Nursery Kinship | Infants
Our Current Nursery Kinships Enrolling Infants:
Click here to learn more about enrollment and waitlist details.
Nursery Kinships:
Woodhaven (Sullivan’s Gulch) – 3 months to ~3 years old: 2, 3, 4 and 5 full-day options
Monarch Treehouse (Cully) – 3 months to ~3 years old: 3 day option, M-T-W, 8:30am-3:00pm
Group Size & Ages
Our Nurseries either have one blended group of infants and toddlers or children are split into infant groups and toddler groups for parts of the day. Our infant groups are limited to 6-8 children and two teachers. Infant groups range in age from 3 months to about 18-20 months old. When in the same location, all children and teachers have access to each other and spend time together throughout the day. Each group also has designated separate spaces set up to meet both age groups’ developmental needs and sleep/eat rhythms.
Children stay in the infant group until they are walking well and have dropped down to one mid-day nap.
Nursery Kinship | Infants
Details Philosophy of Care + Curriculum Daily Rhythm
Philosophy of Care
Our caring of infants is greatly influenced by the teachings of Emmi Pikler and the RIE method and Attachment Parenting. We build our relationships with infants based on a foundation of mutual respect and trust.
We develop this foundation by communicating with and including infants in the caretaking process and allowing them as much freedom of movement as possible. By tuning in to a baby’s cues, responding to them with empathy, communicating with them respectfully, and by staying present to the moment’s unfolding, infants and their caregivers develop secure attachments with one another and move through their day in partnership.
Rhythm & Curriculum
We Play Outside Every Day, Rain or Shine!
Our infant groups spend a lot of time outside in the yard and out and about for neighborhood walks. We value being outside as much as possible, and babies are always dressed appropriately for the weather. They are bundled up and kept warm in the cooler months and protected from the elements at all times when outdoors. Younger infants spend time on picnic blankets or in caregivers’ arms while older babies are given the freedom to crawl around and explore their natural environment. Whether indoors or outside, infants are given uninterrupted time for play and exploration where they are safely supervised and warmly engaged with.
Non-crawling infants will have a designated playing area separate from older children, where they can roll around on a soft surface and explore safely.
“Respecting a child means
treating even the youngest
infant as a unique human
being, not as an object.”
~ Magda Gerber
Naps
Infants and toddlers under 15 months of age take naps and eat based on their individual sleep/eat rhythms throughout the day. They do not adhere to any group rhythm, and they have the option of participating in all activities when they are awake. Toddlers generally begin transitioning down to one mid-day nap between 15 and 20 months old. “The fear of missing out” is a daily occurrence in group care and infants sometimes take shorter naps in group care when sleeping in the same room as their friends because they always want to play! We help support our infants getting as much sleep as possible by having consistent sleep cues and having awake children play outside while their friends are sleeping inside.
Meals
For younger children, not yet comfortably eating table food, parents provide the majority of their child’s food. As children begin eating solids regularly, they can begin eating our cooked meals. Children over 12 months eat food prepared, with their help, by their kinship caregivers.
We support formula-fed, breast-fed and chest-fed babies and welcome feeding visits from parents whenever possible.
Above all, we ensure that babies in our care are loved unconditionally and are kept as safe as humanly possible. Deep and lasting bonds are made between caregivers, children and their families when children are welcomed into our community as infants. Their growth and development is witnessed with much awe and tenderness by many loving people and is celebrated daily.
Nursery Kinship | Infants
DetailsPhilosophy of Care + Curriculum Daily Rhythm
Infants flow in and out of group engagement based on their individual sleep, eat & awake rhythms
8:30am: Arrivals + Play time
8:55am: Blessing + Breakfast
Early Morning Naps
Good Morning Circle
Outside Play
11:00 am: Lunch
Mid-day Naps
2:00 pm: Afternoon Snack
Afternoon Nap-time
Outside Play
3:00-5:00pm: Goodbyes
Nursery Kinship | Infants
Details Philosophy of Care + Curriculum Daily Rhythm
“We not only respect babies,
we demonstrate our respect
every time we interact
with them.”
~ Magda Gerber
