Table of Contents
At Preschool Social Academy (PSA) in Winchester, gardening has become a joyful and integral part of the school’s outdoor learning program.
Beyond the fun of digging in the dirt, gardening offers endless opportunities for growth — in every sense of the word.
“Gardening is one of our favorite ways to connect hands-on learning with the natural world,” said Kimberly Higgins, founder and director of PSA. “It supports so many areas of child development while bringing a sense of wonder and accomplishment to our students.”
Through gardening, children strengthen physical and sensory skills as they dig, plant, and care for growing vegetables. They build math and science knowledge by counting and sorting seeds, measuring soil and water, and observing life cycles and the role of insects.
Pre-reading and language skills bloom too, as children recognize picture-word signs labeling each plant.
The benefits extend beyond academics — working in the garden promotes responsibility, patience, and emotional well-being, while reducing stress and improving mood. Perhaps best of all, children gain exposure to healthy foods and often delight in tasting what they’ve grown themselves.
This season, PSA’s young gardeners have harvested cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, beans, peppers, pumpkins, and strawberries — with pride and enthusiasm in every bite.
Making a difference
Since opening its doors in 2008, Preschool Social Academy has grown from a single classroom into Winchester’s leading early education program.
The school began with just four students, and now, the school contains up to 76 children across five classrooms. This exponential growth is the result of the long-standing, stellar reputation in the Winchester community as the leader in preschools.
To this day, PSA is the only full-day preschool in the Boston area following the Reggio Emilia approach.
Reggio Emilia is a philosophy that started in Italy during World War II. It is a child-centered approach that views children as competent, capable and independent learners. Children are recognized as having the ability to guide their own learning through exploration. The Reggio Approach focuses on collaboration and community.
“At PSA, our goal has always been to make learning joyful and meaningful,” said Higgins, who started the school at just 25 years old. “We want children to love learning: not because they have to, but because they’re inspired to explore and discover.”
Across all five classrooms, the biggest commonality is how happy the children are while learning. While playing, a child was overheard saying, “I love this place, it feels like home.” This is a common theme at PSA. Children grow and thrive when they feel safe and comfortable.
The Reggio philosophy is visible throughout the school, as each classroom is intentionally designed to encourage independence and exploration. The beautiful classrooms have large windows, filling the space with natural light.
The teachers use natural materials in activities: for science, art and play. When you step into a classroom, child-created artwork decorates the walls. These elements combined make the environment itself a “third teacher,” a phrase the founder of the Reggio Approach uses often.
PSA has aligned its curriculum with the Winchester Public Schools, using the Massachusetts Department of Education’s Curriculum Frameworks: Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences.
This curriculum provides the students with an underlying academic foundation seamlessly meshed with play-based activities and loads of fun. Kindergarten-readiness is always a main focus, and parents constantly rave about how their children are more prepared compared to their peers once they are placed in public school classrooms.
At PSA, outdoor learning is central to the school’s philosophy. There are many outdoor spaces the children frequently use, including the school’s two outdoor classrooms, along with nearby natural spaces such as the Tri-Community Greenway, Aberjona River, and Leonard Playground.
These spaces provide daily opportunities for children to explore nature, develop physical skills, and connect with the world around them. The PSA team regularly collaborates with the leading outside education specialists to continually enhance their outdoor curriculum. PSA aims to spend 33% of the day outside, through all seasons. The teachers are passionate about how important fresh air is for the children’s development.
“Our time outside isn’t just recess — it’s real learning,” Higgins explained. “Children are counting seeds, observing plant growth, sketching insects, and learning about ecosystems firsthand.”
PSA prides itself on hiring the very best teachers with solid, educational backgrounds and a myriad of certifications. The teachers are compassionate and experienced. In each classroom, there is at least one teacher that holds a degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field, and many have been with the school for years.
Very little teacher turnover occurs ever, ensuring that the students have stability. Teachers have been at PSA for on average over five years, and several have worked at PSA for over a decade. This experienced, dedicated team creates a warm, stable environment where children thrive.
Families looking for the best in early education do not need to look any further than Preschool Social Academy: where the very best in our teachers meets the very best in your children.
Learn more at www.preschoolsocial.com or visit the school at 50 Cross St., Winchester. There are regular Open Houses throughout the year, and you can book a tour through the PSA website.
This article was written by Preschool Social Academy (PSA) in cooperation with Winchester News.
