Childhood Philosophy
The Zoila-Shaffer Early Childhood Philosophy
At Ross Cottage Nursery School
At Ross Cottage Nursery School, our approach to early childhood education reflects more than a method — it reflects experience, observation, and deep respect for the developing child. For 15 years, Michelle Zoila-Shaffer has guided this program with the belief that children thrive when they feel safe, connected, engaged, and free to explore with purpose and joy.
We draw inspiration from renowned traditions — Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, and Montessori — yet we have shaped a philosophy that is uniquely ours: balanced, relationship-centered, developmentally attuned, and rich with real-world experience.
Our Philosophy in Practice
We believe children thrive when they feel both free to explore as individuals and deeply connected to their community. Our days include moments of independent discovery alongside shared experiences such as circle gatherings, storytelling, music, and group activities. These times together are not only joyful, but meaningful — they help children practice listening, cooperation, and becoming part of something larger than themselves. In our small school community, children learn that their voice matters while also learning how to participate, contribute, and grow alongside others. This thoughtful balance of independence and shared experience gently nurtures confidence, empathy, and a deep sense of belonging.
1. Structure and Predictability Support Growth
Children flourish when they understand their world. A predictable rhythm of the day creates a sense of safety and confidence that allows children to take healthy risks, express themselves, and engage deeply in learning.
2. Exploration Through Play and Experience
Play is not just fun — it is the work of childhood. Through open-ended play, topic-inspired activities, and intentional, guided projects, children build imagination, language, cognitive skills, and self-direction.
3. Community and Connection
At times, children are thoughtfully grouped by age—such as our TK children and younger toddlers—to support developmentally appropriate experiences. Throughout the day, we intentionally implement experiences into our curriculum that foster cooperation, respect, empathy, and leadership within small, mixed-age groups. During shared classroom time, collaborative roles and shared responsibilities keep helping children feel they belong and matter, strengthening social awareness and emotional maturity.
4. Hand-in-Hand With Nature
We believe that connection with the natural world deepens children’s curiosity, supports sensory and motor development, and fosters resilience. While Ross Cottage incorporates nature throughout our program, this connection becomes even more immersive in our Wilderness Cubs model — a complementary extension of the same philosophy, taken into the outdoor environment.
5. Meaningful Responsibility Builds Confidence
Children are given roles that matter — helping peers, tending classroom materials, contributing to shared spaces — so they learn care, initiative, and pride in their contributions.
How Our Philosophy Shapes Your Child’s Experience
At Ross Cottage Nursery School:
- Learning is joyful, purposeful, and embodied.
- Children strengthen emotional regulation through warm, responsive relationships.
- Curiosity is nurtured through hands-on exploration and thematic inquiry.
- Social skills are developed through community, compassion, and cooperative play.
- A love of learning and a respectful connection to the world are encouraged, not forced.
A Philosophy That Honors Childhood
Our philosophy affirms that early childhood is not just preparation for the next stage of schooling — it is a foundational phase of life with its own value and integrity. What children learn in these years — about themselves, about others, and about how to navigate the world — forms the architecture of their future learning and wellbeing.
We are proud to cultivate a learning environment that values structure and curiosity, community and independence, exploration and reflection.
About the Zoila-Shaffer Approach
Named for Michelle Zoila-Shaffer, our philosophy reflects her commitment to honoring childhood, fostering connection, and guiding learners with warmth, insight, and intentionality. It draws on timeless traditions and human-centered understanding — yet remains grounded in the real, joyful, messy wonder of children’s lives.