The “nido” environment at Healthy Beginnings Montessori House (HBMH) is affectionately referred to as the Raspberry room, and it is a very close-knit learning community with a high teacher to student ratio: 5 teachers to 14 students, ages 6 weeks to 18 months.
It is open all year round from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and it is an exciting place to be, full of remarkable moments, lovable faces, and memorable experiences.
Like all of HBMH’s classrooms, the “nido” environment is rooted in the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori. In fact, the word “nido” comes from the Italian word “nest” and is meant to convey the warmth and security of a home.
In this environment, children are cared for by trained Montessori teachers and their assistants. The room is safe, secure, stimulating, and full of love, and the teachers work together closely to help the children develop hand-eye coordination, grasping skills, and, through movement,
bodily coordination.
The primary goals of the teachers in this room are to care for the basic needs of the infant: to provide a safe-bonded relationship between adult and child and to aid in the development of the child’s growing sense of self
and independence.
Through the environment’s simplicity and order, and through the preparedness of the teachers, the small but mighty Montessori students learn at their own pace to use their senses to explore and discover the world.
Key elements of the “nido” program include:
• age appropriate materials and aids that induce concentration, movement, language, and cognitive development.
• open classroom absent of inhibiting items such as playpens and walkers.
• floor beds.
• close working relationship between parents and teachers to maintain consistency between home and school.
Healthy Beginnings has teamed up with renowned Montessori consultant Sherri Ewing-Simmons to offer parents enrolled in HBMH’s “nido” program 4 hours of free consultation.
Sherri is the founder of the hit blog My Baby-N-Me, and she received her montessori training under the direction of Dr. Silvana Montanaro, whose link to Montessori dates back to 1949 with the earliest 0-3 Assistants to Infancy training course in Italy.
Sherri knows and understands Montessori better than most and is more than qualified to inform parents about parenting issues related to the Montessori philosophy. Listed below are examples of topics that Sherri is prepared to consult “nido” enrolled parents on:
• how to support the developmental milestones of toileting, weaning, sleeping, and movement.
• how to maintain a strong and healthy bond between you and your child.
• how to recognize and understand how your child communicates.
• how to design a Montessori home environment that conforms to the natural rhythm of your child’s development.
• how to gently and physically separate from your child.
Sherri is great at what she does and has received many positive parent testimonials:
…thank you for the knowledge you have imparted and the guidance bestowed with enthusiasm and a wonderful “you can do it” attitude.
(Ellie, Illinois)
Our parenting journey has been punctuated with these thoughts: “Let’s run
that by Sherri!” (Kavitha, Illinois)
Sherri is our personal “baby whisperer!” (Reggie, Texas)
If you would like to enroll your child in HBMH’s “nido” program or if you would like to speak with someone about it, then please feel free to contact the Director, Tami Kinna, by phone at 972-881-8200 or by email.
