Montessori
Infant
Community
Concept MIC
It is the appropriate environment in conjunction with a trained educator who serves as a guide that together support the developmental needs of the child and their inherent desire to learn. Only then the child will be empowered to reach their full potential at each stage of development.
“It follows that the child can only develop fully by means of experiences in his environment. We call such experiences “work”.
Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
MIC reflects the Montessori prepared environment in all it’s physical and psychological aspects.
MIC is spatially decorated as an apartment with kitchen, bathroom and living room. The purpose of this division is to provide the child with culture, appropriate lifestyle, high degree of order and structure in their lives.
Child size furniture and all materials on low shelves, allows the child easy access to the equipment. The child’s innate motivation to choose is awakened by his interest and stimulated by his curiosity building self-esteem and confidence. Developing what Montessori calls the “I can do it!” mindset.
The specially prepared rooms allow children to do much for themselves which reflects the Montessori philosophy: “Help me to do it myself”.
In our Montessori environment everything has its appropriate place (the jacket on the hook, the hat in the basket, the banana is on the tray ready to be cut) the daily routine is generally the same providing consistency, calm and respect for the child’s love of order.
All aspects in our Montessori environment are arranged to facilitate learning. The materials are in the correct “curriculum” areas, they are in a though-out order of presentation, as this order and predictability provides a sense of safety and security which the child internalizes and uses towards their growing need for independence.
“This is education, understood as a help to life; an education from birth, which feeds a peaceful revolution and unites all in a common aim, attracting them as to a single centre.”
Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
The most important attribute of a Montessori educator is the love and respect she/he holds for each child’s total being.
MIC’s professional and dedicates staff are protectors, providers, and a guide for each child.
As we are present in the child’s life, we prepare physically, emotionally & morally to aid each child’s development. A deep understanding of all aspects of the internal development the child is engaged in from birth, is our guide.
By the way we treat children, the way we relate to the adults in the environment and our relationship with parents, the child observes and absorbs that there is respect, a sense of acceptance and a celebration of life.
MIC is deeply interested in a close collaboration with parents. This is experienced in our morning and evening ritual. As the child is welcomed in the morning a pleasant interaction and exchange of information from the parent to the teachers is evident.
The same is experienced in the afternoon as the child is picked up and the teacher passes on important information about the child’s day at MIC. Trust, cultural curtesy and care is the model the child absorbs and imitates.
We warmly invite parents to support the Montessori education of their child by understanding these principles and by creating, as far as possible, a Montessori environment at home. To this end, Montessori educators can provide a list of books and literature written by Maria Montessori for parents.
“To recognize this great work of the child does not mean to diminish the parent’s authority. Once they can persuade themselves not be the builders but berely to act as collaborators in the building process, they become much better able to carry out their real duties, and then in the light of a wider vision, their help becomes truly valuable.”
Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
MIC values each child, each parent, each family unit and each staff member that is part of our small community. We value and highly esteem the support we provide for each other; the professional support we provide to parents and the part we play in the larger community.
