Our Mission

The mission of Nurture House is to honor children’s natural curiosity, compassion, and wonder so they may create and experience meaningful learning about the world around them and their place within it.

The Reggio Emilia approach views children as capable and full of potential, encourages and celebrates family and community involvement in their child’s educational experience, views the environment as the third teacher, and utilizes intentional documentation to communicate learning and wonder to families and the community. Reggio’s founder, Loris Malaguzzi, believed children use 100 languages to learn.

Nurture House uses an emergent, child-driven curriculum that celebrates our connection to nature and the world through play-based opportunities for creative expression and investigation for children ages 3 years, 8 months–6 years old (until kindergarten).

A Day in the Life of Nurture House Learners

  • Children are welcomed to school either on the school’s lower patio, where they can play and enjoy some fresh air while everyone arrives, or inside the schoolhouse to explore provocations.

    Children’s independence will be encouraged through opportunities to be in charge of their belongings once on school grounds. Learners should arrive no later than 8:55 AM so we may begin our day together at 9:00 AM.

  • Once settled, the children will meet with Ashley in our circle to engage in conversation that supports connection and social-emotional well-being through mindfulness. This circle time is often where themes and investigations emerge. Each meeting will include a read-aloud of a book to either begin a discussion or enhance one.

  • Children will have ample time to explore and engage in open-ended exploration of tools and materials, many of which complement our current areas of interest or investigation. Children can work alone or in groups and will be supported by Ashley in finding their flow. There will be many opportunities for creative expression both in and outside of the creative studio, or even outside of the schoolhouse altogether!

  • Children will be offered two snacks a day provided by Nurture House, with lunch (for now) provided by families. Before children meet for lunch, the group will have a quick mindfulness break to reset our nervous systems. The children and Ashley will eat a meal together and use this time to connect and share our learning and ideas.

    Nurture House will provide reusable water bottles for each child, which will be cleaned each day.

    Snack menus will be offered weekly.

  • A rest hour will happen mid-day each day to decompress and reset. Children are not required to sleep, but will remain in a restful state with either books or quiet toys while soft music plays. This time will begin with a read-aloud story.

    Rest time will end with a quick check-in about expectations, a vote on where to play outside, and a check-in with the weather.

    Cots, sheets, and pillows will be provided by Nurture House and laundered regularly.

  • After rest time, children will get ready to go outside. Their independence will be encouraged and supported as they navigate the appropriate clothing for the weather, as we spend time outdoors rain or shine.

    This is a time for unstructured play and exploration in our various outdoor areas to promote problem-solving and explore healthy risk-taking. We hope to be outdoors until pick-up time, when families will meet us on the lower patio and a closing circle will occur to celebrate the day.