Now Enrolling for Our New Location Opening Fall 2026

Ages 2-5 • Atascadero, CA

Red preschool building in Atascadero, CA with a sign that reads 'The Barnyard Preschool,' wooden shutters on the window, flower box, and garden in front.

Who We Are

The Barnyard is a small play-based program where kids get to be kids.

The Barnyard is built on a foundation that provides a safe environment where all children can thrive and experience physical, emotional, cognitive, and social growth. We spend our days inside and out, exploring and learning through play, the way young children learn best.

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Our Program

At the Barnyard, play is the heart of how children grow and learn. Barnyard kids develop their social-emotional skills through early relationships and experiences. They learn to share, listen, take turns, and express their big feelings appropriately. They have the opportunity to practice empathy, resilience, and confidence.

Research shows us that through play children strengthen their critical thinking skills, focus, creativity, and problem solving.

Two young children sitting at a wooden table playing with a large glass terrarium filled with green artificial grass, plastic insects, and small tools, in a room with a door leading outside.

Play-Based Learning

Hands-on, real play that supports social, emotional, and early learning skills.

Two young children playing in an outdoor sandbox with toy shovels and pans, surrounded by soap and soil, with a wooden fence in the background.

Outdoor + Messy Play

Lots of time outside exploring, creating, and getting a little dirty.

Children lying on a colorful quilt outdoors, facing an animal enclosure behind a wire mesh, with some children wearing sneakers and one boy wearing a black beanie.

Small Group Care

A calm environment with low ratios and plenty of individual attention.

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Check Out Our Preschool

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Testimonials

“Our time at the Barnyard meant so much to our family. The warmth, patience, and genuine care from the staff helped our children grow into confident, happy kids. It was such a comfort knowing they were in a place where they felt safe, supported, and truly cared for. The Barnyard fostered a love of learning from an early age and helped our children form lifelong friendships along the way. We will always be grateful for the role The Barnyard played in those early years.”
— Ellie B.
“Our family absolutely loves The Barnyard! Stacie and the team have been wonderful to work with and have created such a supportive, nurturing environment for our son. We especially appreciate the small group setting, which allows for more individualized attention and a strong sense of community. The kids spend so much time outdoors exploring and engaging in creative craft projects, which we value so much. It’s clear how much thought and care goes into each day. Many afternoons, our son is having so much fun that he isn’t quite ready to leave! The Barnyard truly is a special place, and we feel so lucky to be a part of it.”
— Hayley D.
“We enrolled our son at the Barnyard in 2022. It was our first time leaving him in the care of someone other than family. Little do we know The Barnyard would become part of our family. We later enrolled our daughter. The Barnyard fosters curiosity and learning through art, imaginative play and outdoor activities. We are so grateful to Stacie and her team for giving our kids such an incredible place to learn and make lifelong friends!”
— The St. Johns