0-3 Parent & Child Programs

This year saw the inauguration of the successful Brisbane Montessori School 0 to 3 years Parent and Child Program (PCP). The program is run termly by highly experienced Montessori educator, Bec Bridge, who says each session is an opportunity for parents and their children to take part in a weekly, hands-on experience of Montessori philosophy in action.

“The Montessori Parent and Child program is a really special environment where parents get to work alongside their child and learn about and observe their development,” Bec said.

“There was a real need in our community for this type of environment, to not only show parents how to implement Montessori principles at home but also give them the tools to be the best version of themselves for their child,” she said.

With Nganbirra Hall divided into two rooms, one for children from birth to walking and one for walking to three years, Bec has carefully and thoughtfully prepared the rooms to give children the freedom to touch, play, move and explore the environment with all their senses. Parent, Kelsey, who attended the walking to three years program with her 14-month-old son, Fred, said the sessions provided a fun environment for him to explore and learn.

“I not only saw my son flourish in the environment, but the sessions gave me more confidence as a parent,” Kelsey said.

An opportunity to be in the moment and enjoy the time to observe your child, the PCP program encourages parents to allow their children to examine the environment, with minimal interruptions or corrections to their work.

“It was difficult for me, initially, to let him explore without wanting to step in and help all the time (which is in my nature), but I learned to step back and watch, which was not only growth for me but also allowed Fred to deeply connect with the environment and get the most out of the activities,” she said.

“One of the best things I learnt was that Fred likes to throw things onto the floor because he enjoys the auditory feedback of it, a behaviour I had previously dismissed as misbehaviour. Bec was there to reassure me that this wasn’t the case and took time to explain to me why children like the sounds and why it was important to encourage this for his development.”

“I have now been able to make a controlled environment for him to do this in our house, and he loves it and allows us to connect and play as mother and son in a way I previously wouldn’t have understood,” Kelsey said.

The 0 to 3 years Parent and Child Program is run on Thursdays during term time, with term passes and casual session passes available. For more information on this program, and to book your tickets, please visit https://www.bms.qld.edu.au/learning-curriculum/0-3-parent-child-programs