pc Mengelmoes

Welcome to pc Mengelmoes, our small-scale toddler group in the green heart of Leiden. We are located right next to Westerkwartier playground, so every morning the children are greeted by birdsong and the scent of freshly cut grass. Inside we have one large, bright space with soft colours, plenty of wood and cosy corners where a toddler feels safe and at home. The climbing and clambering corner with thick cushions invites building, balancing and rolling, while the nature table changes from hatching eggs to tadpoles swimming in a bowl of water. Our approach is simple and effective: a maximum of 16 children per session, so every toddler receives the attention he or she deserves. We follow the Early Childhood Education (VVE) programme Piramide, through which we practise language, numeracy and social skills in a playful way. Think of reading aloud in the reading corner, counting while singing songs or experimenting with water and sand. We bring nature inside through seasonal craft projects, planting seeds and observing insects. In this way the children not only learn about the world around them, but also develop their fine motor skills and curiosity. A typical morning starts with free play, followed by a communal moment around the large table with fruit and drinks. Then we go outside: running on the grass, swinging or building a hut together. Around 11.30 a.m. it is time for a story and the children rest on our comfortable mats in the sleeping corner. We end the afternoon with singing and dancing to music, using simple instruments such as tambourines and xylophones. Parents experience us as a warm, involved place where communication is open and personal. We keep a group diary that is placed in the hallway at the end of the day, so you know exactly what your child has experienced. Twice a year we organise a parents' evening and at least four times a year a newsletter appears with news and photos. Feel free to drop by for a no-obligation tour and experience for yourself the peace and space that pc Mengelmoes offers.