Nicole is the owner of The Learning Haven, a unique drop-off program for homeschoolers age 10-13 in Lyndhurst.
Hi Nicole, tell us a little about yourself & family:
My name is Nicole Staley and I am the owner and director of The Learning Haven. I am a mama to four beautiful children and a wife to a Marine Corps Veteran and First Responder. My family is my entire world. We are a special needs family and a homeschooling family. I have a special place in my heart for special needs families. I have been a homeschooling mama for almost 9 years and have learned so much along the way. Through ups and downs, life changes and all, homeschooling has been the one constant in our family. I love to say that homeschooling is not only for children, but also a true love of learning and exploration within a loving relationship between both parent and child. Homeschooling has given our family the freedom to be ourselves and focus on what matters most to us. I strongly believe our children come to earth already knowing how to learn. What they truly need from us as parents is to support, encourage and nurture what has already been planted from birth. When we learn to walk alongside our childrenโs natural desire to learn, learning preserves its charm, and our children can hold onto that childlike quality of feeling like learning something new is simply fascinating.
Where are you originally from/how long have you lived in town?
I have lived in Cleveland Ohio my whole life. Clevelandโs beautiful season of fall is truly what keeps us.
What are your favorite things to do with your family/favorite things about NE Ohio?
We love to explore the Metroparks, playgrounds and all the museums Cleveland has to offer. We love visiting all the family activities that come and go throughout the year.
Whatโs your favorite family-friendly restaurant in our area?
My favorite and my childrenโs favorite is P.F. Changs. I know maybe a bit clichรฉ but they are one of the only restaurants to safely provide a Chinese-like meal gluten free! My second favorite restaurant that is not as family friendly but truly a wonderful dining experience is the authentic Nidoโs Italia down in Little Italy. My family is Italian, and we visit Little Italy quite often. Our family favorite for dessert in Little Italy is a lovely little gelato spot called Rosso Gelato.
Please tell us about The Learning Haven! Why/when did you start it & how did you know this was what you wanted to do?
The Learning Haven was created for families who desire a program that meets children right where they are at. We genuinely believe all life is learning. My family has been fortunate to be involved in many homeschool programs throughout the Cleveland area. Each had its pros and cons. I decided after many years of never finding our perfect fit, to design a program that was local, affordable and included all the pros and none of the cons we experienced.
The Learning Haven is a unique secular drop-off program for homeschoolers that offers engaging monthly themes through hands-on classes and field trips with the guidance of experienced teachers. Children will develop exciting, purposeful connections during the year. Through our multi-layer approach children will develop an innate sense of learning. We will dive deep into each theme to allow children the chance to learn as much as they desire. As our name states, The Learning Haven is a safe space for children to naturally learn deeper about our world. Your child deserves a stress-free learning environment filled with rich experiences. We believe every child is a unique and capable learner. The Learning Haven has integrated skilled and knowledgeable teachers to guide children through engaging themes throughout the year. Each month we will cover a different theme. Learning will take place as a unit study that will focus on reading, writing, math, science and social studies all within that specific monthly theme. We will get curious and creative with our classes with a consistent goal of keeping things unique, intuitive, thought-provoking and most importantly fun!
How has your community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
The wonderful teachers I have found to teach at my program and the homeschool community for supporting and sharing about The Learning Haven has been truly incredible. I wouldnโt have been able to get to where I am without both influential pieces.
Whatโs your favorite part about what you do?
Getting to see children excited about learning, seeing them light up when they finally figure something out.
How do you juggle being a working mom?
Luckily, I can work alongside my kids! This was important to me. As a homeschooling family, I am normally with my children most of the time. I set out to create a job that allows me to still be with my children and grow a business at the same time. My goal is to have The Learning Haven grow with my family as my younger kids get older the program will still be there for them to enjoy.
What do you love best about the work that you do?
Walking alongside children in their learning journey to guide them in growing and developing into the person they are truly meant to be.
For more information, visit: thelearninghavenco.my.canva.site
