The Enrollment Process

Families who are interested in enrolling their children at The Nest should attend an open house. You can email us at thenestinfantcare@gmail.com to RSVP.

If you would like to enroll your child after  seeing the space and meeting the teachers, submit an application! At that time we can discuss any questions you have, and we will all consider whether we are the right fit.

Once everything is decided upon you will be notified with an enrollment packet. Your enrollment will be complete and the space will be officially yours after these items are received:

  • Child Care Agreement (contract)
  • Personal/Medical Information Form
  • Photography Consent Form
  • First month’s tuition
  • A $50 enrollment fee
  • A copy of your child’s current immunizations

Education

The founder of The Nest Nursery School is a local mom with twenty years experience in Child Development and Sociology who wanted to provide a home environment for children . Through experience as a working mother and an infant in daycare, the cold and sterile environment that she left her child in for more than 40 hours a week left an impact on her. After a year of her infant in daycare, she decided to full-fill her true calling and change careers. She earned her Bachelors Degree from Fort Hays State University in Child Development and Family Studies in 2015 and is currently seeking her Masters Degree In Education ages Birth-Kindergarten through the Teachers Program at Emporia State University.

Montessori Inspired

Maria Montessori (1870-1952) noticed that young children are naturally drawn to the types of things that allow them to put their sense of order to use. They also have an inner developmental need to gain independence. This certainly seems to be true for most toddlers that I know.

A primary goal of Montessori philosophy is: "Help me to do it myself". We want to encourage children to learn by doing and to incorporate a sense of learning and accomplishment into their everyday tasks and activities. These little guys and gals are so much more capable than we realize!

Many Montessori-inspired activities promote self-sufficiency, have a built-in control of error, appeal to the senses, and/or prepare the finger muscles for holding a pencil for writing. Most importantly, they are geared towards a young child's developmental interests.

In order for us to successfully prepare the environment for learning, it is important that we regularly observe each child for changes in their particular interests and their developmental readiness.  

Here's what Montessori materials for children are all about...

• the work/play area is child-friendly (child-sized furniture and cleaning tools, low shelves and baskets, low coat hooks, children’s artwork displayed)

• allow for physical activity (plenty of room for movement, both indoors and outdoors)

• materials are sensory-rich (matching different fabrics and textures, sandpaper tablets, containers that allow child to smell different things, ringing bells, sound cylinders, music, tasting foods/spices)