About

The Montessori Method

The aim of the Montessori method is to develop the whole child.

The Montessori method encourages independence, freedom within limits and responsibility. It also allows for the child to grow independently. A 2006 study published in the, “Journal of Science” concluded that Montessori students performed better than their standard public school counterparts in a variety of areas, including not only traditional academic areas, but in social skills as well. The authors concluded that, “Montessori education fosters social and academic skills that are equal or superior to those fostered by a pool of other types of schools.”

Montessori children are adaptable. They have learned to work independently and in groups. Since they have been encouraged to make decisions from an early age, these children are problem-solvers who can make choices and manage their time well. They have also been encouraged to exchange ideas and to discuss their work freely with others. Research has shown that the best predictor of future success is a sense of self-esteem. Montessori programs help children develop good self images and the confidence to face lifes challenges.

Nutrition

When you have more than you need, build a bigger table.

Saying we are proud of our meal plan is a huge understatement. It took many years of hard work to get where it is today. We saw such a huge difference in our own children’s lives when we started eating healthier, which is why we knew we needed to do the same for your children.

For breakfast, you will see your child eating scratch made protein pancakes with unbleached organic flour, organic pea protein, and pure Canadian maple syrup. Parfaits will be served with organic Greek yogurt, organic/pesticide free berries, and organic granola. They will have scrambled free range eggs with home made bread and freshly cut fruit. They will eat scratch made cinnamon raisin bread and berry blast muffins.

Our freezer is loaded with grass fed beef and free range chicken which we serve for lunch. In the summer and fall months, we’ll even serve our harvest that the children helped grow out of our own gardens. You would be amazed at how many veggies you can hide in a pasta sauce. There will be an abundance of root vegetables served all year round. Fresh organic fruits and vegetables when they are in season, and frozen organic or pesticide free when they are not. We will eat roasted chicken, meat loaf, and mashed potatoes, chili with fresh garlic buns, sweet potato shepherd’s pie and charcuterie boards. Mondays are always meatless. We have just about every kind of milk available to serve with lunch, and of course filtered water.

It doesn’t end there. For afternoon snack, the kids will get apple crisp, chocolate avocado brownies, homemade hummus and carrot cranberry muffins. Again, everything is scratch made by our in house chefs, who work tirelessly to ensure your children are always served the best choice ingredients possible.

Forest School

Today I have grown taller from walking with the trees.

Imagine yourself as a young child, getting picked up in a big yellow bus for the first time.  After a short ride, you are dropped off  not at a building, but in the middle of a forest.  You see no playground, just trees, pathways, and meadows.  A smiling teacher greets you and invites you to sit around a fire.  You enjoy your morning snack of freshly baked bread, crisp vegetables, and sliced fruit.  You wash it down with some tea as you hear the wind and the morning birds sing.  Soon, you are completely immersed with nature.  You are playing with sticks, climbing trees, and yes, even throwing rocks.  You walk the beach, splash in the puddles, and swing from ropes.  You will dig holes with shovels, cut through branches with a hand saw,  and use a vintage hand drill to make tree cookie medallions.  You walk over bridges as you spot bathing turtles, and you even climb up to the top of The Hawk Tower!

This is just a typical Monday at Bright Child.  Every Monday for an eight week block in the fall, and another eight week block in the spring, children aged 3 and up will be invited rain or shine to explore the forests of Holiday Beach and Camp Bryerswood.  We meet the staff of Natural Pathways Forest & Nature School on location and are led on a exploration of both the forest and ourselves.  At the end of the morning, we find a quiet sit spot to reflect, and then gather back around in a circle.   We pass around the talking stick and share our favourite parts of the morning.  We pack up and return to Bright Child just in time for lunch, ready and excited to do it all again the following week.

Children’s Yoga

The light in me sees the light in you.

One of our goals at Bright Child is to bring people closer together in body, mind, and spirit. An excellent way to accomplish this is through children’s yoga. Yoga is all about connection; connecting to yourself, to the world and to the people around you. We are social animals and we crave connection. We want to feel that we belong. We want to touch, to share, to give and receive love. This is what our weekly yoga classes are all about. They are communal, interactive, and fun.

We will celebrate life and bring our students together! The young yogis will expand to connect and dance with everything around them. They will have to work together to complete challenging poses. You will see running, excitement, and loud roars, and then you will see deep breathing, stillness, and the quieting of the mind.

Our yoga practice will challenge the young yogi to explore and move freely through different emotions.
We will learn how to deal with stress and sadness, and we will learn how to have empathy for others. We will be left with a smile on our faces, a wealth of knowledge, and an ignited spirit to spread the love and joy of yoga.

Music, Movement, and Dance

When your body surrenders to movement, your soul remembers the dance.

The benefits of music are truly transformational. When paired with movement, dance, and instrument play, it creates neurological magic, lighting up a child’s brain and positively impacting all areas of development. Children will experience music of varying styles, genres, and cultures. They will interact with other classmates and engage in movement, rhythm, and vocal activities that develop far more than just music skills.

We will use balance beams, scarves, and parachutes. We will use shakers, rhythm sticks, and hand built drums.  We will incorporate french lessons, and teach the beginnings of ballet. Our Kindergarten class will step it up a notch and learn the basics on the recorder. We will learn the notes  “B”, “A”, and “G” and finish the year off with a performance of Hot Cross Buns at their graduation ceremony.