Learning Garden Developmental Preschool

09/12/2025

Meet Heidi one of our pups that we are training to be therapy dogs. Heidi is a 3 month old Great Bernese who came to visit today and practice with the kiddos❤️

09/01/2025

This is good reminder for all of us.

The other morning, my 7-year old sulked on the floor after her sister refused to let her wear a certain shirt to school. After hearing both sides of the story and helping them problem solve, she continue to lay on the floor in complete dismay, lol. So i said, "Car leaves in 30 mins. I expect you to get dressed, brush your teeth, eat breakfast, and pack your backpack. Don't let your feelings get in the way of your responsibilities."

And then I walked away.

The next thing I know she's coming down the hallway in a good mood getting dressed and taking care of her business. I later circled back to the moment by saying, "Great job taking care of your responsibilities and setting yourself up for a good day. It's always OK to feel your feelings *and* we can't let our feelings hold us back from what we need to do. I'm proud of you."

This is now one of our family mantras.

Of course, kids need to feel how they feel.
Of course, all feelings are valid.
Of course, children need our support with overwhelming feelings.

But what's not talked about enough is how much children need help realizing they're capable of doing hard things while feeling difficult feelings.

Thoughts??

PS: Your specific child should always be considered. This guidance is for developmentally typical children 6+ and may need modification for children with special needs, trauma backgrounds, or developmental delays.

08/08/2025

What a lovely day to get out in the forest. Hope you take some time to enjoy the beauty around us today.

07/29/2025

We have worked on our outdoor gardens for 19 years -- crazy that 19 years ago when we moved into our building there was no outdoor space just a parking lot! Behind this gate in the middle of town is a beautiful natural space with fruit and shade trees, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, herbs, flowers and other edible plants. We created a lovely natural space for exploration and open ended play for our children. We also intentionally created spaces for our local wildlife to shelter and access food and water. We are so pleased to be recognized as a school yard wildlife habitat. We are so blessed to have this amazing outdoor space for relaxing, learning and exploring.

06/30/2025

Let's show the whole country who we are in this terrible time. Local businesses are already putting together donations to support the large contingent of first responders on Canfield.
First and foremost pray for the first responders, their families and our community.
Secondly, consider donating to the local businesses that are gathering items to support the first responders. Village Bakery and Anchored Coffee are two that I am aware of.

06/15/2025

Happy Father's Day to all the men who loved enough to be there for their kids. Whether you are a father, stepfather, grandfather, uncle, or friend your love is vital to the kids in your life. I hope you enjoy this day that honors your dedication.

05/28/2025

Here comes the sun🌞

05/17/2025

I know it's rainy but movies in the park are sure sign of summer coming☀️

05/01/2025

Here comes the sun 🌞 🌞🌞

04/10/2025

Evidenced based scientific fact. As the weather gets better make a commitment to cut the cord to the TV, game console, phone and tablet. Don't worry about organized sports or activities. Give your child time to play, be outdoors and explore.

If we want to tackle the youth mental health crisis, we need to start by handing kids back their sticks, their mud, and their freedom.

This might sound radical, but it’s backed by data: play is one of the most powerful tools we have to support children’s mental health.

Rates of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress in children and adolescents have been rising for years. At the same time, opportunities for child-led, unstructured play have plummeted.

This isn’t a coincidence.

In 2011, psychologist Peter Gray published a powerful article linking the decline of play to the rise of psychopathology in children and teens. He explains that when kids are free to play—especially with other kids and without adult control—they develop emotional resilience, confidence, and a sense of control over their lives. Without that freedom, those protective factors start to erode.

Play isn’t a break from development. It is development. And it’s a direct route to better mental health.

Lester & Russell (2008) go even further, showing that play supports stress regulation, social connection, and even brain development. Their work makes it clear: play is a public health tool, not a pastime.

Want to take action? Start by protecting space and time for real play—messy, unpredictable, and entirely directed by the child.

Citations:
• Gray, P. (2011). The Decline of Play and the Rise of Psychopathology in Children and Adolescents. American Journal of Play, 3(4)
• Lester, S. & Russell, W. (2008). Play for a Change: Play, Policy and Practice – A Review of Contemporary Perspectives. Play England Summary

Links:
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ985541.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263087151_Play_for_a_Change_Play_Policy_Practice_A_Review_of_Contemporary_Perspectives

04/10/2025

We get parents all the time wanting their young children to have rigorous academics to give them a leg up on school success. When this happens we share our educational philosophy and the evidenced-based findings that children learn through play. Parents instinctively know this but have been sold a bill of goods that they must push academics to give their child the best possible chance at a good life. Over the last 15 years study after study in the US and Europe has proved this to the wrong approach for long term positive academic outcomes. The early years are critical to overall human success. The human brain needs open ended opportunities to explore, risk and fail to develop foundational skills of critical thinking, problem solving, emotional regulation and social skills. They must be safe, secure and loved before they can learn anything. Please remember this when choosing how your child will spend their valuable time in the critical early learning years.They must be safe, secure and loved before they can learn anything. Movements for universal pre-k and kindergarten readiness that only focus on academics are ignoring the science of how children learn and focusing limited resources in the wrong areas.

03/05/2025

Don't forget to set your clocks forward on Sunday.