Welcoming Little Explorers — Mid-Term 2025-26 Enrollments Open!
To redefine early education by honouring the whole child - mind, body, and to redefine early childhood education by offering a learning journey that honours the whole child mind, heart, and body through the wisdom of nature and research-based practices, where every child’s curiosity, potential, and individuality are celebrated. spirit - in harmony with nature and research-based practice.
We strive to bring this vision to life by creating a vibrant ecosystem where learning is joyful, meaningful, and inspiring. Through guided exploration led by expert teachers, hands-on experiences, literacy, language, math, and science activities, and immersive outdoor engagement, our children develop curiosity, confidence, compassion, and a lifelong love of learning. Our approach is screen-free, allowing children to fully engage with their environment, peers, and ideas, while fostering focus, creativity, and social-emotional growth. By partnering closely with families and nurturing every child with care and intention, we prepare them to grow into self-directed learners and thoughtful, responsible citizens of the world.
At The Bambini Creek, every child is cherished, celebrated, and encouraged to discover their own unique rhythm of learning. Our preschool is a place where the wonders of nature meet the strength of research, creating a joyful, nurturing environment where children feel truly at home.
We believe in nurturing the whole child-building not just strong minds, but also kind hearts, adaptable spirits, and resilient little humans. Our carefully balanced approach combines thoughtfully designed classrooms with expansive outdoor experiences, giving children the freedom to explore, imagine, and grow.
Drawing inspiration from global best practices, our American program lays the foundations for literacy, early numeracy, language, and discovery skills, while igniting curiosity, problem-solving, and creative thinking.
With small student–teacher ratios, a screen-free environment, and educators trained to see every child for who they are, we cultivate confidence, empathy, and a lifelong love of learning that flows far beyond the preschool years.
Drawing inspiration from global best practices, our American program lays the foundations for literacy, early numeracy, language, and discovery skills, while igniting curiosity, problem-solving, and creative thinking. With small student–teacher ratios, a screen-free environment, and educators trained to see every child for who they are, we cultivate confidence, empathy, and a lifelong love of learning that flows far beyond the preschool years.
It is with deep joy that I share the story of The Bambini Creek. What began as a vision almost two decades ago has blossomed into a preschool designed to honor every child’s natural curiosity, wonder, and potential. This journey has been shaped by years of learning, unlearning, reflecting, and holding onto a dream that never faded. Experiences from my time in California, my Master’s in Educational Leadership at Santa Clara University, and most importantly, my time at Stanford’s Bing Nursery School, profoundly influenced this vision. At Bing, I witnessed the transformative power of early childhood education rooted in research, observation, and deep respect for children. Education became more than classrooms and curriculums; it became living ecosystems where children’s innate curiosity could flourish. Today, that vision is real.
The Bambini Creek is not just a preschool, it is an ecosystem, a promise: to create a space where children’s earliest learning experiences are filled with joy, discovery, and meaningful connections. Our vision brings together the best of two worlds: Expansive living classrooms under open skies, where children climb trees, dig in the mud, care for animals, and learn from the rhythms of the natural world. Thoughtfully curated, research-based indoor learning environments that nurture early literacy, numeracy, and conceptual thinking using global best practices.
Learning thrives when children are free to explore, take risks, ask questions, and form relationships with the world around them. With hope and joy, we invite you to experience this journey with us.
Welcome to The Bambini Creek!
We will empower children to develop:
Deep emotional intelligence to understand themselves and connect meaningfully with others
And just as importantly, we believe in walking hand-in-hand with parents.
One of my strongest convictions is that when parents and educators partner meaningfully, children flourish. At Bambini Creek, families aren’t just welcomed, they are essential to the journey. We honour parents as a child’s first teachers, and together, we co-create an environment of trust, continuity, and care, both at school and at home.
It’s taken years of learning, listening, and dreaming. And now, it’s real.
With immense joy and a heart full of gratitude, I’m proud to announce the launch of Bambini Creek.
Umme Salma, Founder and Director
At The Bambini Creek, we believe every child’s learning journey is unique. Our curriculum blends Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, and play-based approaches with American foundational practices that emphasize literacy, language development, and a love of reading. This thoughtful integration creates a holistic education that honors the whole child mind, heart, and body while laying strong foundations in communication, comprehension, numeracy, and conceptual understanding.
We follow Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), curating each program to match children’s age, milestones, and needs. As children progress through grade levels, they are closely monitored and guided, with increasingly complex and challenging elements added to the curriculum framework ensuring that learning remains engaging, meaningful, and suited to their stage of development. For example, younger children may explore sounds, letters, and numbers through play, while older ones advance into early reading, comprehension, problem-solving, and abstract thinking.
Reggio-inspired environments spark exploration, imagination, independence, and self-expression through hands-on learning and discovery. Waldorf principles infuse rhythm, creativity, and storytelling, nurturing curiosity, wonder, and a deep love of learning. Guided by an emergent, child-led curriculum, children follow their interests while developing essential skills in literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving. With strong roots in the American approach, we help children not only become confident readers and effective communicators but also build a solid foundation for academic growth and lifelong learning.
Education here goes beyond academics. Character, emotional intelligence, and social connection form the core of our philosophy. Values of kindness, respect, resilience, and adaptability are woven into daily life, helping children learn how to think critically, collaborate with empathy, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
At The Bambini Creek, we nurture lifelong learners-curious, confident, and compassionate who grow with strong roots and open wings. Every experience is designed to inspire, ensuring that children carry forward not just knowledge, but a genuine love for learning that guides them throughout life.
Bambini Nature Club extends the philosophy of The Bambini Creek beyond the school day, offering after-school camps and activities for children ages 2 to 6. Rooted in our nature-rich environment, with its creek, trees, boulders, animals, and thoughtfully designed spaces, the Club provides curated experiences that nurture the whole child in joyful, meaningful ways.
