Child wearing red safety goggles drilling screws into a wooden board outdoors.
Line drawing of a child inside a cardboard box with the text "Miss Kari's Playschool".

An Outdoor Christian Preschool and TK Provider for Santa Barbara and Goleta

Celebrating the essence of childhood through wonder, curiosity, and faith.

A child shows their hands that are covered in bright blue paint, with a pallet of paint colors in the background.

Nurturing the whole child:

body, soul, and spirit. 

Miss Kari’s Playschool exists to provide a small family-style neighborhood preschool with the purpose of nurturing the whole-child: body, soul, and spirit, and to celebrate the essence of early childhood through wonder, curiosity and faith. 

A backyard outdoor space with a large pink umbrella, a stone border, a small blue mat with toys, a picnic table, colorful rainbows and bottles, a wooden fence, and trees in the background.

Large Outdoor Space

Child with curly blonde hair playing on a large fallen tree in a backyard with outdoor play area and wood fencing.

Small Group Size

Person holding a magnifying glass over a flower arrangement with pink, white, and purple flowers on a light-colored table.

Bible-Based Values

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Schedule & Tuition
More Information

Hi, I’m Miss Kari!

Any day that I get to spend with children is a great day for me! I have a deep passion for teaching and guiding children to know the love of God. I’m a sucker for great children’s literature and music, and can happily spend all day reading, singing, and playing with kids. I’m passionate about allowing children to fully experience the magic of childhood by giving them ample time to play and discover the world in a rush-free environment. 

I moved to the Santa Barbara/Goleta area thirty years ago when I met my husband. We’ve loved raising our children here, and now that they’re all grown, I’m happy to be nurturing the next generation of children in our community.

In college, I studied Children's Ministry, and I have worked with children ever since. I homeschooled our four kids ran a children's ministry, and taught at a local preschool. Through all of my experiences working with children, I’ve formed a philosophy that embodies a deep respect for childhood—believing that children thrive when they are allowed to simply be children. I believe that childhood is a gift to be savored, not a job to be hurried through, and that children learn best when they feel safe and loved.

In my personal time, I enjoy photography and gardening, which are great outlets for my creative side. Recently, much of my heart and energy have been devoted to dreaming up and building this little backyard school—a place where I can share my love of children, nurture the simple joys of childhood.

A woman with reddish-brown hair smiling in front of a field of colorful flowers under a cloudy sky.
Group of smiling people taking a selfie in front of a wooden wall with windows.
A woman smiling and holding a handful of children's books in a library or bookstore, with shelves of books and decorative items in the background.

What can you expect from Miss Kari’s Playschool?

  • Our days are spent in a spacious yard which provides sunshine, fresh air, and plenty of opportunity for large and fine motor development.

  • We maintain a small group of children in order to give patient, individual attention and instruction to each child. Additionally we will create an environment that fosters curiosity and wonder through art, play, music, and literature.

  • We nurture the spirit by providing Bible-based values and education, teaching children that they are deeply loved by God, that they can depend on Him to be their constant help, and that they were thoughtfully created with a purpose.

  • School is held outside every day, rain or shine, with the option to come inside on severe weather days.

  • The majority of our learning time consists of hands-on play and exploration. Children explore math, science, and language arts concepts through play throughout the day.

    Focused community learning times include: alphabet, writing, counting, group cooperation, Bible lessons, Scripture memory, music, literature, art, and more.

Check us out on Instagram!

If you or your child are fans of “The Wheels on the Bus” and hate listening to dinky nursery-style music like I do, check out my two favorite versions 🚌 I wish I could play Ukulele Jim’s version for you in this post. It’s so
Focused group times are some of my favorites moments! I love singing songs, reading books, and having intentional conversations children. This week in our group times we: -Talked about kindness and manners -Talked about opposites and comparison word
Another magical day at the Playschool ☀️🍭🌈
Childhood magic is running through the sprinklers on a hot day 🌈
Today… 🤩 During Meeting Time we - Counted to FOUR! - Continued building our fine motor skills by ripping paper and peeling/sticking tape - Read a fun book about animal noises and sang Old MacDonald - Danced to some fun action songs - Measured
Day 3! 🤩 During MEETING TIME we - Introduced a song about the days of the week - Added our 3rd butterfly to the wall, and counted to three! - Wished each other well and have a short prayer for each other. - Worked on our fine motor skills with ri

Kind Words

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Kind Words ❊

  • A screenshot of a heartfelt message praising Ms. Kari, a preschool and TK teacher, for creating a nurturing and structured environment for children, and helping a son build confidence and independence.

    "...equal parts nurturing and structured...perfect balance between warmth and expectations..."

  • "BEST teacher in the whole wide world...thank you for teaching me and the fun stuff."

  • Text excerpt about a school teacher named Miss Kari, praising her for her caring, creativity, and positive influence on children, including her role as a cheerleader and nurturer.

    "...my son always felt safe with her and like his happiness mattered."

  • A handwritten letter on white paper expressing love and affection to Miss Kari, signed by Flynn. The letter mentions enjoying playing and singing with her and appreciating her as a favorite teacher.

    "I love when I play with you... I love when you sings songs with me. You're my favorite teacher I've ever had."

  • Screenshot of a text message praising Miss Kari, describing her as kind, warm, nurturing, and effective with children, and expressing gratitude for her influence on the speaker's child.

    "She creates a joyful environment that children love coming back to, where they feel heard, understood, encouraged, and inspired."

  • Two handwritten notes, one on light green paper and one on white paper. The green note is a thank you letter to Miss Kari, expressing appreciation for being a teacher, mentioning favorite things like giving high fives, reading books, and going to the playground, with a signature. The white note lists three things the writer loves about Miss Kari: calling for circle time, receiving a kiss from a turtle, and her blessings during Bible time, with some purple markings in the upper right corner.

    "...I like when you read books in class." - "I love when Miss Kari gives me blessings during Bible time."

  • A screenshot of a text message or note expressing gratitude and admiration to a teacher named Miss Kari, highlighting her teaching style, love for her students, and personal qualities.

    "...the way you speak to the children is very very special, you have a gift."

  • Two handwritten notes of appreciation to teachers, one on a pink card and one on a white card with a pink bow design, expressing love and gratitude.

    "I love you! You're the BEST teacher." - "I love when you encourage me when I'm learning new things."

  • A handwritten thank you card with colorful stickers, including a purple flower, a blue flower, a flying heart with angel wings, and a penguin, conveying appreciation for a teacher.

    "It's evident...how good you are at your craft and how much passion you have for our growing kids." - "I wish I was in your class forever."