Nido Environment (0-12 Months)

The Nido environment at Montessori Academy of Slidell is a nurturing, peaceful space designed specifically for infants aged 0-12 months. The word "Nido," meaning "nest" in Italian, perfectly captures the essence of this environment—a place where your child is cared for with warmth, love, and attention, just like in a nest.

Montessori Focus

In the Nido environment, our focus is on creating a calm, secure atmosphere where infants can explore the world around them at their own pace. The Montessori philosophy emphasizes respect for each child’s individual development, allowing them to build trust in themselves and their environment. Every aspect of the Nido space is carefully designed to support the child’s natural curiosity, physical development, and emerging independence.

Key Areas of Focus

• Movement and Coordination: The Nido environment encourages free movement, which is essential for developing motor skills. Soft mats, low mirrors, and developmentally appropriate furniture are provided to help infants strengthen their muscles and gain confidence in their movements.
• Sensory Exploration: Infants are naturally inclined to explore their surroundings through their senses. We offer a variety of safe, tactile materials that stimulate sight, sound, touch, and smell, fostering early cognitive development.
• Pincer Grasp Development: As infants begin to develop fine motor skills, the pincer grasp—where they learn to pick up small objects between their thumb and forefinger—becomes a key focus. This skill is essential for future tasks like writing and self-feeding, and we provide activities that encourage its development.
• Language Development: Even from birth, infants are attuned to the sounds of language. In the Nido environment, we engage in gentle conversations, read aloud, and sing songs to help build early language skills and communication.
• Emotional Security: Building trust is a crucial part of the Nido environment. Consistent routines, responsive care, and close bonds with caregivers help infants feel secure and loved, laying the foundation for healthy emotional development.

Grace and Courtesy

From the very beginning, we introduce infants to the concepts of grace and courtesy. Simple routines like gentle touch, respectful communication, and kind interactions are modeled by caregivers, teaching infants the first steps of being kind and considerate humans. These lessons form the basis of respectful relationships as they grow.