Infant Program 6 weeks to 12 Months
The Infant program at New Horizons Montessori Academy is for children 6 weeks to 12 months of age.
Dr. Maria Montessori, the genius behind the magic, who more than 100 years ago, developed a system of education that carries her name all around the world. Dr. Montessori was an Italian physician and educator. Knowing that most learning happens from birth to the age of 3 than any other stage in life, she developed and stressed independence, freedom for the child (within limits), and respect for the child’s development. Dr. Montessori took the initiative to create appropriate materials that are just perfect to enhance the learning development of young children. This is the very reason why children from birth need to be stimulated properly and nurtured being able to explore and grow so as to promote optimal learning in a loving and thoughtfully prepared environment.
At NHMA, we recognize the importance of these beginnings and have implemented the Montessori Method for our youngest children. These activities will support your child’s sense of discovery and encourage independent thought. We have created a serene and beautiful environment for them to absorb, with rich language for them to take in, along with a gentle touch in a very respectful way.
Your child’s classroom is a complete Montessori environment to nurture your child’s curiosity. Well-trained and experienced teachers who love and nurture child development, foster peace, and support the sensitive periods of each child. The teacher works with each child to awaken their curiosity and foster in them the potential to achieve within the child’s trust.
Why Begin with Montessori?
NHMA Infant program offers so much more than childcare. The classroom design foster’s your young child’s emerging independence and desire for exploration. The environments are designed to promote your child’s growth in all areas of development. Additionally, our Infant program provides support and guidance for the parents through a program like “Mommy and Me, to promote a healthy lifestyle at home and to incorporate it within the school environment.
What Will Your Child Learn at NHMA?
Your child develops more rapidly in the first 3 years than at any other time in life. During this phase, your child absorbs large amounts of information from the environment through observation and experiences. We understand our role in laying the proper foundation for later learning… keeping in mind the importance of their future in which they will be building upon it.
As with every Montessori program at NHMA, Infant programs will also follow the same guidelines when teaching the curriculum. We will follow your child! Teachers write their observations on each child on a daily basis. Based on the observations, teachers will introduce new age appropriate materials and activities that excite curiosity and stimulate learning. Learning objectives for your child at this age include developing skills such as language, eye-hand coordination, visual discrimination, and physical coordination.
A good everyday routine is the best foundation for infants. Throughout the months and through every phase, your child will work on activities that promote independence, order , and coordination, as well as support social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. How you touch the baby, talk to the baby, set up their environment, how you respond to their effort to communicate makes a huge difference. Since babies have an absorbent mind, they take in everything in their environment. That’s why a foundation with its enriched environment, where they can explore and feel great about themselves is extremely important. Adults speak with respect in appropriate sentences and in a soft voice when speaking with infants as they are taking in everything that is being said. They just can’t speak back.
Teachers in the class:
- Observe your infant
- Offer activities that meet their needs at the time
- Allow them to move freely on a clean and soft large mat
- Speak to them softly and with respect and hold rich conversations