Objectives

offering quality early childhood programs including day care, preschool and kindergarten
providing community to support families with young children
sharing information about child development and parenting
nourishing the senses of young children
supporting healthy physical development as a foundation for lifelong learning
celebrating the rhythms of the year, the week, and the day
balancing creative free play with teacher-directed activities
developing the domestic arts as a life skill
providing quality language experiences for development of deep literacy
building relationships that make children feel secure in their surroundings
caring for the physical bodies of the young children with great respect
offering adult role models that are worthy of the young child’s imitation

Children’s needs can be met in healthy family life as well as in a child care center that incorporates fundamental practices found in the home

A warm, homelike environment filled with beauty and order
Emphasis placed on practical life skills such as building, gardening, cleaning, cooking, washing, repairing, and sewing, among other things.
Movement/play curriculum emphasizing child-initiated activities that promote healthy musculoskeletal development, providing opportunities for unstructured, spontaneous movement in a safe environment.
Traditional games and fingerplays provide opportunities for children to imitate healthy movement, develop proprioception and increase both large and small motor skills.
Children go outside in all but the most inclement weather in a playground area that has been designed for young children. This helps them become robust and strengthens their bond with the environment in which they live.
Emphasis is on loving human interaction with warm speech, live singing, verses, and stories rather than technology in a television and video-free environment.
Child guidance is based on the L.O.V.E. approach to discipline which includes: listening, laughter, order, objectivity, versatility, vulnerability, energy and enthusiasm.
Foundation for deep and lifelong literacy is fostered through storytelling and puppetry, individual laptime with a book, through poetry, verse and song on a daily basis and through the daily interactions of play and movement in a healthy, secure environment.
Natural, unprocessed and organic (whenever possible) foods are provided and children are often involved in food preparation.
Festivals and celebrations, honoring the various cultural backgrounds of the families as well as traditional seasonal festivals and birthday parties are offered.
If a teacher speaks a native language other than English, children may learn simple songs and games in this language.
Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly rhythms are followed so children grow secure in their world and engage in the direct participatory experience without concern about what will happen next.
Simple verses that express appreciation for our food, our friends and nature foster gratitude, wonder and openness.