Young Children’s Community

The Young Children’s Community (YCC) serves children between the ages of 4 months -3 years of age. Our community supports attendance Monday through Friday through two programs; Nido (Nest) and Piccolino (Young Child). Both programs offer either half or full day opportunities.

These safe and nurturing environments are specifically designed for children starting at 4 months until they are developmentally ready to transition into the Casa Dei Bambini. This transition usually happens between the ages of 2 to 3 years old and may take place at any point during the academic year.

 Dr. Montessori, through her observations of young children came to the conclusion that the human mind is constructed to organize and learn from the environment. Based on this recognition, she developed a prepared environment carefully designed to support the young child’s “absorbent mind,” and to assist their complete development.

 At Willow Tree Montessori, our YCC environment is designed to encourage, assist and protect the normal development of each child. The child’s natural path of development is followed so that the child has the opportunity to:

 o   Gain Independence

o   Enhance speech and communication

o   Refine Motor Skills

 The child’s natural passion for wonder, curiosity, exploration and discovery comes alive in a cooperative community setting.

Our toddler community embraces the unique areas of:

Practical Life  - Assisting the child in skills of daily living-especially self-care.
Sensorial     - Providing the child the opportunity of exploration of the world through the senses. Language        - Developing the child’s speech and communication skills.