Backyard Explorers

★★★★★Una Chung

Cyndi is that rare person a parent of a toddler dreams of meeting — someone wise and playful enough to enter into the world of a young child and open it up further with gentle guidance toward nature (dirt, worms, elusive cats, sudden rainbows), tactile technology (liquids, colors, containers, bubbles), and human interaction (jumping, splashing, dancing). Cyndi helped us one-on-one at a critical moment in our child’s life (at age 2-1/5) with the challenges of first separation from parents. Given a previous negative experience, if we hadn’t met Cyndi at this time, we might never have known how gently this process could happen. Our child seemed to grow as much as his environment allowed; Cyndi’s backyard brought out his “radiant joy” (to borrow Cyndi’s own words) throughout the summer and into year 3. He has learned to have happy anticipation about going somewhere where he’d be on his own and comes home with new words for new experiences. Amazingly, he consistently walked (or more like ran) into Cyndi’s magical Brooklyn home-garden. We have met many kindhearted people working in childcare in New York (as well as the less than inspired) but no one like Cyndi, who raised the bar on what we could even imagine toddler education to be.

★★★★★Hannah Johnson-Walsh

My child has been going to Backyard Explorers for two summers and absolutely loves it. Cyndi is an amazing educator and is always coming up with exciting new things for the kids to experience. She is incredibly warm and welcoming and fosters such a fun, inclusive, and engaging environment for little ones.

★★★★★Alexandra Zelman-Doring

Cyndi is the most vibrant, honest, talented, funny, kind, and fun early childhood educator we have ever encountered. The joy she brings to our children knows no bounds and her love of what she does just shines through. Our son has grown so much since he started with her, she has inspired and taught him. Under her guidance and care he has formed deep and lasting friendships. She knows how to tap into his deepest curiosities! We highly recommend Backyard explorers to anyone looking for their child to experience freedom joy and learning all in one! All under the wonderful care of a truly compassionate, funny, kind person with so much experience.

★★★★★michael jones

I can’t say enough great things about Cyndi and her backyard explorers program. First of all the backyard space is fantastic. When we first walked in our sometimes shy daughter couldn’t wait to let go of our hands and explore the yard and sheltered area full of all the things toddlers love. Our daughter attended the summer camp. It became a place she looked forward to every single day. And Cyndi is like a toddler whisperer who has such a kind, patient and loving spirit. We felt so comfortable leaving our daughter with her.

★★★★★Carolyn Kessler

Backyard Explorers is Brooklyn’s best-kept preschool secret. It is small- three kids max- which is perfect for young kids just getting started socializing with their peers and going to school. Held primarily outside, the yard itself looks like an outdoor school, and the kids are free to explore the different areas, as well as come up with their own fun. Cyndi is the owner and teacher. She is one of those teachers you and your kid just won’t forget. Kind, gentle, thoughtful, flexible, and funny, she is brilliant at stepping in when needed, but also stepping back when the kids are doing great without her direction. My son has learned so much about how to play with others and Cyndi was instrumental in helping him through a rough patch of separation anxiety. As a child psychologist, I know that kind of support is hard to come by and invaluable. I truly can’t recommend Cyndi and Backyard Explorers strongly enough!