Maharishi Preschool, a one-of-a-kind Consciousness-based school in Fairfield, Iowa, has been providing care for young children from across the globe since 1985. Our three cozy indoor classrooms and inviting outdoor space foster warmth, security, and a holistic, loving approach to early childhood education.
“There is plenty of time to be an adult, but we only get one childhood. We must preserve and
protect childhood and bring self-directed play back to center. Through play, the young child is building the foundation of their human experience. It’s where they learn about themselves and their relationship with the world. It’s up to our parents and teachers to honor this process and respectfully guide them in this very important task. If children feel respected, they will grow to be respectful, and for that we need to provide a place where they feel free to be
themselves and experience that the world is safe and good.”–Eniko Reeder
Consciousness-Based Curriculum
The heart of our curriculum is a set of 16 Consciousness-Based principles embedded in every corner of a child’s world (e.g., Water the Root to Enjoy the Fruit, The Nature of Life is to Grow, Rest and Activity are the Steps of Progress). These principles foster deep connections with the world, learned through practical experience rather than intellectual analysis. Every few weeks, one of these principles becomes the star, integrated into engaging activities like cooking, art, nature study, puppetry, stories, and song. And at age 4, we introduce a 5-minute walking children’s meditation technique, a simple practice that enhances focus and provides a quiet moment.
“In our toddler classroom, children learn and play both indoors and outdoors, surrounded by nature. This enriching setting, coupled with our developmentally appropriate curriculum, cultivates children’s cognitive and social skills. Our classroom provides a multilingual learning space, encouraging diverse exploration of language, arts, and culture. Children joyfully take on responsibilities, leading activities with enthusiasm. Together, we create a close-knit family that treasures exploration, collaboration, and creativity.”
–Summer Loetz
Daily, Weekly, and Seasonal Rhythm
Maharishi Preschool follows a daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythm that helps children to feel safe and nurtured. Nourish the inner life, nourish the outer life. This is the rhythm of a Consciousness-based curriculum with the youngest preschoolers. Rhythm creates security and inspires healthy habits.
The children’s outer rhythm can be expressed through a period of free play outside, with their teachers reflecting a loving presence. The children are free to play, to demonstrate their capabilities without direct guidance or adult interference, to feel the sun’s warmth or the crunchy snow beneath their feet, to make sense and joy of the world in their own unique way.
Then they return to the classroom. The children may gather for circle time, for a story to be read or a song to be sung, to hold onto their inner imaginations, to come together peacefully to enjoy snack time together. A natural flow carries them from one activity to the
next.
The children learn to know the days of the week by the snack or activity of the day—whether it be Soup Day or Oatmeal Day, Painting Day, or Bread Making Day. There is predictability and consistency, which helps foster a sense of comfort and security within the children. Each season is celebrated in a way that provides the child with events to look forward to.
At Maharishi Preschool, our philosophy is for teachers to be loving and kind and care deeply for each child. This deep
Understanding nurtures the heart and mind of each child, as they are guided through the day, through the week, and
through the season, with care and gentleness.