I connect children with nature through walks, beach visits, and outdoor crafts, fostering curiosity, physical health, and relaxation. These sensory-rich activities help children build a deep connection to the environment, promoting mindfulness, creativity, and emotional resilience. Through experiences like observing wildlife and creating beach art, children develop a lifelong appreciation for nature and become ‘Earth Protectors’ who will care for our planet. Under my leadership as the Eco School Coordinator, the Brighton Waldorf School achieved the Gold accreditation, many certificates and 4 local and national awards for sustainable travel. You can see media links for 2021 and 2022. I am applying a lot of eco-school principals to Doves Garden, for example cleaning with non toxic products, upcycling waste such as turning drinks cartons into beautiful plant pot holders and in the house and garden, see about the space section below.
Walking is also very good exercise and sets up lifelong positive
healthy habits. Enjoying picnics, or outdoor crafts such as creating
collaborative beach art, further enhances the sensory experience. As
well as creativity and fine motor skills. Observing the wildlife, and
looking in rockpools all helps deepen their connection to the
environment. These activities foster mindfulness, reduce stress, and
support emotional resilience, laying the foundation for a lifelong
appreciation of nature and a balanced, healthy life. It creates little
Earth Protectors who love and feel part of this planet.
I understand how precious your children are and take great care in ensuring they have a joyful experience from day one. To help your child feel comfortable at Doves Garden I offer Parent and Child sessions, stay-and-play visits (when parents stay for a cup of tea and a chat), and optional home visits before they start. These steps build trust and ease the transition, making sure your child feels secure and welcomed.
My setting provides a gentle, nurturing environment with a regular rhythm that adapts to the needs of the children. For example, post pandemic, we spent much time outdoors, culminating in a woodwork project where each child made wooden stilts. I also include touches of respectful care, like quiet story time and rest after lunch, with optional lavender hand massages.
Working together to cook, set the table and tidy up after playtime teaches collaboration and essential life skills. It is important to look after our home and keep it ordered, this helps with feelings of wellbeing. As an experienced educator and a parent of three, I understand the importance of these activities.
I maintain a screen-free setting, focusing on storytelling, reading, singing, and play. We use simple tools like a flour mill on baking day when we made bread and model it, a truly sensory and artistic experience. Holding a regular rhythm helps children to feel secure and know what to expect. This usually includes walks, indoor and outdoor play, crafts, tidy up time and rest, tailored to the children's ages and stages of development.
My family are almost at ‘professional Wombles’ status! We reused old
wooden flooring, decking and repurposed sheds to create amazing indoor
and outdoor areas in the house and garden. Including putting real
wooden flooring in the kitchen, and making an outside classroom area.
We also rescued two lovely hardwood benches from the school’s
courtyard, as well as some lovely solid wood planters.They all have a
new lease of life in Doves Garden.
Professional volunteers made the sturdy wooden play equipment for the
early years garden last summer at the Brighton Waldorf School, and
they kindly donated it to my new setting. We now have a beautiful play
and climbing area with wooden monkey bars and a wooden ark for the
children to play and climb in.
The Outdoor Creative & Play Area is covered and has a crafting and eating table, a mud kitchen (reclaimed from school), a sand table and play area. We also have a vegetable growing area and herb beds. Also made from reused timber and planters rescued from the school.
The Outdoor Creative & Play Area is covered and has a crafting and eating table, a mud kitchen (reclaimed from school), a sand table and play area. We also have a vegetable growing area and herb beds. Also made from reused timber and planters rescued from the school.
we have beautiful wooden toys, some of which were from when my children were small, some of which I made and some my family made. I also bought many kindergarten things from school, and have been given some lovely toys and books too. So we are a fully stocked small kindergarten! From child sized tables and chairs, little whits aprons for baking and pink ones for art, mini rolling pins and lots of crafting and art resources. We even have a hand mill to grind our own oat or spelt flour! The children love using the hand mill. It is such a satisfying experience and gives children a real connection with where food comes from. Especially when we make it into delicious bread and eat it for lunch.
