I believe children learn best when they feel safe, known, and connected. That’s why I like to think of Frida’s Garden as a connection-first program.

Most children who join Frida’s Garden spend two or more years here, which gives us the time and space to build meaningful relationships and a strong sense of community. While that connection continues to grow throughout a child’s time here, it is especially important when they are first getting settled in. Building trust, getting to know one another, and helping each child feel that they belong is always my first priority.

Keeping our group small is a big part of how I’m able to create this kind of environment. Frida’s Garden has no more than four children at a time, and I am always the adult caring for them. There isn’t a rotating staff or a different caregiver each day. You will always know who is spending the day with your child, and I have the opportunity to truly know each child. Their personality, their interests, their quirks, and what they need from me that day.

I also believe that children deserve an unrushed childhood. There is so much value in having the time and space to just be a kid. Being a kid is pretty awesome, and children deserve the chance to soak it in! To get absorbed in play, spend hours outside, express their endless curiosity, and have a safe, cozy place to rest and recover.

Our days at Frida’s Garden have a rhythm, but they aren’t packed with activities or rushed from one thing to the next. I want the children to have plenty of time to play, explore, and follow their own interests. Oftentimes, we spend an entire morning outside exploring a park of the kids’ choice. Other times, the children might become completely fascinated by something they discover in the backyard and end up enjoying our home base for the morning.

I also try to slow down and appreciate the trickier moments of the day, like transitions. We don’t rush through getting our snow gear on just to get out the door. Instead, it becomes a chance to practice new skills, help each other, and work through the feelings that naturally come up when we are learning something new. These moments can take a little longer, but I think they are just as valuable as the time we spend playing.

Children are capable, and we want them to believe that too. Confidence is built through experience, not taught. My role is not to step in at every opportunity, but to give the kids the chance to try and to surprise themselves.

This doesn’t mean they have to do everything alone. Oftentimes, even in adulthood, it takes teamwork and encouragement to accomplish the things we want. I want the children to know that being capable can mean trying something on your own, working together, asking for help, or trying again when something doesn’t work the first time. 

I want the children in my care to feel comfortable making mistakes, trying again, and asking for help when they need it. Here, we aren't afraid to make mistakes; the kids will even see me make some along the way. I think it’s important for children to see that the adults around them don’t have all the answers either. We all make mistakes, learn from them, and try again.

While I believe children should be free to explore and express themselves, I also know that consistent boundaries help children (and people in general) feel safe. A safe space is only truly possible when we can all be on the same page about how we treat one another and the spaces we share.

Feelings are always okay. We spend a lot of time naming our feelings and working through them together, whether that looks like a snuggle, a song, a story, or simply having someone there to listen. At the same time, we are learning that there are words and actions that can be helpful and words and actions that can be hurtful. Learning the difference is something we work on every day.

Children aren't expected to navigate big feelings or conflict perfectly. They are still learning, and so am I. We work together to navigate these very human experiences while learning how to care for ourselves, each other, and the space we share. Boundaries aren't about making children feel bad for having big feelings; they are about helping everyone feel safe and supported.

One of the most impactful aspects of Frida’s Garden is the emphasis put on spending time outside. In many ways, being outside brings together the other elements at the heart of Frida’s Garden.

Being outside provides the freedom to move, explore, and challenge themselves in ways they aren’t always able to indoors. It also gives us so many opportunities to connect with one another. On the bike, we chat and sing together. When we’re outside, I notice that the kids often have more space to really work together, rather than simply playing alongside one another in close proximity.

I love watching the way their relationships grow when they have this kind of space. They build forts together, help each other climb, decide where to explore, and come up with games that I never could have planned for them. Nature gives us the space to slow down, be curious, and experience things together.