Infant Program

The Montessori infant room offers a scientifically prepared environment to its students. Furniture, materials and activities are developmentally appropriate to support the infant in their various stages of growth. Throughout the year, the classroom’s set up and schedule morphs to accommodate the infant’s transition from non-mobile to crawling and finally walking.

Infant teachers are “aids to life” and provide quiet, consistent support to the children in their care. Using careful observation and deliberate patience they guide the infant throughout their day. They provide space, time, and materials for the infant to develop hand-eye coordination, grasping skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, language and coordination of their body through movement.

Safety is paramount, and equipment that limits a child’s freedom of movement and choice is avoided. Specially designed furniture supports budding independence. Children who are free to move and explore, learn to pursue their own interests. By fostering independence through movement, the infant program sets the foundation on which other developmental milestones can be achieved.

The infant child is absorbing language. The teachers speak slowly and softly using real and precise language and the same tone and cadence one would with older children and adults. They respectfully and succinctly tell the infant about the day’s routine they are guiding the infant through such as diapering, feeding, etc.  Communicating ahead of time, as well as during the activity, invites the infant to be an active participant in their own life.

Regular parent communication is a priority and the guides work to create an effective partnership between home and school. Our infant teachers look to advise and support parents during the many changes in feeding, sleeping and diapering routines that they will experience as their infant grows.