Reggio inspired, play-based LEARNING (15 months-6 years)

Stony Brook School offers a joyful, creative first learning experience, nurturing independence, community, and exploration within a warm environment. Aligned with the Reggio Emilia philosophy, our approach empowers children to become competent, critical thinkers, and protagonists in their own learning experiences.

Our classrooms are intentionally designed as the "third teacher"—purposeful, sensory-rich, and ever-evolving spaces that inspire curiosity, collaboration, and deep inquiry. Teachers cultivate thoughtful interactions, guiding children in developing essential social-emotional competencies like negotiation, effective communication, and conflict resolution, thereby establishing deeper bonds with their peers.

We utilize a carefully balanced approach, combining open-ended provocations, play-based learning, and small group project work. Our experienced teachers closely track children's interests and development, implementing a thoughtfully designed emergent curriculum that is rich with relevant opportunities for inquiry and exploration. As children continue their journey at Stony Brook School, they develop the necessary social-emotional, cognitive, early math, and literacy skills required for a successful transition to our Transitional Kindergarten program.

Programs Offered

• Toddler Program (15-33 Months) | Beginning Fall 2027!

• Preschool Program (2.9-6 years)

• Transitional Kindergarten (5-6 years) | Beginning Fall 2027!

Safety and Licensing

As a fully licensed program, Stony Brook School adheres to all Department of Early Education and Care regulations. To support a healthy indoor environment, we have installed medical-grade, high-efficiency air purifiers (H13 HEPA Filters) in every classroom to provide optimal ventilation.

our CLASSROOMs: The Environment as the third teacher

Our classrooms are deliberately designed to be warm, cheerful, and filled with natural sunlight. In alignment with the Reggio Emilia philosophy, these spaces are thoughtfully curated to inspire curiosity, promote strong relationships, and fully engage children in play-based learning.

We embrace a sensory-rich environment with high-quality materials—including wooden toys, art supplies, books, light tables, and dramatic play areas—all intended to provoke natural interests and deep inquiry.

Cozy areas are nestled throughout our classroom, inspiring rich opportunities for both independent and cooperative play and exploration:

• Light and Shadow Play: An interactive area where children explore concepts of light, reflection, and structure using light tables, water blocks, overhead projection, Magna-Tiles, sand, and other sensory materials.

• Home and Life Skills Area: A dedicated space for engaging in practical life activities and cooperative play, such as cooking, cleaning, setting the table, and shopping.

• Quiet Reading Nooks: Cozy spaces, including a lovely wooden house, dedicated to independent rest, reading, or quiet interaction with friends.

• Block and Structure Area: Where children explore elements of design, engineering, and structure using a variety of high-quality building materials, including wooden unit blocks, mirror blocks, colored blocks, and Lincoln Logs.

• Dramatic Play Structures: Features like a wooden castle with a window serve as the basis for spontaneous shows, dress-up, puppet play, and collaborative theatrical engagement.

• Sensory Table: A fluid area for hands-on experimentation using water, bubbles, sand, soil, beans, rice, and other materials for sensory-based discoveries.

• Literature and Literacy: Open access reading areas that encourage children to engage with books independently or together as a group.

• Atelier:

• A large, magnetic floor easel for drawing, painting, and large-scale art projects.

• Open Art Access: Dedicated access to quality materials (colored pencils, paper, tape, glue, scissors, and recyclable materials) to support child-initiated artistic process.

• Tinker Station: Where children plan and engineer 3D creations using various supplies.

• Loose Parts Station: A collection of natural and recycled materials used to observe and construct patterns, build temporary structures, and experiment with design elements.