Curriculum

Nurturing the Individual

Outdoor Exploration

Montessori Inspired

Imaginative Play & Choice Based

Philosophy

Little Explorers focuses on a child-centered approach. We believe that children learn best through exploration and natural curiosity. Each child develops on their own trajectory, and our goal is to nurture and guide as they explore all that our world has to offer. We are passionate about following a loose-Montessori approach, that enables children to harness their unique skills at their own pace. We also believe in the power of play, and will incorporate opportunities for free-play daily. Oregon has so much to offer, and we utilize our natural world (rain or shine) to allow children to explore, learn, and grow. Having done extensive training on restorative practices and social emotional learning, one of our biggest passions is helping children understand and cope with their ever-flowing current of emotions. We believe in positive-discipline and natural consequences, and will help guide children as we learn through our mistakes. Children will never be shamed or isolated for their mistakes, but rather guided to understand the ramifications of their actions. We can all get overwhelmed during the day, therefore we utilize a calming space for children who desire a quiet place to reflect or take a break from activities. Our overall philosophy for childcare is providing a nurturing environment for each unique child to thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.

Schedule

This is an outline of the schedule for children on one nap. The two-nap schedule is slightly different. Our schedule is very flexible and changes depending on the needs of our children.

8:00-8:30 Drop Off
8:30 Morning Songs & Yoga
9:00 Snack
9:30 - 11:00 Outdoors/Activity Rotations/ Baking
11:00 Lunch
12:00 Rest /Mindfulness
2:00 Imaginative Play
2:30 Snack
3:00 Outdoors, arts/crafts, free-play, sensory
4:30-5:00 Closing Music & Pick up

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Sample Menu

**We can accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies**
Snacks: carrots & hummus, blueberries & yogurt, cheese sticks & crackers, hard boiled eggs, apples/banana & peanut butter, oatmeal muffins, ect.
Lunch: beans & rice bowl, avocado toast & veggie/fruit, almond butter/peanut butter sandwich, quesadillas, eggs & toast, chicken noodle soup, tomato pasta, etc.

Activites

Weekly activities include self-guided imaginative play, outdoor outings to local parks, gardening, nature walks, crafts, letter and number exploration, singing, music, dance, yoga, meditation, dress-up and performance, cooking, sensory bins, and more!

Meals

To foster independence and personal responsibility, each child will learn how to prepare their own snacks and will be expected to take part in the prep and clean up process.

2 snacks and lunch will be provided daily. We take nutrition very seriously, which includes allowing children the opportunity to listen to their bodies without adult pressure. Our goal is to raise intuitive eaters who honor their hunger and fullness cues. Meals provided will be well-balanced to include all major food groups, and children will determine how much their bodies need. You may also choose to pack your child's lunch if you'd prefer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is your potty-training policy?
A: Each child is unique and has their own potty-training trajectory. We work with each family to determine when a child is ready to begin potty-training. We will formulate an action plan to keep home and school consistent.

Q: Are there animals in the home? If so, where are they kept?
A:Yes! We have one mini Australian Shepherd, Millie. Millie has her own space, however there may be opportunities for children to interact with Millie with adult supervision.

Q: Are all ages mixed together?
A:Yes, all children are grouped together in order to best follow Montessori philosophies of mixed-age groupings. We believe children can learn so much from one another, and therefore will be given the opportunity to interact with all ages. We do, however, break up into smaller groups based on interests and activity.

Q:What curriculum does the preschool follow?
A: There is not a single curriculum implemented, but rather lessons and teaching moments created based on the children's interests and natural curiosity. There will be daily story time, where children will be introduced to a variety of literature. Children will be exposed to numbers and letters through song and games. We implement monthly themes in order to provide opportunities to discover new things.

Q:Is there a sibling discount?
A: Yes. A 3% sibling discount will be applied when enrolling a second child. Furthermore, siblings will automatically be placed at the top of the waitlist.

Q: What is the teacher to child ratio?
A: Our ratios depend on the age of our cohort. We currently have a 3:16 ratio.

Q: What will children be required to bring from home?
A: Parents will provide a sleeping blanket/comfort item or stuffy, an extra change of clothes, diapers (if applicable),diaper creams, breastmilk or formula (if applicable), and a water bottle. Everything else will be provided by Little Explorers.