We would like to welcome you and your little one on a virtual tour of our little corner on the web, and a glimpse into our home. Small Wonders Nature-based dayhome & playschool is not that different from many dayhomes in Alberta, but we do have some features that make us unique.
My aim is to provide high quality affordable child-care to your family. It is also my goal to provide a safe space for learning and growing, in a home-like setting.
Why Nature-based?
The question is why not? I think it is very difficult for
children to simply be children these days. A lot of kids don't run around outside anymore - they prefer TV and video games. I believe nature is the best teacher. I have seen firsthand how nature calms the nerves and excites the spirit of a child. I choose nature because it is a place where creative problem solving occurs; where senses are renewed; and it doesn't hurt that the children also get a bit of exercise.
As a nature-based home, I aim to inspire the
beautiful spirit of each child and create an environment that nurtures the
developing human being physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
Why Waldorf-inspired?
Waldorf is a holistic approach to living, not just a teaching philosophy. One of the things that I take from the Waldorf philosophy is the need for caregivers to take pride in their daily work to ensure that the
environment is beautiful, that (essentially) their actions and words are worthy
of imitation by the young child.
The Waldorf educational theory is something that I have
loved for a long time. It mirrors some very important beliefs for about childhood:
that childhood is special, magical. That imaginative play is important...that
children are not just minds needing to be filled, they have a spirit and a soul that needs to be
nurtured...that a daily rhythm is important to the whole child.
Educational Philosophy
After unschooling/homeschooling my children for years, I can
honestly say that I have tried a few teaching methods. The one thing that I
have learned is that no one method is best for any family. At Small Wonders I
bring some educational ideas from the Montessori system such as the multi-age
teaching. I also like the student-centered approach (Reggio Emilia)that allows for inquiry and discovery in the home, and in nature.
I love many aspects of Waldorf (as stated above), but I also
believe in using technology to help kids foster their love of learning and
discovery.
Small Wonders Bilingual Playschool and dayhome is a learning and creative space. Wonder lives here! Our play-based program is all about discovery. In our atelier space, we support each child's unique interests by ensuring exploration, and creative inquiry.
Our child-centered program is designed to meet and support children’s curiosity and awaken their interests in the French language, music, nature, and arts. Because young children absorb their surroundings, we pay careful attention to the environment in which they spend their days. Toys are carefully chosen to spark an interest in discovery, sharing, and holistic physical, and emotional development.
The setting (home) is thoughtfully prepared, with an emphasis on warmth and beauty, and the use of natural materials. The natural cloths, the stones and wood, and the simple dolls, invite the children to use their imagination rather than dictate a fixed topic of play. The focus is on providing a peaceful, safe and beautiful environment, where children can play and interact joyfully.
We spend time outside, allowing for healthy movement and helping to foster an appreciation of the natural world. We provide rhythm and balance in daily, weekly and yearly life. We work within the natural rhythm of the year by celebrating seasonal celebrations. We celebrate each child's cycle around the sun, but appreciating his or her gifts, and milestones.
Small Wonders helps each child embrace learning as s/he is
able. I believe in helping each child feel like they are part of a community- a
larger picture. Small Wonders is child-centered, hands on learning, and
nature-based with a focus on making the most of our days - every day.
Why Not Utilize all Philosophies?
Actually, we appreciate and use many philosophies to reach each child where (s)he is. Although we share some educational ideas with the Montessori system such as the multi-age classroom, we are not a Montessori school. Montessori schools believe the teacher's role is to step back, intervening if necessary or to introduce a new "work."
We are also inspired by and utilize many aspects of the Reggio Emilia approach, in the sense that we do not follow a pre-determined curriculum, instead we aim to support the exploration and learning of the children using the “hundred languages” of children.
And, just so you know, while we aim to provide an exceptional Waldorf program, there are some who would argue that Small Wonders is not genuine Waldorf. Why is that? Well, we believe that technology, when applied intelligently, is an important learning tool and can greatly enhance education. I also find some media useful, when teaching young children a second language and we tap into those resources as needed.
As a former unschooler, the word curriculum still seems
restrictive at times. When working with younger children, I believe it is
important to follow their lead in many aspects.
We have many activities and
events that allow for learning, discovery and flexibility.
Counting rocks or
leaves, as they interact with nature, or learning about colors while painting
is typical.
For example, our weekly soup lunch allows for discussions
about different types of foods & nutrition, bilingual vocabulary, matching
games, as well as using the senses (touch, feel, taste etc). The children don't
even realize they are learning.
Math
Math is taught every day in non-traditional ways. I believe
that Math skills begin with hands-on, child-led learning and exploration. I
love learning while outside in nature, and try to incorporate math into our
outside activities (ie. counting footsteps in the snow, learning about sequencing, or learning how to add after an afternoon of collecting pine-cones).
I am not a teacher, and I never sit any child down and "teach" him or her. Our learning is fun and flexible, and never forced.
Reading/Literacy
At Small Wonders, the children are read to at various times
of the day. We always have a short story at circle time, and another at lunch
(before nap/resting). There are also impromptu reading sessions throughout the
day as a child will often bring a book, and of course one book and one friend
draws more friends and more books.
We also have a book of the month project. Every area of
learning is highlighted (in some way). This project aims to create a shared
experience among all the children, and it was worked wonderfully. At the end of
each month, the children often have a small fun themed celebration.
Music
Music is an important part of our play. Aside from allow the
children to play any instrument they can get their hands on. We also start our
days with music in our circle time. We welcome our friends, and shake our
tambourines, and beat our drums as we sing songs.
We also have a monthly
drumming session in which I allow the children to practice their listening
skills in our Call and Response sessions. It gets very loud, and very
interesting :-)
French/Language Learning
There is no doubt that learning a second language is a bonus. At Small Wonders, the children are introduced to French in a playful and fun way. We sing songs, read simple stories, and learn new words & phrases.
Circle Time
How do we start our mornings? With circle time of course!
Circle time is super fun! We sing along to favorite children’s songs based on
the rhythm of the seasons, and then we share a short story in English or
French. Once a month we also gather for our Drum Circle.
The
kids learn to play along with shakers or bells or tambourines. It
gets "interesting" when we do activities such as “call and
response”, which allows the children to imitate the sound(s)/rhythms that they
hear.
