A Flexible and Holistic approach to childcare
SMALL GROUP
PLAY BASED
NATURE EMPHASIS
Now Enrolling 0-2 years
THE benefits of a private childcare provider combined with the social/emotional and educational development opportunities oF An Early Childhood Center
OFFERINGS
Daily rhythm
Group Instruction time
Emergent Curriculum
Music, dance, yoga and mindfulness
Outdoor play
Process art
On-site therapy dog
Educational field trips and community outings
Curated sensory exploration, fine, and gross motor development opportunities
Hi, I’m Malia! I am a passionate and experienced early childcare provider. Working with children has been the song of my heart from a young age (hence “Heartsong”!) Forming close relationships with children and families is the foundation of my work. I believe that children learn best when they feel safe and have their emotional needs met. I strive to provide gentle nurturing guidance and emotional/attachment safety while teaching children how to be cooperative, respectful, confident, kind, and resilient individuals. My background in studying Child Development and continued professional development practices keep me informed of the most current and well-researched, evidence-based best practices. I eat, sleep, and breathe Early Childhood Development and am constantly reading, attending conferences, and expanding my knowledge and expertise. I utilize positive discipline, mindfulness practices, and behavior modeling to help children learn and grow in the most developmentally supportive way possible. I draw inspiration from the Reggio-Emilia approach, Waldorf Education, and Montessori principles all of which I have multiple years of experience working in. I also am inspired by Scandinavian and Nordic holisitc child-rearing pedagogies and Outdoor Education programs. In the Heartsong Home program you will see a huge emphasis on play, nature, and healthy social-emotional development. Throughout over ten years of experience, I have found that borrowing and combining multiple approaches contributes to a highly individualized experience that meets each child where they’re at, playing to their unique strengths and personalities. The heart of what I do is to love each child for who they are, while gently nurturing their growth and development throughout their entire education and life.
About me:
What Sets us apart
years of Experience
Teaching is one of those things where you learn as you go. You can do all the reading and earn all of the degrees, but being in the classroom is truly where you learn to think on your feet, effectively handle challenges, and coordinate the chaos. My years of experience have equipped me to balance the freedom and flexibility that littles crave with the routine, order, and boundaries that they need.
Field trips + community outings
With the goal of preparing children to go confidently into the world and be able to apply the skills they learn, a pillar of the Heartsong program is to get out into the world. With daily outings to the local park, children will develop the skills they need to work up to bigger outings such as the Zoo, local nature preserves, museums, and more! As our program grows, we hope to invest in a van to help keep us on the go!
Unique program format for optimal family satisfaction
Because of our small group size (capped at 5 children), we can truly prioritize what is best for our community and apply parent feedback as we go. Our schedule, offerings, and curriculum will be individually tailored to the needs of our small group. Our goal is to support your family and our luxury “microschool” approach allows us the complete flexibility to do so. Think nanny share with the schedule, expertise, and benefits of a preschool teacher. My familiarity with the typical frustrations that come with traditional preschool settings (teacher turnover, lack of individualized attention, unbalanced curriculum, lack of communication etc) has inspired me to create this program that gives the families and children I love what they deserve: the best of the best!
Sample Daily Rhythm
A day in the life in the Heartsong Home program utilizes a flexible daily rhythm, rather than a rigid traditional routine, which provides predictability and structure while leaving room for children’s interests, engagement, and readiness day to day.
7:30am-9:00am Drop off and free play. Engaging child-led activities and art offered at this time
~8:30 Morning Snack 1 (provided from home)
Children will be encouraged to sit together and practice good table manners, as they develop food, eating, and social skills*
9:00am Morning Invitation to Gather
*Our invitation to gather is just that, an invitation. Sitting down for group time is never required but most children opt in as it’s engaging, interest-based, interactive, and fun! We keep it short, sweet, and developmentally appropriate! This might look like seasonal song and movement activities, story time including books, puppets, and felt characters, exploration of feelings, group instruction and projects based on children’s interests as observed by teacher. Through this, children connect, learn, develop their attention spans, ability to take turns, and engage with materials and their interests in an educational way.*
9:45 Wind Down for Morning Rest Time
At this time, lights will be dimmed, gentle music played, and children will be rocked, patted, and encouraged to rest
11:45 Wake Up, Morning Snack 2
12:30 Outdoor Play, Walk to Trolley Barn Park (5 minute walk)
*Children will practice following instructions with an emphasis on safety, maintaining contact with an adult while crossing the street, remaining seated in wagon with hands to self, recognizing street signs, being aware of cars, remaining on the side walk etc*
*Trolley Barn’s playground equipment will be utilized as children get the chance to run, climb, hang, and play, all of which supports their gross motor development and contributes to the movement they need to gain body awareness and support their brain development. Play is the work of the child and daily outdoor free play will be prioritized rain or shine! Children will also enjoy opportunities to engage with chalk, outdoor art exploration, active games and movement activities like parachute, and silk ribbons. Bikes, scooters, and helmets will be incorporated as our program grows. Teacher will facilitate problem solving, positive communication, and safe and healthy outdoor play boundaries. The name to face attendance method will be utilized in frequent head counts to prioritize safety. It can feel daunting to parents that children are being supervised in a group while out and about. Rest assured that I am fully equipped to supervise groups of children with efficiency, active presence, and safe practices.*
1:30 Return to classroom, wash hands, transition into lunch time
Lunch (provided from home)
2:00pm Invitation to Gather: Yoga and mindfulness activities as we wind down for quiet time
*Children will engage with teacher-led stretching, breathing, and self-regulation activities that support their nervous systems as they unwind from play to rest time*
2:00-4:00pm Afternoon Rest
4:00pm Afternoon snack (provided from home)
4:15pm Indoor play, movement and activities while children are picked up
4:30pm Regular pick up time, extended day options available
Meet Gracie, our on-site therapy dog
Meet Gracie: A three year old Golden Retriever and no ordinary pup or pet. Gracie has been with me since she was 8 weeks old and I have worked to train and socialize her since she was a tiny baby! I have been intentional about socializing her around children as I have always envisioned working with Gracie by my side. She is gentle, calm, obedient, and adores children!
Qualifications
Gracie is a trained service dog, who has been through multiple rounds of obedience and specialized therapy dog training. With that, Gracie is fully qualified to work as a facility therapy dog around young children. She has passed her CGC exam (Canine Good Citizen, an advanced training program which evaluates temperament, obedience, and reliability), flown on airplanes, and volunteered in multiple therapeutic settings. She has a stacked Early Childhood resume (just like her Mama!) and extensive experience around children.
BENEFITS
The benefits of an on-site therapy dog are tremendous but include nervous system regulation and improved self esteem. Positive engagement with dogs will promote confidence around animals as well as learning to respect the boundaries of a living, breathing animal. She’s like a class pet but better! You will mostly find Gracie napping on her bed, getting ear rubs and cuddles, being read to, and showing off her party tricks! Therapy dogs are being used increasingly commonly in schools, hospitals, and other therapeutic settings. I couldn’t be more thrilled to have my trusty copilot take on this adventure with me!
Let’s connect and talk details
This program is a culmination of a lifelong passion and true calling. I could not be more thrilled to launch Heartsong, connect with children and families, and build the most meaningful relationships as I work to support your family and love your babies. Please contact me for more information, or to schedule a call or tour. I can’t wait to connect!