OUR APPROACH
We are a small Home-Based Daycare with a max capacity of 6 kids. (Ages: 18mo- 8yr)
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Our Mission: To create a safe a loving space for children to grow and explore their own curiosities and passions while gaining tools to do so in good relationship with themselves, each other and their environment.
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Owner and Operator, Kriya Miller, brings 15 years of Experience leading Forest Kindergarten programs and as such, Little Valley Daycare is Nature Inspired, Child Led and will always be part Daycare, part Forest School:)
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FLOW OF THE DAY
General Flow of the Day, may shift based on what's happening in nature and with the nature of the kids:)
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8:00 am- 10:00 am: Flex arrival time and free play with both quiet and active play options (art, music, books, toys, games, active outdoor play, depending on the needs of the kids)
10:00 am- 10:30 am: Bathrooms/Diapers/Hand Cleaning & Snack Time
10:30 am-11:30 pm: Outdoor play
11:30 pm-12:00 pm: Bathrooms/Diapers/Hand Cleaning & Lunch Time
12:00 pm -1:30 pm: Nap/Quiet Time: (*Often times we'll watch a short episode of Bluey (or similar) to transition into nap & quiet time activities.)
1:30 pm- 3:00 pm: Bathrooms/Diapers/Hand Cleaning & small snack followed by more outdoor playtime!
3:00-4:00 Flex Pick up time and we'll clean up together, last bathroom/diaper checks, read books, draw, do playdough and/or find calmer relaxing ways to play as we await pickup.
MENTORING PRINCIPALS
Serve and Return: When kids "serve" an observation or story, simply joining them in that and "returning" the observation creates strong pattern recognition within the brain and is a powerful learning tool.
Child Led: Attuning to the stories, tools, toys, imaginative play, and activities the kids want to explore and help them to do so.
Respect: Respect for self, each other and our environment. Helping the kids to attune to how they affect themselves and each other and empower them with tools and choices to be in good relationship all.
Natural Consequences: When a problem arises, we will help the kids to understand what happened and why and help them with tools to be a part of the solution.
Explore more Mentoring Principals in our Handbook
LEARNING TOOLS
Nature Inspired: Early childhood is such a potent time to get to know the earth we got to be born within! That's why many of our books and toys and are nature inspired and much of our time will be spent outside. We will also be attuning your child's own "nature" and working with their curiosities, passions, interest, energy levels, etc.!
Academics: The children will naturally be exposed to stories, colors, numbers, letters, words, drawing and writing. We will aim to support their natural curiosities and learning passions as they emerge, in the moment.
Hands on/Building things: Lots of toys and activities for building things, blocks, puzzles, train tracks, forts, sandboxes, etc. It's such a cool thing to get to create!
Arts & Music: Art supplies and musical instruments are here to play with!
Imagination Play: Kids can play and explore and "be" whoever they want (but they don't get to dictate who other people are:)
Explore more Learning Tools in our Handbook.
