Nido

Ages 8 weeks to 18 months

Our Nido program, tailored for infants aged 8 weeks to 18 months, provides expert care and warmth to meet the developmental needs of our youngest learners. In serene classrooms flooded with natural light, infants engage with child-sized objects designed for their absorbent minds.

The carefully-prepared environment encourages physical exploration, strength-building, and developmental milestones like walking and talking. Dedicated guides support infants in their natural desire to move and communicate, fostering a healthy relationship with sleep, eating, and toileting. By following each infant's natural rhythm, our guides instill a strong sense of security and trust. Through gentle guidance, we strike a balance between safety and encouraging new activities, promoting enduring confidence in our young learners.

Program Highlights

  • Guides are calm, gentle, soft-spoken, patient, and trusting.

  • Following the infant's natural “rhythms” and consistently meeting their needs. 

  • Scientifically designed Montessori learning materials that focus on unconscious brain development.

  • Materials encourage movement, exploration, and sensory experiences in a safe, uncluttered, home-like environment.

  • Daily reports on each infant's personalized eating, toileting, and sleeping routines.

  • Weekly music groups, daily outside time, and specialized reading times.

  • The environment is language-rich, with adults using proper nomenclature so the children. are exposed to and develop a broad vocabulary.

  • Child-sized tables and chairs rather than high chairs, playpens, and bouncers.

  • Safety is paramount, while ensuring freedom of movement.

Transparent Classroom

We prioritize clear communication with Nido parents through Transparent Classroom, a Montessori-focused student record-keeping system. This platform enables us to monitor and report daily activities, including attendance, nap times, meals and bottles, toileting, the child's daily activities, and other important information. Parents receive a daily email notification summarizing these activities for seamless updates.

Learning Outcomes

Nido learners at Terra School follow their natural rhythm, and the guides are attuned to their readiness for each developmental transition. This journey leads Nido infants into the Toddler environment - a realm of newfound independence, language development, and crucial toileting milestones.

As they prepare to move to the Toddler classroom, our infants:

  • Demonstrate curiosity in independent toileting, self-feeding, and budding aspects of self-care.

  • Have mastered the art of drinking from an open cup, independent walking, and expressed a keen interest in verbal language.

  • Nurtured through freedom of movement, they have developed core strength, can balance objects on trays, and follow simple one-step directions.

  • Are more adept at feeding themselves solid foods with simple utensils.

  • Transition from crib-sleeping to single-floor mattresses and mats, and maintain a consistent single nap schedule.