By Jennifer Westerholt:
It is obvious that Judy Frizlen is a caretaker from the first time you meet her. A longtime Early Childhood teacher, she and her husband Karl bought an old Lafayette Avenue Catholic school building in December 2008. The result is a stunning shared space- an architect’s office, 20 gorgeously renovated apartments and a rare Early Childhood Center run with a watchful eye on the environment and utilization of natural resources.
The Rose Garden Early Childhood Center is the only one of its kind in Buffalo, and is based on the LifeWays North America model. It services 40 children and boasts a caring, homelike environment. The calm, comfortable Center opened last fall and has since tripled in size. Frizlen, the Center’s warm, knowledgeable and dedicated Director, explained that the unique operation is attractive to parents who wish to give their children a creative and practical surrounding where they can learn important life skills. “The parent body is amazing,” Frizlen said. “They have done their research about Early Childhood education,” she added as we toured her impressive business, passing smiling children at play and friendly teachers singing.
The Center has rooms for children of three age groups, and plenty of natural items to help them learn and play. There is no plastic at The Rose Garden. Even the building blocks are recycled wood- made from the trees that were cut down in front when construction started. The model calls for domestic activities with a consistent rhythm, so children learn practical aspects of life; healthy movement and play to develop decision-making; and, relationship-based care for children to bond with adults for healthy brain development. “Learning how to get along with others is key to early childhood programs,” Frizlen said. Frizlen went on to explain that all the food served to the children is made on site and is mostly organic. The children knead dough and make their own bread. Ingredients come from Five Points Bakery- locally grown and locally milled. “It is a rich sensory experience for the children,” said Frizlen about their participation in the making of food that they later enjoy.
Another important sensory experience is a trip outdoors, twice daily, also to work, learn and play. Each child brings appropriate outdoor play gear, and spends time outside in the mornings and afternoons.
“Being out in nature is a research-based stress-reducer,” said Frizlen when we walked out to the vast, fenced-in backyard. Outside at The Rose Garden the children benefit from a large sandbox, paths for tricycle riding, a wild flower meadow, furniture made from tree stumps, a shed built by Home Depot, a playhouse with a living roof, a hill for sledding and a loose parts playground, which encourage children to manipulate their environment, engaging creativity and gross motor skills. “These playgrounds are popular in Europe and in California,” said Frizlen. “They lend themselves to imagination, and there are fewer accidents.”
With community support, the garden has been transformed into a green sanctuary. This spring, the children and teachers planted herbs and vegetables that they harvested to put into their soup for lunch. Any vegetable remains go into a compost bin, which is then recycled to enrich the soil. Likewise, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeepers donated a rain barrel, which catches water from the downspout of the neighboring garage. Water comes out of a spigot, and children use it to fill watering cans or to wash their hands. In addition, all the electricity on the first floor, where the Center is located, is powered by solar panels on the roof of the large, solid building. Frizlen also mentioned that they have a 98% efficient furnace and brand new windows, which keep in heat during the winter.
The Rose Garden offers a nine-hour day and has available spots for children. For more information, visit the website at www.therosegarden.us or call Judy at 716-816-0078.