Pre Tour Information

Our favorite classrooms of all, beloved by teachers, children and parents alike is the 11 acres that surrounds us. Though each of our programs has beautiful classrooms and a base camp where we begin and end our day, all of our groups can be seen exploring every corner of this land that is home to Harmony. 

Children who begin in our Young Child Community move into one of our Primary Programs when they are ready, typically around age three. Those who join Harmony at age three or older enroll directly in either the Montessori Classroom or the Forest Program, where they remain through preschool or kindergarten. We ask that families not plan to leave for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) in the public schools. A powerful experience is had when a child is allowed to grow through our mixed-age classrooms, entering as the youngest and growing to be the oldest. In this way, our children experience mastery, offer benevolence, and provide mentorship to their younger peers. They leave our program having experienced belonging and a sense of importance within their community.

Harmony graduates go on to attend local public schools such as Strawberry Point, Edna Maguire, Tam Valley, Old Mill, Park, and Reed, as well as independent schools including Mount Tamalpais, Marin Country Day, Mark Day, and New Village.

We recognize that raising children within a community of shared agreements is an empowering experience. It allows parents to relax with one another, to trust in the collective care of the group, and to hold the school as a sacred space,  one where we align around what best serves our children.

Harmony families believe in the child’s innate ability to grow and contribute meaningfully. Adults guide with respect, provide consistent boundaries, and model kindness.

Our classrooms follow a few simple principles:

• Children may choose their own work and continue for as long as they wish, as long as they are not disturbing others or harming materials.

• We don’t require children to share or say “I’m sorry” on command. Instead, we teach conflict resolution and healthy boundaries. Children are encouraged to ask for what they want (“can I please play with the dump truck when you are done?”) And to recognize that classroom materials belong to everyone, (“yes, I’ll give it to you when I’m finished.”)

• We don’t use timeouts or punitive forms of discipline. Instead, teachers aim to get at the heart of what is going on with the child.

At Harmony, we do not hold the belief that a child is inherently naughty, mean, or a bully. This perspective requires us to look deeper at behavior,  to see what a child might be communicating through their actions. Children are constantly seeking firm boundaries; clear expectations help them feel safe and grounded. Often, challenging behavior stems from inconsistent boundaries, lack of follow-through, or mixed signals from caregivers.

At times, developmental differences or sensory processing challenges may also lead to dysregulation and difficulty with self-control. When this occurs, it’s essential that parents, teachers, and the broader community work together to understand and support the child. In the early years, self-regulation is still developing. By learning how each child experiences the world, we can respond with understanding and provide the right kind of guidance and structure.

The early years are a time of imagination and deep sensory learning. Harmony families agree to limit screen time, reserving it for shared experiences like family movie nights rather than solitary viewing. Families are also conscious of the content that they are exposing their children to, as well as the pace of the frame changes that occur on the screen. Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Montessori educators shows that limited exposure supports creativity, attention, and emotional balance.

We provide a self-service snack in all of our programs. All food served at Harmony is whole-grain, organic when possible, well-balanced, minimally processed and free of artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners.

Families are responsible for providing a packed lunch that follows similar guidelines and is waste-free (with reusable containers rather than single-use plastics.) These small daily choices help children develop lifelong respect for their bodies and for the earth’s resources.

Our community agreements don’t mean every family lives by identical rules. What’s important is shared respect. Each family brings its own rhythms and traditions, while honoring the values we uphold together.