Educational philosophies

At 10 Acre Wood, we are committed to respecting each child for who they are and where they are in their journey. We ask ourselves, “Does this respect the child?” in everything we do.

This respect is reflected in:

Ongoing teacher education: Our staff continually expands their knowledge in early childhood education to support best practices.
Developmentally appropriate behavior guidance: We focus on building relationships, modeling behavior, and helping children label and manage emotions constructively.

Our educational philosophy is built on three core beliefs:

Child-led learning: Activities, discovery, and exploration occur naturally, without formal instruction. This approach encourages curiosity, independence, and intrinsic motivation.
Outdoor learning: We utilize the natural environment as a classroom whenever possible, giving children hands-on experiences and a connection to the world around them.
Social-emotional development: Preschool is a critical time for children to develop social-emotional skills. Our program provides a safe space to interact with peers and adults, fostering empathy, cooperation, and lifelong relational skills.

While academics and assessment are present in age-appropriate ways, our primary goal is to support children in forming a deep connection with the natural world and in developing social-emotional skills that will benefit them for life.