Storybook illustration of children reading, climbing, and gardening on a giant leafy plant that sprouts from a brain-shaped seed under a warm sun.

Nature-based day care · Opening Spring 2027

Little Roots

Nourishing little minds. Growing strong roots.

Little Roots nourishes little minds through nature, real food, and wonder, raising children who are grounded, curious, and connected to source.

Illustration of a sprout reaching toward the sun while its golden roots spread underground like a glowing network of neurons, flowing down to a spring of light.

Our mission

Rooted below.
Reaching for the light.

At Little Roots, we nourish little minds by growing curious, grounded, and connected children. Every day, children play outside in nature, eat real whole foods, and learn to ask honest questions and seek the truth. We gently guide them to feel rooted in their bodies, connected to the earth, and in touch with the source of wonder within them, so they grow into confident, kind, and free-thinking people.

  • Curious
  • Grounded
  • Connected
  • Kind & free-thinking

Our four pillars

Four roots, one little tree

Everything we do grows from these four ideas. Tap a card to see what it looks like in our day.

  • Truth Seeking

    We honor every honest question and explore it together.

    Truth Seeking

    Children are natural scientists. We slow down, wonder out loud, and ask “How do we know?” so they learn to think for themselves.

    • Wonder questions at circle
    • Simple, hands-on experiments
    • “I don’t know yet, let’s find out!”
  • Grounding

    Feeling at home in our bodies, our breath, and the earth beneath us.

    Grounding

    Little bodies learn by moving, touching, and resting. We make space for bare feet in the grass, slow breaths, and calm moments.

    • Barefoot time outdoors
    • Balloon breaths & kids’ yoga
    • Steady, predictable rhythm
  • Nature

    The outdoors is our favorite classroom, every single day.

    Nature

    Mud, leaves, bugs, and puddles are a child’s first teachers. We head outside daily and notice how the world changes around us.

    • Daily outdoor exploration
    • Seed-to-plate garden
    • Sit spots & nature journals
  • Connecting to Source

    Nurturing the quiet spark of wonder inside every child.

    Connecting to Source

    Gently and without dogma, we make room for awe, gratitude, and stillness, so children can listen to the wonder within them.

    • Daily gratitude circle
    • Sound baths & quiet sits
    • Moments of awe outdoors

What makes us different

Our signature offerings

Little rituals that make each day feel joyful, calm, and full of discovery.

  • Barefoot grounding time

    Toes in the grass, sand, and soil, feeling the earth beneath us.

  • Mindful Breath & Movement

    Each morning we pause together to breathe slowly, stretch, and notice how our bodies feel. These simple practices give children tools to calm themselves whenever big feelings come.

  • Sound baths & quiet sits

    Gentle chimes and singing bowls for a peaceful pause.

  • Daily gratitude circle

    Sharing what we’re thankful for, every morning together.

  • Bounce breaks

    Mini trampolines and balance boards for wiggles and giggles.

  • Seed-to-plate garden & kids cooking

    We plant it, tend it, harvest it, and cook it together.

  • A peace corner, not time-outs

    A cozy spot to breathe, feel, and come back calm.

  • Outdoor daily

    With the right gear, every kind of weather is an adventure.

  • Real whole snacks

    Simple, colorful snacks made from real ingredients.

  • Family nature days & parent workshops

    Growing community together, outdoors and around the table.

Gentle guidance

How we guide big feelings

Our approach to discipline is about teaching, not punishing. Step along the stones to see how it works.

Connect first

We get down to eye level and gently ask children to notice and name what they’re feeling, then we set the limit. Children feel safe when they feel heard.

“What are you feeling right now? Hitting hurts our friends. What could you do instead?”

We never use physical punishment, shaming, yelling, or withholding food, rest, or outdoor time.

Read our printable Guidance Policy

Our weekly rhythm

Explore our day

Each day has its own gentle theme, woven into a steady, predictable rhythm.

Mindful Monday

We ease into the week by tuning in to our bodies and feelings.

  • Kids’ yoga
  • Feelings check-ins
  • Building the peace corner

Our daily rhythm

Sample schedule
  1. Arrival, free play & fruit-infused water or natural herbal teas
  2. Morning circle (gratitude, intention, breathwork)
  3. Whole-food snack kids help prep
  4. Outdoor exploration & barefoot grounding
  5. Learning time: theme of the day (story, early letters & numbers through play, nature science)
  6. Bounce break (mini trampolines / balance boards)
  7. Whole-food lunch
  8. Quiet sit & sound bath
  9. Rest or nap with soft music
  10. Afternoon snack
  11. Outdoor play
  12. Creative time (art, stories, music)
  13. Closing circle, sharing one thing we noticed
  14. Pickup & free play

Times are a sample and may shift with the weather and children’s needs. Actual hours: [Hours].

Learning

Learning at Little Roots

Children learn best with muddy boots, open hearts, and plenty of time to wonder. Our gently guided days weave stories, songs, and hands-on discovery into play, all aligned with Tennessee’s early learning standards.

  • Early literacy

    Daily read-alouds, folktales, rhymes, and first letters drawn in sand, chalk, and nature journals.

  • Numbers & patterns

    Counting acorns, sorting leaves, measuring in the garden, and cooking with real ingredients.

  • Nature science

    Weather, seeds, bugs, and birds, explored barefoot and up close.

  • Mindfulness & heart

    Breathwork, gratitude, kindness, and quiet moments to feel grounded and connected.

  • Art, music & movement

    Watercolor, natural crafts, song, dance, and imaginative play.

Our garden

Little Farmers

In the Little Roots garden, children plant seeds, water, weed, and watch things grow. Then they harvest and help turn what they’ve grown into snacks and meals, from seed to plate.

Along the way they learn patience, responsibility, where food comes from, and how to care for living things. Dirt under the fingernails is always welcome!

  • Patience
  • Responsibility
  • Where food comes from
  • Caring for living things
  1. Plant

    Tiny hands press seeds into the soil and wonder what will come up.

  2. Tend

    We water, weed, and check on our plants, watching them grow day by day.

  3. Harvest

    When it’s ready, we pick, gather, and proudly carry in our basket.

  4. Share & Eat

    We wash, chop, and stir our harvest into snacks and meals to share.

Every child gets their own little plot or pot to care for. [Garden details: raised beds, herbs, etc.]

What might we grow? Examples: herbs, tomatoes, and greens.

Real whole food

Food from the earth, shared at the table

We keep food simple and real: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and other recognizable ingredients. Children help wash, chop, stir, and serve, and some of what we eat comes straight from our own little garden.

  • Kids help prep. Little hands love real kitchen jobs.
  • Eating together. We sit down, slow down, and enjoy good conversation.
  • Seed to plate. We taste what we grow.
  • No pressure. Children are invited to try, never forced.

Allergies and dietary needs: [Allergy policy]

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Opening Spring 2027

Grow with us

Little Roots is taking root in White House, TN. We’re not enrolling or taking deposits yet. Join our mailing list to follow along, and you’ll be the first to hear when tours and enrollment open.

  • Opening news and behind-the-scenes updates
  • First word when tours and enrollment open
  • An optional short monthly survey, so you can help shape Little Roots

Prefer email? Write to [your-email@example.com].

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