"The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things."- Plato

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Early childhood is a precious time.  Young children innately possess profound innocence and strong senses of wonder and curiosity.  To them, the world is a magical place where goodness is the natural dominant aspect.

The young child seeks to assert himself as an individual and looks to adults for guidance. Providing positive role models, fostering imagination, and nurturing the child’s healthy social, inner and physical development are important for this stage of life, and are the focus of Heartlight Preschool.

The value of play in the development of young children has unfortunately been overshadowed in recent years by a push toward earlier and earlier academic learning. However, “play is so important to optimal child development that it has been recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child.” At Heartlight Preschool, a small group of three- to five-year-olds share a four-hour day together two days per week. Two classes run simultaneously throughout the school year -- one on Mondays and Wednesdays, the other on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  With predictable rhythms and an unhurried pace, children explore imaginative play in a beautiful, protected environment.

The children are guided to use kind words and gentle hands, while engaging in many delightful activities that prepare them for later academic learning, such as: