Montessori-Inspired Education for Children 6-18 Months.
At Inspire Early Learning Journey, we are more than just an early learning centre—we are a community where infants are nurtured, respected, and celebrated. For children aged 6 months to 18 months, this is a time of rapid growth, bonding, and early exploration. We warmly welcome your family to share in this precious stage of your child’s journey.
“The child begins to perceive the world not only through his eyes but also through his hands.”
- Dr Maria Montessori
Where First Steps, First Sounds and First Connections Begin.
At Inspire Early Learning Journey, our Montessori Extra Curricular Programs for children aged 6 to 18 months offer gentle sensory experiences that spark curiosity and support early development. Through music, movement, sensory play, and early language, infants explore with joy and begin building the foundations for independence.
Early Years Care, A Loving Introduction to Every New Beginning.
At Inspire Early Learning, our Montessori Extra Curricular Programs are thoughtfully designed for children aged 6 months to 18 months. Rooted in Montessori principles and aligned with early learning outcomes, these gentle and engaging experiences — such as sensory play, music, movement, and early language — nurture curiosity, support developmental milestones, and lay the foundation for independence. Each session encourages joy, connection, and exploration, supporting the whole child during this vital stage of growth.
- Montessori Program
- Art Program
- Healthy Eating & Nutrition
- Little Chef Program
- Sustainability Program
- Music Program
- Incursions & Excursions Program
- Language Program
- Culture Program
- Physical Education Program
- Science Program
6–18 Months: Foundations in Independence, Movement & Sensory Development.
In this stage, children are supported through calm, predictable experiences that nurture security, trust, and early independence. Our infant environments are designed to allow babies to move freely, explore safely, and discover through their senses. Low shelves with simple, purposeful materials encourage reaching, grasping, and early problem-solving, while open movement spaces support crawling, pulling up, and natural physical development. Educators introduce gentle, real-world tasks and soothing routines that build concentration, sensory awareness, and the beginnings of autonomy. These foundational experiences strengthen early brain development and spark the child’s natural curiosity.
6–18 Months: Early Sensory Exploration & Creative Awareness.
For our youngest children, art begins with simple sensory encounters that introduce them to colour, texture, and movement. Babies explore soft brushes, natural objects, gentle finger painting, and safe sensory materials that support early brain development and curiosity. They watch colours move across paper, hear the soft sounds of brushes, and feel the sensation of materials on their hands. These experiences encourage discovery, support fine motor development, and introduce the relaxing, joyful nature of creative expression.
6–18 Months: First Flavours, Gentle Introduction & Positive Food Foundations.
For our youngest children, nutrition focuses on the safe introduction of purees, soft textures, fresh produce, and age-appropriate meals prepared daily by our chefs. Babies explore new flavours, colours, and smells in a nurturing, unhurried environment where educators support early self-feeding, finger foods, and sensory connection to food. These early experiences build trust, comfort, and curiosity around eating. With consistent exposure to fresh, nutritious meals, babies develop healthy eating patterns that form the foundation for long-term wellbeing.
6–18 Months: Sensory Food Discovery & Early Participation.
For our youngest children, the Little Chef Program begins with simple sensory food exploration. Babies experience new textures, smells, colours, and flavours in a supportive, unhurried environment. They observe educators preparing food, participate in early self-feeding, and engage with soft, safe utensils that support their emerging coordination. These early experiences promote sensory development, curiosity, and positive relationships with food. Gentle exposure to fresh ingredients helps babies form early connections to healthy eating and the routines of mealtimes.
6–18 Months: Foundations in Nature Awareness & Sensory Connection.
For our youngest learners, sustainability begins with creating early connections to nature. Babies explore natural materials and gentle sensory experiences, including sunlight, shadows, fresh air, textures of leaves, grass, flowers, and soft natural objects. Outdoor time allows them to observe birds, insects, and movement in the environment from a safe and nurturing space. These peaceful, sensory-rich experiences help babies develop curiosity, calmness, and early recognition of the natural world, laying a foundation for future environmental understanding.
6–18 Months: Foundations in Listening, Rhythm & Sensory Response.
For babies, music begins with simple, soothing experiences that help them recognise rhythm, tone, and melody. Gentle singing, soft percussion, and slow, repetitive patterns help regulate their emotions and support early brain development. Babies observe sound through movement, respond to changes in tempo, and explore musical experiences that stimulate sensory development. These early interactions create a secure foundation for communication, bonding, and auditory awareness.
6–18 Months Old: Sensory-Focused Incursions & Early World Exploration.
For children aged 6 to 18 months, incursions and excursions are gentle, sensory-focused experiences designed to support comfort, secure attachment, and early environmental awareness. Babies participate in familiar, predictable experiences such as observing nature, exploring outdoor areas with educators, and engaging with soft, sensory-based incursions. These activities provide a calm and nurturing introduction to the world beyond their room, allowing infants to observe movement, sound, people, and the natural environment while feeling safe and supported.
6–18 Months: Foundations of Listening, Sound Recognition & Early Communication.
In the earliest months, babies learn language through warm, responsive interactions that help them recognise sounds, tone, rhythm, and familiar words. Educators model gentle speech, sing soothing songs, and use expressive facial cues that encourage infants to vocalise and engage. Through daily language-rich routines, story sharing, and simple conversations, children begin forming the essential neural pathways that support vocabulary development and early communication. These nurturing early experiences provide infants with a secure base to explore sound, respond to voices, and begin expressing themselves through gestures, babbling, and first words.
6–18 Months: Early Awareness Through Sensory & Emotional Connection.
For infants, culture is introduced through gentle sensory experiences and warm, responsive interactions that help them become familiar with the sounds, rhythms, colours, and emotions present in diverse cultural expressions. Babies listen to songs in different languages, respond to music from various cultural traditions, and observe the colours, fabrics, objects, and stories that educators bring into the environment. At this stage, children build trust and emotional safety, forming early awareness that people express themselves and experience the world in many different ways. These foundational experiences support secure attachment, early identity development, and an emerging sense of belonging.
6–18 Months: Foundations of Movement, Sensory Exploration & Early Motor Development.
In the earliest months, babies develop physical skills through safe, nurturing, and sensory-rich environments designed to encourage natural movement. Educators support infants through tummy time, crawling pathways, soft climbing structures, and gentle stretching experiences that promote balance, muscle development, and spatial awareness. Through responsive interactions, rhythmic movement, and opportunities to reach, grasp, roll, and explore, infants begin building the essential motor pathways required for sitting, crawling, standing, and eventually walking. These early experiences also help babies develop confidence in their bodies and a secure sense of physical capability.
6–18 Months: Sensory Discovery, Early Curiosity & Awareness of the Natural World.
In the earliest months, babies experience science through gentle, sensory-rich environments that allow them to explore light, colour, movement, texture, sound, and temperature. Educators introduce infants to simple scientific concepts through calm water play, observing shadows and reflections, touching natural objects, and exploring outdoor spaces. As babies watch clouds drift overhead, feel the difference between warm and cool air, listen to natural sounds, or grasp leaves and flowers, they begin developing foundational neural pathways linked to curiosity and discovery. These early experiences help infants understand cause-and-effect, build attention, and establish the cognitive foundations that support later scientific thinking.
Why Montessori for Infants?
At the heart of Montessori education is the philosophy of respect for the child. Even in infancy, children are seen as capable learners with their own rhythms, preferences, and emerging abilities. Rather than treating babies as passive recipients of care, Montessori encourages us to view them as active participants in their own development.
For families, this means Montessori is much more than childcare. It’s a thoughtful, developmental approach designed to nurture confidence and independence. By starting early, infants build secure attachments while also developing problem-solving skills, curiosity, and a love of learning. These early experiences lay the groundwork for resilience, self-motivation, and adaptability throughout life.
The Prepared Environment for 6–18 Months.
- Safe and uncluttered, encouraging exploration without overwhelming distractions.
- Child-sized, with low shelves and accessible materials that allow little hands to reach and choose independently.
- Rich in natural materials, such as wooden toys, woven baskets, and soft textiles that feel grounding and sensory-rich.
This environment allows infants to move freely, discover at their own pace, and engage with objects that spark curiosity. At Inspire, our infant spaces reflect these values. We carefully curate environments that balance comfort and challenge, giving children the security to explore and the freedom to grow.
Supporting Movement & Independence.
- Reaching for and grasping toys.
- Practising self-feeding with finger foods or child-sized utensils.
- Choosing from a small selection of age-appropriate activities.
Sensory Exploration & Early Learning.
For infants, the senses are the primary gateway to learning. Every texture, sound, taste, and smell contributes to brain development and builds the foundations for understanding more complex concepts later on.
- Tactile toys like wooden blocks, fabric swatches, or simple stacking cups.
- Music and rhythm encourage listening skills, coordination, and joy through movement.
- Cause-and-effect activities, such as dropping a ball through a hole or shaking a rattle.
Inspire’s programs intentionally extend these experiences. Music sessions stimulate auditory development, while food & nutrition activities introduce early tastes and textures. Library and reading readiness programs begin the journey into literacy by surrounding infants with books, songs, and language-rich storytelling.
Language & Connection.
Sensory Exploration & Early Learning.
- Free movement opportunities, allowing babies to crawl, climb, and walk at their own pace.
- Sensory-rich activities, from tactile exploration to music and nutrition experiences.
- Respectful routines, where care moments like feeding and changing are seen as opportunities for connection and trust.
- Nurturing environments, designed to be calm, safe, and stimulating.
Ready To Begin Your Child’s Montessori Journey?
The first 18 months are filled with wonder, growth, and discovery. At Inspire, we’re here to support every stage of your child’s journey with respect, care, and a focus on nurturing independence. If you’re ready to explore the possibilities of Montessori-inspired education for your infant, we invite you to take the next step.
Let’s begin your child’s Montessori journey together.
