Montessori Nido Program
Montessori Nido Program
(Ages 2 months to 2 years)
Oak Park Montessori School offers a warm, nurturing Montessori approach to early childhood education for infants and toddlers ages 2 months to 2 years, honoring this critical stage of growth and development.
Nido is Italian for “nest,” is a Montessori environment designed for infants (typically 6 weeks to 18-24 months) that acts as a secure, calm, and nurturing bridge between home and school. It focuses on fostering early independence, motor skills, and curiosity through materials rather than containing equipment like swings or walkers.
Key Features of a Nido Environment:
* Prepared Space: The classroom is designed for maximum safety and freedom of movement, featuring low, accessible shelving and floor beds rather than cribs.
*Focus on development: Exploration of motor skills, language acquisition, and cognitive development.
*Individualized care: Nido programs follow each child’s unique, natural schedule for sleeping and eating, fostering trust and security.
*Natural atmosphere: Rooms are designed to be aesthetic and serene, avoiding loud, plastic, battery-operated toys.
*Independence: Children are encouraged to feed themselves to build confidence.
The goal of the Nido is to respect the infant’s rapid development, allowing them to gain self-confidence and independence within a peaceful, nest-like environment.
Montessori Lower Elementary
Montessori Lower Elementary
(Ages 2-3 years)
Oak Park Montessori School’s early childhood program for children ages 2 to 3 nurtures independence, confidence, and a genuine love of learning during the most formative years of development. Guided by authentic Montessori principles, children learn in thoughtfully prepared classrooms that encourage hands-on exploration, self-directed activity, and purposeful work.
Our trained Montessori educators support each child’s individual pace while fostering concentration, problem-solving skills, and social-emotional growth. Through practical life activities, sensorial materials, early language development, and foundational math experiences, children build both academic readiness and real-world skills.
Oak Park Montessori provides a calm, respectful environment where children ages 2 to 6 develop confidence, curiosity, and a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Montessori Approach
* Learning: Child-directed; children choose activities (called “work”) that interest them.
*Teacher Role: A guide or facilitator who observes and supports individual discovery
*Environment: Prepared, hands-on, sensory-rich materials for self-correction, with freedom to move.
*Pace: Individualized; children learn at their own speed
*Classroom: Mixed-age groups (e.g., 3-6 years) that foster peer teaching and nurturing.
Montessori Foundation
Montessori Foundation Education (Ages 3-6 years)
Oak Park Montessori School’s Foundation for Education program bridges early childhood and elementary education by combining the proven Montessori approach with the structure and readiness skills children need for kindergarten success.
Designed for children who are developmentally ready for a more advanced learning experience, our program emphasizes independence, critical thinking, and a strong academic foundation in a calm, supportive environment. Through hands-on Montessori materials, children strengthen early literacy, mathematics, executive functioning, and social-emotional skills while developing confidence and responsibility. Our certified Montessori educators guide students at their individual pace, encouraging curiosity, collaboration, and a love of learning.
Oak Park Montessori’s Foundation for Education program prepares children academically, socially, and emotionally for a smooth and successful transition into kindergarten and beyond.