Assistants to Infancy (6 weeks - 18 months) 

Our Nido Program is intended to protect, teach, and serve infants from 6 weeks of age to 18 months. Maria Montessori believed that education as an “Aid to Life” begins during pregnancy.

The Nido Program specializes in meeting infants’ and parents’ unique needs and offers parent education about pregnancy and the young infants needs. From birth on, we are all on a path toward independence, and we adults are responsible to guide children along this path.

A Montessori environment can be considered an adapting continuum between two basic needs of the developing infant. At one pole is the bonded relationship between the adult and child; at the other is a growing sense of self and independence. The prepared environment is characterized by order, simplicity, and beauty all of which meet the needs of the child. At each stage in development, MSR is committed to further meeting these needs.

The children in the Nido Program are given freedom to move, eat, sleep, and communicate at will, guided by special materials and furniture to facilitate this development. Each family works with the Directress to formulate an individual plan for feeding, rest, toileting, and activities. As infants’ interest in communication and movement grows, they begin to seek a broader environment for stimulation and become ready to join our toddler community.

For children under the age of 3, there are several Montessori environments which offer a wide variety of options and opportunities for involvement by parents. Created especially for working parents, a Nido is an environment prepared for children from 6 weeks until they are walking well.

After they begin to walk, the children join the toddler group, where their primary motor coordination, independence and language are cultivated.