Ashwood’s nursery school provides a bridge between parent & child playgroup and the mixed-age kindergarten, giving young children a chance to grow gracefully into the rhythms of parting from parents, happy play, purposeful work, and joyful reunions.
Group circle activities delight the children through repetition of seasonal songs, nursery rhymes, and finger plays. A simple story is told, enlivened by handmade puppets and with silk scarves setting the stage.
Snack time is steeped in ritual, with the use of child-sized cups, cloth napkins, and a natural centerpiece gracing the table. A candle is lit and a simple blessing is offered, thanking the earth for our food. Snacks consist of nutritious organic whole foods and herbal teas that the children help to prepare. At cleanup time, everyone helps to put the room in order.
The nursery morning is warm and nurturing with an unhurried pace. The group size is small so that each child will have plenty of attention and room to move. The children work on skills which will help to prepare them for the kindergarten.