“The Parent and Me” program at Exploring Minds is a weekly two-hour class designed to introduce toddlers and their parents to the Montessori classroom and to help ease the eventual transition into our regular preschool program.

“The Parent and Me” class encourages de development of a toddler’s independence, confidence, fine motor skills, concentration, respect for others, and love of learning. Children, accompanied by their parents, will have the opportunity to work with age appropriate Montessori materials in a peaceful setting. They will also participate in several group activities such as snack time, music and movement, story time, and outdoor playtime.
Currently, the “Parent and Me” program takes place on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 10:00 am and 10:30 am to 12:30 p
m and is offered in 10-week sessions to children 18 months and up.

The Parent and Me program offers very young children a time of self-development in a tender atmosphere of special understanding, respect and support.

Of fundamental importance is the gradual separation of each child from his or her primary caretaker. The Parent and Me program protects this fragile stage of development by creating a very gentle and slow parting of each adult-child couple. As the toddlers gradually become comfortable in their new environment they learn to trust the teachers and the other children around them.

Simple sensorial activities in the classroom respond to the toddlers’ urge to use all their senses-indeed their whole bodies-to explore everything around them.