Educational Philosophy

Seedlings Nursery School is a hands-on early learning environment which focuses on the development of the whole child.  Children learn best through play, exploration and imitation.  

There are no TVs, computers or video games at Seedlings. I believe that early exposure to media limits a child's imagination and exposes the child to images, commercialism and situations which are inappropriate for young children.

Play-based education is not an elimination of academics, as many people assume; rather, it is the creation of an environment in which academics become a part of every day exploration and discovery.  By allowing the child's natural curiosity to unfold, learning remains self-directed and intrinsically motivated.  A child who learns because he is truly interested is a child who retains a deep understanding of what he has discovered.

At Seedlings, everything we do is done with thoughtfulness and care.  As we move throughout our day, we do not rush or worry about what will happen next.  We give each activity, movement, chore or song our utmost attention and focus.  Patience, gratitude a respect are practiced and mastered through our daily work. 

 At Seedlings, students learn self-control, problem-solving and independence through the gentle guidance of the teacher, who remains a consistent model for the behavior she expects in her students.  As a teacher, it is not my job to tell a child what to do or how to do it, rather to provide open-ended materials in a child-friendly environment for free exploration; stepping in only to assist in solving problems or ask 'I wonder' questions to help expand upon play and learning.  Except in cases of the possibility of serious injury, children are allowed to learn through natural consequences; the young child's first encounter with trial and error.

Throughout your child's enrollment, I will strive to provide a good amount of resources for parent education.  I have a small lending library of books and magazines which is always available.  As a parent myself, I am always looking for new information and research on child development.  

Please feel free to contact me at any time for further information.