Open-ended discovery is encouraged at Blackberry Cottage. In our preschool children will find simple and natural toys both inside and outside: pinecones, seashells, silks, wood blocks and logs, homemade dolls, dress-up costumes, sand stones, dirt, water table and pump, ramps and balls, teeter-totter, garden and digging tools, playhouse and climbing structure.
Play guides children towards becoming free, creative thinkers and decision makers.
We follow the Waldorf philosophy that children learn primarily through their experiences with the natural world and through imitation of those around them, without feeling pressure of the right outcome. Children will see and may imitate or work with the teacher as she undertakes meaningful daily tasks such as gardening.
We believe play is vital to children's personal, social and emotional development. Studies confirm that success through the school years corresponds to a child’s ability to engage in positive play both independently and with their peers and adults during the early years.