Welcome to
Starflower Early Childhood
Learn more about our unique Waldorf inspired, early childhood co-op program for kids 3-5 years old
Starflower Early Childhood allows space for young children to explore the richness of play and rhythm in a drop off/co-op setting.
Rhythm
Tuesdays & Thursdays
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
(full day option 9-2:30, beginning 25/26)
Rhythm is so important in holding space for young children. It creates a dependable and reliable flow of the day that allows children to relax into the environment and feel safe and held in knowing what comes next.
Daily, our rhythm focuses on a balance that includes ample free play time both indoors and outdoors, as well as a circle time with seasonal songs and finger plays, an activity of the day, and a regular snack and tea time.
Weekly, we focus on holding regular activities so children are easily able to know where they are in time. For example, Tuesday may always be "life skills day" where children may help prepare a baked good, or set and clean the table, and Thursday may always be "handicraft day" where the children may hear a simple story and paint with watercolors or participate in a seasonal handicraft.
Seasonally, we focus on rhythm by celebrating festivals and holidays as well as the innate goodness to be had in the seasonal changes in nature. Here we will see things like annual community gatherings, special additions to the regular daily activities in class, and nature exploration gently emphasizing the changes in the world around us.
When a strong rhythm is in place, the predictability provided allows children to flourish.
Why Free Play?
Free Play is crucial to children's development. In the current default of classroom settings, children are limited in their social engagement and freedom of movement, when what actually suits them best at this age is the ability to simply experience the world around them. While our program rhythm has guided circles and daily activities, we keep a relaxed pace with ample time for child led free-play.
Indoors, we create a soul nourishing environment of open ended toys crafted from natural materials, where wooden blocks can become food or currency, silk scarves can become ball gowns or baby slings, and the imagination can run wild with possibilities.
Outdoors, we encourage children to explore & get dirty. There is much richness and life skill development to be had by experimenting with their environment and learning to navigate peer interactions with the guidance of a caring adult presence.
About Our Space
Starflower Early Childhood program is held both indoors and outdoors. Our classroom space provides a cozy base for the children to feel at home in, while our vast outdoor space allows autonomy and freedom.
Daily guided activities and open-ended play takes place in our sweet early childhood classroom. Here children may dress up with silks, cook scrumptious felted food meals in the play kitchen, explore their creativity in the dollhouse, create roadways for wooden trucks, color with beeswax crayons, or care for a beautiful babydoll. The possibilities are endless!
Outside, children will have access to a field, wooded areas, a creek, trails, sand, mud kitchen, wagons, swing sets, dirt, mud, water, snow, and more. The day could include a tea party, cooperative games, fort building, creek splashing, and mud hill sliding, among countless other play opportunities.
We expect kids will get dirty, and that's ok with us!
We believe a connection with nature is crucial to the well being of all humans, so children can expect outdoor free play each day in all safe weather.
Snack
Good nutrition is vital to keep up our stamina for a robust day of play! Our organic snack offerings are planned to be a nourishing break during each session.
Children can expect the same snack (or similar variation) each day of the week. For example, each Tuesday they might have fresh baked muffins and nut butter, and Thursdays may be seasonal fruits and cheese, or vegetables, crackers, and dip. Near festivals or holidays they get to experience a new kind of fresh baked offering.
While some of the snack offerings may be new to some children, we find that when they are all enjoying the same snack together, there is often little issue with pickiness or distaste. To limit favoritism and pickiness with the group, we do not allow outside snacks during our time together.
All snack offerings are organic and locally sourced when possible.
What is a co-op?
Starflower Early Childhood is a co-op, which is short for cooperative. What this means is that each parent takes part in providing care and assistance to the running of the group on a regular ongoing basis. (All parents in attendance as a co-op member require a clean background check)
What does this look like exactly? Each family is expected to participate in class time up to one week per month; that's two days of class time with set-up and clean-up, 8:45am-12:15pm.
Before the beginning of the year, all co-op parents will have a meeting with our teachers to discuss the flow of the class, expectations during their co-op time, as well as other important details.
In general the co-op parent on duty will act as an assistant to our Starflower lead teacher, helping hold the daily rhythm with the children, and aiding in activity set up, clean up, and snack preparation as needed.
In the event that a family is unable to participate in the co-op nature of the program, alternative arrangements may be made on a case by case basis for additional tuition.
Our Application Process
In order to best serve our participants, we aim to bring together a balanced group of children. We use a simple application process to assist in maintaining gender and age balance within the group. Please fill out the short application below and we will reach out to schedule a meeting with you and your child to determine if we all feel it's a good fit.
After our meeting, to those who feel mutually that the enrollment in our early childhood co-op is a good fit, we will then send enrollment paper work and financial details.
In the event all spaces are filled, or a child is not currently the right fit in our class balance, the child will be placed on a waitlist for potential future enrollment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a modern-ancestral way of education?
It is a fusion of knowledge and simplicity of our ancestors with awareness of the modern world. Remembering the old ways, while allowing for growth and evolution. Reviving practical skills and life lessons in a healthy community setting, while expanding our spiritual, emotional, physiological, and intellectual potential.
Is this program affiliated with any religion?
New Earth Traditions Homeschool is not affiliated with any religious organization. We do not discriminate based on religion (or anything else!), nor do we favor any religion. We aim to incorporate holidays and cultural traditions of our enrolled families into our curriculum, and any religious topics are broached strictly from an educational standpoint. We do incorporate mindfulness and practices like qigong in some of our circles. If you have more specific questions please inquire by emailing [email protected]. Our programs operate out of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown facility, and are not affiliated with the church otherwise.
You mention keeping balance based partially on gender, do you discriminate based on gender?
No, we do not discriminate based on gender. We do however feel that balance within the group setting can create a more fulfilling experience for everyone, therefore, we do ask about gender so we can do our best to make that a reality.
My child is younger than 3 or older than 5, can they attend even though they are outside of the 3-5 age range?
No. Starflower Early Childhood is designed to meet children ages 3 (turning 3 by the start of the program year) through age 5 in a way that is developmentally appropriate. Children beyond this range often desire a deeper experience, and because of this we would welcome you to read more about our North Star Program. If your child is younger than 3 we invite you to join us in Nature Playgroup!
If your child is near the cut off, we would would be happy to meet in person and, together, evaluate which program feels like a better fit.
