301-836-8232
WHERE HEALTHY AND MINDFUL CHILDREN ARE CREATED
ECO-HEALTHY PRESCHOOL AND CHILDCARE
Our Story
Learn & Explore
Granola Kids supplies your child with a safe, healthy and eco-healthy environment in which they are able to flourish.
We are certified eco-healthy through the Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN) and listed as an eco-healthy child care facility on their website (www.cehn.org).
We believe in eliminating chemicals, toxins and pesticides from the environment. Air quality significantly impacts children’s health therefore Granola Kids has taken several steps to improve our facilities air quality.
Our space has been tested for harmful natural gases to assure that we are within the appropriate levels allotted. Air ducts have been cleaned thoroughly to assist with reducing the amount of dirt, debris and allergens that lay hidden within the home. An EZ Breathe Ventilation System has been installed in the home in order to eliminate excess moisture, mold, toxins and allergies therefore resulting in a cleaner, healthier living environment.
Soiled diaper and/or pull-ups are always placed in an Earth Friendly Diaper Sack, which is biodegradable and cuts down on airborne germs. Granola Kids is painted with Sherwin Williams low-VOC paint. Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) is a carbonbased compound that evaporates readily and becomes airborne and can be extremely harmful to children. Granola Kids has taken the Pesticide-Free Yard pledge through the Sierra Club which not only protects the bees but limits the amount of chemicals and pesticides that children in my care are potentially exposed to.
We believe in trying to eliminate the high level of germs that often live in a preschool facility. We do this through daily cleaning of the classrooms and bathrooms but you can rest assure that at Granola Kids all the cleaning products used are biodegradable and non-toxic, making them safe for your children and the environment.
Granola Kids recycles all paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum and plastic bottles, all the while teaching your child the importance of being eco-friendly. To help reduce the amount of paper and/or Styrofoam products used in a typical preschool facility, Granola Kids uses BPA free plates, bowls, forks and spoons when serving snacks.
Already have a Granola Kid?
How We Learn
Through Creative Expression
Our classrooms are equipped with an art center, home center, dress-up center, cozy corner and library. We believe that creative play supports not only a child’s language development but their social development as well and therefore is greatly encouraged.
Art Classes
All art supplies used are non-toxic and ACMI certified. We have researched the benefits of these resources and believe greatly in the positive effect they have on a child’s health. Aside from being eco-friendly, we have designed an environment that will support the developmental needs of children through exploration, creativity and self-expression.
Music and Activities
Through out the day the children are exposed to music, which plays quietly in the background. We believe that designing a calming environment will allow children to open up their minds and absorb the learning process. Although they are encouraged to explore their environment independently, we do believe in the benefits of interaction and therefore assign various group activities through out the day.
What we live by
HAPPY, HEALTHY & MINDFUL KIDS
Curriculum
Granola Kids will be using Mother Goose Time preschool curriculum, the professionally designed early learning program. Mother Goose Time is a nationally recognized curriculum that nurtures the whole child and supports their social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth. For more information about this exciting curriculum program, please view the Mother Goose Time
website at www.mothergoosetime.com.
At Granola Kids, we believe that a mind(ful), body connection benefits children by giving them the necessary tools needed to cope with many daily stressors that children often face. Krystal Ayari, owner of Granola Kids, has been trained in the techniques of TM (Transcendental Meditation) and understands not only the importance of a daily mindful practice but also the mental, emotional and physical benefits that are associated with meditation. Yoga enhances children’s flexibility as well as improving their concentration and connecting them to their inner self.
Daily yoga sessions are a part of the everyday experience at Granola Kids. Daily yoga sessions are offered through instruction taught by Krystal as well as through the award-winning children’s series, I Can Do…Yoga and Cosmic Kids Yoga. Instilling the importance of gratitude and the benefits of developing a daily gratitude practice is yet another example of our unique approach to child care. Gratitude supports emotional wellbeing, elevates mood and feelings of greater happiness and a deeper connection to those around you. The more you express your gratitude for all you have, the more optimistic you become.
Mind(ful), Body,
Spirit Connection
Our Philosophy
Healthy and Mindful
We are dedicated to creating physical, emotional and social balance in the lives of young children. We believe that an environment free from harmful chemicals, toxins and pesticides will produce a healthier child, both physically and emotionally. Our mission statement is simple; a healthy and mindful environment equals a healthy and happy child. Learning is meant to be an exciting, enriching experience. At Granola Kids, we encourage children to learn through playing, exploring, and interacting with their teacher and fellow classmates. They are encouraged to be self-expressive and creative. We use dramatic play as a tool to assist them in understanding the world around them and as a platform for expressing their feelings and emotions. Children need to feel a sense of belonging and importance in the lives of the people that take care of them. At Granola Kids, we make LOVE a top priority. We want every child in our program to feel respected, encouraged, supported and most importantly loved. Our program encourages your child’s growth and development with learning experiences that lay a foundation for physical, emotional and social skills.
Want to Become a Granola Kid?
Contact Us
We are 1.8 miles from the Forest Glen Metro Station as well as 2.2 miles from the Silver Spring Metro Station. Holy Cross hospital is less then a mile from Granola Kids and beltway accessibility is only a two minute drive away
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Silver Spring, MD Montgomery County 20901
USA
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Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 5:30 pm
301-836-8232
"Our son has been going to Granola Kids for two years. He loves all the interaction with teachers and peers."
They do a lot of activities as part of the curriclum, start the day with circle time and spend time outdoors when the weather is good. We love Ms. Krystal who runs the center and Ms. Claudia who has been there since the beginning. They are very good at communication and help the kids work through issues such as sharing, taking turns, playing gentle etc. Ms. Claudia is bilingual and our son is enjoying his Spanish lessons, as a added bonus. The pandemic has been tough on daycares and Ms. Krystal has adapted well to all the new regulations.
- Vasanthi
I instantly felt drawn to Krystal upon meeting her. She has a great, positive energy and I loved her commitment to wellness for the kids"
I instantly felt drawn to Krystal upon meeting her. She has a great, positive energy and I loved her commitment to wellness for the kids with things like yoga, mindfulness, gratitude, and healthier snacks. My son developed a strong attachment to her and we felt comfortable with him in her care. She was communicative, flexible, and was accommodating with my son’s specific needs. We hope to rejoin the daycare soon!
- Michelle
Krystal is compassionate, kind, and genuinely the best influence for my kids I could ask for.
She really puts an emphasis on their spiritual well being in addition to their physical, which I have never experienced in a school before. For example, they do daily yoga and my son really really loves this. Meditation and yoga is something I can tell has had a wonderful impact on him. My daughter does it voluntarily at home and its adorable. I am awakened to the toxins of our world so to know that my children are receiving toxin free snacks and are in an environment that has been tested to be toxin free is amazing. The program she uses to teach, Mother Goose Time, is spectacular. We have moved from the area since my kids were at Granola Kids and we miss it greatly.