A couple of years ago, I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a garage sale filled with wonderful wooden toys, fairy wands, and silk capes. As I was shopping I looked across the lush garden and saw a small cubby. As I looked closer I could also see a small sand play area and a tree draped in ropes.I had a feeling I has just stumbled upon something magical. 

That something magical was Sweet Waters Childcare in the heart of Excelsior, Minnesota. Sweet Water’s is a Waldorf-Inspired, in-home childcare welcoming children from two to seven years old, ran by the lovely Kelly Waters. Kelly says “Young children have an intimate connection to their surroundings. What they encounter makes a deep impression. At Sweet Waters, great care is taken to create an environment that is peaceful and calm, where order and beauty prevail. This type of atmosphere profoundly supports the child’s health and well-being.”

This peaceful and calm environment carries throughout the indoor and outdoor spaces of Sweet Waters. The outdoor space immediately draws you in and invites you to spend hours playing, imagining, and creating. As you walk down the tree lined driveway and step through the wooden gate you are first greeted by the garden filled with strawberries, tomatoes, greens, and morning glories. The property also has a mulberry tree the children love to play under and snack from, often going home with purple stained feet.

Through the garden weaves a small path, leading to “The Hut” and “Little Sand Box”. The hut is made of shingle like pieces of wood layered over each other. There are a few small peek-a-boo windows and even a small front porch. The sand area is contained by boundaries and stone and rock.

 

Tucked just beside the hut is “The Climbing Tree”. This area has a set of rings to hang from as well as the perfect climbing tree. The tree has been trimmed through the years to create climbing holds and ropes and other loose parts are found near by to allow children to create rope swings, pulley systems, or tightropes for walking.

To the other side of the hut is an old fashioned metal slide and a natural balance beam made from a fallen free. Rather than just set the log on the group it is raised a few inches off the group with metal posts, to add an extra element of risk and challenge.

Overlooking the slide and balance beam is a small loft which provides a place for climbing, playing, and creating. Loose parts such as buckets, ropes, sticks, and stumps can be found nearby to turn this structure into an ever changing play area.

The yard follows a horseshoe like path around a small cottage in the middle. Behind the cottage is a large open green space for running and chasing, as well as a clothes line where children help with hanging and folding towels. On the far side of the cottage is the most recent addition to the play space “The Tree House”. This corner includes a tire swing, set of monkey bars and smaller single bars for swinging, hanging, and twirling around. This is a great space to practice risk taking and work on developing the vestibular sense. There is also a beautiful tree cubby made from the fallen tree that once stood in this space.

Next to the new addition is the swing set and climbing log as well as the “Big Sandbox”. The spaces are divided by a wall made of different size stumps providing interesting balance beam and a spot for jumping.

 

Kelly believes creative play is the medium through which the child learns and lives joyfully. When children are given long periods of time in well though out play areas such as Kelly’s they are given the opportunity to become fully immersed in creative, risky, and rewarding play. The space perfect for her mixed age group because it poses a different challenge and adventure for each child. Even the youngest children in her program feel confident and inspired by the design of this beautiful play space.

We are so very lucky to have this beautiful and magical child care option in the Twin Cities area. And while I may be a bit biased because this is where my daughter attends, I do believe Sweet Waters really is a treasure for parents and children who want to protect the creativity and excitement of childhood.

If you would like to learn more about Sweet Waters Childcare, visit www.sweetwaterschildcare.com