Philosophy
Frog Pond offers a top-quality, developmentally appropriate learning environment in an atmosphere of consistent, affectionate care. We focus on character development, outdoor play, and learning about nature in a holistic, nurturing, and stimulating environment. Our center promotes growth in all aspects of each young person’s development, and we welcome employees, children, and families of all races, religions, and creeds.
Discipline, Respect, and Caring: Your School Family
We emphasize the character development and social/emotional intelligence of each child. Through Dr. Becky Bailey’s Positive Discipline Philosophy, we teach gentleness, responsibility, and caring for others. Children learn problem-solving skills and responsibility by caring for our barnyard animals and caring for each other. Combined with Bev Bos’ philosophy on play, Frog Pond integrates a model that focuses on nurturing the whole child by being holistically minded as educators and families.
We teach responsibility and caring through the weekly job charts, which the children choose each week. This is common in our older class (Frogs/Dragonflies). Examples of job chart jobs are Safe Keeper, Teacher Helper, Line leader and caboose, gardening.
Nature
At Frog Pond, children engage deeply with the natural world in their daily activities. We provide an outdoor environment where children connect daily with the natural world. We are located on two acres that are home to goats and chickens and native flora and fauna. We take weekly walks with the children to the adjoining wildlife park and tend our organic garden and habitat.
The curriculum that guides our natural perspectives is outlined by our Founder and supported by the principles in Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature.
Nurturing
From the food we feed the children to the ingredients we use to wash our floors, each action we take contributes to the larger goal of developing responsible, caring, loving adults. We nurture young children so they will be able to negotiate peacefully, respect themselves, others, and the earth, and not waste the earth’s finite resources.
Relationships
Along with the relationships we build with, and among the children, we also believe in developing relationships within the larger community that are part of Frog Pond. We have family events throughout the year, such as the Winter Solstice party and the Spring Grandmother Oak Tree party. We have twice a year “work parties” where families give their time and energies to improve the school by helping maintain the classrooms and outdoor areas. They repair and replace lights and gates, spread mulch, paint, and wash walls. These activities, outside of school time, bring families together with a sense of community and responsibility for the school. We use only products that are gentle to the earth.
Inclusiveness
In addition, all play items and books are chosen to include images of all races, ethnic and religious backgrounds, and an enlarged family concept. That may include but is not limited to children living with grandparents, single parents, and extended family. Our holiday celebrations are based on the natural seasonal changes and do not include or exclude particular religions. Winter Solstice and Grandmother Oak Tree Party celebrations are intentionally inclusive of all families.
We are the only early learning center in Northern Virginia that welcomes and includes children with special needs as part of our mission. We are wheelchair/walker accessible.
Integrity
We provide integrity with our philosophy of caring for our bodies and the earth by buying earth-friendly products and acting in earth-friendly ways. We provide quality fresh food: organic milk, fresh fruit, and whole-grain snacks, and fresh-made meals without dyes, preservatives, hormones.
Facilities
The facilities are designed to reduce allergy symptoms (no wall to wall carpets, no indoor mammals or birds, commercial-grade HVAC system with electrostatic filter system, food and cleaning products with less refinement, chemicals, artificial fragrances, and flavorings)