What should I expect in an Infant/Young Tod Montessori Classroom?

[Belia]

We are considering a FT Montessori program for DS when I return to work in August. He will be in an Infant Room for 3-4 months, then move to a Young Toddler room for the rest of the school year.

How would a Montessori program at this level be different from a more traditional daycare? We visited today, but the infant program is brand new and won't begin for another few weeks, so I couldn't see it in action. I watched the young toddlers for only a few minutes. I guess I'm asking about the things I can't see and/or quantify anyway.......

1. How would it be handled if DS is exhibiting sleep signs, yet is resisting taking a nap? The director repeatedly mentioned "learning to self-soothe," but I worry that's code for CIO.

2. Would there be hands-on nurturing? Rocking, cuddling? In what circumstances?

3. In the young toddler room there was a little girl (15-18 months) who has only been in the program for a few days and having trouble with the separation. She was crying and upset the entire time I was there.... not hysterical or out-of-control, but more low-level crying/whining. It was actually quite heartbreaking- she was dragging her coat around the room as she was crying, as if she wanted to be ready to leave the MINUTE her mom or dad came for her. What's the Montessori method for working with such a child? How would that change from an infant (12 month) to a young toddler (15-18 months) to an older toddler (2 years?)

From reading other threads in this forum I have the impression that kids are expected to be pretty independent from their teachers (after being taught the necessary social/problem solving skills, of course). Does that only apply to the 3-6 program? Is that a true impression at all?

TIA.

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by Belia

We are considering a FT Montessori program for DS when I return to work in August. He will be in an Infant Room for 3-4 months, then move to a Young Toddler room for the rest of the school year.

How would a Montessori program at this level be different from a more traditional daycare? We visited today, but the infant program is brand new and won't begin for another few weeks, so I couldn't see it in action. I watched the young toddlers for only a few minutes. I guess I'm asking about the things I can't see and/or quantify anyway.......

1. How would it be handled if DS is exhibiting sleep signs, yet is resisting taking a nap? The director repeatedly mentioned "learning to self-soothe," but I worry that's code for CIO.

2. Would there be hands-on nurturing? Rocking, cuddling? In what circumstances?

3. In the young toddler room there was a little girl (15-18 months) who has only been in the program for a few days and having trouble with the separation. She was crying and upset the entire time I was there.... not hysterical or out-of-control, but more low-level crying/whining. It was actually quite heartbreaking- she was dragging her coat around the room as she was crying, as if she wanted to be ready to leave the MINUTE her mom or dad came for her. What's the Montessori method for working with such a child? How would that change from an infant (12 month) to a young toddler (15-18 months) to an older toddler (2 years?)

From reading other threads in this forum I have the impression that kids are expected to be pretty independent from their teachers (after being taught the necessary social/problem solving skills, of course). Does that only apply to the 3-6 program? Is that a true impression at all?

TIA.

I have to preface this by saying I'm NOT trained as an infant and toddler teacher at all. I've worked with Toddlers in a school, but the teacher I worked with wasn't Montessori Birth-3 trained either. So I'll answer how *I* would handle it.

If a child were walking around the room carrying a coat and crying, I would try to approach that child and see if I could help sooth them. A hug, a story, an activity...whatever I think would work. This may cause the child to become more hysterical, at which point I would back off and see if the child would eventually come to me. I'd keep a close eye on the child just to see when a good time to intervene would be and if it got better or worse. What you saw may have been a case of the child being more hysterical when approached and that's a common situation with 2 year olds. It's sometimes best to let them come to you on their own time. (Or maybe they truly were ignoring her...just trying to give another interpretation).

If a child is crying in my class, I can't help but try to calm them down. Unless it's a cry for strictly attention when my attention is elsewhere. I'll usually say in those circumstances, "It's OK to cry. I hope you feel better soon. I'll help you when I'm done with ____." Trouble transitioning at sleep is normal for this age, so I would likely try to hold a crying child at that time and rock them or do another calming activity. This is how my mom got me to sleep many nights, so it's how I would get my child to sleep. And I want to care about my students the way I would care about my child.

If you feel uncomfortable with the school, that's the biggest sign that it's not a good fit. I think most schools have a certain normal feeling about them. That feeling might be off on a particular day and it might be that you visited on that day. Only way to really know is visit again. But if the feeling of the school just doesn't match, I wouldn't go. Montessori is attractive most to the parents that walk in and say, "WOW!!!!!!!!!" Not to the parents that put their child in because it's supposed to line up with their philosophy.

Hope you find a good match either here or elsewhere

[Belia]

Originally Posted by MattBronsil

If you feel uncomfortable with the school, that's the biggest sign that it's not a good fit. I think most schools have a certain normal feeling about them. That feeling might be off on a particular day and it might be that you visited on that day. Only way to really know is visit again. But if the feeling of the school just doesn't match, I wouldn't go. Montessori is attractive most to the parents that walk in and say, "WOW!!!!!!!!!" Not to the parents that put their child in because it's supposed to line up with their philosophy.

Oh, I was hoping you'd chime in here, Matt- I have so valued your perspective on this thread!

I got that WOW feeling from observing the 3-6 classroom, but (obviously) not from the infant-toddler side. And to be fair, my impression probably would have been much more positive if that little girl with the coat had not been there. I mean, I am having a hard enough time with the thought of going back to work in the first place, and the LO carrying her coat around was such a powerful (and heartbreaking) visual.

Are my hesitations because I had to view the programs behind glass, which made it difficult for me to soak up the vibe and made the rooms feel cold?

Are my hesitations because I couldn't see the infants in action and was trying to get a feel for a program based on an unfinished room? The entire building is brand new, so all of the rooms had incomplete decorations and were "unfinished" to a degree.

Are my hesitations because Montessori is a bit "outside of my box?" That doesn't mean that it's wrong for me and my family... just different. Is that "different-ness" the source of my discomfort, or am I uncomfortable because it's not a good fit?

As I write I realize that I need to go back a few more times once everything is up and running. But any more insight from those who have BTDT would be peachy.

[MattBronsil]

Are my hesitations because I had to view the programs behind glass, which made it difficult for me to soak up the vibe and made the rooms feel cold?

Are my hesitations because I couldn't see the infants in action and was trying to get a feel for a program based on an unfinished room? The entire building is brand new, so all of the rooms had incomplete decorations and were "unfinished" to a degree.

Are my hesitations because Montessori is a bit "outside of my box?" That doesn't mean that it's wrong for me and my family... just different. Is that "different-ness" the source of my discomfort, or am I uncomfortable because it's not a good fit?

And will the dynamic duo escape from the Penguin's evil trap? (Sorry...when people list questions all in a row, I tend to read them like that old Batman TV Series announcer.)

I wish I had better Toddler answers...I just try to shy away from too much that's out of my normal experience.

Matt

[wrzos]

I did not enroll my son in the M infant room b/c as it turned out (4 years ago) I ended up not returning to work FT. BUT - I did tour an infant room, that had been in place for many years, etc. From what I remember, the children were definitely soothed, there was a lot of hands on rocking, holding (when the children wanted/needed it) just as you'd find in a normal daycare setting. The differences that struck me were the lack of cribs, the freedom of movement for the crawling/rolling babies, minimal glare - by that I mean - no loud bouncing/singing toys, nor bouncers/swings, etc. Simple teethers, rattles, mobiles, etc. This was a HUGE difference compared to other daycares I had visited as they often had rows of swings or bouncers and LOTS of visual and auditory stimulation going on - too much in my opinion.

once walking, the children assisted with gardening, snack prep, simple cooking activities, lots of M work around, etc. But the infant room was more open with simpler activities present. HTH!