The Infant Program
(8 weeks to 18 months)
Program Options:
- 2 all day (7:30 AM to 5:30 PM)
- 3 all day (7:30 AM to 5:30 PM)
- 5 all day (7:30 AM to 5:30 PM)
The Glen Infant Program provides a year-round and emotionally supportive learning environment designed to promote development during the child’s sensitive periods for movement, language and order. The Infant Program assists development through the following beliefs:
- The child is a sensorial explorer and takes in the environment through an absorbent mind.
- The child learns by moving and interacting with concrete materials within the environment.
- The infant environment encourages experimentation, purposeful action, age-appropriate problem-solving, and relationship between cause and effect.
An important goal in the Infant Program is to promote independence within an environment that maintains a balance between age-appropriate challenges and adult supervised support.
Staff
The Infant staff at The Glen is trained to understand and interact with the eight-week to 18-month old child. The Glen Montessori Infant Specialist is educated in:
- The ability to observe and be emotionally and physically available as directed by the child.
- Being perceptive to the child’s needs, to “listen with the eyes” in order to respond appropriately to what the non-verbal child is communicating.
- Respecting your infant’s daily routines
- Verbal and non-verbal (sign language) communication
- First aid & CPR
Ratio
The Glen Montessori School maintains a superior staff/child ratio of 1:3 for the Infant Program in comparison to the mandates by the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare standard of 1:4 ratio.
Infant/Toddler Calendar
Infants and toddlers follow the school calendar, but "Family Days" days are included in their year-round services. No additional fees will be collected for these days.
Infant Transition to Toddler Room
When infants approach the appropriate developmental age to transition to the toddler room, the infant and teacher will visit the toddler room. First, they will visit for one hour periods of time. Then the infant will visit for toddler playtime and naptime. The entire process is gradual and dependent on the level of comfort of the infant. The teachers wait until the infant is ready to fully transition, and only then is he or she fully transitioned into the toddler room. This process could take anywhere between a week to a month.
Breast Feeding and Breast Milk
The Glen fully supports breast feeding moms by feeding breast milk to infants while in our care. Parents are welcome to bring clearly labeled frozen or thawed breast milk to school. Also, moms are welcome to come to the school to breastfeed during the day.
Infant Enrichment
Baby massage and music & movement classes are included as part of the infant curriculum.
In Home Visit
All new families receive a Home Visit where your child’s teacher will come to your home, meet the child and parents, and discuss how the Glen can best meet the needs of your child and family. The Home Visit is a first step for parents and teachers to begin the collaboration that will go on for the next few years. The visit also provides an avenue to learn more in-depth information about the child and be advised of any special needs.