About
Village Playgarden has taught hundreds of children since we opened in 2008. At Village Playgarden, we are an intentional community that offers support for families who are looking for a place where their children can play, create, explore, and engage the magic of their own imaginations. Children are gently supported in social interactions, carefully brought into awareness of the world in which they live, and lovingly taught reverence and respect for all living beings and the environment. We curate a developmentally appropriate child-centered environment that protects the sanctuary of childhood and supports a child's natural unfolding as the foundation for preparing them for their next stages of learning. Our early childhood curriculum is based on an immersive relationship with the natural world; daily and seasonal rhythms that serve young children and their sensory, social, emotional, and cognitive needs; and the transformative power of community building. We believe that this kind of early childhood education provides the foundation for a healthy development and the possibility for a better world.
Kikanza Ramsey-Ray
1969 - 2024
Co-Founder and Lead Teacher
Kikanza Ramsey-Ray co-founded Village Playgarden in 2008 with her husband, Geoff Ramsey-Ray. She was the visionary of the school and the heart of the vibrant community that blossomed around her over the next fifteen years.
Tragically, Kikanza passed away in early 2024—far too soon for her family, and for all of us who were blessed to share in her life—after a courageous, hard-fought battle with cancer.
A brilliant theoretician of Waldorf pedagogy, Kikanza re-envisioned and expanded it, integrating practices of nature immersion, non-violent education, and a global perspective that sought to move beyond its Eurocentrism. She was a gifted teacher of young children, a mentor to countless educators, a spellbinding storyteller and orator, and a compassionate counselor to the hundreds of families who passed through Village Playgarden.
Those of us who continue her work at Village Playgarden carry her vision, passion, and love for young children in our hearts and practice. We are deeply grateful for the time we were able to share in her presence and for the wisdom and inspiration she left with us.
We are committed to child development
Our curriculum is influenced by a number of well-known early childhood philosophies like Waldorf early childhood education, healthy attachments, nonviolent education and parenting, developmentally led play driven learning, anti-biased curriculum, arts integrated curriculum, and nature immersion learning. We strive to see the whole child and support their individual developmental journey while simultaneously curating a community based expereince that supports children to integrate into their own bodies and be able to cultivate the capacities to meet the other. Most importantly, our philosophy is is rooted in love; love for children, love for creating community, love for the earth, and love for the possibility of a healthy, peaceful world.
We are committed to diversity
The ethos of the Village Playgarden community and all of its programming is rooted in our deep commitment to the principles of diversity, justice, equity, and inclusivity. We work hard to bring a community of teachers and families together that reflect the racial, ethnic, and LGBTQ diversity of Los Angeles. Our work seeks to play conscious role in the healing of marginalized and oppressed communities by providing a sanctuary of acknowledgement and inclusion; and a place where the children can be seen and welcomed in their full cultural selves and met with community experiences that support their healthy growth and development.
Healthy food program
Our Healthy Food program feeds all of the children in all of our classes a morning and afternoon light meal prepared from scratch. Children bring their own lunches. Our meals are organic, vegetarian, and based on the principles of the importance of whole foods at the foundation of children's healthy development. We are able to accommodate most allergies and food sensitivities.
