News
Nestling House will be closed Friday, April 3rd, and Monday, April 6th for Spring Break!
We hope everyone enjoys some time to relax, play, and recharge. We can’t wait to see all our friends back on Tuesday, April 7th for more fun, learning, and discoveries in the classrooms!
The Goldfinch Room is a vibrant space for children ages 3-4, where creativity, curiosity, and connection guide everything they do. Each day is filled with opportunities for children to explore, create, and engage with the world around them.
In the Goldfinch Room, children sing, dance, and make music, letting their creativity shine. Open-ended art projects, puzzles, and building materials encourage problem-solving, imagination, and self-expression. One of the kids favorite space, the kitchen set and pretend play areas, help children practice social skills, collaboration, and everyday independence.
The Goldfinch classroom loves taking walks around the neighborhood, observing nature, and exploring our environment. These experiences spark questions, inspire creativity, and support children’s natural curiosity about the world.
Balance is key the key in their day. Quiet moments, reading together, or simply observing our surroundings allow children to rest, reflect, and recharge. These calm experiences help children feel grounded and supported in a nurturing classroom community.
In the Goldfinch Room, children grow through a mix of active exploration, creative expression, and gentle reflection. This helps them to develop confidence, independence, and a love of learning every day.
At Nestling House, our mixed-age classrooms are designed to mirror the natural learning that happens in families and communities. Research shows that children thrive when they learn alongside peers of different ages, and we see those benefits every day in our centers.
According to ERIC Digest on The Benefits of Mixed-Age Grouping, younger children gain language, problem-solving, and social skills by watching and joining older peers. Older children strengthen confidence and leadership through helping, guiding, and modeling. These peer interactions create rich learning moments that single-age settings often miss.
Mixed-age groups allow each child to develop at their own pace. Instead of everyone reaching the same milestone at the same time, children are supported as individuals.
Because mixed-age groups encourage cooperation over competition, children form deeper relationships and a strong sense of belonging. They learn empathy, patience, and how to care for others in a nurturing, family-like environment.
Across our Nestling House centers, mixed-age groups are one of the most meaningful ways we support confident, curious, emotionally secure learners who grow together every day.
In the Cardinal Room, Miss Joi and Mr Sebastian create a calm, welcoming space where toddlers feel safe, seen, and cared for. Through gentle guidance and intentional interactions, we support children as they express their needs, form early friendships, and build the foundation for social-emotional growth.
The Cardinal classroom is filled with patience, joy, and steady encouragement. Each day, we follow the flow of each day whether that’s exploring new materials, engaging in playful problem-solving, or discovering something together outdoors. Team members in the Cardinal Room work as a team to offer a space where children feel confident to try new things, take their time, and trust their abilities.
Our consistent rhythm of active play, creative moments, outdoor time, rest, and connection helps children feel secure throughout their day. In the Cardinal Room, children practice social skills, explore their interests, and take small, meaningful steps toward independence. Every day, we’re honored to support their discoveries, celebrate their progress, and nurture their natural love of learning.
Continuity of care in Early Childhood Education means that “…primary caregivers and children stay together for as long as possible,” (LaMarr, 2025). At Nestling House, we support this practice by using mixed-age groupings so that children remain with the same caregivers across multiple years.
Benefits for Children
Continuity of care is essential because it creates a stable, secure, and supportive environment for young children. When children stay with the same caregivers over time, they develop strong, trusting relationships that help them feel safe and understood. This stability supports healthy emotional development, reduces stress from frequent transitions, and gives children the confidence to explore and learn.
Benefits for Staff
Consistent caregiving also allows educators to truly know each child thoroughly, like their cues, needs, temperament, and family context. This leads to more individualized, responsive care. It can also help teacher retention as they build stronger bonds with the children and their families.
Benefits for Families
Families benefit as well, building long-term, trusting relationships with caregivers who deeply understand their child. When caregivers, children, and families stay connected over time, the classroom begins to function like a small, supportive community this is something that is especially valuable during the infant and toddler years.
References
Libretexts, T. L. (2025, June 15). 24.2: Continuity of Care as a caregiving practice. Social Sci LibreTexts. https://socialsci.libretexts.org
