The Circle Childcare is a play-based home daycare, taking inspiration from RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) early childhood concepts. We incorporate an emergent curriculum plan, meaning we organize activities based on our observations of what the child is interested in and what developmental milestones they may be trying to master.

Our daily activities may include cooking, sound and movement, dramatic story time, sand and other sensory play, painting, and gardening. Our toys are simple, quality, and age appropriate. We avoid most media and electronic-based toys for this age group, as we find they tend to overwhelm the child, hindering their instinct to tinker. We spend plenty of time outdoors - in all weather - and go on regular group walks throughout the neighborhood.

During gross motor play, we encourage the children to explore their strength and build their confidence at their own pace. Our teachers may exercise quiet observation so as to better understand what the child’s needs are or what they are interested in in that moment. We keep the ratio to 1 teacher to 3 children. The teachers help the children build social skills by facilitating parallel play and allowing for social interactions.

As they grow, the children will harness their emotional intelligence. We will support this through respectful dialogue, acknowledging their feelings, assisting their problem solving during inevitable conflicts, and modeling lots of patience and listening! With our mixed age group of 1-3 years old, we believe the older children will also serve as meaningful teachers and role models for some of the younger children in our care.

The Circle Childcare was formed for and by the community. Ultimately, we would love for, not only the children but also, the families of The Circle to grow together. Through quarterly gatherings (like toy swaps and holiday potlucks), we hope the families may get to know each other and support each other in many different ways.

We believe in the value of a nurturing environment, which can also be seen in our employment practices. Our employees are paid fair and livable wages and are a representation of high quality childcare.