Astor Place Montessori Family Child Care
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Welcome to Astor Place Montessori Family Child Care
Opening Sept 7, 2026
We understand that choosing childcare for your child is a significant and emotional decision. Many families are not quite ready for a large group setting, while others may be looking for a flexible part-time option as they begin this new chapter.
At Astor Place Montessori, we are proud to be a trusted part of our community, known for providing a nurturing, safe, and loving home-based environment where children feel secure and valued. We take the time to build strong relationships with both children and families, creating a sense of trust and partnership from the very beginning. We warmly welcome and celebrate all families, recognizing that loving homes come in many forms. Whether your family is traditional, or uniquely your own, you will be respected and supported here at Astor Place Montessori. Limited enrollment.
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Importance of the First Years
“The greatness of the human personality begins at the hour of birth.”
— Maria Montessori
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Absorbent Mind (Birth–Age 3)
“The child has a mind able to absorb knowledge. He has the power to teach himself.”
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— Maria Montessori
Astor Place Montessori is a licensed New Jersey Family Child Care Home offering an authentic Montessori early childhood program in a carefully prepared home environment. We combine the warmth and individualized attention of family child care with the proven principles of Montessori education, providing children with exceptional care while supporting their natural development, independence, and love of learning.
How Montessori differs From traditional child care
While both environments care for young children, the Montessori approach offers a uniquely thoughtful and development-focused experience:
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Guided Care vs. Group Management
Like all quality child care programs, we provide nurturing care in a safe environment. Our Montessori approach adds intentional observation, carefully prepared learning materials, and opportunities for children to develop independence through everyday experiences
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Prepared Environment vs. General Play Spaces
Environment are intentionally designed with specific materials that support movement, coordination, and early learning—rather than relying primarily on toys for entertainment.
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Respect for Natural Development vs. Fixed Schedules
Instead of expecting all children to follow the same schedule, we honor each child’s natural rhythms for sleeping, eating, and activity whenever possible.
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Freedom to Move vs. Restricted Movement
Infants and toddlers are encouraged to move freely and safely, helping them build strength, coordination, and independence from an early age.
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Purposeful Interaction vs. Passive Care
Every moment—whether it’s diapering, feeding, or play—is treated as an opportunity for connection, communication, and learning.
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Montessori Outdoors
Traditional daycare often uses the outdoors for scheduled, supervised physical play, while Montessori treats the outdoors as a "prepared environment" for continuous, child-led learning and sensory explorations.
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