What ages does the program serve?

The program is designed for children ages 18 months-8 years old.

Children younger and older than that age range are welcome to enroll and families are encouraged to try a free class to see if it is a good fit for their explorer.

How long do classes last? What happens during a class?

Classes are 1 hour long and include an opening circle (~15 min) with sharing, singing, movement, and learning; play time (~40 min) with an engaging play invitation followed by child-led and guided-play; and a closing circle (~5 min) with gratitude and more! Note: it is always important to follow a child’s lead and we love for children to explore their own interests and experience the play and class environment in their own way and their own terms. There is no wrong way to play at Tinkergarten!

Can I drop my child off?

No. Each child must be accompanied by their parent or caregiver for the entire class session.

Can siblings come for free?

Siblings under 18 months of age may join at no cost. If any siblings 18 months or older are attending regularly, they must be enrolled in the class. The first sibling is 25% off, and the second sibling is 50% off. If there are more than two siblings, please contact us.

If a sibling needs to attend due to scheduling change (eg. day off at school), they can attend up to two sessions without enrolling. Families need to notify the teacher if an extra child needs to attend for a session so they can prepare any necessary materials. 

Can families try a class for free before enrolling in the program?

Families are invited to attend one session of the season for free to try Tinkergarten. Families are also welcome to join for free pop up events.

Do you offer refunds?

A refund may be requested a minimum of 7 days BEFORE the season of classes begins, and families can receive a full refund (minus a 10% processing fee) or credit towards a future class.

If a refund is requested AFTER the season of classes begins but before the third class, families can receive a refund for the value of the remaining sessions (minus 10% processing fee). After the third class, refunds will no longer be given.

Are credits or refunds offered for missed sessions?

Credits and refunds are not offered for classes missed by families. Enrolled families can purchase a deeply discounted subscription to Tinkergarten Anywhere for $5 per month and can utilize that content if they miss a live class session.

What happens in inclement weather?

Decisions about whether it is safe to hold class are determined by the teacher using local weather guidance.

The teacher will update families at least 90 minutes prior to class by email and text message. Whenever possible, the session will be offered at another time the same week.

How do teachers foster a safe learning environment during class?

Each explorer (child) is accompanied by a guide (parent or caregiver). Teachers support guides and do all that they reasonably can to provide a learning environment that allows for safe risk-taking.

Leaders bring a First Aid Kit to class, which can be utilized by guides (attending adults) if needed.

A few, simple rules help to address most situations:

Explorers (children) can explore on their own as long as they can still see or hear their guide or the Leader.

If explorers are taking physical risks, we check in to make sure that they feel sturdy and safe in their risk-taking. 

Leaders encourage children to engage in risky play, but give clear redirection if or when safety and the safety of friends in the class could be compromised. For example, we celebrate that sticks are the #1 toy of all time, but we make sure that our sticks have plenty of space so they do not touch our friends' bodies. Ultimately, over time, we want to help children learn how to learn their limits while still playing in a way that keeps them and their friends out of true harm.

We encourage children not to put nature treasures in their mouths. If a wee one is doing so as a natural part of exploring the world, we work with their guide to try to honor that need in the safest way possible.

Learn more about risky play. 

What is the approach to health/illness safety in classes?

Before class: All participants, teachers included, are asked to self-assess for symptoms of contagious illness. If an explorer or guide has any of the following symptoms, they must stay home and utilize the Tinkergarten Anywhere video to follow along.

• Fever (100 degrees F or higher), chills, or shaking chills

• New loss of taste or smell

• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as a chronic or lingering cough)

• Sore throat when in combination with other symptoms

• Headache when in combination with other symptoms

• Fatigue when in combination with other symptoms

• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

During Class: All participants follow an In-Class Safety Checklist with 6 simple strategies that enable us to play safely together!

• Masks are not required, unless they become required outdoors by Frederick County or the park where class is held.

• We design our classroom spaces and activities so that we limit participants' sustained close contact and practice giving healthy personal bubble space. 

• Eating or drinking should be done in “nests”.

• When temperatures are above 50-60 degrees, we provide a soap and water mixture for participants to wash hands as needed.