Small Ratios and Low Turnover

Low turnover and small ratios means the opportunity to create more meaningful relationships. A key aspect of social and emotional development is stability. Two long term caregivers that are the same everyday allows for your child to grow and be themselves with confidence and trust. Morgan and Jonah are the only two caregivers and enroll 6 children at a time, with availability for two school aged children in the afternoon.

Home Based Environment

We offer a rich and colorful environment full of soft spaces, exciting materials, and lively play. Children are more likely to take risks from a place of comfort and security. A home based daycare environment along with the support of trusted caretakers gives comfort and familiarity from which to draw on when facing new challenges.

Social/Emotional Development

Often overlooked, we believe the development of social/emotional skills is one of the most important things we teach the children in our care. Conflict resolution and co-regulation are daily tools to help navigate the challenges that arise from everyday living and learning. Children learn what it means to be in a group, how to get along with friends, and how to respect themselves and each other.

Play Based Learning

Children have a natural curiosity about the world and can often challenge themselves better than adults can. We introduce materials and projects that encourage exploration and creativity, giving the child independence to create their own process. We pay close attention to the group and offer materials and projects based on emerging themes and interests. We have variety of materials that we rotate on a regular basis and offer a well rounded mixture of open play and projects based on each child’s interests and developmental stage.

Mixed Age Groups

We care for children between the ages of 12-15 months and 5 years of age, with school age alums on occasional afternoons or school breaks. Who is a better teacher than someone who just learned it themselves? A mixed age group allows for children of different ages to interact and learn through teaching and watching. Children often develop unevenly, a child who talks later may have advanced gross motor ability. Mixed age groups gives children of all different ages to ability to develop their skills according to their own developmental timeline. Strong social bonds are also forged between children over a period of many years, often children and families become friends for life. Keeping same group together allows for a varied community with different skills sets, yet strong bonds.

Outdoor Time

Don’t we all wish we could spend more time outdoors? Being surrounded by nature regulates our nervous systems and is a positive force on our mood and well-being. Walking to local parks and around the neighborhood gives children a sense of community. Getting dirty, discovering interesting plants and bugs, water play (ice play in the winter!), and walks to the park are part of our every day routine. Our backyard offers a sand box, a play house, riding toys, and we even eat our meals outside when the weather is nice.

Daily Observations

Each day, we send out photos of our day along with a little bit about what we’ve been up to. Often we talk about child development and how we apply it to our everyday work.

Healthy Food

We serve breakfast, lunch, and snack and eat all our meals family style. We serve fresh fruits and vegetables, sometimes grown from our own garden! We have a rotating vegetarian menu with a variety of different foods. Children are taught to pour their own milk and water and serve themselves when they are old enough. Meal time is often my favorite time of day, when we sit, eat, talk, and laugh together.