early childhood
Curious about our Early Childhood program? Here’s what we’re all about:
ages 3 - 6
The foundational curriculum of our Early Childhood (EC) program consists of child-initiated, exploratory play, as well as storytelling and social awareness. Children will shift into a more academic setting when they move into 1st grade. Our EC program’s screen-free curriculum, developmentally appropriate activities and consistent daily schedule fosters social harmony, imagination and physical confidence. This intentional focus on, and strengthening of, fundamental life skills sets a firm scaffolding for the academic and social-emotional demands of the later grades.
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Our Sprouts Garden provides a nurturing, home-like environment filled with song, stories, and free play.
5-day and 3-day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday only) schedules are available.
Half Day: 8:00am-12:00pm
Full Day: 8:00am-3:00pm -
In our Primrose, Dandelion, and Marigold Gardens, children will experience a rich curriculum of creative indoor and outdoor play, storytelling, food preparation, and more. This program provides our young children with a warm environment to nurture them socially, emotionally, and intellectually, while giving them the pre-academic foundation they need to excel in the grades program. Please note that mixed-age classrooms include kindergarteners.
5-day and 3-day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday only) schedules are available.
Note: 3 half day is not available for Mixed Age children
Half Day: 8:00am-12:00pm
Full Day: 8:00am-3:00pm
play
Play is a child’s most important work. Our Early Childhood program allows children to engage in playful activities, both indoors and outdoors. Through play, children develop the capacity for creative thinking, problem solving, and social skills, and build a foundation for academic success in grade school. Movement is crucial for young children's physical development and cognitive growth (improved memory, attention, and academic performance), and it impacts social-emotional development as well (increased confidence, teamwork, and emotional regulation). Consistently engaging in both gross and fine motor activities helps build strong neural pathways and healthy habits that prompt lifelong well-being and learning advantages.
story
Storytelling is at the heart of every Waldorf education. Beginning in the Early Childhood, children are exposed to rich, complex stories, tales, and fables from all over the world, cultivating a lifelong love of language and nurturing a deep cultural and social awareness. Whether singing a seasonal verse, listening to a teacher tell a fairy tale, or acting out a puppet play, our children are surrounded by stories that engage their imagination, bolster their creativity and build their story comprehension. As they gain comprehension skills, they also strengthen their ability to “inner picture” (“seeing” a story in your mind’s eye) which is the foundation to finding joy in the act of reading.
social
Care is at the center of the Early Childhood experience. Whether it’s the children helping to make a warm snack for each other, helping to care for the classroom, or comforting a friend, a sense of care is woven throughout each aspect of the day. Our children learn to care for and respect each other, themselves, the classroom, and nature, so that they can become dedicated, compassionate stewards of the world around them.
