Our Philosophy
We are a home-based early learning environment that uses a custom nature-based programming inspired by Waldorf education. Waldorf education was founded by Austrian philosopher/social reformer Rudolf Steiner and is based on the idea that each of us is a spiritual being with the power to change the world. He insisted that his teachers understand and react according to the developmental needs of the children and believed in the concept of nurturing all aspects of a child’s life.
(This is where our holistic approach to childcare stems from.)
We believe that children learn everything at their own pace, unfortunately there is a “sink or swim” and “hurry up or fall behind” mentality that our modern world has placed on our children. childhood is something to be appreciated and time should be taken “for kids to be kids”. We teach each child according to his or her own strengths and strive to have an atmosphere that supports the creative learning process with open-ended play spaces filled with loose materials and natural elements. This encourages children to explore their surroundings and use materials in new and unexpected ways.
Our programs encourage children to engage in a range of developmentally appropriate activities to practice their skills and grow their self-confidence. We use hands-on activities to engage children in opportunities to practice problem solving and critical thinking. By providing real-life experiences, children grow in their competence and self-reliance.
We use a mixed aged classroom approach that allows children into roles and peer dynamics and that they may not be familiar with. Children naturally like to share their proficiency and ability to complete tasks with others. In this helping relationship the children work together to help teach each other new skills. Children are invited to take charge of their learning, by making choices at centers and with project work. This sense of "ownership" and self-direction is the foundation for lifelong learning.
We respect each child’s individualism and aim to steer them on their own individual journey. By allowing children to explore their own interests, they grow their innate curiosity, we want to teach kids how to think, not what to think. We aim to produce children with a love of learning who are well-equipped to rely on their own instincts. Children are encouraged to explore their environment, take healthy risks, and partake in meaningful work, such as gardening, cooking, and other practical experiences. Establishing healthy habits, routines, and friendships while learning about the world around them.