Saplings

18 months to 4 years old

(Turning 4 beginning on December 1st)

tuesday, wednesday, thursday

9.30 to 12.30

Our Nursery Program: A Home Away from Home

Our nursery program is a Waldorf-inspired drop-off playgroup focused on play, storytelling, movement, practical work, and a nature-child connection. We offer a nurturing environment and a gentle daily rhythm giving children the space to feel secure exploring their independence and social life. This first introduction to the world away from family life is an important first step for the young child. We foster imagination, love of learning, and physical and social development through our holistic curriculum:

  • Green room: Our green room provides as a gentle transition for toddlers aged 18 to 24 months, helping them to bridge the gap between family life and their first friendships.

  • Purposeful Practical Work: Children participate in real tasks like baking bread, chopping vegetables for soup and caring for our garden.

  • Imaginative Free Play: Children are given the time and open ended natural materials to transform our space into whatever their hearts imagine.

  • Storytelling: To nourish the child’s inner world, and strengthen memory and vocabulary, we share stories together. We gather for puppet shows, spoken-word fairytales, and stories told by the children.

  • Nature exploration: We weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether be snowy or hot! We play outside everyday.

    Children learn to love nature by being immersed in it. Jumping in muddy puddles, making mud pies, walking on trails, making snow-people, climbing trees, feeding animals, planting seeds, and watering flowers promote a mood of reverence for the environment and builds resilience in their growing bodies.

  • Wholesome food: We learn to eat all kinds of healthy food when we are around the table together. The children enjoy fruits and vegetables, home-made breads, grains, and much more. Our snacks are organic, vegetarian and sugar-free.

  • Mixed-age group: Fosters social development and community building. Older children mentor younger ones while naturally learning to respect, care and share with one another.

  • Gathering time: We encourage developmental movement through songs, finger-plays, nursery rhymes, and verses during our circle time.

  • Artistic work: Wet-on-wet watercolor painting, drawing with beeswax crayons and seasonal crafts help fine motor development and free expression.

  • Nurturing environment: Our classroom’s warm colors, soothing scents, and natural toys nourish the children’s senses.

  • Our message: The world is good. The world is beautiful. You are welcome into the World. You are important.

    Some pics of our daily routine: