infantcentre

The Facility
The Infant Centre is a beautiful place for children aged 3 months to 18
months. Housed in our annex building, it has a capacity for three groups of
twelve infants each. Each group is led by a certified zero to three Montessori
care-giver, usually referred to as an "Assistant to Infancy". She is supported
by three other adults.

Each group has its own space, which includes a movement area, a napping
area, a food prep area, and a diapering area.

The centre also has a grassed outdoor area for large muscle activities.

The Program
The curriculum for infants and toddlers is centered on:

Physical Health

Emotional Development – to learn about themselves and their feelings

Social Development – to learn about others.

Motor Development – to learn to move and do

Language Development– to learn to Communicate

Cognitive Development – to learn to think

Each group has a variety of learning materials available. Many materials are purchased from companies that manufacture Montessori materials
specifically for this age-group. In addition, the teachers make materials as
needed.
The children engage in spontaneous, pleasurable experiences that foster
natural development. Activities are mostly open-ended; There are also
closed activities such as puzzles and shape sorters.
Children are free to choose which activities they want to participate in and
are offered encouragement to try new experiences.

DAILY SCHEDULE:

Each infant is on his/her own schedule. We do not make any infant
conform to a general schedule.

Each infant is involved in the activities as his/her parents and staff
deem appropriate.

Arrival: Greet caregiver/parent exchange written and verbal
information about the babies’ day and night before.

Each infant can crawl, move, swing, be rocked, cuddled, talked to,
sung to, read to.

Each infant can play freely with any and all of the materials in the
room: infant manipulative, teething, soft cuddly toys, sorting, stacking
toys, etc.

Each infant can nap as needed during the day.

Each infant will be fed formula, breast milk or whole milk, solids and
snacks as they are needed or indicated by the infant’s behavior or
parents suggested schedules.

Infants will have several activities added to their schedule as they
show interest or approach moving to the Toddler Community -books,
puzzles, songs, crayons, markers, push and pull toys, large muscle,
climbing toys, outdoor play and walks.

Music is played throughout the day.

A report is sent home daily to communicate details of the child's day to
his/her parents.