This Age group is divided into two separate environments due to the rapid physical and mental growth during these years. They are:

Nido - 8 weeks to 18 months

Like Dr. Maria Montessori, the word ‘Nido’ has Italian origins – it translates into ‘nest’.

It symbolises the type of care that is offered to these children; they are held closely, protected and nurtured by dedicated carers but at the same time taught skills that will allow them to move forward in life with confidence, good grace and a quest for knowledge and independence.

Infant Community - 18 months to Three years

The environment for this age group is referred to as the Infant Community. It is confident walkers determined to explore the world who make up this group!

The Infant Community offers your child a unique period of self development in an atmosphere of special understanding, respect and support. It is unique in that it provides a very specific structure which fosters the amazing intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth occurring during this developmental phase in the child’s life. The environment needs to offer beauty, order, and predictability which are necessary for the young child to feel comfortable to spontaneously explore. The main focus for your child during this time is on the acquisition of language, the perfection of movement and the mastering of self help skills.

Birth to Three is a time of rapid brain development for your child with an incredible number of connections between the physical and mental development of the child being laid down. It preparing the environment for your child we were mindful of the three terms that Maria Montessori used to explain her pedagogy or philosophy of teaching: the absorbent mind, the sensitive periods and the prepared environment.

The Absorbent Mind

All Infants between birth and 3 years of age have an unconscious absorbent mind; this means they literally, mentally absorb their environment - the sights and sounds, the smells and tastes, the textures, language, habits of the people around them, art and music - everything.

The Sensitive Periods

Sensitive Periods are transient periods of time in which the child from birth to six years has a special sensitivity to the attainment of a particular characteristic or trait. Once the actual Sensitive period has passed it disappears regardless of whether the acquisition has been made or not. It is a transient opportunity, a passing period and once it is missed it will not come again. The sensitive periods are Language, Movement and Order.

The absorbent mind and the sensitive periods work together to assist the child to adapt to his/her culture and to establish his/her place in today’s society.

The Prepared Environment

The prepared Montessori environment is a place where the child's development needs are met. It provides the opportunity for the child to develop their potential and to satisfy their needs. The prepared home and school environment can assist the child to develop their full potential as a human being.

Consequently these years are the most critical period of your child’s life as they as laying the foundation of the adult they are to become. Dr Montessori said, ‘the richer their environment the greater their self construction’ , so our goal is to offer a ‘prepared environment’ that is warm and nurturing while filled with activities and opportunities that will meet your child’s innate urge to explore in all the developmental areas e.g., mental, physical, emotional and social.

The environment is also rich in language in the form of conversation with your infant as well as songs and offers a range of developmentally appropriate language activities.