When you walk into First Discoveires you will notice a distinct difference between First Discoveries and other preschool or childcare programs.
Our classroom is filled with unique hand-made non-toxic water base painted wooden toys. We do not have ANY battery operated toys, and very little plastic toys. Our classroom is also media free! We do not have a TV, listen to the radio, play video or computer games or have any cartoon character or super hero related toys. Our toys are open ended-meaning children can imagine many uses for them rather than just one.
We do listen to CD's in our playroom featuring childrens folk music, local music artists, classical music and calming music from around the world. We are able to watch videos or movies upstairs when the weather is very cold or we want to watch something special that is holiday related or seasonal.
Our classroom environment is kept clear of clutter and organized. We do not have a lot on the walls, or ceilings as this can be distracting and overwhelming to young children. We strive to provide a peaceful, calming environment where children can learn and play and enjoy their childhood.
Why Choose Natural Toys?
Child's Imagination
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there will ever be to know and understand."
Albert Einstein
Toys without batteries allow for open ended imaginative play that keeps the child interested in the toy for many years.
Open ended toys allow the child to imagine the countless possibilities all while focusing on just that toy. Their thoughts are not jumping from one toy to the next as often happens with toys that "think" for the child.
Natural toys allow for downtime
Child's Mental Health
Toys with battery operated special effects can over-stimulate children. The combination of blinking lights, loud noise or music and automated movement can be too much for a young child to process.
Pressing one button to make lights blink or sound appear mearly teaches a child simple cause and affect and misses the opportunity to encourage more creative play.
The environment is completely different in a room with natural toys than a room with battery operated plastic toys. Quieter, more beautiful and more inviting in a very different way. The child is more calm because of this as well.
Adults and children are drawn to nature and products made from natural materials.
Holding something hand-made from wood has a positive psychological effect on a person.
Childrens Physical Health
Studies show that certain plastics can negetively effect a persons health. Some phthalates have been linked to cancer, kidney and liver damage, harm to developing reproductive organs, and premature breast development in baby girls.
Inhaling these chemicals can also worsen asthma in children. Phthalates are not bonded to the plastic, but can migrate, or leach out.
Meals
At first discoveries children are involved in meal prep and clean up as much as possible. We are careful to provide fresh organic fruit and vegetables with each meal and make a point to serve very little processed foods. We buy fresh whole grain bread a couple of times per week from Great Harvest Bread and never serve fried foods. We do walk to restaurants as a group when the weather is nice and try to choose somewhat healthy choices from the menu- and always include fruit and vegetables, and milk even if we are out of our own kitchen!
Outdoor Space
The world is our playground, we do not stay in just our little yard. We love to experience everything this town has to offer.
Our outdoor playground is not a fenced in field of plastic toys-but rather a large open area to explore and experience nature! Children do not become bored with nature as they do with plastic toys. Therefore we play with sand, water, mud, sticks, acorns, and leaves. We plant flowers and vegetables. We roll down the hill, lay in the grass and watch the clouds and go on nature hikes often.
We are located one block away from two public gardens and we visit them often. We go outside all year round-even in the rain and snow.
