The Thinking Garden Childcare Centre Ltd.

✨The Thinking Garden has limited space available for both our September 2026 programs!✨

With a lengthy waitlist currently only of families who are not aged in yet, or hoping for next years care; this is a rare opportunity for families to secure instant tours at either location, to chat more about your hopes for enrolment.

Our programs operate in the beautiful small communities of Nanoose Bay and Qualicum Beach. Fostering a love for multiple philosophies, nature, community, and each other, we are so excited to expand our love to new families this year!

License numbers: #279201 & #281425
We offer care for children 2.5-6yrs in multiple options, of full and part time spaces.

✨Send us an email at: [email protected] or, give us a call at : 2506680924

The Thinking Garden    Learn More The Thinking Garden Early Childhood Centres are Licensed Group Programs for children 2.5 to 6 years of age, offering a nature based, play based, enriched preschool curriculum.We have two locations, located in Nanoose Bay and Qualicum Beach BC. Contact Us Specialized Education The...

A day at the beach is always fun… But what about with a homemade kite! Our Littles frequent the beaches beside both of our schools often, and summer brings us the perfect kite weather✨

We would be so thankful if you could please take a moment to vote for us in best of the city! We are so grateful to be nominated again this year, and cherish being a part of the Oceanside area and surrounding communities💓

A day at the beach is always fun… But what about with a homemade kite! Our Littles frequent the beaches beside both of our schools often, and summer brings us the perfect kite weather✨

We would be so thankful if you could please take a moment to vote for us in best of the city! We are so grateful to be nominated again this year, and cherish being a part of the Oceanside area and surrounding communities💓

https://nanaimobulletin.com/contests/Best-of-the-City/ #/gallery/548603014?fbclid=IwY2xjawTOG3VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeDPQ53WkzAt-Lwuwap6hk4cEZ9TXI6OUJ95t8VDz4HB6xbpLvKfsJf4HEY_Q_aem_IG-wRhOSywcYTVb64ZsVHQ

Thank you to all of our parents and families for always understanding our Pro-D closures! We have truly realized this last year how important these days are to work in throughout the year. Not only for staff bonding, but for creating, learning, planning, and staying on the same page for care expectations in our centres! Today we planned and prepped all of our year end surprises and goodies for your littles, planned our summer program, shared behavior guidance ideas and tools, prepared for 10 new littles to join us over the next few months, celebrated Miss Chloe’s birthday, Miss Aurora’s university graduation, and check out Nanoose’s new saftey mirror for that tricky blind spot our friends like to dig out our school in ! 😆💓 Wishing you all a magical weekend, we hope you find some time to lay in the sun and breath along with us as the school year comes to an end☀️💓

🎶”Peter hammers with one hammer, one hammer, one hammer, Peter hammers with one hammer.. then his work is doneee🎶

Miss Yvonne has been working on bird feeders and woodwork with the children at Nanoose. This step by step project was so fun for the tiny humans! Prepared with real children sized hammers, saftey goggles, one on one supervision, and pre-drilled holes; children got the chance for hands on building and woodwork. Miss Yvonne’s passion comes from outdoor education, where children are using natural materials to develope their skill sets. Let’s walk through how this simple project is guiding your child developmentally:

Practical Life Skills:

* Children learn how to safely use real tools (with close supervision).
* They develop problem-solving skills by planning, building, and modifying projects.
* They gain confidence through creating something tangible from start to finish.

Physical Development:

* Hammering strengthens fine motor skills.
* Carrying wood and manipulating the tools develops hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills. (Look at those tiny nails!)

Cognitive Development:

* Woodworking introduces concepts such as measurement, balance, stability, shape, and cause-and-effect.

Social-Emotional Learning:

* Children learn perseverance when projects are challenging.
* They develop patience and concentration.
* Collaborative projects encourage teamwork, communication, and sharing resources

Risky Play & Risk Assessment:

Outdoor education often values appropriate risk-taking.

* Identify hazards.
* Follow safety procedures.
* Develop self-regulation and responsibility.
* Build confidence through mastering real tools

A love of nature as always:

* Feeding the birds in our beautiful maple tree and surrounding forest. We currently have a resident bird in our bird house, who we hope has some babies on the way.

✨ Our summer program is completely full for both centres! WOW! September enrollment is still under way, we are currently offering tours to waitlist families and new inquiries✨

🌸Our flower, vegetable, and herb gardens are up and running… and so is enrollment!🌸
We are currently working on our September schedule, with waitlist families and new inquiries. Contact us via email for a tour at either location; to chat more about your hopes for care this September.💓 We can’t wait to meet you! ✨

See the sleeping chicks, until it’s nearly noon.. come and help us wake them, with a merry tune 🎶

The Easter bunny delivered both of our classrooms real chicken eggs this year!! Children have been patiently waiting for them to hatch, checking on them each day, learning the life cycle, and ensuring they recieved lots of love and care!

Today, when we arrived to school, all of our feathery friends were being born. Welcome to the world sweet ones, and thank you for sharing your journey with us all!💓

A very happy Saturday to all of our families! ✨ Staff spent this Saturday learning at the Early Years conference together! Thank you for allowing us to be apart of your tiny humans early years, as we continue to learn and grow together at The Thinking Garden. 💓

Hi everyone!! Lots of parents have been asking me how my Waldorf study is going, so I thought I would share✨

I (Miss Courtney) am currently working on another specialized certification, my 0-7 Waldorf ECE. This week was our final zoom week of first year, and throughout this first year I have visited, learned, and digested so much! So far, I’ve had the chance to visit 5 different schools in BC, some for training.. some for observations, and soon some practicums. I’ve met, learned with, and shared so many thoughtful conversations with colleges in the Waldorf early education field and I’m feeling so inspired.

The goal for this program to me, is not only to just expand my knowledge on child development, but to remember why I started in mainstream ECE. To foster a place that supports the magic of early childhood, to hold and protect them from the outside world we face today, to inspire them, and meet them with wonder each day.

I still strongly believe in the Reggio approach, the Montessori method, and in some aspects of the general ECE training. However, Waldorf speaks to me the most, and I’m taking a lot from this training! It feels like a calling, for my own self development and for the children I advocate for everyday. This will not create any big changes in our programming, only additions, as I share new ideas with our staff and bring the beauty I have found along the way.

It’s a change not having me on the floor, and I know parents have expressed this to me. It’s a change for me too, and miss all of you deeply!! I wanted to take the time to share some photos I’ve taken in the different places I’ve been, things I (and staff) have made, and a general thank you to all, for your endless support in my small business, the love you show staff, and the way you all show up for us in many ways! I’m honored to have gained your trust with your most special tiny humans, and will continue to give quality, high standard care to them.

I will see you soon, I promise!! 💓
Love,
Miss Courtney ✨

Whether it’s the nature table and watercolour painting inspired by Waldorf, forest days and community walks that nurture a love of nature, the structure and kindergarten readiness drawn from Montessori, or the loose parts and light exploration of the Reggio approach; The Thinking Garden thoughtfully weaves it all together!

Every child learns differently, every teacher teaches differently.. we believe that incorporating aspects of all 4 early year approaches, is the best way to meet children where they are developmentally and personably!

Here are some similar beliefs that all of our philosophies share, and why they work so well together instead of exclusively;
- play based learning
- the importance of warmth, love, and quality care
- the relationship between child and teacher; and teacher to caregiver
- the importance of an intentional environment
- practical skills: like cooking, cleaning, confidence, self regulation
- imagination and creativity encouragement
- whole child development; from the brain to the body
- connection to nature!!!!

💓We would love to host you and your family for a tour, and add you to our waitlist for either location! 💓[email protected]