Montessori’s Youngest Students: Infants and Toddlers

Montessori’s Youngest Students: Infants and Toddlers

Interest is building in our new program for infants ages 6-16 months. The Bambini program for infants is offered for full and part-time enrollment. The classroom is carefully and beautifully designed to allow freedom of movement and respect for the child’s natural rhythms. The educators are nurturing and caring and hold certification as Montessori infant/toddler guides. For deeper insight into the Montessori infant and toddler environments at Winfield Children’s House, we are sharing from an article  in the January 2014 issue of Tomorrow’s Child Magazine, the magazine for Montessori families. “Montessori’s Youngest Students: Infants and Toddler” by Terri Sherrill Dr. Montessori wrote: “If the human personality is one at all stages of its development, we must conceive of a principle of education that has regard for all stages.” Rather than relying on preconceived notions about the early years of life, she brought her medical knowledge of anatomy and neurology to her observations of childhood. She realized that many of the previous assumptions and responses to children were actually in direction conflict with human biology, and when provided environments that were in harmony with the process of development, much of what adults had perceived to be “misbehavior” in children….simply fell away. Montessori was one of the first to understand that the brain (as well as the body) was still in the process of formation for the first few years after we are born – and that lasting outcomes are highly dependent on our physical encounters and experiences during the period. Through a profound respect for the biological laws of nature and for the unique genetic blueprints, drives and gifts of each individual, Dr. Montessori sought to understand and provide children with their daily requirements for health and well-being. Applied Science A parent’s ears will often perk up when children get a little too quiet. They know this means, more often then not, that “the kids must really be getting into something!” Making a study of what children universally “get into,” Dr. Montessori discovered many sensitive periods of brain development (the time when millions of neurons are being ‘programmed’ to perceive the stimulus found in their immediate surroundings, and the cognitive architecture for thought and action is being created). She wrote, “None of these sensitivities occupies the whole period of development…While it lasts, there is an outpouring of energy.” Instead of thwarting a child’s drives, Dr. Montessori provided appropriate means for their healthy expression. She noted that industrialization had radically altered the childhood experiences that had naturally occurred for millennia; therefore, she worked to synthesize and restore vital experiences replete with physiological benefits and implicit information. Indeed, speaking similarly, Sally Goddard Blythe, Direction of the Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology warned in...

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Snowy Day Craft Projects

Snowy Day Craft Projects

Snowy Paint At Winfield Children’s House, a favorite winter time craft is mixing up a batch of snowy paint. In these photos from our Celebrate the Night festival, the children are painting snowy moons, inspired by the book Kitten’s First Full Moon, by Kevin Henkes. Snow paint is easy to mix up at home. Here’s our recipe: Supplies: Shaving Cream, White Glue, paintbrush or Q-tips Mix shaving cream and white glue in equal portions in a bowl or cup Stir until it is a fluffy and thick consistency. Use paintbrush or Q-tip to create a winter scene or add texture to a pre-made shape Drying time depends on thickness of paint, typically overnight is long enough The dried paint will feel soft and squishy For a colorful extension, add a small amount of colored paint to the snowy paint mixture. Scented Gingerbread Baby A favorite author in winter is Jan Brett. Her books The Hat, The Mitten and the Gingerbread Baby are popular with all ages because of her beautiful detailed illustrations and the simple and funny stories. The Gingerbread Baby, an extension on the traditional tale The Gingerbread Man, lends itself to many cooking and crafting projects. One tried and tested activity is to create a gingerbread person out of sandpaper. Rubbing cinnamon sticks, whole nutmegs and cloves adds scent to the paper.  What a nice sensorial experience! Of course, crayons and collage materials can be used, as well. For an outstanding tutorial on sandpaper gingerbread creations, visit Happy Hooligans blog.   Wishing all of our families a wonderful holiday season!    ...

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Simple Recipes for a Long Weekend

Simple Recipes for a Long Weekend

At Winfield Children’s House, children have opportunities every day to practice the culinary arts. In the Toddler House, the children work with teachers to prepare a group snack to share each morning. In the Children’s House, a daily snack helper donates snack items and helps set up a self-serve station in the snack area. This is a great way for children to gain experience preparing food and the grace and courtesy of serving others. The culinary arts are often part of our afternoon enrichment curriculum. This fall, on Tuesdays the Downstairs Preschool has been  learning new ways to prepare yummy snacks. Here are some simple and rewarding recipes that the children in Downstairs Preschool made in September. Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving Break!   Banana Mash-Up (serves 1) Ingredients ½ peeled banana 1 tbsp honey dash of cinnamon 1 graham cracker Directions Mash banana using a fork. Add honey and cinnamon to banana mash. Stir together. Spread mixture onto graham cracker. Enjoy! Banana Caterpillar (serves 1) Ingredients ½ peeled banana 2 tbsp sunflower seed butter (or another kind of butter for at home) 1 grape 1 pretzel stick   Directions Cut up bananas into small pieces. Spread sunflower seed butter on cut sides of banana pieces and stick together in a “caterpillar” shape. Use more butter to stick a grape for the “head” and stick pretzels into grape for “antennae.” Enjoy!...

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Happy United Nations Day!

Happy United Nations Day!

On Thursday, October 24, the children of Winfield Children’s House gathered to celebrate United Nations Day.  Each year, we celebrate this important day with a peace ceremony. This year we held a peace ceremony at the Children’s House and another at the Toddler House for the infant and toddler children. Leading up to United Nations Day, the preschool and Kindergarten children were constructing classroom paper chains, with messages about peace and friendship. At the Children’s House peace ceremony, each of the 3 early childhood classrooms carried their paper chains out to the Peace Pole in front of our school buildings. Our Peace Pole says “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in four languages. The children helped to link together all three paper chains to make a large chain that could decorate the area around the Peace Pole. To begin the Children’s House Ceremony, the children gathered in a large circle and sang “Peace Like a River.” Each classroom prepared thoughts about feeling peaceful or how to make peace that were read aloud to those gathered. After each classroom had a chance to share, our School Director shared the story of the life of Maria Montessori. Maria Montessori’s dream was that children would carry messages of peace throughout their lives and all around the world. Montessori believed that children were the key to creating a more peaceful world. The ceremony including a few more songs and ended with the song, “Go Now in Peace,” as the children began recess on the playground. At the Toddler House, the ceremony took place on the Toddler House playground on both Thursday and Friday. The toddlers also created a paper chain and connected the links to hang on the playground fence. They sang peace songs and learned a bit about the life of Maria Montessori. There is a Peace Pole located outside of the Toddler House building, as well. It says May Peace Prevail on Earth in 3 languages and show animal tracks on the other side to symbolize caring for the earth. Next time you visit, please take a moment to check out the Peace Poles on our campus and ask your child to teach you a song from the peace ceremony. If you are looking for a way to learn more about the United Nations with your child, visit http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/ for activities and information for children of all...

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Nature Play in the Backyard

Nature Play in the Backyard

The toddler house and children’s house playgrounds at Winfield Children’s House offer a mixture of natural spaces to play and traditional playground equipment. Offering children experiences to play in and with nature is a crucial part of helping a child develop understanding and caring for the environment. Are you looking for resources to develop a safe, natural playspace at home? Our toddler teacher, Leslie, discovered a great downloadable handbook from from the Green Hearts Institute for Nature in Childhood. It’s called “A Parent’s Guide to Nature Play.” It reviews why nature play matters and offers tips on setting up an outdoor playspace to maximize your child’s experience with nature. It has a handy list of outdoor plants that are safe to have around curious young children. We hope you check it out and share what works with us!  ...

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Our Newest Program for The Littlest Montessorians

Our Newest Program for The Littlest Montessorians

We currently have openings in our Bambini program, which is designed for children aged 6 to 16 months. This program is designed around the belief that infants are born with tremendous potential eager to learn, explore, and try new things. The classroom, in light of the infant’s need for routine and consistency, allows for freedom of movement while gently stimulating the naturally curious infant. A flexible schedule allows each child to eat, sleep, or play according to his or her own unique internal rhythm. The activities support and encourage language development, practical life skills, eye/hand coordination, along with gross and fine motor abilities in a warm and loving environment. The ratio of children to adults does not exceed 4:1 with each child assigned to one primary teacher. The teacher monitors that child’s schedule and communicates eating, sleeping, and activity patterns on a daily basis. This certified program is staffed by Montessori educated, bright and caring adults to assist the infants in developing strong, loving, trusting relationships and attachments that will help prepare them socially and emotionally for adulthood. You’re welcome to schedule a personal visit by calling Judi at 207-797-8101 or by emailing us at...

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