Programs
Heart and Hands Montessori prepares each child for a future that none of us can predict with accuracy. How? By providing an environment which fosters these following qualities, to take your child far in a wide range of life situations:
- Depth of character.
- Natural love of life.
- Interest and drive to learn.
- Interacting with others in fun and appropriate ways.
- Flexibility with change.
- Connecting with nature.
- Trusting that teachers support and guide.
- The feeling of flow - your child interacts with activities specifically geared towards his or her, age, ability and interest.
- Joy in everyday moments.
Soft,
safe space to move, and things to do.
Something
alive, with texture gets full attention with eyes and hands.
Child
working on a geometric puzzle with great concentration. We're so
lucky to work with babies!
Corner of the infant room,
with materials.
Exploring
materials that challenge eye-hand coordination.
Safe
stairs - infants love to figure it out.
The
stairs give child a unique, high vantage point.
Finding
out what different textures feel like.
Off
for a ride though the park.
Visiting
parents join class for 1st birthday celebration.
Grassy
lawn right outside infant room door.
Making
a path through the snow - a source of endless fascination.Infant Nido
Maria Montessori called the infants' room a "nido" or nest, and it is designed just for them and their special needs. Infants follow an individual activity plan of movement, exploration, feeding, diaper changes and sleeping. During movement time, a child can do small and large motor activities, listen to music, hear the teacher singing or talking, and get fresh air on the playground or in the park.
Watch these videos that explain what Montessori and RIE offer infants and toddlers:
Teacher
demonstrates and helps these toddlers paint parts of new bird house.
Stacking
is a first step in constructing.
Books
in the hands, words in their heads.
Drop
ball in at top, watch it roll, and do it again.
Secure
climbable dome, just right size.
Walking
the 6-inch edge.
Hearing
the rhythm, drumming the sound.
Arranging
flowers from the garden.
They
love snack time, and they pay attention, learning to pour drinks
carefully.
Managing
his own glass quite well.
Scooping
has been demon-strated, now he does it.
Toddlers
easily learn cleanup activities at this age, and enjoy their
competence.
More
"practical life."
Very
pleased to have put on his own shoe.
More
use of tools, this time to move snow.
Toddlers
Toddlers, being more mobile and social, do more activities as a group. This includes preparing food, setting table, eating their mid-morning snack, hearing music and all kinds of movement activities. They interact with a wide array of materials, have playground time or a park walk. After lunch they usually nap, snack and have more activity with outdoor periods.
Related topics
Parent participation
Prior to the child's first day, parents and child visit briefly for three days in a row to get a feel for the classroom community. This is important to give the parents a chance to get to know the teachers and staff, for the child to connect to the new environment and for the parents know where to place the child's belongings.
Parents are invited to pick up coffee in the kitchen after drop off, read any notices that may be posted, see the parent education and workshop schedule and sign up as they may wish. Parents who feed infants may do so mid-day. For educational programs, please see the section on Parent Education.
Food
Parents supply food and milk for infants. Snacks are included mid-morning and mid-afternoon for toddlers.
|
|
 |
|
 |
Food includes: fresh fruit and vegetables or other such as applesauce, a grain such as whole wheat bread - often made in class - or crackers, and a protein such as yogurt, cheese or tofu. These snacks provide a time to share food with others as well as try out seasonal produce, some of it from our own garden.
Updated - February 2, 2023