Why the birth to three certificate course?

A solid foundation, from the very beginni, is imperative for children at home and at school; this October parents and teachers can learn how to better understand and guide children from day one through to age three. You should be at the Birth-three Assistants certificate course and the following will tell you why...

This is a course for Assistants in age 0-3 classrooms; an introduction to Dr. Maria Montessori’s educational theory and practice with children under the age of three.

This is a certificate course for classroom assistants, teachers, administrators, social workers, home visitors, parent educators, parents, parents-to be, nannies, doulas and anyone interested in human development in the critical first years of life.

Focus of the Assistant’s work:

The intention of the Assistants Course is to help interested adults become able assistants in a Montessori Nido or Infant Community.

The task of the Assistant is NOT to give initial presentations of materials, but rather to support and help the Directress/Director to maintain the equilibrium within the class, to do follow-up work with the children, to do language work with the children, helping to maintain order within the environment.

• To observe
• To learn when and how to intervene (not interfere)
• To acquire the ability to allow the children to become more and more independent; “any

unnecessary help is a hindrance to development”

• To gain knowledge of Montessori’s understanding of Freedom and Discipline
• To learn how to gain the children’s trust
• To understand the power of the absorbent mind
• To understand the importance of consistency (also related to use of language) and routines
• To understand the importance of the environment: Indoor and outdoor.
• The importance of food and food preparation

This Course Covers:

• The Prepared Environment,
• Absorbent Mind,
• Sensitive Periods Order,
• Independence,
• Movement Cognitive and Language Development Observation,
• Freedom and Discipline,
• Toilet Learning, and more . . .

Entry Requirements:

• A-Level or its equivalent.
• A good command of the English language.

Participants are required to complete 60 hours of instruction, 9 hours of observation, 3 papers (500 words each) and 90% class attendance. Participants who complete the course will receive an Assistant’s Course Certificate from the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).

Birth to three is a critical stage in the life of a child, it is the time when guides- parents and teachers- can set the tone for the child’s growth and development. The traditional principles of the Montessori Method afford children the opportunity to be well-rounded individuals and parents/teachers the skills to help them get there.

From October 8th- 18th, 2018 the Montessori Institute of Nigeria will be running the 0-3 Assistants to Infancy Certificate Course in Lagos, Nigeria- for N115, 000. Last October, we successfully ran the course in association with Maria Montessori Institute in The Gambia.