Have questions Farm School OC/SD

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What ages is the Caregiver & Me program for?

We recommend our Caregiver & Me program for children ages 15 months to 4 years old. However, we’re flexible with ages because a caregiver is present and actively participates alongside their child throughout the class.

If you feel your child would enjoy the experience and benefit from participating, even if they are a little younger or older than our recommended age range, we encourage you to reach out! We want every family to feel welcome and find the program that best fits their child’s developmental stage.

2. Can I stay with my child during the Farm School classes for ages 3½–7 and 8–12?

Our Farm School classes for ages 3½–7 and 8–12 are designed as drop-off programs to help children build independence, confidence, and connections with their teachers and classmates. This allows students to fully immerse themselves in hands-on farm activities, animal care, nature exploration, and group learning experiences.

We understand that separating from a caregiver can be challenging for some children, especially at first! Our teachers are experienced in helping children feel comfortable and supported as they adjust to the classroom environment.

To maintain a consistent, safe, and fair learning environment for all students, caregivers do not stay with children during class. If your child is having difficulty with separation, please reach out to us so we can discuss strategies to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

3. Why is there a registration fee?

For the safety of all our students, every child is required to wear a Farm School OC/SD shirt whenever they are participating in our farm programs. This helps our teachers easily identify our students while we explore and learn around the farm.

Our one-time registration fee helps cover the cost of your child’s required Farm School OC/SD shirt, along with the administrative work involved in setting up your child’s enrollment.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and organized environment for all of our Farm School families!

4. What if I lose my Farm School OC/SD shirt?

For the safety of all our students, children are required to wear their Farm School OC/SD shirt at all times while participating in our farm programs. This helps our teachers easily identify students while we explore the farm and participate in activities.

If your child’s shirt is lost or forgotten, our teachers will have extra shirts available for use during class. Replacement shirts can also be purchased for $25 under the Products tab on our registration website.

Thank you for helping us keep our students safe!

5. What happens if my child has behavioral or disciplinary challenges while at Farm School?

At Farm School OC/SD, the safety and well-being of every child, our teachers, and the animals are always our top priorities. Because our programs take place on public properties and working farms, it is especially important that all students follow safety guidelines and teacher directions.

We understand that children are still learning and developing important social and emotional skills. However, behaviors such as repeatedly refusing to follow safety directions, wandering away from the group, or hitting, kicking, or spitting at other students or animals can create unsafe situations.

If a child's behavior compromises the safety of the group or prevents our teachers from safely supervising the class, a parent or caregiver will be contacted and may be asked to pick up their child early.

If these challenges continue, we may need to discuss whether our program is the right fit at this time, and continued enrollment may not be possible.

We approach these situations with compassion and understanding. Every child develops at their own pace, and sometimes a child may simply need more time to mature before participating successfully in a drop-off farm program. Our goal is always to support families while maintaining a safe, positive, and enriching experience for everyone.