Spirited Children

 Monologue By Amy Merrill Concerning the Preservation of Wildness Among Children 

We had just moved to Maine. My son didn’t love the first, traditional preschool program that we tried, so we sought something more adventuresome and nature-oriented for the whole family. Amy Merrill invited us to visit Three Little Birds Preschool. During our visit, I asked Amy if she agreed with the notion that many of the problems challenging public education begin with the fact that children are separated into classes according to their age. She immediately agreed. I knew then, that this would be a program promoting the wildest explorations in the spirit of collaboration and that my son would thrive. In the following monologue, Amy reflects on her path toward becoming an early childhood education trailblazer, offering children and parents a liberating philosophy that is rooted in her upbringing and what she has learned from the many students in her care.   

– Jeffrey F. Barken

 

 

 

 

Amy Merrill knew she wanted to be a teacher and educator from a young age. She was always fascinated by the way the children she nannied asked questions and wanted to know more about the world around them. After starting a family of her own she decided there was no better time than the present to open a Farm based nature school based off of Reggio philosophy.  Amy is one of the few in Maine who has earned their Infant and Toddler credentials, holds a spot on the FFCAM board, a dedicated member of the naeyc, NAFCC and MaineAEYC. She is a level 5 in the MRTQ rating scale and currently working towards her accreditation.