The first two years of life are the most important. Observation proves that small children are endowed with special psychic powers, and points to new ways of drawing them out—literally “educating by cooperating with nature.” So here, begins the new path, wherein it will not be the professor who teaches the child, but the child who teaches the professor.
—Maria Montessori
It is our goal to provide a peaceful, loving environment in which your child can grow and develop to his or her fullest potential. We believe that infants learn through play and the finest gift we, as adults, can give them is time – time to be children.
Promoting quality care for children 6 weeks to eighteen months is what our Infant program is all about. The aim of Montessori for infants is to foster the development of basic trust and assist in the normal development of the child’s personality. Infants learn through their senses, by watching others and moving freely. Freedom to move is essential to the development to their fullest potential. Considering the infant as a whole person is affected by the quality of physical care they receive. It is also important that the infant knows that a familiar person will respond to their need to be loved, respected and understood.
Learning, that ultimately leads to independence, occurs when the infant participates in their daily routine of care. It is our goal to speak to the child in the language with which they will communicate. It is equally important that it is communicated to the child what we are doing, such as changing their diaper or getting their food ready. Allowing them to help with their routine lends to a familiarity for the child.
The teacher will have a routine for the child- not a strict schedule, but a routine that will be both flexible to an infants’ daily needs, yet predictable so that the infant feels secure in its’ environment. The teacher will have knowledge of child development and will therefore understand the stages that an infant goes through as they grow. They will help the child move through these stages in a way that will foster independence. The teacher will be nurturing and sensitive to the needs of the infant, and respect the infant as a fellow human being. The teacher will make sure that the environment that the infant is in is developmentally appropriate, clean, and will help the child progress throughout their stages with a high level of comfort. As with all Montessori classrooms, the infants are in a prepared environment, which will foster a love of learning and independence. The equipment is age appropriate and interesting. There are varieties of things for the child to do and see throughout the day. At BMS, part of the curriculum includes taking the early walkers for a walk around the school so that they can exercise and see more of their environment. Routines are extremely important to infants- it helps them to feel secure so that they know what is coming throughout the day. Again, these routines are flexible, working with the child’s mood and temperament to promote success. Finally, teachers are loving, caring, and sensitive to the needs of the child.
For more information, click Here
