Austin Play Garden is a play-based, Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool in Central Austin for children from 6 weeks to 5 years. Founded in 2013.
Care and early education for children 6 weeks to 5 years. The school day runs Monday–Friday, 8:15 am – 2:30 pm, and aftercare runs 2:30 – 5:00 pm.
6 weeks – 18 months
Our Infant Program is a nurturing, responsive space for your baby's first year and a half, where feeding and napping follow each child's own rhythm instead of a fixed clock. Babies keep the same primary caregiver as they grow, so trust and attachment can build over time.
See the Infant room12 – 24 months
The Pre-Toddler Program gives young walkers a nurturing, at-their-own-pace environment to build independence and confidence. Children keep the same primary caregiver as they grow, so trust and attachment can build over time.
See the Pre-Toddler room18 months – 3½ years
The Toddler Program keeps the same nurturing, at-your-own-pace approach as Infant and Pre-Toddler, with more room to move, explore and start building friendships. Children keep a consistent primary caregiver, for a steady relationship as they grow.
See the Toddler room3 – 5 years
The Preschool Program lets three-to-five-year-olds lead the way, working on long-term projects they choose over uninterrupted blocks of time. Teachers act as facilitators — observing, joining in, and meeting daily to reflect on what each child is ready to try next.
See the Preschool room2:30 – 5:00 pm
Aftercare is for children already enrolled in one of our programs, based on availability and an additional fee. It follows your child's own schedule: 5, 3 or 2 days a week.
See aftercare details
Our Atelier is a dedicated art room with a full-time art teacher. From the Toddler room up, children make process art there, mostly from recycled and repurposed materials, never from a template.
Meet the art studioEvery child spends at least an hour and a half outside each day, in a natural playground with gardens, water tables, sand and bikes. Preschoolers start most mornings outdoors.
We're a small school: four classrooms and an art studio in a single-story building. Rooms feel like home, with wood floors, carpets and calm colors, child-sized furniture and real materials children can reach on their own.
Every room has two teachers. Infant, Pre-Toddler and Toddler add a support teacher.
Families notice how long our teachers stay.
“Tenured teachers, committed admins.”
Austin Play Garden is a neighborhood school for Central Austin families with children 6 weeks to 5 years. We're at 4915 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751, close to Hyde Park, North Loop and Brentwood, and many of our families walk or bike to school.
Claire SmithDirector
Master's in Curriculum & Instruction (Early Childhood), The University of Texas at Austin
Kate TerrellTours and enrollment
Tour requests and waitlist questions go to Kate: kate@austinplaygarden.com
Visit on a weekday, 9:15 – 11:15 am or 2:45 – 4:15 pm. Kate Terrell will confirm a day with you.
Schedule a tourPay the $150 waitlist fee, which counts toward the $250 registration fee, and fill in a short inquiry form on Famly.
Join the waitlistWhen a spot opens, we contact you. Once your child is enrolled, Famly is where we share messages and newsletters and handle billing.
See tuition and fees| Name | Austin Play Garden |
|---|---|
| Type | Licensed child care center (preschool) |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Location | 4915 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751 (Central Austin).Get directions |
| Ages | 6 weeks to 5 years, in Infant, Pre-Toddler, Toddler and Preschool rooms |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:15 am – 2:30 pm |
| Schedules | 5 days (Mon–Fri), 3 days (Mon, Wed & Fri) or 2 days (Tue & Thu) |
| Aftercare | 2:30 – 5:00 pm, for enrolled families as space allows, at an additional fee |
| Ratios |
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| Approach | Play-based, Reggio Emilia-inspired. Our approach |
| Tuition | From $758/month (2026 monthly rates). See all rates |
| License | Licensed by Texas HHS, operation #1597937.Search that number on the state's child care search to see the record. |
| Phone | 512-420-9448 |
| @austinplaygarden |
We're a play-based school: we value children's play as their work. Many ideas shape how we teach, and three matter most: the Reggio Emilia approach, the Project Approach and the work of Lev Vygotsky.
We see children as capable, caring and competent, and we shape each room around what they're curious about. Their work goes up on the walls, hangs from the ceilings and fills the windows, so the learning is visible to everyone who walks in.
Preschoolers learn through long-term projects that grow from their own interests, working with a teacher in small groups during long, uninterrupted blocks of time. Teachers meet every day to reflect on what each child is ready for next.
Children learn through play and through each other. Teachers join in, watch closely and nudge each child toward something they're almost ready to try.
Our Infant, Pre-Toddler and Toddler rooms are mixed-age, so a child can stay with the same primary caregiver for a long time. Young children learn best in trusting, responsive relationships.
Children's hands at work around the school. Select a photo to see it larger.
Pick a morning or afternoon tour (9:15 – 11:15 am or 2:45 – 4:15 pm). After your visit, joining the waitlist takes three short steps.
