About Your Teacher
Meet Sarika
Founder and lead teacher of Garden Playhouse — a lifelong learner.
that's me!
Founder and lead teacher of Garden Playhouse — a lifelong learner.
Hi, I'm Sarika — the founder and lead teacher at Garden Playhouse. After completing my PhD in Economics and spending years in academics and corporate work, I realized my true passion was inspiring a love of learning in children. That realization became Garden Playhouse — a place where I could bring together everything I believe about how children truly grow: through rhythm, nature, imagination, and hands-on work.
My own two kids sparked this journey. Raising them six years apart taught me just how differently children grow and learn at each stage — and how much older and younger siblings can teach each other along the way. My son is heading off to college this fall, and that same hands-on experience of raising both a toddler and a teenager is something I bring into this program every day.
I went back to school to study early childhood education and finished more than 60 units of coursework. I currently hold a director's permit in early childhood education and a certification in Waldorf education, and I'm pursuing a master's degree in child and adolescent development from San José State University.
I keep our group intentionally small, so every child gets real individual attention — and I have a wonderful assistant teacher with me five days a week who's warm, reliable, and always there before the day begins.
I look forward to meeting you and your child, and welcoming your family into our program.
With children from one year old through school age growing together in the same small group, our days look less like a classroom and more like a big, mixed-age family.
Our youngest children learn by watching and imitating the older ones — language, movement, and confidence, all absorbed simply by being nearby.
Older children learn something a same-age classroom can't teach them: how to be patient, gentle, and caring toward someone smaller than them.
Many of our families become close with one another, and the friendships — for parents and children alike — often continue long after their time here.
Our daughter Anya started at just 10 months old, and from day one she was in the most loving hands. Sarika even set up a special feeding chair just for her — that thoughtfulness meant everything to us as first-time parents.
Our daughter attended for 18 months and the experience was wonderful. Sarika personally prepares all the food, including homemade bread, and sends photos and videos of the day's activities — she greatly improved our child's eating skills and helped with potty training.
Sarika's experience and attention to detail stood out. She gave great insight into our daughter's progress and what we could work on at home, and went above and beyond with every request.
My son started at 15 months and stayed until he was 3 — he took his first steps and learned to eat on his own here. The Waldorf philosophy and Sarika's patience helped his imagination and language truly flourish.
My kids love it here. The staff is kind and attentive, and Sarika always puts our kids first — they look forward to coming every day.
My son learned to eat by himself and even started speaking Hindi since starting here. He's always happy to go, and Sarika is kind, patient, and attentive to every child's needs.
I'd love to show you around and answer any questions you have.
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