Nestling House

💞Nestling House had such a wonderful time attending the Humboldt Park School Open House & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for their playground renovation project!💞

☀We were honored to host a booth featuring information about our year-long program, our summer camp program, and how to join our amazing team!

🫶Humboldt Park School holds a special place in the hearts of the Nestling House team. During the summer months, the children in our care get to enjoy their playground, and we are proud to have a commemorative brick on their property recognizing when we became an employee-owned cooperative.

🎉Congratulations to Humboldt Park School, and thank you for including us in such a special event!🎉

While Teacher Appreciation Week may be over, appreciation for the incredible team at Nestling House never ends. Your dedication, care, and positive impact are felt every single day. Thank you for all that you do to support, nurture, and inspire our community year-round!

Please reach out to [email protected] if interested!

Check out our new flyer!

✨ The Magic of Open-Ended Play✨
At Nestling House, we love using open-ended materials (sometimes called “loose parts”) like blocks, kitchen tools, water, and other natural items. These simple materials spark BIG creativity!

💡 Learning Through Exploration💡
Children experiment, build, roleplay, and create. This allows them to develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and imagination along the way.

🌱 Supporting Growth🌱
Open-ended play helps children grow in so many ways:
• Cognitive: thinking, planning, problem-solving
• Physical: fine & gross motor skills
• Social-Emotional: collaboration, confidence, sharing ideas

🎨 The Magic🎨
Some of the best learning happens when children explore freely without a set goal. From there, teachers can ask curious questions to spark even deeper thinking and creativity.

Sometimes, the simplest materials create the most meaningful learning 💛

Outdoor play is a big part of life at Nestling House! 🌿 Even in cold, rainy, or windy weather, time outside supports children’s mood, learning, sensory development, and connection with nature.

As temperatures fluctuate, it is important to have you child prepared for every kind of weather. This helps us to continue enjoying outdoor play comfortably. 🩴🧤🧥

You may notice in photos that some children choose not to keep every layer on. We encourage appropriate gear, but young children are active, independent, and want autonomy!

Thank you for supporting outdoor play in all seasons! 💛

This week, we shared a post on the blog section of our website title "Helping Hands: Encouraging Children to Participate in Daily Routines". Here is a summary of that post:

Getting kids involved in everyday routines, like helping wash dishes or do laundry, helps them build independence, responsibility, and confidence. It also gives them a sense of belonging and teaches skills like problem-solving and teamwork. Nestling House incorporates child participating into our program in meaningful and intentional ways. Even small, consistent tasks can make a big difference in a child's growth and self-esteem.

If you would like to check out the full post, and other interesting posts, please take a look at our website!

News — Nestling House News

Why is consistency so important in childcare?

Consistency is an important element of the care we provide at Nestling House. It shapes our daily structure, the way we communicate with children, how we staff our classrooms, and create predictable, supportive environments.

Here's some of the benefits of consistency in a childcare setting:

🔑A Sense of Safety and Security🔑
Children thrive when they know what to expect. Predictable routines and clear expectations help them feel safe, reducing anxiety and allowing them to fully engage in their environment.

🔊Clear Boundaries🔊
Consistency in our words and actions teaches children that we mean what we say. Following through and communicating when plans change builds trust and helps children understand limits in a respectful, reliable way.

🫂Strong, Secure Attachments🫂
When children can rely on consistent caregivers, they form secure relationships. These connections are important for emotional development, confidence, and a sense of stability within the classroom.