Most parents are aware of Montessori education as an option to traditional school programs. However, your child can begin benefiting from Montessori learning long before kindergarten begins. Our Montessori infant care program establishes a nurturing space for your infant to begin to stretch his/her rapidly growing mind. Learning is continued through the toddler and school ages.
What does a Montessori infant classroom look like?
All Montessori classrooms are designed to support age appropriate learning of the children they serve. Like other Montessori classrooms, the infant classroom is designed to support your child’s overall development. You will find that the Montessori infant classroom is designed to safely engage your child’s growing curiosity and physical development, YOu can expect to find mirrors that will reflect your infant’s movement and stimulate his/her growing curiosity about the external world. You will also notice furniture specially designed to encourage your child to explore growing muscles. You will notice bars that encourage your child to practice pulling the body up and forward. This furniture is designed to support your child as wobbly feet begin to provide a stable foundation for standing.
Referred to as, “the Nido,” Italian for the work nest, the Montessori infant classroom is a tranquil space. The classroom offers a sleeping space with individual sleeping mats or floor beds for separate sleeping space. Decorated with developmentally appropriate activities and materials, the Montessori infant classroom is designed to support your growing child through the early stages of development. Infant rooms are appropriate for children aged 6 weeks to 24 months.
How does your infant learn in the Montessori infant classroom?
When you enter a Montessori infant classroom, you will quickly notice that all activities take place low to the floor. Learning may occur on sturdy wooden furniture or on the floor itself. Infants can spend time in front of mirrors, engaged with rattles or mobiles, or freely exploring the space around them. Infants often enjoy learning from one another through observation. Children in the Montessori infant classroom are encouraged to climb, crawl, engage, and watch at their own individual pace.
Toddlers enjoy learning to feed themselves at low tables specifically designed for their bodies. They enjoy healthy snacks laid out on placemats with glasses, plates, and napkins appropriate for little hands. Providing competence in self-care is one of the ways Montessori early education challenges a child to become an independent learner early in life.
What will your child learn in a Montessori infant classroom?
Your child will learn age appropriate skills that are consistent with his/her age in the Montessori infant classroom. You will find that the Montessori infant classroom supports learning through everyday living routines.
Learning activities include:
● Self-care: Your child will learn simple tasks of self-care like washing, eating, and dressing as part of their everyday activities within the Montessori infant classroom.
● Language: Your child will improve language skills through the use of music, song, object naming, conversation, discussion of objects, actions, intentions, and pictures.
● Large motor skills: Your child will improve large motor skills through walking, crawling, climbing, running, and balancing while engaged in the Montessori infant classroom.
● Mine motor skills: Your child will improve fine motor skills by reaching, grasping, picking up and moving objects, using utensils and tools, and participating in art work and craft projects.
Care for the environment: Your child will learn to care for the environment through acts of cleaning, food preparation, and plant and animal care that occurs through the everyday habits that take place in the Montessori infant classroom.
Contact us to learn more about Montessori infant care and our curriculum.
