Little Pines Nature Based Preschool Program Philosophy

We believe children learn best in outdoor settings that provide the perfect amount of stimulus to engage a child’s natural sense of wonder. We believe that children learn naturally when it is self-driven and connected to personal interests, passions, or life experiences. We also believe that the most important aspect of education is teaching students how to be the architects of their own learning experiences, as we wish children a lifetime of self-led learning and discovery. We also believe that learning happens best in relationships when educators act as guides, and co-learners in the learning experience. We believe that children are inherently primed and ready to learn, and simply require rich environments that spark a sense of wonder and fuel a desire to discover.

At Little Pines we also believe that children will do well and meet every expectation given to them, if they can. This means that we view behavior as a form of communication. When a child is struggling, we come alongside the child, recognizing the behavior as a request for help. We do empathy in a big way as we know that all learning, especially social-emotional learning, can only occur when children feel connected, valued, and accepted for who they are. We understand that when children make mistakes, or fall short of meeting expectations, they need our love and empathy most.  We believe connections comes first, and from feeling connected and accepted, new learning occurs. We recognize parents are the experts of their children and actively partner with parents to ensure children feel accepted, supported, and successful.

We are passionately committed to celebrating the unique contributions of every child and create an environment where children feel known and experience a deep sense of belonging.