The first years of a child’s life are critical for shaping who they’ll become. In our Willow House classroom, which serves infants and toddlers from 6 weeks to 3 years old, we create an environment that supports their growth—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Through individualized care, sensory exploration, and the core principles of Montessori, we give our youngest students the perfect start to their lifelong learning journey.
A Safe, Stimulating Space for Exploration
For babies under 1 year old, our main focus is to create a calm, loving space where they feel safe and secure. Willow House is set up to encourage curiosity and exploration, with a peaceful atmosphere, soft lighting, and natural materials that are inviting to touch. We believe that babies learn best through their senses, so we provide a variety of textures, sounds, and sights to spark their curiosity.
At this stage, babies are taking in everything around them. Whether it's the soft texture of a blanket, the soothing sound of music, or just the sight of something new, every experience helps them understand the world better. Our caregivers are specially trained to be responsive to each baby’s needs, offering warmth, comfort, and support as they explore at their own pace.
Encouraging Movement and Physical Development
One of the most important aspects of early development is physical growth. In Willow House, we focus on helping babies develop their motor skills from day one. Our space is set up with plenty of opportunities for tummy time, crawling, reaching, and exploring—activities that build strength, coordination, and confidence.
Our floor-level setup makes it easy for babies to move around safely, and we provide Montessori materials like soft mats and age-appropriate toys that encourage babies to reach, grab, and manipulate objects. These activities help babies develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and physical strength. As they progress, we gently support their emerging abilities, whether that’s helping them stand with support or encouraging them to take their first steps when they’re ready. Every small achievement is celebrated as part of their journey.
Supporting Cognitive Growth and Curiosity
Babies are born with an incredible curiosity. In their first year, they’re constantly absorbing information from the world around them. At Willow House, we support their cognitive development with simple, safe materials that they can explore on their own. True to the Montessori philosophy, we focus on hands-on experiences that help babies understand cause and effect, object permanence, and sensory exploration.
For example, wooden rattles, soft cloth toys, and textured objects give babies something to grasp and manipulate, helping them connect their actions with results. Mirrors are also used to support babies in recognizing themselves, and varied textures stimulate their sense of touch.
Our goal is to create a peaceful yet stimulating environment where babies can explore the world in a way that’s meaningful to them. We let babies focus on the details around them, offering them plenty of time to absorb what’s in front of them at their own pace.
Emotional and Social Development
The emotional and social growth of babies is just as important as their physical and cognitive development. In Willow House, we focus on helping babies form strong bonds with their caregivers. Babies this age are just starting to build trust and security, and we make sure they feel cared for and loved with lots of affection and gentle responses to their needs. This sense of security is essential for emotional well-being and sets the stage for forming healthy relationships later on.
Even though babies can’t interact socially in complex ways yet, they begin learning essential social skills, like making eye contact, smiling, and recognizing faces and voices. In our mixed-age environment, babies also have the opportunity to observe older children. This helps them feel part of a community and see social interactions in action, laying the groundwork for future relationships.
Fostering Language Development
Though babies under 1 year old aren’t speaking yet, they’re busy soaking in language every day. At Willow House, we help babies build language skills by talking to them regularly, narrating what we’re doing, and offering them opportunities to listen to music, stories, and conversations. Early exposure to language helps babies build the foundation for communication as they get older.
We also use simple songs, rhymes, and gestures to encourage babies to engage and start understanding language. These early interactions are crucial for brain development and help babies begin recognizing patterns in language, paving the way for future language growth.
Benefits of Montessori Multi-Age Classrooms
In a Montessori multi-age classroom, students have the unique opportunity to learn alongside children of different ages. This setup encourages collaboration, as older children mentor the younger ones, fostering a sense of responsibility and leadership. Younger students benefit from observing their older peers, gaining inspiration and learning at their own pace. It creates a rich, supportive environment where children feel empowered to explore, ask questions, and help each other, building strong social and academic skills in a natural, fluid way.
Benefits of Micro School Classrooms for Our Youngest Students
Wren and Willow's micro school classroom offers a personalized, close-knit learning environment that's perfect for our youngest students. With a smaller group size, teachers can provide more individual attention, allowing each child to thrive at their own pace. This smaller setting helps build stronger relationships between children and teachers, creating a sense of security and trust. Micro schools also allow for more flexible, hands-on learning experiences that cater to the individual needs and interests of each child, ensuring that they feel seen, valued, and supported from the start of their educational journey.
Montessori for Infant Care
The Montessori approach values every child as an individual, respecting that each baby develops at their own pace. At Willow House, we honor that by allowing babies to explore and play at their own speed. We understand their need for both engagement and rest, and our caregivers are always ready to offer support when needed, helping babies build confidence in their abilities.
Our space is prepared with care to ensure that everything is safe, accessible, and engaging. The materials in Willow House are carefully chosen to encourage sensory exploration, helping babies develop a love of learning from an early age.
A Strong Foundation for Lifelong Learning
The first year of life is a time of incredible growth, and at Willow House, we’re committed to nurturing this important stage. With individualized care, sensory-rich environments, and Montessori principles guiding our approach, we give babies everything they need to build a strong foundation for learning that lasts a lifetime.