Frequently Asked Questions

Not at all! Babies are natural scientists. At 12 months, they’re learning through every sense, like the feel of bark and the sound of birds. You’ll be amazed at what they take in.

Probably! The 12-month starting age is a guideline, not a hard cutoff. If your baby is sitting independently and you think they’d enjoy being outdoors with other kids, reach out and we’ll chat.

Yes! Three year olds are welcome until their fourth birthday.

Sometimes, and older kids really shine here. They get a chance to step into a leadership role, helping the little ones and modeling new ways to use each station. Each setup also has ways for them to go further, like hammering golf tees into a zucchini instead of pushing them into pre-made holes. Because everything is open ended, a three year old might be building a whole leaf soup recipe right next to a one year old stirring for the first time.

No. A parent or caregiver stays for the whole morning and joins in.

Every Wednesday follows the same gentle rhythm. Times are approximate, since we follow a rhythm, not a clock.

9:30 Arrival and free explore. Stations are already set up, so your child can dive right in.

9:45 Opening circle. Five minutes to ring the chime, sing our name song, and share a question of the day for the grown-ups.

9:50 Discovery stations. Six to eight stations like the mud kitchen, playdough, sensory bins, and art. Your child moves freely between them.

10:20 Snack time. Bring a nut-free snack from home. We have a handwashing station.

10:30 Morning gathering. Songs, a short story tied to the day’s nature focus, and a visit from Pip, our chickadee puppet.

10:45 Nature walk. A short loop at toddler pace with a guiding question, like “What is falling?”

10:55 Closing circle. We sing The More We Get Together with ASL signs and say goodbye to the forest.

You can read more about each part of the morning on our homepage.

Totally normal and totally fine. Sitting quietly isn’t the expectation at this age. Plenty of kids stand, wander close, or listen while they move. Settling in for circle grows naturally as they get to know us and the rhythm of our mornings. For busy little ones, one thing that helps is having them help me clean up while the others eat, then enjoy their snack during the story, so they have something to do while they listen. We’ll find what works for your child.

We meet at McCollum Park in south Everett, and we welcome families from all over Snohomish County, including Mill Creek, Bothell, Lynnwood, Mukilteo, Edmonds, Snohomish, Lake Stevens, and Marysville. I’ll send you the exact meeting spot and parking details once you enroll or book a trial session.

The meeting spot is a few minutes’ walk from the parking lot, and the path is stroller friendly. There is a portable toilet about a five minute walk from our spot, and our privacy tent with a changing mat and children’s potty is set up right at class.

We bring a pop-up privacy tent to every session with a changing mat and a children’s potty inside. Parents handle their own child’s changes. It’s always set up before you arrive.

We meet every Wednesday year round, except December 23 and December 30. We do meet the day before Thanksgiving, November 25. See every date on our 2026 to 2027 calendar (opens in new tab).

Every Tuesday morning I send families an email with a preview of the week: our nature focus, what to expect, and a weather heads up so you know how to dress.

Yes! For each birthday, we gather for a Walk Around the Sun, a Montessori tradition where the birthday child circles the sun once for every year of their life while we sing together. We sing our “Mixing Up a Birthday Cake” song and then the traditional Happy Birthday. The birthday child also receives a crown made from our class collaborative art.

Sometimes, but photos we share publicly never show children’s faces. If you’d rather your child not appear in any photos at all, you can opt out on your enrollment form.

Yes! Try a $15 class (opens in new tab) and join us for one Wednesday morning in the forest. Book by 3 PM Tuesday to join us that Wednesday, since the meeting spot details come by email.

Loved it? Your trial counts as your first class, so you’ll just pay for the Wednesdays left that month.

$99 a month, every month, whether it has four Wednesdays or five. Tuition is priced for the whole year, so the extra Wednesdays in five Wednesday months make up for the two weeks off in December. Over the year, that’s under $24 a class.

Yes! You can sign up anytime. Your first month is prorated based on the Wednesdays left in that month. Joining with two Wednesdays left? That’s just $39. After that, tuition is $99 a month.

Yes! A term pass covers three months, paid up front, and costs less than paying $99 a month. Each term ends with a Crown Celebration. Winter is our best deal because of the holiday break. Here are the upcoming terms:

Winter ($229, 11 classes, save $68): December 2, 2026 to February 24, 2027
Spring ($269, save $28): March 3 to May 26, 2027
Summer ($269, save $28): June 2 to August 25, 2027

Winter passes are on sale now, so sign up by December 2 to lock it in. Already paying monthly? Sign up by November 27, and I’ll pause your monthly tuition for December through February. Current families, check your email for a thank‑you discount, too. Passes for later terms open before each term starts. Joining partway through? Start monthly anytime.

Yes. Additional children are $49 a month each, so two children is $148 a month total. A sibling on a term pass is $109 for Winter (save $38) and $129 for other terms (save $18).

Yes! Refer a family who enrolls and you’ll get $25 off your next month’s tuition. There’s no limit, and extra credit rolls over to the next month. On a term pass? Your credit comes off your next term.

Sick, traveling, or just one of those mornings? We’ll miss you, and we’ll look forward to seeing you next week! Tuition holds your spot in the group, so missed weeks aren’t refunded.

Monthly subscription ($99 a month): Your enrollment is a rolling monthly subscription. Once you’re in, you’re in! You can cancel anytime with two weeks’ notice before your next billing date. No refunds for partial months or missed sessions.

Term pass ($229 Winter, $269 other terms): Nonrefundable. There are no refunds for missed sessions or for leaving partway through a term.

If Little Roots cancels a session due to weather or safety, we will reschedule or add a makeup session at no cost.

Head to our Enroll page and fill out the form. You’ll get a confirmation right away, and a welcome email with the meeting spot within a day or two.

Class is limited to 15 families, and spots do fill up. If we’re full when you try to enroll, email us at hello@littleroots.school to be added to our waitlist. We’ll reach out as soon as a spot opens. You can also join our email list (opens in new tab) or follow us on Instagram @littleroots.school (opens in new tab) to be the first to know.

I check email Tuesday through Friday. Messages sent Friday afternoon through Monday get a reply Tuesday.

We go! Rain is some of our best exploring weather. Think puddles, worms, dripping leaves, the sound of rain on the canopy. Dress in rain gear and embrace it.

We still go! Winter mornings bring frosty leaves, steamy breath, and puddles with ice on top. There’s no set temperature cutoff. We dress in warm layers and use our best judgment on wind chill and conditions.

If Everett Public Schools closes for snow or ice, we close too. On a late start day, I’ll decide by 7 AM and email you if class is canceled. Not sure how to layer? Our Gear Guide page walks you through it.

We cancel for lightning, winds over 40 mph, extreme heat over 95°F, unhealthy air quality, heavy snow or ice that makes roads or trails unsafe, or anything else that isn’t safe.

If we have to cancel, I’ll let you know as soon as I can by email, and I’ll post it on our Facebook and Instagram stories too. Any canceled session gets rescheduled or made up at no cost.

This doesn’t happen often. Since we started in June 2026, we’ve canceled just once, for poor air quality. I let families know the night before, and we made it up the following Tuesday. If thunder rolls in during class, we’ll head out early to stay safe. That’s happened once, and we wrapped up 30 minutes early.

Dress for mess. Layers, rain gear when it’s wet, closed-toe shoes with good grip (no open-toe sandals or Crocs on the trail), and clothes you don’t mind getting muddy. Pro tip: keep a “forest school bin” in your car with rain gear, backup boots, and a change of clothes.

A small backpack your child can carry with: water, a nut-free snack, diapers/wipes if needed, a full change of clothes, and two clean washcloths in a ziplock for muddy hands. Also bring a picnic or outdoor blanket to sit on at snack. Apply sunscreen and bug spray before arrival. That’s it. We supply everything else.

Totally fine! At our very first session, my daughter didn’t have rain boots yet either. She wore her rain suit and sneakers, and I felt better knowing she had her iksplor wool socks (opens in new tab) on, since wool stays warm even when it gets wet. Come as you are and build your gear over time. Our Gear Guide page is a good place to start.

Yes, always. Babies in carriers are welcome, and babies under 12 months attend free with a paid sibling.

Yes! Older siblings can tag along for free, like on days when school or camp doesn’t work out. Just give me a heads up and list them on your enrollment form. They’re welcome to explore the trail with us, while the stations and art supplies stay with our 1 to 3 year olds.

Hoping your 4 or 5 year old can join in fully with their own materials? They’re welcome for $49 a month, and a trial class is a great way to see if it’s a good fit.

Absolutely. Any trusted adult caregiver listed on your enrollment form is welcome. Just make sure they’ve read the handbook and know the expectations.

A parent or caregiver stays with their child the whole time, so every little one has their own grown-up close by. Both teachers are Pediatric CPR & First Aid certified, and we bring a full outdoor first aid kit to every session. Little Roots is insured, and we keep everyone’s allergies, medical notes, and emergency contacts in a waterproof binder at class.

We’re a nut-free class, we check our play areas before kids arrive, and we point out any plants to leave alone. Kids climb and explore at their own pace, and we never push a child into something they aren’t ready for. Our Family Handbook (opens in new tab) walks through every activity, its benefits, and how we keep it safe.

We are a nut-free class. Each family brings their own snacks and we don’t share food between families. Please note all allergies on your enrollment form and carry any necessary medications (EpiPen, inhaler, etc.).

If your child has a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, an undiagnosed rash, or any contagious illness, please stay home and rest. Clear runny noses and seasonal allergies are totally fine. When in doubt, just reach out.