosis Nature School. My children spent most of their time in our apartment with me, yet research overwhelmingly shows the benefits and basic necessity for people to be out in the dirt and the sunshine. I wanted us to experience these benefits and do so with other families. The rich life experiences that come from exploring nature within community will ground our children in the symbiotic relationships they need to take on the next stages of life.

Besides having two preschoolers myself, I have nannied, and provided nursery and elementary child care at churches. I have a degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in multilingual education and certifications in Spanish and ethnobotany. I have over 10 years of multilingual teaching experience in public schools. I believe that risks, relationships, and goals are vital to development. For this reason, I combine the traditional play-based, student-led learning of Forest Schools with explicit language instruction through stories, music, and games, along with problem-based learning scenarios to cultivate motivation and life skills.

Claribel Pérez, Co-founder, Teacher

Growing up in a small town in Mexico nature has been part of my whole life. Spending the weekend during my childhood in the countryside, running, climbing trees, playing hide and seek with my siblings and cousins is something that I cherish and would love to share with the kids.

I graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Industrial Design and have experience working with kids from ages 0 to 7 years old. After obtaining my degree I certified in Bio-intensive gardening and Plant-Based nutrition.

I have been a stay home mom to my 2.5 year old daughter since birth, I have been a nanny and have given English classes to first graders in Mexico for a year.

I wanted to start this program to give my daughter the opportunity to spend more time outside while she is able to learn, explore, build her confidence, work and continue to develop her motor and social skills. I love working with children because they live in the present, they are curious, pure and candid.

During my free time I love to go on hikes with my family, and visit parks, cooking, gardening. My passion is to share my love and knowledge of nature with the children.