Little Star Preschool

05/15/2026

We are currently enrolling for summer and fall! Ages 2.5-5

SUMMER HOURS: Monday through Thursday 8:00am-4:30pm with aftercare available until 5pm.

We do take ERDC, serve organic snacks and meals whenever possible, and reduce exposure to microplastics to the best of our ability.

If you are interested in a tour and interview, please contact 458-307-7500. Text is fine!

You can also fill out the form on our website. https://little-star-home-preschool.webnode.page/

05/15/2026

Orson’s story is filled with laughter, bedtime books and peek-a-boo smiles.
But it also includes colic, postpartum anxiety and moments his mom didn’t think she’d make it through.

What made the difference? Community. Mental health support. And parental leave that gave Katie time to heal and bond with her baby.

Not every parent gets that. But every family should.

Because how we care for parents shapes who their children become. Babies’ futures start with us.

Believe In Babies: https://bit.ly/4txHq4n

05/15/2026

We often tell children to “use your words” in hard moments.

The problem?

When a child is overwhelmed, frustrated, or dysregulated, the parts of the brain responsible for language and problem-solving become much harder to access.

In other words:
It’s not that they won’t explain what’s wrong.
Often, in that moment, they genuinely can’t.
Stress shifts the brain into protection mode. And when survival systems take over, communication skills often go offline.

This is why expecting calm explanations during a meltdown usually leads to more frustration—for them and for us.

What helps instead?
✔ Regulate first
✔ Reduce language
✔ Offer calm presence
✔ Talk it through later, when their brain is ready
Children don’t learn emotional communication in the middle of overwhelm.

They learn it through repeated experiences of feeling safe enough to return to calm.

What looks like “refusing to communicate” is often a nervous system asking for support, not more pressure.

04/26/2026

Here is our current process art canvas. We have been painting with different materials and neon paint. The children have enjoyed painting toy cars and dinosaurs to make impressions on the canvas. One child made "flowers" in blank spaces. Im excited to see this develop over time.

04/25/2026

Regulation doesn’t always look calm.

Sometimes it looks like movement.
Sometimes it sounds like noise.
Sometimes it shows up as doing the same thing over and over.

Because regulation isn’t about being still—it’s about the nervous system finding a way back to safety.

When we expect calm, quiet, and still…
we can miss the very strategies helping a child cope.

Look past the behaviour.
Notice what it’s doing for them.
—
If you want more on how regulation actually works (not just what it looks like), it’s in my book. Guidance from The Therapist Parent Available on my website www.thetherapistparent.com and Amazon

04/17/2026

A little peak into our space. We are always working on making things better, switching things out, and investing in quality materials. Next we are working on our block play area and outdoor space (getting mud kitchens custom made).

04/15/2026

Over time, toxic stress can affect the brain development of infants and toddlers and increase the risk of long-term health challenges, including heart disease, mental health problems and learning difficulties.

The strongest buffer for a baby is a stable, nurturing relationship. But caregivers need support to make that possible.

Learn what we can do to protect the long-term health and development of young children: https://bit.ly/4brlLm8

04/12/2026

When we say, “play is enough,” what we’re really saying is that play is how young children learn best. ⁠
⁠
Play allows children to explore the world, test ideas, work through complex emotions, and express creativity, building vital skills like resilience, critical thinking, self-regulation, and more. These skills are the foundation for academic learning. ⁠
⁠
Nature, with its ever-changing sights, smells, sounds, and textures, provides a perfect, sensory-rich classroom. ⁠
⁠
What do you wish people understood about play? Let us know in the comments! 👇🏼

04/06/2026

ERDC Approved Childcare

Our program is a Certified Family Home located in NW Corvallis in close proximity to Garfield Elementary.

-We are open Monday through Friday and occasional Saturdays.

-General hours are 8:00am-4:30pm, with some flexibility on a case-by-case basis.

-We accept ERDC.

-Diapers and Wipes Provided.

-Snacks and Lunch Provided, Dinner and Breakfast provided for extended hours.

-We do not use plastics for eating and drinking and believe heavily in the importance of reduction in exposure to microplastics and PFAS.

-Reggio Emilia Inspired, Play Based and Child Led. We heavily believe in the importance of PLAY!

Contact us today for a tour, applications are currently being accepted for consideration in our last few spots available.

One space available for a child under the age of 2 but older than 11 months, for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

503-819-6319

04/06/2026

Babies remember. They just remember it differently. We remember in our brains, and they remember in their bodies.
— Meghan Schmelzer

We talk a lot about mental health these days. But we rarely talk about babies.

Mental health starts early, even before birth.

From the very beginning, babies are building their foundation. Every interaction. Every response. Every experience, good or hard, shapes their future. Learn more and get involved: https://bit.ly/40ETQdq

04/01/2026

ERDC Approved Childcare
Our program is a Certified Family Home located in NW Corvallis in close proximity to Garfield Elementary.

-We are open Monday through Friday and occasional Saturdays.

-General hours are 8:00am-4:30pm, with some flexibility on a case-by-case basis.

-We accept ERDC.

-Diapers and Wipes Provided.

-Snacks and Lunch Provided, Dinner and Breakfast provided for extended hours.

-We do not use plastics for eating and drinking, and believe heavily in the importance of reduction in exposure to microplastics and PFAS.

-Reggio Emilia Inspired, Play Based and Child Led. We heavily believe in the importance of PLAY!

Contact us today for a tour, applications are currently being accepted for consideration in our last few spots available.

One space available for a child under the age of 2 but older than 11 months, for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Located in NW Corvallis Oregon