When to start a montessori class?

[sora]

At our local M school, there are classes for 0-14mo and 14mo+

Mine is only 6mo. When would it be a good time to start a class? Thanks.

[sapphire_chan]

Unless you need daycare for other purposes, wait until 2.5 to 3.

I can't remember the source, unfortunately, but Montessori believed that the best place for children through age 2 was right with their mothers observing the world. She also really liked the slings she saw in other cultures (phrased as "primitive") because of how they let the baby be right up where s/he could observe mom's interactions.

[physmom]

We'll be starting DD right after she turns 2 but it's because I'll be going back to work full time so it would be that or daycare. We were actually thinking of doing daycare for a year and then starting her but after talking to the school we both liked it too much to wait.  If I wasn't working we'd definitely wait. 

[sora]

But these classes are with moms. I think the newborn class is more for teaching mom montessori ways. 

[physmom]

Originally Posted by sora 

But these classes are with moms. I think the newborn class is more for teaching mom montessori ways. 

Is it more a playgroup type of situation? I really don't see any harm in that at all and it might be fun to bounce ideas off of other moms n what you can do at home too.  I've never heard of classes like that...

[sapphire_chan]

It's a class for both of you? How fun! Sign up as soon as your LO enters the phase where you need to get out every day to prevent crankiness.

[Shanny2032]

Our school offers this as well and I really wish I would have done it with my daughter when we could have (she would have been 9 months).  They teach you how to present montessori at home starting at the birth.  If you are intersted at all in it being your child's primary education at some point and believe in the principles behind it I would highly recommend doing it now (or when the next session starts).  If you aren't sure if Montessori is for you in the long run I would read and research to find out before siging up because if it is like ours it was not cheap (hence the reason I didn't jump at it).  My employers (I am a Nanny) are having another baby in the spring and I am hoping to take the infant class with their little one when she is 6 months even though I know a lot more about Montessori now than 2 years ago I am like a sponge for it!  This is the link to our local schools information page if you want to read a description:

 http://www.saintalcuin.org/page.aspx?pid=283