Bonsai Classroom
Welcome!
We are happy that you stopped by to learn more about the Bonsai room. The babies, ranging from 6 weeks of age to 16 months, are constantly progressing through different stages of development. As teachers in this classroom, it is truly an honor and joy to be able to partner with families and share in the baby’s life and learning.
Below you can view images of our classroom environment, read up on a few of the many things we focus on during a child's time in the Bonsai community, and view our daily schedule. Please note: our schedule is very flexible and subject to change based on the babies' day-to-day needs and interests.
Accessible Environment
We believe that infants learn best through frequent opportunities to explore their environment. To achieve this, all shelves and materials are kept at a level that is accessible to the babies. We also limit time spent in any device or position that hinders the babies' free movement, in turn, providing them with as many opportunities for free exploration as possible. We frequently rearrange the classroom and change out the materials available to the babies based on the needs and interests of the babies.
Introduction to Food
A common question we receive is how we handle the introduction of food to the infants in our classroom. We believe that there is no right or wrong way to do this, rather it is our goal to partner with families to find a plan that works for everyone. We offer a positive and low-pressure environment for the babies to explore new foods (whether puree or solid) using senses including taste, smell, touch, and sight as they feel comfortable. For the babies who are eating solid foods, we serve and eat all of the meals family-style (with the babies sharing a table and eating together). This sense of togetherness is a vital part of our community, and is exhibited in the other classrooms as well.
Sensory Exploration
We know that infants are constantly using their senses to process and make sense of new things. To encourage this, we focus on providing infants with a variety of sensory materials to explore. By varying the color, texture, size, and temperature of the materials available to the babies, we hope to expose the infants to as many sensory experiences as possible. We strongly encourage messy play center-wide and the infant room is no exception! The babies often explore paint, clay, and snow to name a few. We closely observe how the babies respond to these experiences to plan future exploration opportunities.
Daily Schedule
6:30 - 8:00 Drop off (wash hands upon arrival) . Free play
8:00 - 8:30 Table food breakfast for older babies
8:30 – 9:00 Bottles
9:00 - 9:30 Diapers, bottles, & transition to quiet room
9:30 - 11:00 Morning nap
11:00 - 12:00 Table food lunch for older babies . Diapers
12:00 - 1:00 Free play/activities/walk time
1:00 - 1:30 Diapers, bottles, & transition to quiet room
1:30 - 3:00 Afternoon nap
3:00 - 3:45 Diapers, bottles, and table food snack
3:45 - 4:30 Outdoor classroom or Great Hall
4:30 - 6:00 Free play, diapers, and bottles