Frequently Asked Questions
What ages can enroll at Little Garden?
Little Garden Montessori serves children ages 12 months – 6 years. In March 2025 we will only take 16 months- age 6. Preschool children should be attempting to independently use the bathroom before beginning at Little Garden. We offer preschool and kindergarten programming. In the 2024-2025 school year we will have one toddler room (12 mo-33 mo) and two preschool rooms (33 mo-6 years)
Otter room: Infant/ toddler room (12 mo-33 mo)
Loon room: Children’s House/preschool (33 mo-6 years)
Turtle toom : Children’s House/preschool (33 mo- 6 years)
what are your ratios for classrooms?
Toddler room:
Our goal is to remain below the state ratio of 12 children in the toddler room, we will have a 1:4 ratio and some days it will be 1:3.
Preschool: Our goal is to remain below the state ratio to offer a high quality early childhood experience. 1:8 ratio
What are the hours of operation and calendar?
7:45 AM – 3:00 pm
Aftercare available until 5:00 p.m. ($125 per month or $7/day)
See our Calendar page for our first and last days of school and holiday information.
Half day is available for toddler (12 mo-33 mo) and preschool children 33 months- age 6.
7:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
What are the tuition rates?
The application fee is $75. There is a one time non-refundable deposit of $300 once notified of acceptance at Little Garden.
The deposit and application fee hold your spot and also contribute towards classroom supplies, staff development, and materials.
Toddler (12-33 months)
weekly rates:
5 days : $375/week ($1,623/month)
4 days: $320/week ($1363/month)
3 days $222/week ($961.26/mo)
2 days $148/week ($640.84/mo)
4/5 half days: $185/week ($801.05/mo)
Preschool (33 mo-age 6)
full day weekly rate:
5 days: $355/week ($1537/month) 5 days
4 days: $320/week ($1385/mo)
3 days : $218/week ($943.94/mo)
2 days: $142/week ($614.86/mo)
Preschool half day weekly rate: $180/week ($780/month)
10% sibling discount on one siblings tuition.
Tuition is paid on the Brightwheel app. Tuition can be paid the first of the month or weekly.
What is the Montessori philosophy?
The Montessori method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. She practiced as a doctor in Rome, Italy and went on to develop the Montessori education method. she believed in a child’s abilities to be independent and built her method on following each child and their individual interests. The key areas of a Montessori classroom are practical life, sensorial, mathematics, language, and culture.
How much time do the children spend outdoors?
We will try to spend 2-3 hours outside each day. Some days we might spend the majority of the day outside. Always make sure your child has appropriate gear for the weather. Each child should have a rainsuit and rain boots.If you google “rainsuits”, a range can be found online with affordable prices. In cold weather, make sure your child has mittens, a hat, neck gater, snowsuit or snowpants/jacket, and boots.
What food do you serve?
A balanced breakfast and afternoon snack will be provided each day. Lunch is catered each day from Twin Cities catering.
Breakfast, lunch, and snack are provided.
How do you handle behavior and redirect children??
We believe in relationships first and foremost. We want to ensure that each child feels loved and cared for at Little Garden. As a staff we follow the sacred art of listening model , zones of regulation, and restorative practices.
Restorative practices include ways of creating community that honors the importance of relationships amongst all members in the community; as well as practices to repair relationships when harm has been caused. RP address the needs all people impacted by the harm.
https://zonesofregulation.com/
What are the admission requirements?
Little Garden does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex, marital status, national origin, age, color, religion, gender identity and expression, ancestry, status with regard to public assistance, sexual or affectional orientation, or familial status.
Do you offer tuition assistance? Do you have a Parent Aware rating?
We offer CCAP options for tuition assistance.
Parent Aware takes several months to get established. If you would like references, they are available upon request.
Daily schedule
7:45 – 8:15 : Arrival, breakfast, open ended play
8:20 morning meeting/ whole group Montessori presentations
8: 35- Montessori work cycle
Individual and whole group lessons with Montessori materials
11: 40- Lunch
12:00-1:30- rest time, children who do not nap can do Montessori work or art projects
1:30-3:00-outdoor exploration. Some days we will spend all morning outside as well.
3:00- 5:00-aftercare (gym time/outdoor time/art)