When it comes to early childhood education, the first years matter. By age two, children are already learning how to be in the world. They’re watching, absorbing, imitating, and experimenting. They are curious about everything and everyone. This is why the toddler years are not just developmental milestones, they’re moral and emotional ones, too.
At Friends School Haverford, we believe the values we offer shouldn’t wait until preschool. In fact, Quaker education is especially powerful when it begins at age two, when children are first learning how to relate to others, how to express themselves, and how to trust the world around them.
The Quaker Approach: Gentle, Intentional, Human-Centered
Quaker education is built on the belief that every child has an inner light, a unique, inherent goodness and potential. As young as two years old, children deserve to be seen and supported as whole people: emotionally, socially, intellectually, and spiritually.
A Quaker-aligned nursery means:
- Relationships come first. Young children thrive in environments where they feel safe and known. With intentionally small class sizes and responsive teachers, relationships are at the center of everything.
- Curiosity is welcomed, not managed. Children are encouraged to ask questions, explore freely, and make discoveries on their own terms. Learning is not rushed—it’s nurtured.
- Simplicity and routine offer grounding. Gentle rhythms and clear expectations help toddlers develop confidence and self-trust.
- Values are lived, not just taught. Concepts like kindness, cooperation, and community are woven into every part of the day, from sharing toys to siesta time.
Why These Values Matter at This Age
At two years old, children are beginning to define their place in the world. How they are treated, guided, and celebrated during this time lays the groundwork for:
- Emotional resilience: Learning to name feelings and navigate group life
- Social empathy: Building the first friendships and resolving simple conflicts
- Trust in learning: Discovering that school is a place of joy, wonder, and belonging
- Sense of self: Feeling valued not for performance, but simply for being.
- Play-based learning: Children learn through play, thrive in outdoor spaces, and collaborate in the class community.
These are the moments that shape a child’s identity—not just academically, but ethically, socially, and emotionally. A Quaker environment honors that.
It’s More Than School Readiness. It’s Life Readiness
Of course, a thoughtful nursery experience helps prepare children for preschool. But a Quaker-informed environment offers something even deeper: a foundation of values that children can return to again and again.
When children grow up knowing that their voice matters, that kindness is strength, and that they are part of a community that cares. They carry that forward into every stage of life.
Love, Trust, and Belonging From the Very Start
It’s never too early for children to be surrounded by love, trust, and meaningful connection.
A Quaker education at age two is not about academic rigor or getting ahead. It’s about meeting young children where they are—and showing them, through everyday moments, that they are seen, they are safe, and they belong.
An Invitation to Begin with Care
At Friends School Haverford, our nursery program isn’t just the start of school. It’s the start of a relationship. With each story shared, each feeling named, and each friendship formed, children begin building a lifelong sense of trust in themselves and the world around them.
These early years matter, not because they set the stage for academic achievement, but because they shape the way children see themselves and others.
If you’re looking for a place where your child will be known, nurtured, and guided by values that last a lifetime, we invite you to begin that journey with us.
We begin with love at Friends School Haverford, because how we start matters.