Infant Classrooms

Infant classrooms serve children ages 6 weeks up to 18 months.

Nurturing Developmental Milestones and Responsive Care

Welcome to our infant classrooms, serving children ages 6 weeks up to 18 months. There are ten babies enrolled in each classroom with three teacher teams. This classroom curriculum focuses on each baby’s developmental milestones. The teachers work to mimic the schedule that parents have set at home with Responsive Care as their priority. Lesson plans are created to provide activities for each student that challenge him/or her to attain a new skill. Children are projected to move into the Toddler program between 15-17 months old and have met specific developmental milestones to ensure their success in the Toddler program.

Our Approach

New Strong Bodies and Coordinated Movement

Your tiny baby is trying new things all the time. Each time your baby practices a new skill, and then masters it, she strengthens the sense of confidence that will stay with her throughout her lifetime. Even your tiny baby imitates others, and can begin to take small steps towards independent self-care. Your Montessori guides will gently support your baby to learn to do things for herself, striking just the right balance between making your little one feel safe and loved, and identifying the right moment to encourage her to try something new.

For babies to fully learn to do all these things, they must have time, space, and freedom to move, so that they can practice each individual step along the way. When you first visit our Infant classrooms, you’ll probably notice that there are no playpens, jumpers, or walkers that could inhibit your child’s natural need to move and explore.

New Confidence

Your tiny baby is trying new things all the time. Each time your baby practices a new skill, and then masters it, she strengthens the sense of confidence that will stay with her throughout her lifetime. Even your tiny baby imitates others, and can begin to take small steps towards independent self-care. Your child’s teachers will gently support your baby to learn to do things for herself, striking just the right balance between making your little one feel safe and loved, and identifying the right moment to encourage her to try something new.

Self-feeding is one of the early ways that your baby can practice independence in the area of self-care. As your baby learns to sit reliably, she sits at a tiny table on a sturdy chair, which allows her to build core strength and an introduction to a variety of foods.

Developing language

We know the extreme importance of exposing your baby to rich spoken language and dynamic verbal interactions, in order to give his developing brain everything needed to master language. Our interactions with your baby are vibrant and meaningful. We describe what he is doing, what we are doing, and what other children are doing, making sure that he can watch the movements of our mouths as we speak.

As your baby becomes more familiar with precise language, he also begins to form connections between language, tone, and his own emotions. We expose your baby to as much vocabulary as possible, by clearly identifying objects and actions. Additionally, we read beautiful books about real people and things, and we sing — exposing your child to the full range of speech and expression.

Hand Development = Brain Development

Maria Montessori famously observed that “the hand is the instrument of the intelligence.” She understood that your baby uses her hand to fuel the development of her brain and nervous system. In a few short months, your baby goes from involuntary and reflexive movements, to intentionally batting and grabbing at objects, then to releasing something once she has grasped it. From there, she learns more refined grasping abilities, including the all-important “pincer grip” later used for holding a pencil. She transfers things from hand to hand, and coordinates her two hands for a chosen purpose (such as to bang things together!).

Creative Curriculum

Your little one will be exposed to cause and effect, sequencing, and spatial concepts through play. Natural materials as well as different colors and textures abound in the infant room, encouraging exploration and curiosity. Your infant will enjoy tummy time and other motor activities on the floor on a daily basis — we promote independent movement, guiding and supporting your young child along the way. We begin modeling emotional literacy with your infant, focusing on facial expressions and labeling feelings. Your infant will be provided with a quiet and calm environment that promotes opportunities for expressive and receptive communication as teachers lead them through and narrate their daily routines and experiences.