Our Philosophies

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

This quote challenges what we think education is in early childhood: Parents often worry, "Do children know their colors, shapes, and letters?" But early childhood education is more than the "filling of a pail" with rote knowledge and identification skills. While that has its place, early childhood education goes much deeper! Our mission is to instill a LOVE of LEARNING in your child that will last a lifetime! We want children to develop the confidence to explore, discover, question, and experiment independently. We want them to become problem solvers and use higher-level thinking skills. We want children to express themselves in "a hundred different ways" and develop their creativity! 

Our center integrates the best of different approaches and theories of child development and learning, largely inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach as well as the works of Maria Montessori, Piaget, Vygotsky, Bruner, and Magda Gerber.

We believe children have many ways to express their ideas and learn best through hands-on, developmentally appropriate, multi-sensory experiences that are meaningful to them. Our teachers pay close attention to children’s interests, questions, and discoveries and use that understanding to create engaging learning experiences that encourage deeper thinking and exploration.

Children are offered a balance of whole-group, small-group, individual, and learning-center experiences throughout the day. We do NOT utilize worksheets, workbooks, or coloring pages; instead we provide authentic opportunities for children to write, draw, create, experiment, and express their own ideas.

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia belief that the environment can serve as a “third teacher,” our classrooms are thoughtfully designed to encourage independence, creativity, exploration, communication, and meaningful play. Materials and displays are intentionally selected to reflect and support the children who learn within each space.

Our Image of the Child is at the center of all we do. We respect and honor the children in our care. We see children as capable. Their safety, emotional, and physical well-being is our number one priority. Our experienced, responsive teachers and caregivers develop relationships with each child and family. Additionally, our seasoned staff members have been trained in Conscious Discipline. Behavior is viewed as a form of communication and children are never shamed or placed in "time outs". We do not believe in using whole group "behavior charts". Discipline is viewed as something we strive to gently instill IN children rather than do TO children.

We want every parent/guardian who leaves their child in our care, to have peace of mind, knowing they have made the best possible choice! 

Everything  with  Intention!