Our Philosophy

Our primary goal at Willow Wood is to provide a warm, nurturing environment that promotes and encourages the social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of each one of our students.

We are a play-based program, providing an age-appropriate environment that allows children to engage in experiences that are meaningful to them. This encourages the children to learn through exploring, creating, and problem-solving in a safe, secure atmosphere.

We strive to help each child:

• adjust to unfamiliar situations
• feel comfortable and secure in our environment
• become creative, imaginative and inventive
• learn to think and solve problems
• learn to communicate feelings and ideas
• develop body awareness and coordination
• develop a positive self-awareness as well as a respect
  for others and an overall sense of emotional security

An essential part of this process involves our teachers.
To learn more about our staff, click here.

Guidance & Discipline

1. We try to eliminate a need for frequent, punitive discipline practices at Willow Wood by making sure that each child knows what is expected of him/her at school. We try to make each day follow a similar structure so that the child knows what to expect at each part of the day. We strive for consistency of expectations, so that the child will know what kind of behavior is appropriate at school. We use positive approaches. For example, it is better to say, "Blocks are for building," rather than "Don't throw those blocks."

Willow Wood never uses any kind of corporal punishment or negative discipline methods.

We emphasize only three "rules" at Willow Wood. These are repeated frequently to the children on appropriate occasions. They are:

1. You may not harm other children or adults.
2. You may not harm yourself.
3. You may not harm the toys or equipment.

2. If a child breaks one of the above rules, we would first remind him/her, in a kind but firm voice. If it is appropriate, we explain why the behavior is not acceptable, such as: "If you continue to throw those blocks, you might harm one of the other children." If the behavior continues, we direct the child to another activity. For example, we might say, "I see that you are having trouble in the block corner today. I think you need to spend some time at the playdough table or in the sand table until you settle down." The teachers enforce this decision in a friendly but firm manner. If the offending behavior continues, the child is removed from the situation and sits quietly with the teachers until he/she calms down.

Willow Wood teachers try to have the child internalize various rules and regulations which make a classroom function harmoniously. We think that gentle reminders, having only a few important rules which are consistently enforced, and a thorough knowledge of the capabilities of the children in the classroom, are all important in helping preschool children learn self-discipline.

3. Children are periodically reminded of parent and teacher expectations for their behavior. They are asked to join in the problem-solving process when there is a problem in the classroom.

4. At any time of the year if deemed necessary, a parent and teacher may meet to decide how to further implement this policy with his/her child. This meeting will be in addition to the two parent/teacher conferences held each year.

5. Willow Wood may request a classroom observation from one of our consultants if significant behavioral problems involving one or more children exists. In such cases, the consultant will offer advice and/or specific steps which should be taken to improve the situation. Willow Wood will then work closely with the consultant as well as the parents in the classroom to achieve successful results.

6. Willow Wood reserves the right to request that a parent withdraw his/her child and seek further evaluation if the child exhibits a behavior that significantly interferes with his/her learning and/or social behavior.

back to the top