Our Philosophy
It is our philosophy that:
- Humans belong outside. We need shelter for safe rest and to escape the elements. Otherwise, our vitamin levels and feel-good hormones are best supported by being in nature. At Ivy Blossom Preschool, children have ongoing access to the outdoors and the ability to come inside when they need.
- Children should be taught how to think, not what to think. They should be given simple and open-ended toys and materials to support creativity and critical thinking. Giving a child a toy or device that thinks for them should be the convenient exception, not the norm. Our toys contain no batteries and are wooden and plain when possible.
- Children soak up the most information when they are happy, safe, and PLAYING. We work concepts such as letters, numbers, math, counting, etc. into the play environment and through attentive conversation when children have questions and curiosities.
- Children, like adults, are at their best when they are well-fed. It is our goal to model positive relationships with food and open-mindedness in trying new things. We involve interested children in the food preparation process as much as possible, including gardening and cooking.
- Children are given as much say in their lives as possible. As a result of our busy world, children directly and indirectly hear “no” all day long. It is important that we provide enough supervision to allow children to choose where they want to be and which materials they want to explore. With low child to teacher ratios, we ensure that children can explore organically, naturally, and in their own timing.
