Recently I have stumbled upon a Montessori environment that caught my attention. It is from Delta Montessori in Argentina, Tigre, Buenos Aires. I contacted them to say that they are making a really good thing and these people were very kind. So I decided to share my impressions about this space and I am sure we can learn a lot from them.
I know that this project was planned for 3 years and lovely owners have put a lot of work and passion into it. They are trying really hard to become a complete school. They have a development plan to open all the school levels. Now they offer “Parent Infant Community Program”. In 2017 they want to open nido room, in 2019 - primary (1st part), 2022 - primary (2nd part), 2024 - erdkinder. I think it is a really big and exciting project!
Their parent/infant program is focused on the psychological and physical development of infants from birth through two years and of course on the support of parents. Adults and children meet twice a week with the Montessori guide in an environment prepared and adapted to meet the developmental needs of their children, strengthening the bond between the child and the parents. As this happens parents are discovering everything their children are capable of doing. Also, the discussion group and materials are offered monthly to help keep the Montessori philosophy at home.
They also have workshops where adults learn how to observe these different stages of development and provide the child with experiences in the progress of movement, self-direction, and independence.They cover different topics such as sharing toys, bites, new child, sibling rivalry, sphincter control, feeding and all other that may interest parents.
As studied by Prof. Montessori, during the first year of life our babies experience the most intense physical and psychological growth of their lives, where they begin to acquire different types of motor skills, as well as the acquisition of language. So we need to provide a proper environment that meets their needs. So let’s have a look at this space closer.
The room is full of space and light. It gives an opportunity to move freely. Take a look at the number of shelves. There are not too many of them. The arrangement of furniture is very age appropriate because it gives a child a movement support in every place of the room. Pay attention to the toy on the little bridge on the front. We usually place different interesting items in the top middle of such bridges or platforms to inspire children to get them and to climb and move.
Of course there is a place with a movement mat and mobiles or grasping toys. There children can lay and observe. Mobils encourage childrens observation, focus, and attention. They also offer an interesting optical experience as well as provide kinetic information. They develop child’s aesthetic sense. Such items as taken ball train child’s ability to grasp.
Look at the apparatus that they use for mobiles hanging. I like so much that it can be folded to the wall. I often get asked how to hang a mobile so this idea is really great. There is a bag with different soft balls in the room. You can use different kind of balls stitched, knitted or braided. Children will touch them, grasp them and follow them as they roll. I like that this pull up bar near the mirror is placed really low so it will meet first child’s attempts to pull up.
The shelves are not cluttered with toys. The pictures on the walls are on the child’s level. I specifically like that they feature just one object so the child can concentrate on it. If there will be lots of things on the picture child would not be able to observe every item properly. Flowers also add a feel of beauty and nature to the room. There is a little table with little chairs. Remember that the chair is age appropriate if the child feet stand on the floor. I like to look at this space because it is very well-thought and even sitting pillows are of 3 primary colors!
Look at these bags. They have different materials inside, like sand, rice, twinkle bells. They are also made of different kind of clothes, like wool, burlap, cotton and so on. Children touch them and fulfill their sensorial needs. I think this is a nice idea that can be applied at home also.
Infant environments usually have a chair for baby nourishing. Look at the choice of toys there are musical instruments, ball cylinder, bell cylinder, different balls, rolling toys and grasping toys.
Someone commented that this environment lacks in colors but to my mind it has just enough. The colors in the environment are not too bright and distracting and also we need to remember that at this age we firstly introduce only primary colors to infants. I see parents often buy very colorful toys because they think that plain wooden items would be boring for children. But they will not because parents often look at the toys from their own perspective but not from the child’s perspective. Firstly we should think how to meet the needs of the child.
I think Montessori guides of Delta Montessori make an awesome work to help the infants develop naturally. I hope they school will only grow and develop.
I hope this space was interesting for you and it inspired you.