At The Olive Tree, we have created an environment that is rich in positive guidance for children. Our goal is to inspire a healthy intrinsic sense of self for each child. Individually, we allow each child to discover and establish their voice, their sense of self-discipline, maintain a balance of social-emotional growth, and develop a strong foundation for the love of learning, exploration, and inquiry.

We achieve this through a deep understanding of brain development, ages and stages of development, emotional needs of children, and basic ownership of their decision-making process.

The Olive Tree is a highly structured environment where children know what comes next yet allows plenty of time and space for the freedom of exploration, inquiry, and discovery. Through this mix, children feel safe in their environment which allows them to grow as they will and learn as they  do.

We do not guide students using time-outs, negative reinforcement, shaming, manipulation, or through the use of rewards. We guide them through the understanding of their emotional needs, addressing their needs through connection, redirection, respectful and assertive boundaries, and consistency. Children have basic rights to their space and decisions. We assist them in using their words, respecting their environment and classmates, giving them appropriate emotional outlets, and understanding that they feel what they feel when they feel it.

In other words, it is okay to feel angry but it is not okay to hit someone. Separating the feeling from the overt action helps children own their feelings, have the ability to express their feelings respectfully, and be heard without feeling frustrated even further. We help children identify when their feelings are growing bigger and help them express their needs. It is a process of learning and not one that happens overnight.

We offer a very supportive and nurturing environment for children and parents. We are available to help walk you through difficult patches of development, offer parenting workshops to establish or reinforce parenting tools, and assist your child in communicating their needs.

Some of our favorite authors on this subject are Dr. Alfie Kohn, Dr. Robin Grille, and Dr. Becky Bailey.

Most importantly, we are here for you and your child through any stage of development.