Backyard Explorers, Brooklyn NY

Backyard Explorers was a wonderful experience for our toddler. Cyndi is a child development genius and the program was a rare find for us.

I can’t say enough great things about Cyndi and her backyard explorers program. First of all the backyard space is fantastic. When we first walked in our sometimes shy daughter couldn’t wait to let go of our hands and explore the yard and sheltered area full of all the things toddlers love. Our daughter attended the summer camp. It became a place she looked forward to every single day. And Cyndi is like a toddler whisperer who has such a kind, patient and loving spirit. We felt so comfortable leaving our daughter with her.

Backyard Explorers is Brooklyn’s best-kept preschool secret. It is small- three kids max- which is perfect for young kids just getting started socializing with their peers and going to school. Held primarily outside, the yard itself looks like an outdoor school, and the kids are free to explore the different areas, as well as come up with their own fun. Cyndi is the owner and teacher. She is one of those teachers you and your kid just won’t forget. Kind, gentle, thoughtful, flexible, and funny, she is brilliant at stepping in when needed, but also stepping back when the kids are doing great without her direction. My son has learned so much about how to play with others and Cyndi was instrumental in helping him through a rough patch of separation anxiety. As a child psychologist, I know that kind of support is hard to come by and invaluable. I truly can’t recommend Cyndi and Backyard Explorers strongly enough!

I had the pleasure of working with my student in Backyard Explorers. Cyndi was very friendly, welcoming and kind hearted. She provided a safe and calming environment for my student to explore a variety of sensory modalities through water play, digging dirt, painting with a sand mixture and watering plants in the garden. She even invested in resources based on his interest such as a large Pete the cat sticker book and a collection of Pete the Cat books that he loved. She was also patient and kind with the other children and let them develop their innate sense of curiosity with different pipes and yarn to pretend they were engineers and pirates on a ship looking for treasure.

Backyard Explorers has been a wonderfully nurturing, fun and perfect experience for my daughter’s first separation experience from me with a group. Cyndi is so attuned to the children and so gentle. The groups are always three max. My daughter went from crying when I stepped away from her for a moment, to easily separating with a hug and readiness to start her morning. As a child psychologist, I’ve probably been pickier than another parents in many ways, and the experience that my daughter has had is incomparable. Backyard Explorers just meets kids where they are with sensory play, self - direction, small group size, lovely child friendships, and a teacher/ guide who has become someone my daughter trusts and loves and feels safe to explore and learn express herself with. My daughter had language delays and I think Cyndi’s attentiveness and patience really was vital in helping my daughter find her words. What a gem of an experience!