Brigit’s Garden was the name chosen in February 2000 for what started as a small project aiming to meet the the needs of very young children away from home.
The image of Brigit as the Mother of the Irish is also an image of Courage, Faith, Compassion and Love. It was around February when our first children arrived. From a small group they grew into a dozen and we found ourselves with hands full. Trained in the Steiner principles we had to transform all we knew in order to meet the needs of these young children, from 1 to 4.
During these years we were blessed with the experience of numerous premises and a hundred children have come through our doors and hearts. So when we received Capital Funds to build a permanent house for the project the work of all these years had shaped our dreams! (see details on “building” section)
Young children thrive in the presence of devoted people who find Joy in living. They learn primarily through imitation and therefore need to be cared for by committed individuals with integrity and warmth who are worthy of being imitated.
Children thrive in a homelike environment that offers beauty, comfort and security. In infancy and early childhood, daily life experience is “the curriculum”. The child’s relationship to the adults and to the environment are the two most important aspects through which the child can experience healthy life rhythms and routines. These include rest and play, regular mealtimes, exploring nature and practical/domestic activities . The sharing of all these with other children and adults imbues the child with a deep sense of community.
Young children need to move out in the fresh air, they need the peace of Nature and they need time. Brigit’s Garden provides a practical childcare, which recognizes the spiritual reality of the Child and all around him.