Choosing your child’s first learning environment is one of the most significant decisions a parent can make. You’re not just looking for a safe place; you’re searching for a community that will spark their curiosity, honor their imagination, and lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. It’s a search for something more, a place where your child won’t just be watched, but truly seen.
This September, a new option arrives in Burke, Virginia. Chipmunk’s Jump Daycare is opening its doors, founded on the principle that early education should be a joyful adventure, not a rigid curriculum. We are here to partner with families who believe that a child’s potential is nurtured through wonder, play, and meaningful connection.
An Education Grounded in Expertise and Passion
What makes a learning environment truly exceptional? We believe it starts with the educators. We are a husband-and-wife team with a deep, personal, and academic commitment to child development. With PhDs and a life dedicated to education, we bring a unique perspective to home daycare. One of us is a current teacher at the prestigious Nysmith School for the Gifted, understanding firsthand what it takes to challenge and inspire bright young minds. The other brings extensive experience from teaching children through Berlitz and Spanish language immersion—a testament to a profound understanding of how young children acquire language and connect with new concepts.
Our approach is not accidental; it is a thoughtful blend of the world-renowned Montessori and Waldorf philosophies. We see the wisdom in both. Like Montessori, we believe in fostering independence and respecting the child’s natural desire to learn through hands-on exploration. As Maria Montessori noted, young children possess an “absorbent mind,” and we are dedicated to creating a rich, prepared environment for them to thrive in. In the spirit of Waldorf, we champion the power of imagination, rhythm, and creativity. We believe learning is a holistic experience that should engage the “head, heart, and hands,” as Rudolf Steiner described.
At the heart of it all is a simple, powerful idea: Play is the work of childhood. It is through play that children build social skills, solve complex problems, and make sense of the world.
Curiosity, Culture, and Connection
What does this philosophy look like day-to-day at Chipmunk’s Jump Daycare?
It looks like children learning about world cultures not from a worksheet, but by singing folk songs from different countries. It sounds like the excitement of a story being told with passion, sparking questions that lead to new discoveries. It feels like the focused energy of a group of children working together on a building project, learning to share, negotiate, and collaborate.
We will use games, stories, and music as our primary tools to connect children with the best of human culture and history. We aim to cultivate a deep-seated curiosity that will drive them to ask “why?” and “how?” long after they leave our care.
Your Invitation
We are building more than a daycare; we are building a community. Chipmunk’s Jump Daycare will begin welcoming children in September. We are creating an environment where high standards and a love for fun go hand-in-hand, and where every child is encouraged to be the brilliant, curious person they were born to be.
If you are seeking an early learning experience that honors your child’s intelligence and nurtures their spirit, we invite you to learn more. Let’s begin a conversation about how we can help your little one take a joyful jump into a world of learning.
