The Little Garden Schoolhouse

08/20/2026

We an open spot in our toddler class. Please get in touch, if you are interested in scheduling a tour. 

08/13/2026

08/10/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db3Xbb_NoRk/?igsh=ODhkejZ1cGVnZnBp

07/30/2026

Good Morning,
We have a couple spots available in our cpr class today at 12. $25 per person.

06/15/2026

Why We Let Children Climb Up the Slide (Especially When Other Childern Are There)...

We’ve been led to believe that playground equipment, or slides rather, have one correct use: "up the stairs, down the slide." Orderly, predictable, and adult-approved. Yet when we insist on this one-way approach, we remove the very moments that build the skills children need most.

When children climb up while others want to come down, it becomes a lesson in frustration tolerance, problem-solving, resilience, communication, collaboration, cooperation, and decision-making. They learn to pause and wait (delayed gratification), negotiate, and consider others. These moments are the foundation of emotional intelligence.

Research from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child shows that self-regulation and executive function grow through experiences that require planning and adjustment. Peter Gray notes that when children navigate play on their own terms, they strengthen empathy and independence. Angela Hanscom connects full-body movement to focus and sensory integration, while Mariana Brussoni’s research on risky play shows that manageable risk helps children become more capable and careful.

And yes, sometimes children will get hurt. While we never want injury, it’s more concerning when children aren’t moving or testing limits at all. Skinned knees and small tumbles teach body awareness, balance, and recovery (while activating vestibular and proprioceptive development). We’ve become so afraid of falling that we stop children from running, forgetting that getting back up is how confidence is built. Preventing every scrape comes at the cost of deeper learning, courage, confidence, and trust in their own abilities.

Context always matters. Allowing children to climb up the slide doesn’t mean there are no rules. It means we shift how boundaries are taught (within play). Instead of enforcing them through constant correction, we let children experience and understand them through relevant and meaningful action.

When adults step back, children don’t lose boundaries, but rather, they begin to build them from within. They learn to move aside, wait, or communicate. Those are the beginnings of true self-regulation and respect for themselves and others. The goal isn’t blind obedience but awareness and accountability.

The playground is the perfect balance of freedom and safety. It’s where children can take risks, test ideas, and learn how to move within shared space under calm, present supervision. They discover what their bodies can do and how to exist alongside others doing the same.

Climbing up the slide doesn’t teach rule-breaking. It teaches discernment, confidence, and community. It shows that freedom and safety are not opposites but partners in growth.

Children have been climbing up slides since slides existed because they are wired to explore from every direction. The playground is where they practice challenge, coordination, and coexistence. When we stop interfering and start trusting, we give them what childhood is meant to offer: a safe place to move, negotiate, wonder, and grow. ❤

Join us this month for our FREE WEBINAR on how to better support resilience and frustration tolerance in our children. Register here: https://www.weskoolhouse.com/event-list

05/01/2026

Enroll for one week or the whole year. We’re excited for an amazing summer!

04/22/2026

Seed Bombs with Miss Italia for Earth Day and Miss Jennifer’s Birthday. 🌎

03/12/2026

02/26/2026

https://chatgpt.com/s/t_69a091503a008191a065047b02a300f7

Chat GPT gave a pretty accurate description.

ChatGPT helps you get answers, find inspiration, and be more productive.

02/26/2026

This is an amazing opportunity from an amazing place.

Did you know Sunshine Acres is raffling off TWO halves of a beef? 🐄🎟️

That means two lucky winners will each take home one half!

Stop by our front desk for more information and to purchase your tickets. We are located at 3405 N Higley Road Mesa AZ 85215, and our office is open Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM and Saturdays from 10AM-4PM. Don’t miss your chance to fill your freezer while supporting the children at Sunshine Acres!