Honeycomb Kids

Honeycomb Kids is a 5 STAR, Licensed Home Daycare Program, and the first Lifeways Center in Vermont. (LifewaysNorthAmerica.org). Honeycomb Kids wants every child¿s first years to be filled with loving care-givers and endless opportunities for age appropriate exploration and experiences. These early years are important to lay a strong foundation for your child¿s brain to grow, develop a strong sense of self-worth, efficacy, and independence, as well as a healthy appetite for learning. Honeycomb Kids is a home away from home¿a place where children feel safe, loved, part of an extended community of new friends, and a place where the expectations upon them are appropriate¿play, have fun, explore and grow! We value play and moral development with the highest esteem. A home setting allows your child to receive individual attention and explore in a safe and unintimidating environment. The small group setting allows children to experience the importance and significance of friendships, and through our tight social circle, moral development is learned first-hand. Philosophy: Honeycomb Kids actively promotes optimal growth in all developmental domains (social, emotional, cognitive, moral, kinesthetic, musical, artistic, scientific, etc) for children through all stages of childhood by implementing the best practices of multiple early childhood learning philosophies. Children are allowed to explore and develop at their own pace and truly enjoy the natural wonders of being a child. Ellen (head teacher, director, and owner) draws upon direct experiences with Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf and Lifeways, as well as the ¿classic¿ child development theorists such as Piaget, Erikson, Gardner (Multiple Intelligences), and Bowlby (Attachment theory). These are just naming a few popular pedagogies, and we actively expose children to a wide variety of learning styles so they can truly develop all aspects of themselves. Ellen holds a VT state teaching license birth through 3rd grade. The curriculum, attitude and approach to child development deeply reflect these values of honoring play, exploration, and curiosity in a natural environment. Our curriculums are both nature-based and play-based, child centered, and are often developed according to the children¿s observed emerging interests. We strive to highlight ecology and the interdependent nature of all things, so young minds are continually stretching to accommodate and assimilate new information in a relevant context. The promotion of healthy habits, healthy sense of self, the importance of community, and being a responsible steward for the natural world are emphasized. Social, emotional, and moral development are aspects that are seamlessly integrated into all curriculums. Our program is modeled after the Waldorf philosophy, and is also fully aligned with and registered as a Lifeways Program. (check out LifwaysNorthAmerica.org). We love being outside- in all seasons, and this is a cornerstone of our program. At Honeycomb Kids, we believe in the development of the ¿whole-child¿- and that means eating meals together playing music, dancing, spending unstructured time in nature, being wild and crazy and being still and silent, helping to take care of others, and learning how to stand up for one¿s beliefs, plus some of the basic academic expectations around math, literacy, and science. We encourage the older children to think for themselves, learn how to make their own choices, follow through with their plans, and learn first-hand the importance of being an individual within the context of our larger group. Our goal is to nurture healthy, respectful, empathetic, aware, and intelligent children who will have all the tools and support to succeed in life as both strong individuals and community members.

Additional Information: Initial License Date: 08/24/2014; Sibling Discount Available; 3 Star Family Child Care - Licensed Provider; Area Description: Smoke Free; Pets: Dog; Program Meals: Allergy Awareness; Special Schedule: School Year Only;