About Us

Today, the program is owned and operated by Sarah Shambo and Chris Grimshaw, who share a passion for creating a childhood experience that honors the way children are naturally designed to learn and develop.

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With over 14 years of experience in early childhood education, Sarah has dedicated her career to studying child development, play-based learning, the importance of outside play, and healthy relationships in the early years.

 

Together, Sarah and Chris have created a program that feels less like a traditional childcare setting and more like an extension of the village children were always meant to grow up in.

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At Little Squirrels, we draw inspiration from the Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, and Montessori philosophies, while grounding our practices in Developmentally Appropriate Practice as defined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. This means we recognize that children learn and develop at different rates, and we intentionally design experiences that are age-appropriate, individually appropriate, and culturally responsive.

 

Our curriculum is built around three core principles:

 

Relationships Matter. Children thrive in environments where they feel safe, seen, and valued. We prioritize strong relationships between children, caregivers, families, and the community, recognizing that connection is the foundation for learning and development.

 

Play Is Powerful. Research consistently shows that young children learn best through hands-on, play-based experiences. Rather than relying on worksheets or rigid academic instruction, we provide rich opportunities for exploration, creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and discovery through open-ended play.

 

Nature Is the Best Class room. We believe the natural world offers some of the richest learning opportunities available to children. Outdoor play is not a reward or a break from learning, it is learning. Whether children are climbing, digging, building, observing insects, caring for plants, or exploring seasonal changes, nature provides endless opportunities to develop physical skills, resilience, curiosity, and a lifelong connection to the environment.

 

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we view children as capable, competent, and full of potential. We carefully observe children's interests and use those interests to guide projects, investigations, and learning experiences. Our environment serves as the "third teacher," intentionally designed to spark curiosity, encourage independence, and support meaningful exploration.

 

As a Developmentally Appropriate Practice program, we strive to:

• Support the whole child, socially, emotionally, physically, cognitively, and creatively.

• Foster independence while providing responsive guidance and support.

• Encourage active, hands-on learning through play and exploration.

• Respect each child's unique developmental journey.

• Build strong partnerships with families.

• Create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all children.

• Promote social-emotional development, self-regulation, and healthy relationships.

• Provide ample opportunities for movement, outdoor play, and real-world experiences.

 

At Little Squirrels Child Care, our goal is not simply to prepare children for kindergarten. Our goal is to nurture curious, confident, resilient, and compassionate human beings who feel connected to themselves, their community, and the world around them.

Because childhood is not a race to the next milestone it's a time to wonder, explore, create, and grow.