We're a home daycare that's inspired by education models that emphasize play-based and experiential learning. We believe that children (and adults!) need plenty of time to actively explore nature, and so we're outdoors almost every day. Nature play can include digging, planting seeds, and harvesting from our garden, water play in the backyard, field trips to Pleasant Park forest, and keeping our eyes open for insects, birds and other wildlife that share the city with us.
We are blessed to be living on a large lot, and have a forest garden on the property. Forest Gardens (also known as Food Forests, Agroforestry, or Edible Landscaping) provide habitat for wild creatures by mimicking forest ecosystems, while also producing food, herbs, fibre and wood for human needs. We grow much of our own food, including greens, herbs, annual vegetables, many types of perennial fruits and even some nuts, if the squirrels don't get them all first! Our home daycare kids get to browse the garden and eat fresh strawberries, red and black raspberries, and our home-grown apples, Asian pears, and other interesting fruit, including a red, black, and pink currents, gooseberries, jostaberries, and occasionally even hardy kiwi-berries!
Allergy alert: we are not a nut-free home, and we spend a great deal of time outside, where there are bees and wasps, as well as pollen. If your child has anaphylactic allergies to nuts, fruit, bees, or wasps, or is allergic to pollen this daycare is not a good fit for them.
We are blessed to be living on a large lot, and have a forest garden on the property. Forest Gardens (also known as Food Forests, Agroforestry, or Edible Landscaping) provide habitat for wild creatures by mimicking forest ecosystems, while also producing food, herbs, fibre and wood for human needs. We grow much of our own food, including greens, herbs, annual vegetables, many types of perennial fruits and even some nuts, if the squirrels don't get them all first! Our home daycare kids get to browse the garden and eat fresh strawberries, red and black raspberries, and our home-grown apples, Asian pears, and other interesting fruit, including a red, black, and pink currents, gooseberries, jostaberries, and occasionally even hardy kiwi-berries!
Allergy alert: we are not a nut-free home, and we spend a great deal of time outside, where there are bees and wasps, as well as pollen. If your child has anaphylactic allergies to nuts, fruit, bees, or wasps, or is allergic to pollen this daycare is not a good fit for them.
Each day has a regular schedule that integrates both structured and unstructured time. Activities such as free play, outdoor games, and music and dance, give children opportunities to improve their coordination, explore the physical world, expend energy, engage their imaginations, and learn about social interaction. Crafts, story time, and quiet time allow for creative expression, relaxation and introspection. Circle time, baking, and other group activities give opportunities for children to focus their attention, practice sharing, and take turns. Our schedule is adjusted slightly depending on the seasons. Weather permitting, snacks and lunch are eaten outside. We play outside in all kinds of weather, from sun to rain and snow. At some times of year we've been know to spend as many as 6 hours outside!
