Fostering Kindness and Empathy in Children

Kindness and empathy are essential skills that help children build healthy relationships, manage emotions, and understand the feelings of others. In early childhood, these abilities develop through everyday interactions and the supportive environments we create.

Why it matters

Children who learn empathy early tend to have stronger social skills, better emotional regulation, and more positive peer relationships (Eisenberg, Spinrad, & Knafo-Noam, 2015). These skills also help them navigate conflict and build confidence in social settings.

How we Nurture Empathy at Nestling House

Modeling caring behavior: Young children imitate what they see. When Adults speak gently, show patience, and help others, children learn to do the same.

Talking about feelings: Naming emotions helps children recognize their own feelings and understand others’. Simple statements like “It seems like it makes you sad when friends take your toys. Tell me about that.” build emotional vocabulary (Denham et al., 2003).

Encouraging cooperation: Group play, turn-taking, and helping with routines teach children responsibility, fairness, and teamwork.

Using stories and book: Books about friendship and emotions offer relatable examples that spark conversations about kindness.

Offering helping Opportunities: Small acts, like comforting a friend, handing someone a toy, helping clean up, give children the chance to practice caring behaviors.

Building a Caring Foundation

Warm, responsive relationships are the heart of empathy development. When children feel safe and understood, they are more likely to treat others with the same care. By intentionally modeling kindness and creating opportunities to practice it, we help children build the skills they need to grow into thoughtful, compassionate individuals.

Classroom Feature- Robin Room (Howell)

In the Robin Room, our youngest learners are welcomed into a calm, nurturing environment designed to support their earliest moments of growth. Everything we do in this space is centered on connection, exploration, and responsive care.

A Gentle, Relationship-focused Space

Our educators, Brynn and Miss Jess, provide consistent, loving care that helps children feel safe and understood. Through warm interactions, unhurried routines, and attentive communication, we build the foundation for secure attachment and early emotional development.

Growing through everyday moments

For children under two, learning happens naturally through touch, movement, and sensory exploration. The Robin Room offers:

• Open-ended toys that support curiosity

• Safe spaces for early mobility like rolling, crawling, standing

• Books, songs, and language-rich interactions throughout the day

These experiences help babies and toddlers build confidence while discovering the world at their own pace.

A calm, predictable rhythm

Consistency is key for our youngest learners. Our daily flow balances playtime, restful moments, outdoor exploration (as weather allows), and individualized care. Children feel secure when they know what to expect, and our environment reflects that stability.

Being together

The Robin Room is a place where children begin building trust, forming relationships, and experiencing their first steps toward independence. We’re honored to support each child’s unique milestones and celebrate their early discoveries every day.

Why Commitment to Sustainability Matters in Early Education

At Nestling House, sustainability is not just a concept we teach, it is a daily practice woven into the way our children learn, play, and interact with their environment. Early education offers a powerful opportunity to build lifelong habits, and our commitment to sustainable practices helps children grow into thoughtful, responsible members of their communities.

Sustainability in Practice at Our Centers

We intentionally design our environment and routines to model eco-conscious living. Throughout each day, children see and participate in practices such as:

• Composting: Food scraps from meals and snacks are composted, teaching children about reducing waste and supporting natural life cycles.

• Healthy eating: Our emphasis on nutritious, whole foods helps children understand where food comes from and how their choices impact both their bodies and the environment.

• Recycling materials: We regularly reuse and recycle craft supplies, cardboard, paper, and other materials, showing children how everyday items can be repurposed creatively rather than thrown away.

These hands-on experiences help children connect their actions to real outcomes, reinforcing the idea that small choices make a meaningful difference.

Supporting Development Through Sustainability

Sustainable practices naturally support learning and growth. Composting and gardening build early science and problem-solving skills. Reusing materials encourages creativity and flexible thinking. Eating healthy foods promotes wellness and helps children develop a positive relationship with what they put into their bodies. Together, these practices create a learning environment grounded in care, responsibility, and respect.

Planting the Seeds for the Future

By embedding sustainability into early education, we prepare children to become aware, compassionate individuals who understand the value of caring for their world. The lessons learned in our centers extend beyond the classroom, influencing families and helping build a community culture that values the environment and each other.

How Engagement with Nature Supports Development

Spending time outdoors, whether it’s through exploring, playing, and connecting with nature, does more than just give a child fresh air and sunshine. According to the American Psychological Association, engaging with nature has shown to support mental, physical, emotional, and cognitive development in meaningful ways.

The Benefits

• Time in natural settings has been linked to reduced stress, improved mood, and greater emotional regulation.

• Regular access to natural environments supports resilience and helps children cope with life’s ups and downs more calmly over time.

• Being outside helps “reset” busy brains: exposure to natural surroundings has been associated with improved attention, better memory, and greater self-regulation.

• Natural, open-ended play invites creativity, problem-solving, and imaginative thinking, things structured indoor activities don’t always allow.

• Outdoor play encourages movement: climbing, running, balancing, exploring. All of which build gross motor skills, coordination, and physical strength.

• Early connection to nature lays the groundwork for environmental awareness and appreciation. Children who grow up comfortable outdoors often carry respect for the natural world forward into adulthood.

What This Means for Families & Nestling House

At Nestling House, we believe deeply that nature isn’t just a nice “extra”, it’s a fundamental component of our program. Whether through climbing logs, splashing in water, navigating natural terrain, or quietly observing bugs and birds, these everyday interactions foster growth. We encourage families to embrace time outside and see them as valuable classrooms for learning, growing, and connecting.

Classroom Feature- Administrative Team

Nestling House Admin

Nestling House is supported by an incredible group of leaders who care deeply about children, families, and our community. Here’s a quick look at the people who help our program run with heart and intention every day:

Miss Loryn- Executive Director

Loryn has been with Nestling House since 2019 and brings over a decade of early childhood experience. She grew up in Bay View and still lives there with her husband and two dogs. Loryn loves creating a warm, playful environment where children feel seen and loved. If there’s music playing or a PJ day happening… she’s probably behind it.

Miss Janelle- Enrollment & Finance Specialist

Janelle oversees enrollment and supports families through all things billing and admissions. She holds a Master’s in Early Childhood Education and has experience teaching in several settings, including abroad. Passionate about outdoor and risky play, she’s committed to giving children the space to grow into confident, capable humans. She lives in Milwaukee with her husband and their dog, Nessie.

Miss Lindsay- Licensing Coordinator

Lindsay joined Nestling House in 2021 and brings both parenting experience and a background in childcare. She believes strongly in responsive, nature-based, child-led learning. Originally from Waukesha, she now lives in Bay View with her family and enjoys gardening, yoga, hiking, and exploring northern Wisconsin.