Winfield Children’s House is happy to announce a new program for our littlest Montessorians, aged 6 to 16 months. The Bambini program is designed around the belief that infants are born with tremendous potential eager to learn, explore, and try new things. The classroom, in light of the infant’s need for routine and consistency, will allow for freedom of movement while gently stimulating the naturally curious infant. A flexible schedule will allow each child to eat, sleep, or play according to his or her own unique internal rhythm. The activities will support and encourage language development, practical life skills, eye/hand coordination, along with gross and fine motor abilities in a warm and loving environment. The ratio of children to adults will not exceed 4:1 with each child assigned to one primary teacher. The teacher will monitor that child’s schedule and communicate the eating, sleeping, and activity patterns on a daily basis. This certified program will have Montessori educated, bright and caring adults to assist the infants in developing strong, loving, trusting relationships and attachments that will help prepare them socially and emotionally for adulthood.

Winfield Toddler program offers an introduction to Montessori education. A low student-teacher ratio helps to bridge the child’s transition from home to school, while providing children with an opportunity to explore new relationships with friends and to interact with adults in a loving and nurturing environment. As part of their early Montessori experience, toddlers are introduced to age appropriate Montessori materials and invited to make choices from a variety of activities that support their developmental interests and needs. The toddler’s strong sense of autonomy is encouraged while self-esteem is enhanced through social and learning experiences. Toddlers enjoy music and movement within the classroom curriculum. Snacks, outdoor play, and lunch are a part of the daily routine. The toddler need not be toilet trained as this is a part of toddler development. The Toddler program offers the young child a safe, secure environment with trusting teachers who respect each individual. The school and home partnership is formed assisting the toddlers as they embark on their first school experience.

Winfield’s Preschool classrooms offer a relaxed and stimulating environment where children may learn at their own pace in a noncompetitive fashion. The results are a love of learning, a positive self image, and a sense of self-direction that form a strong foundation for future growth. Basic Montessori curriculum areas around which the classroom is organized include Practical Life, Art, Sensorial, Language, Geography, Cultural Studies, Mathematics, Science, and Peace. In addition, the program includes a variety of enrichment activities that change throughout the year. The daily routine includes a two hour work time, group meeting time, snack, outdoor play and lunch. The Preschools have mixed-age groupings, allowing younger children to learn from the activities of older children, and providing the older children the opportunity to teach and nurture the younger child.

Winfield offers a state approved Kindergarten program that a child may attend in lieu of an area public kindergarten prior to entering first grade. This option is available to those families who wish to provide the continuity of the Montessori experience for their child, as well as a lower student-teacher ratio. The five morning program consists of a multi-age group within the prepared environment. In addition to the Montessori curriculum, the children enjoy a variety of enrichment activities that may include foreign language, yoga, music appreciation, and movement. After lunch and a brief rest period, the children who are scheduled to stay for the afternoon program engage in extensions in reading, writing, math, science and special art projects or continue their work with the Montessori materials.