Our Pedagogy

Brooklin Day Nursery is committed to collaborating with children, their families, and educators to create high-quality early learning environments. We view children as capable, competent, curious, and rich in potential. We strive to deliver stimulating learning experiences in a safe and nurturing environment that will enhance children's social, intellectual, physical, and emotional development.

As educators of young children, we understand that children learn through play. Our curriculum takes a child-initiated, adult-supported approach that focuses on play-based learning. We believe that children learn through hands-on experimentation within their environment. Educators play an important role and will guide children based on their own unique abilities. Educators observe and listen carefully to the children as they play. The observations guide our curriculum as educators create opportunities for children to deepen their thinking, represent their understanding, and encounter new perspectives. We believe that each moment we share with the children helps us build relationships and creates a learning environment that is nurturing to children, families, and educators. By creating a safe, secure, and warm environment, children develop an eagerness to learn.

When the child's natural play is supported by caring and responsive professionals in positive, developmentally appropriate learning environments, we believe a child will flourish. We will provide a balance of purposeful play, inquiry-based provocations, gross and fine motor activities, nutrition, and planned and spontaneous learning opportunities through the daily routine.

Infant 0-18 months

Our infant program follows each child’s individual schedule, based on input from our families. A daily record of sleep, eating and diapering is recorded and available to parents on a daily basis. Our program includes opportunities for exploring indoor and outdoors, song and dance, creative play, sensory play, and a lot of time for hugs and cuddles. The infant ratio is 1:3 and our program is licensed for 6 infants.

Toddler 18-30 months

Our toddler program follows a flexible group schedule. Sleep times, eating, and diapering is documented on a daily basis and available to parents. Our program includes opportunities for indoor and outdoor play, music and movement, creative art, sensory, puzzles, stories, blocks, dramatic play, and science. We also focus on learning to play in a group setting. The toddler ratio is 1:5 and our program is licensed for 15 toddlers.

PREschool 30 months - 5 years

Our preschoolers follow a flexible group schedule. Educators document learning experiences that occur during a play experience. Our program includes opportunities for exploring indoor and outdoor experiences, creating with the arts (visual, dramatic, and music), discovering science, engaging in math and literacy activities, developing social skills, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and problem-solving. The preschool ratio is 1:8 and our preschool and pre-k programs are both licensed for 8 preschoolers.

Parent Engagement

Communication and parent engagement is important to establishing and maintaining positive partnerships between parents and educators. To foster these relationships and involve parents and families in their children’s learning, Brooklin Day Nursery utilizes the Brightwheel program. Brightwheel is a mobile application that provides a quick and easy way for educators to record and share your child’s daily activities and learning experiences. Educators will provide parents with digital daily sheets and photos of learning and development milestones.