Programs

The Children’s House of Guelph Montessori Childcare is a beautiful space for young children to grow, play, and learn.  We are open from 8:15am - 4:00pm, Monday through Friday year ‘round, with one week off in both July and August. Following the school calendar, we are closed for statutory holidays and one week at Christmas and Spring break.  We also serve a home cooked plant-based menu and there are no immunization requirements for enrolment into our programs.  

Full-time and part-time programs are available for a mixed age group of children approximately 16 months - 3 1/2 years.  There are many benefits to different aged children learning together. As in families, younger ones naturally seek out, mimic, and aspire to learn from older children, and older children often assume leadership roles, fostering gentleness and patience with younger ones.  With a maximum small group of 5, the children will be sharing their days in a unique home environment under the gentle guidance of a certified Montessori Toddler Guide with training also in Montessori Casa programs for preschool age children, as well as a nursing background, certification in First Aid and CPR, and Police Check Vulnerable Sector Screening.

Each morning will find the children independently engaged in a variety of hands-on Montessori materials in the main activity room, or creating art and working on practical life activities in our large hallway.  At Circle Time we all sit together on a rug to share music & singing, puppets, stories and storyboards — all a daily event with conversational French and sign language throughout the day.  Yoga is offered once a week.  Lots of fun happens in our multi-purpose kitchen where the children help prepare and serve healthy plant-based snacks and lunches, as well as enjoy playing at the grocery centre, play kitchen, and large sink for water play!  Our days include outdoor time with neighbourhood walks, backyard free play (with a beautiful aviary for the children to enjoy!), and visits to Sunny Acres Park.  Afternoons are for peace & quiet / napping from 12:30pm - 2:30pm in the “loft”.  After wake up time, a nutritious snack is served on a picnic blanket or inside a play tent.  Pick up time at 4:00pm will find the children outside happily playing again, ready to greet parents —weather permitting!  

The Montessori method will guide our days and support the interests and needs of this unique age group with a focus on skills such as concentration and independence, socialization, language development, movement, and care of the environment.

Dedication to your child’s natural unfolding is our mission at The Children's House of Guelph —your child's home away from home. Our inviting space is a warm and safe learning environment that nurtures your child through each emerging developmental phase, supporting their curiosity and independence. Each child will progress at their own pace, gently guided and observed. They will be introduced to age-appropriate materials and activities as their cognitive and motor skills develop. This will be a loving, communicative and social program, all with the intention of laying a foundation for happy and enthusiastic future learning.