Foundations Early Care & Education

In early childhood, children are often expected to focus, sit still, write their names, and regulate their emotions, yet many haven't had the chance to build the body systems that make those skills even possible.

At the heart of this lies a critical but often overlooked function: bilateral coordination.

Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the body together in a controlled and organized way (simultaneously, alternately, or with one side leading while the other supports). More than simply motor skills, it’s a sign of how well the brain is wired to communicate across hemispheres.

The brain develops through the body. When children crawl, climb, cut, swing, pedal, pour, or stir, they activate the corpus callosum, the nerve bridge connecting the brain’s left and right sides. These movements build the foundation for eye tracking, writing stamina, emotional regulation, motor planning, and multi-step thinking.

When bilateral coordination is underdeveloped, we often see children switch hands during tasks, struggle to cross midline, fatigue quickly when writing, lose track while reading, or appear disorganized and unfocused.

These challenges are often mislabeled as behavioral or academic concerns, when in reality, they’re signs of systems that didn’t get the movement they needed to fully develop.

What’s getting in the way? Early academics, excessive screen time, limited outdoor play (that is often too controlled and "helicoptered"), shortened recess, and babies spending too much time in “containers” like bouncers, car seats, or swings.
So what do children need?

Crawling, scooping, swinging, pedaling, cutting, climbing, pouring, hammering, full-body movement, and repetition. This is how the brain wires itself for real learning.
Early childhood should be built on movement, connection, and play. That’s how we build whole, capable, thriving humans. ❤

The children in Cottonwood were invited to explore their homemade playdough alongside a variety of loose parts, including popsicle sticks, golf tees, and colorful gems. Loose parts are open-ended materials that can be moved, combined, arranged, and used in countless ways, allowing children to lead their own learning through creativity and exploration.

As the children pressed golf tees into the playdough, balanced gems on top, and used popsicle sticks to cut, poke, and create designs, they strengthened the small muscles in their hands and fingers needed for future writing skills. They also practiced problem-solving as they tested ideas, discovered what worked, and adapted their creations. This type of open-ended play encourages imagination, flexible thinking, and perseverance, while providing opportunities for mathematical thinking through sorting, counting, comparing, and creating patterns.

Most importantly, the children were free to explore at their own pace, make their own discoveries, and express their unique ideas. Every creation looked different, demonstrating that there is no single "right" way to learn when children are given meaningful materials and the freedom to investigate.

This carousel is based on a conversation we recently listened to with renowned psychotherapist, bestselling author, and relationship expert Esther Perel. Her reflections on childhood, play, conflict, and uncertainty were simply too important not to share.

She asks a powerful question:

"When you were growing up... did you play freely in the streets? And now... do your children?"

It's a question that isn't really about nostalgia. It's about development and one of the major reasons we see an uptick in anxiety and conflict avoidance.

Children once spent countless hours in unchoreographed, unmonitored, and unscripted play. They argued, collaborated, competed, negotiated, repaired relationships, solved problems, took risks, made mistakes, and learned to tolerate uncertainty.

As Esther says, "Chance is an essential piece of life."

When childhood becomes increasingly controlled, predictable, adult-directed, and instantly solved by technology, children lose far more than opportunities to play. They lose opportunities to build confidence, resilience, independence, responsibility, and trust in their own capabilities.

That's exactly why we're so passionate about risk and responsibility. Healthy risk isn't simply about climbing higher or moving faster. It's about trusting children enough to navigate uncertainty, solve problems, make mistakes, take on age-appropriate responsibility, and discover just how capable they really are.

The children in Sandpiper dove into an exciting ocean-themed sensory experience as they explored a water table filled with colorful water, ocean animals, and containers of different shapes and sizes. What may have looked like simple water play was actually rich with meaningful learning and discovery.

As the children scooped, poured, and transferred water from one container to another, they explored math and science concepts. They discovered that different containers could hold different amounts of water, experimented with cause and effect, and made predictions about what would happen when they filled, emptied, or combined containers. Through trial and error, they adjusted their strategies, solved problems, and celebrated their successes along the way.

The ocean animals sparked imaginative storytelling and conversation. Children created underwater adventures, shared ideas with their classmates, and built expressive language skills as they described what they were seeing, doing, and imagining. These interactions encouraged collaboration, turn-taking, and confidence in communicating their thoughts.

The experience also strengthened fine motor development as children grasped, squeezed, poured, and controlled a variety of tools and containers. Lifting heavier containers filled with water helped them develop coordination while building trust in their own strength and abilities. Every scoop, pour, and splash gave children another opportunity to practice persistence, independence, and creative thinking.

Through open-ended sensory play, the children weren't simply playing with water—they were acting as scientists, mathematicians, storytellers, and problem-solvers, discovering that learning happens naturally through exploration, curiosity, and joyful play.

The children in Spruce experimented with balls of different sizes, trucks, and a homemade ramp, noticing which objects rolled quickly, slowly, or not at all. Through playful trial and error, they built confidence, practiced persistence, and took turns as they eagerly tested their ideas. Every trip down the ramp invited a new prediction, a new discovery, and another chance to try again.

✨ Teacher Spotlight ✨

Every day, our teachers fill our classrooms with laughter, encouragement, and opportunities for discovery. Through thoughtful conversations, shared experiences, and moments of play, they help children build confidence, develop new skills, and find joy in learning.

The relationships they nurture and the care they show create a place where children feel safe to be themselves, take risks, and grow. We are so thankful for the passion and heart they bring to our school each and every day. 💚

Children don't learn to assess risk by avoiding it.

They learn by climbing a little higher, balancing a little longer, jumping a little farther, and discovering what their bodies and minds are capable of.

Risky play isn't about encouraging danger. It's about giving children opportunities to experience manageable challenge, make decisions, solve problems, recover from mistakes, and build confidence through real competence.

When we remove every opportunity for uncertainty, we don't make children safer. We reduce the very experiences that help develop sound judgment, executive functioning, emotional regulation, resilience, and confidence.

We cannot protect children into becoming capable adults. They need opportunities to accurately assess risk, trust themselves, and respond to challenges with competence rather than avoidance. These experiences are foundational for both immediate and lifelong mental, emotional, and physical health.

✨ Teacher Spotlight ✨

Some of the most meaningful moments in early childhood happen through simple interactions—a shared smile, an encouraging word, a helping hand, or a moment spent exploring together.

Our teachers thoughtfully create environments where children feel seen, valued, and inspired to learn. Their compassion, creativity, and dedication help lay the foundation for lifelong confidence and curiosity.

We are so grateful for the incredible educators who make our school such a special place. 💛

The children in Meadowlark were invited to explore water, scoops, and a variety of containers during a fun sensory experience. As they explored, they experimented with transferring water from one container to another, discovering volume and exploring how much each container could hold. They collaborated with their classmates to solve problems, test their theories, and share ideas about what they noticed.

Throughout the experience, the children built expressive and receptive language skills as they communicated their ideas, needs, and wants with one another. They also strengthened both their fine and gross motor skills as they reached, scooped, lifted, poured, and splashed in the water.

Staying cool in the water was also an experience filled with meaningful learning, curiosity, and collaboration. What a wonderful sensory learning experience!

✨ Teacher Spotlight ✨

Enjoy a few moments of wonder, curiosity, and joy as we shine a light on the incredible work happening in our classrooms. Watching our teachers build meaningful connections and create safe, nurturing spaces where children feel confident to explore, discover, and grow is one of the greatest joys. Their patience, kindness, and dedication make all the difference each and every day.