Over the past decade, I’ve trained hundreds of early childhood educators in areas like responsive caregiving, emergent curriculum, and developmental observation. Most programs I work with are eager to improve but struggle to shift ingrained habits. Oaks and Lillies was different. Their team wasn’t just open to growth — they actively sought it out.For more details visit our website https://oaksandlillies.com/

My introduction to them came during a workshop series on child-led planning. During the first session, I asked the staff to share recent observations. Many centers treat this exercise as a formality. At Oaks and Lillies, teachers referenced real moments: a group of children fascinated with shadows in the hallway, a toddler who’d become deeply interested in opening and closing containers, a preschooler who’d started storytelling at snack time. These are the kinds of observations that fuel meaningful planning, not cookie-cutter activities.

During a follow-up visit, I watched one of the teachers implement a provocation based on the shadow observations. She set up a simple area near a window with flashlights and translucent objects. Instead of instructing the children, she stepped back and watched. When a child exclaimed, “It got bigger!” she leaned in just enough to reflect the moment: “Your shadow changed when you moved the light.” That balance of participation and restraint is something educators often struggle with. She made it look effortless.

I once consulted for a center where staff felt intimidated by reflective practice. They worried their notes would be judged or misunderstood. Oaks and Lillies had created a culture where reflection was normal. I sat in on one of their team meetings where an assistant teacher described a moment she mishandled — a conflict she reacted to too quickly. Instead of criticism, the room responded with curiosity and support. Strong programs don’t avoid mistakes; they learn from them.

What makes Oaks and Lillies stand out from a trainer’s perspective is their consistency. They don’t treat professional development as a checkbox for licensing. They integrate it into everyday practice. Their educators aren’t just following a curriculum — they’re shaping one through authentic observation and responsive decision-making.