Not daycare. Childhood.

Children do not need their earliest years rushed, standardized or kept inside. At Green Garden, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers build secure relationships, test their own ideas, spend real time outdoors, and develop independence through play. Nature-based childcare and play-focused early education for families across Metro Detroit.

Find Your Green Garden

Evidence of Childhood

The jump is only the part you can see.

Child jumping from a wooden platform in Green Garden Clawson’s outdoor classroom

Before a child jumps, they have to judge the distance, organize their body and decide whether they are ready.

This is balance, coordination, risk assessment and growing confidence—all happening in a few seconds of play.

Our job is not to remove every reasonable risk. It is to create environments where children can discover what their bodies can do, with attentive adults nearby.


Our Programs

Infants

Leaving your baby with someone else is a significant transition. Our infant teachers work closely with families to understand each baby’s rhythms, needs, and emerging personality.

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Toddlers

Toddlers are driven to move, repeat, test and do things themselves. Our classrooms give them room to try—with familiar adults nearby when those growing feelings become too big to manage alone.

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Preschool

Preschoolers learn by planning, building, pretending, creating, negotiating and solving real problems. Teachers support the learning without turning childhood into a smaller version of elementary school.

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Michigan PreK for All

GSRP

Eligible four-year-olds can receive high-quality preschool at no tuition cost while experiencing Green Garden’s play-based, relationship-centered approach.

Explore Free GSRP

A childhood built around nature, play and wellness.

Nutrition & Wellness

We embrace a healthy approach to childhood nutrition and wellness

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Family Focused Community

We aim to be extension of home, not a watered-down version of school

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Curious Learning Movement

We create intentional “YES” environments that foster autonomy and develop inquisitive thinkers

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Gardens & Growth

We believe nature offers never-ending opportunities for growth and learning

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Outdoor Classrooms

We build spaces outside of our buildings to continue learning throughout every moment our day

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Children exploring the natural outdoor classroom at Green Garden Macomb

Child-led does not mean adult-absent.

Our teachers do more than supervise activities.

They observe what children are trying to understand. They ask questions that move an idea forward. They add materials at the right moment. They help children work through conflict without solving every problem for them.

Green Garden uses HighScope’s active-learning approach. Children make plans, carry them out and reflect on what happened. Children retain ownership of their ideas while teachers make sure those ideas have somewhere to go.

The HighScope Curriculum

What families notice

All three of my children attended Green Garden and we couldn’t be happier with our experience there. We transferred from another local day care facility when my oldest was 2 years old, before the other kiddos were born, and it was the best decision we ever made. Green Garden staff are caring and knowledgeable. Everyone at Green Garden was attentive to our children’s medical needs, and the directors have always been quick to respond to questions, concerns and last minute schedule changes. I am impressed with how little staff turnover they have, which is unusual in the child care industry. The teachers truly became an extended family to us, and I will miss them as my youngest heads off to kindergarten. My favorite part of our experience at Green Garden has been the unique classroom setting, coupled with lots of nature and outside time! I also loved the sense of community, with “after-hours” family activities that helped build relationships with other Green Garden families. Our children learned so much and made lifelong friendships. I cannot say enough good things about Green Garden!

Christina C.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the best child care center I’ve ever encountered. They actually do put children first, they don’t just talk about it (as so many centers do as they become overly concerned with numbers and finances). It’s incredible to watch them grow – both physically and in mission to children and families – and to contribute so strongly and positively into their community. Highest recommendation possible.

Jenny P.

Green Garden events give families room to explore, create, get messy and spend meaningful time together.

From Mud Day and nature experiences to creative workshops and family nights, our community extends beyond regular classroom hours.

Don’t miss out on this chance to join our thriving community!

See Upcoming Events