Perch Farm Foundation &
Becca’s Book Box

Present

Perch Playgroup

Winter & Spring Sessions Open Now
perch-farm-illustration

Read, sing, and play with us to build language, make friends (both human and animal), and grow as a lifelong learner!

This weekly class at Perch Farm is child-centered, play-based, and dedicated time outside. It is designed for children ages six months through five years. This opportunity was created to allow you to set aside time each week to grow and learn alongside your child. Let’s read together, sing songs and make music, dance our hearts out, learn through play, and meet new animal friends each week. Your child will have the chance to interact and bond with you, explore the natural world around them while making new friends, and build their confidence as they try new things.

Register Now

Why Perch Playgroup?

Our team has taken great care in designing the perfect combination of reading, singing, and playing outside to enable true play and growth opportunities to take place. At these young and tender ages, children are most comfortable alongside a loved one. This caregiver and me class will allow your child to feel secure, spend time outside in nature, reach new milestones, and gain confidence in their growth and learning.

“The way to a child’s mind is through their heart.” – Gordon Neufeld

The research is clear. Children need to be outside and they need to be playing. This playgroup provides an opportunity for both. Children and caregivers who join us for playgroup will get the benefit of language and literacy growth, building and practicing social skills, experiences to express creativity, fine and gross motor development, and loving encounters with live farm animals.

Online registration for Perch Playgroups will open at 10am on Saturday, November 2nd.

Register Now
reading outside

Reading

Each playgroup will open with an interactive read aloud and a special time to enjoy a story together.
headphones

Playing

Through theme-based play, children can explore, try new things, learn, and grow.
music

Singing

Language grows through signing. We will sing and dance and move our bodies together.

Making new friends

Both children and caregivers will have the opportunity to make new friends as they play together and meet new animals each week.

Meet the Team

Nicolette-Conn-Founder-of-Perch-Farm-Foundation

Nicolette Conn

Founder of Perch Farm Foundation

About Nicci

Hello! I was born and raised in Cincinnati in a Dutch household where my parents imported flower bulbs from the Netherlands. I went on to get my Bachelor’s degree in communications from Ohio University. In 2015, my husband and I founded Perch Farm as a hobby that quickly grew into a labor of love. What started as a small farm venture became our passion, particularly in sharing our knowledge and love for farming with children and our community at large. This led us to establish a non-profit organization focused on education, turning our farm into a valuable resource for sustainable agriculture practices.

Learn more here

Becca-Gasiewicz-Thiemann-PhD-in-Literacy-Owner-of-Becca’s-Book-Box

Becca Gasiewicz Thiemann

PhD in Literacy, Owner of Becca’s Book Box

About Becca

Hi! I am a mom, literacy expert, and author of Kindergarten Ready Through Play. I received my Masters from Xavier in Early Childhood Education and my doctorate from the University of Cincinnati. I am the founder of Becca’s Book Box & Tutoring Services and we serve families through K-12 tutoring, storytimes, and parent education. Creating opportunities for children to play, read, and be outside is a dream come true. Helping children and families find a love of reading and learning is my ultimate goal. Most of the time, you can find me spending time with my two children, 5 and 18 months, and my husband.

Learn more here

Kathleen-Koester

Kathleen Koester

Lead Teacher

About Kathleen

Kathleen is an enthusiastic Early Childhood educator with a Master’s in Education from Mount Saint Joseph University and a Bachelor’s in Family Studies from The Ohio State University. She has spent over 15 years bringing joy to learning through imaginative, hands-on, and play-based activities. Kathleen believes in the magic of early education and she hopes to foster a lifelong love for learning and curiosity in her young students. Outside of education, she can be found chasing her two energetic children through local parks, enjoying a cup of coffee with her family, or working on home decor projects.
perch-play-group-Cincinnati

What they’re saying…

“Perch Farm Playgroup is the highlight of our week! Not only is the farm beautiful, but the content that is taught each week is so fun. I love that each session has a different focus and different play stations/crafts but the structure stays the same from week to week. My daughter has loved getting to meet a new animal each week and I look forward to it too! I can’t say enough wonderful things about Miss Kathleen, Miss Nicci, and Miss Becca. They are so wonderful with the children (and adults) and this is such a special and unique experience.”
– Annamarie
“Perch Playgroup is an incredibly special way to spend one on one time with my daughter while her brother is in school. The setting is gorgeous, the people are warm, and the activities are so well planned and engaging. Of course, meeting a special farm animal friend each week has also been a highlight for both of us! The group allows me to truly focus on my daughter without distractions and I have absolutely loved watching her explore and express herself each week.”
– Tricia
“Playgroup has far exceeded any and all expectations we had for a morning activity for our little ones! Becca, Kathleen and Nicci have carefully thought out every detail (from the activities to the books read to the children, to the crafts and the special animal visits!) and it shows. We have enjoyed our session immensely and cannot wait to sign back up next season!”
– Heather
“This takes your typical mommy and me activity up a notch and we couldn’t be happier or more excited to enroll for the next session! The weekly themes, introduction of new live animals, and physical, mental and emotional stimulation have created a truly unique and authentic morning of reading, crafts, sensory play and memory-making with my son every week! Thank you and kudos! Just what we never knew we needed!”
– Katie
“Perch Playgroup is our favorite weekly activity! My daughter and I joined Perch for the fall session and look forward to going every single week. Perch Farm itself is nestled in Indian Hill surrounded by gorgeous trees and the cutest barn. Miss Nicci, the farmer, introduces us to a new farm animal every week, and it’s always a fun surprise to see which animal we will be meeting…”
– Cassidy

We are now offering Winter and Spring sessions. Participants register for one session per week.

Winter is 6-week program and Spring is a 10-week program.

Ages 6 months through 5 years of age

Cost: $200 for Winter, $400 for Spring

(10% discount for siblings)

Online registration for Perch Playgroups will open at 10am on November 2nd, 2024.

Winter Class Dates + Times

Tuesdays, January 14th through February 18th, 2025
9:30-10:30 and 10:45-11:45 am

Thursdays, January 16th through February 20th, 2025
9:30-10:30 and 10:45-11:45 am

(6-week program, one class per week)

Spring Class Dates + Times

Classes will be offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Beginning March 11th, 2025 through May 15th, 2025
9-10:15 am and 10:30-11:45 am

(10-week program, one class per week)

Register Now

Questions?

Contact us at:
perchplaygroup@gmail.com

Nicci Conn
Perch Farm Foundation
513.444.3460

Becca Thiemann
Becca’s Book Box
724.699.2193

baby-animals-perch-farm-in-indian-hill-ohio
About the Farm

Discover Perch Farm in Indian Hill

Perch Farm Foundation is an educational foundation dedicated to learning opportunities for children and the community. In this exquisite setting, children will be gifted so many new experiences through play, farm fun, and more.

Learn More Here
kindergarten readiness resources

What they’re saying…

“This takes your typical mommy and me activity up a notch and we couldn’t be happier or more excited to enroll for the next session! The weekly themes, introduction of new live animals, and physical, mental and emotional stimulation have created a truly unique and authentic morning of reading, crafts, sensory play and memory-making with my son every week! Thank you and kudos! Just what we never knew we needed!”
– Katie
“Playgroup has far exceeded any and all expectations we had for a morning activity for our little ones! Becca, Kathleen and Nicci have carefully thought out every detail (from the activities to the books read to the children, to the crafts and the special animal visits!) and it shows. We have enjoyed our session immensely and cannot wait to sign back up next season!”
– Heather
“…The teachers are so sweet and fun. They have created a great variety of themes and play invitations/stations that keep my daughter engaged the whole time. Storytime and reading are interwoven throughout our time at Perch and my daughter loves to choose books to read from the library Miss Becca curated! It has been such a gift to share this time with my daughter, we will both treasure the memories we made at Perch for years to come!”
– Cassidy
“Perch Farm Playgroup is the highlight of our week! Not only is the farm beautiful, but the content that is taught each week is so fun. I love that each session has a different focus and different play stations/crafts but the structure stays the same from week to week. My daughter has loved getting to meet a new animal each week and I look forward to it too! I can’t say enough wonderful things about Miss Kathleen, Miss Nicci, and Miss Becca. They are so wonderful with the children (and adults) and this is such a special and unique experience.”
– Annamarie
“Perch Playgroup is an incredibly special way to spend one on one time with my daughter while her brother is in school. The setting is gorgeous, the people are warm, and the activities are so well planned and engaging. Of course, meeting a special farm animal friend each week has also been a highlight for both of us! The group allows me to truly focus on my daughter without distractions and I have absolutely loved watching her explore and express herself each week.”
– Tricia

Don’t miss out!

Sign up to be notified when registration opens for future Playgroup dates and drop-in days. 

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