Wild Child Playschool

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Wild Child Playschool We facilitate the wellbeing of the WHOLE child by creating a safe, stimulating and nature based space

One thing I do before we clean up from open play is take a little walk around the classroom.I look for the things I may ...
10/08/2026

One thing I do before we clean up from open play is take a little walk around the classroom.

I look for the things I may have missed while I was busy with other children. What was moved? What was used? What was left behind?

Because sometimes those little clues tell me quite a bit. 💜

Today, our science area told a story. Materials had been moved, collections rearranged, and there were marks on the paper where someone had been drawing. Clearly, there had been some investigating going on!

Then I wandered into our art studio, which has been pretty quiet lately. Most days, the materials are right where I left them.

But today, something was different.

Someone had taken all the little paint jars out of their basket and arranged them on the other side of the shelf.

No painting happened. No one asked for help getting started.

But someone was interested enough to take them out and explore them in their own way.

And that makes me wonder. Is someone becoming interested in painting? Do they need a little help getting started? Or maybe they're simply interested in arranging things right now.

I don't know yet. But I'll keep watching. 💜

We don't follow a set curriculum at Wild Child. Instead, I observe the children, pay attention to their interests, and use what I notice to guide what comes next.

Sometimes children tell us what they're interested in with their words. Other times, they tell us through what they do when nobody is directing them.

The children and their environment are our curriculum.

And sometimes, even an untouched paintbrush or an empty basket has something to tell me. 🌿

10/07/2026

These little boards are always available in our classroom—boards, markers and erasers, within reach whenever someone wants them.

And this little guy chooses them often. ❤️

No one asks him to practice writing. No one gives him something to copy or tells him what marks to make. He just keeps coming back to them on his own—and when he does, he is completely fascinated and focused on what he’s creating.

Lines. Shapes. Symbols. Almost-letters. Erase. Try again.

This is one of my favorite parts of child-led learning. When materials are available and children have the time and freedom to follow their own interests, they "practice" because something inside of them is saying, I want to figure this out.

And that kind of practice is pretty powerful. 🌿

Things I heard during this play…“Oh here, I know where to put it.”“This is the perfect piece for that.”“I think this wil...
10/07/2026

Things I heard during this play…

“Oh here, I know where to put it.”

“This is the perfect piece for that.”

“I think this will fit. Let’s try it.”

“Oh, you got it, Gideon!”

“Here, try it in this spot.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea, Leon.”

"Ollie, I don't need help right now. When I say I dont need help, you can walk away and let me do it."

“I looked for it and couldn’t find it. Could you help me?”

“Oh, I see what I can do with it. I have an idea. Let’s try it.”

“You go first, Malachi. Then I’ll try mine.”

“We could make a bridge. What pieces would we need?”

Sometimes all you have to do is listen. ❤️

The planning. The problem solving. The encouragement. The asking for help. The sharing of ideas. The patience to let someone else go first.

So much is happening in what looks like “just play.” 🌿

10/05/2026

Studies in early literacy development show that when children learn the purpose of language through everyday life and play, they build the intrinsic motivation to explore books independently.

Watch this sweet video—every single child chose to pick up a book and dive into a story entirely on their own initiative today!

When literacy is a natural part of a playful day, reading becomes a joyful choice. ❤️

10/01/2026

How do you "teach" social skills to toddlers and preschoolers? Ive gotten this question so many times and Im always racking my brain. "How do I do it? It just kinda happens." But I know it doesn't "just happen".

Its our Playschool culture, its who we are. This video articulates it so well. Im glad to have came across it and now have a better explanation for this part of the process.

We call it Powerful Voice here. Its a foundational reason why Wild Child Playschool was created. Children, young children, are so capable of this. "Your voice is powerful. You say it. You tell them what you need." If they dont have the words yet, give them the words.

This is effective in emotional labeling, and emotional intelligence building also.

No matter how many worms we’ve found over the years, somehow finding a worm is still a VERY big deal. ❤️🪱Everyone has to...
10/01/2026

No matter how many worms we’ve found over the years, somehow finding a worm is still a VERY big deal. ❤️🪱

Everyone has to see it. Everyone has to get close. There are observations to make, questions to ask, and usually a whole lot of excitement over something we’ve seen plenty of times before.

One of my favorite things about being around little people—the world doesn’t become ordinary quite as quickly.

A worm is still worth stopping everything for. "Come on guys, lets go look at the worm!" 🌿

10/01/2026

There’s something really special about creating a space where children can slow down, wonder, and just be curious. 🌿

Our fish study has found its way into so many little moments lately—watching the aquarium, noticing how the fish move, wondering what’s inside their bodies, and learning the names of the things we see.

There’s no rush to know it all. Just interesting things within reach, time to notice them, and space for curiosity to do what it does. 💜🐟

Sometimes, wonder & awe is enough.

Sometimes the best evidence of learning is something you weren’t there to see happen. 💜As part of our fish study, I left...
09/24/2026

Sometimes the best evidence of learning is something you weren’t there to see happen. 💜

As part of our fish study, I left this life cycle diagram in our science area alongside figurines representing each stage. During cleanup, I noticed that one of the kids had carefully matched each figurine to the corresponding picture on the diagram—all on their own.

No directions. No assignment. No adult asking, “Can you match these?”

Just materials made available, curiosity sparked, and a child making the connection independently. 🐟🌿

This is one of my favorite parts of child-led learning—creating an environment that invites discovery and then giving children the space to show us what they can do.

Helping hands! And, of course, when you build it taller than yourself…you find a way to get taller too. 😂
09/23/2026

Helping hands! And, of course, when you build it taller than yourself…you find a way to get taller too. 😂

After a morning full of playing together, creating together, collaborating, problem-solving and navigating all the socia...
09/23/2026

After a morning full of playing together, creating together, collaborating, problem-solving and navigating all the social-emotional work that comes with being part of a group…sometimes a little space is needed. 💜

A quiet table, an open-ended bin, and some time to focus on something all their own but still together.

There is value in togetherness, and there is value in having space to yourself. We make room for both.

Address

138 South Collins Avenue
Lima, OH
45804

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 3pm
Tuesday 8am - 3pm
Wednesday 8am - 3pm
Thursday 8am - 3pm

Telephone

+14192045798

Website

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