The Climbing Tree Child Care Center's philosophy and curriculum are Waldorf inspired. Waldorf education was created by Rudolph Steiner to penetrate the deeper needs of the child. The Waldorf approach to early childhood education is largely experiential and sensory-based. The emphasis is on providing practical activities for children to imitate, allowing them to learn by modeling. The classroom schedule is oriented around an organic daily routine that emphasizes the rhythmic experience of the day, week, month, and seasons. Our program emphasizes the importance of guided free play in a classroom environment that is homelike, includes natural materials, and provides examples of productive work in which children can take part. Our outdoor play periods provide the children with experiences of nature, weather and the seasons of the year. The primary goal of our center is for staff and families to work cooperatively to create opportunities for each child to develop physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively at their own pace and in their own style. We aim to foster self-reliance in work and play as a cornerstone for igniting each child's joyful self-esteem.
Self-esteem is crucial to success throughout each child's life and begins with trust. The caregivers at The Climbing Tree establish consistent and nurturing relationships with each child. A child remains with the same caregiver throughout his/her time at our center in order to form a bond of trust between them.
The Climbing Tree uses simple, play-value toys drawn from natural sources that encourage the development of a child's imagination & creativity. Oral language is developed with songs, poems, movement games, puppet plays, and daily stories. We sing together throughout the day using our unique voices to create our own music. We read fairy tales and recite verses that stimulate interest in the oral language and eventually the written word. The rhythms of song and verse quiet a squalling baby, warm a sad heart, amuse a precocious 2 year old, distract a tenacious 4 year old and awaken the joyful spirit within all of us.
Self-esteem is crucial to success throughout each child's life and begins with trust. The caregivers at The Climbing Tree establish consistent and nurturing relationships with each child. A child remains with the same caregiver throughout his/her time at our center in order to form a bond of trust between them.
The Climbing Tree uses simple, play-value toys drawn from natural sources that encourage the development of a child's imagination & creativity. Oral language is developed with songs, poems, movement games, puppet plays, and daily stories. We sing together throughout the day using our unique voices to create our own music. We read fairy tales and recite verses that stimulate interest in the oral language and eventually the written word. The rhythms of song and verse quiet a squalling baby, warm a sad heart, amuse a precocious 2 year old, distract a tenacious 4 year old and awaken the joyful spirit within all of us.
Living in and exploring their natural environment is essential to the development of a child and we provide ample opportunity for this exploration. The children develop a sense of appreciation and respect for the integrity of the natural world as they play, explore, and maintain their natural environment. Our program fosters exercise and the children get plenty of fresh air in our various outdoor play areas. The Climbing Tree supports healthy eating by offering natural and whole grain foods with as much organic food as possible. The staff and children grow some vegetables in our own organic gardens and buy locally when possible.
"Receive the children in reverence; educate them in love;
let them go forth in freedom."
~Rudolph Steiner
The climbing tree in full bloom.