a child's place
Montessori Schools

a child's place Montessori Schools currently offers the parent a choice of a full-day, five days a week year-round program (7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.) or two part-day, five days a week year-round programs (8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.). All three programs involve certified Montessori staff providing the security and consistency of a routine designed around the child's needs.
 

Infant Community -- Ages:6 weeks to 14 months
(at Mandarin Location only)

The period of infancy is undoubtedly the richest.  At no other time in your child's life will he/she grow and develop as much or as fast as during this stage.  Your child experiences many different sensitive periods for learning at this age [i.e., order (sequence of their day), language (talk to the child and music), and gross and fine-motor movement (materials, freedom of movement, and encouragement of independence)].

In our environment, particular attention is given to supporting and meeting these needs of the sensitive periods and creating a trusting environment for new mothers and children.  The infant environment allows space for freedom of movement with materials for the basic development of all the senses (tactical, visional, auditory, taste, thermic, olfactory, vestibular and kinesthetic).  All materials and furniture are child size, aesthetically beautiful, have isolated difficulty and control of error, and contain a point of interest.

Start your child in this wonderful natural environment of enlightened nurturing.
 

Toddler Community --Ages:14 mos to 3 years old (Mandarin); 18 months to 3 years old (Southpoint)

"Toddlerhood" is a period of tremendous development and growth.  During this stage, children develop 80% of their personality, enhance their mobility, improve their gross and fine motor skills, as well as learn they are separate individuals yet a vital part of a community.  This is the time the child develops her vestibular system and learns how she will move for the rest of her life.  It is a critical time of development for a child.

To meet the various needs a toddler requires during this critical growth stage, our program entails a thoughtfully prepared nurturing environment that helps foster self-confidence, independence, and satisfying relationships with peers and adults.  The program offers an opportunity for the child to grow socially, emotionally, and cognitively through real and positive interactions and carefully chosen materials.  The sequence of activities in the toddler environment helps give order, consistency, and security to each child's daily life.  Below is a sample schedule of a "typical day."  Please bear in mind that there is no typical day when it comes to caring for children.  We believe in consistency but also in spontaneity.

Early Childhood Community --Ages: 3 - 6 years old

Between the ages three and six, children develop the power of reasoning and therefore, are challenged by a different social dynamic.  They are also progressing from the "absorbent mind" where they absorb concepts almost unconsciously to the more practical and concrete.  They begin to see and understand the cause and effect of materials and work more easily.  This is a time when they build upon all they have already learned and gain a true sense of their identity in their little community.

Respect for a child's individual personality and trust in the inner potentialities are prerequisites to the foundation of an educational alliance.  In order to develop their intellectual, social, and physical skills to the fullest, children need freedom achieved through order and self discipline.  Our environment at a child's place provides this and more.

The Montessori teacher or directress provides a carefully prepared classroom conducive to individual and small group learning. The specially designed didactic materials in the sensorial and academic areas are presented to the child along with the practical life activities. The directress is trained to recognize the sensitive periods of each individual child, and to recognize the child's developmental needs.