The Best for the Smallest; Heeding Montessori's call for Excellence in our work with Children from Birth to Three

Assistants to Infancy Refresher Course with Erin Smith

The Best for the Smallest; Heeding Montessori's call for Excellence in our work with Children from Birth to Three

This two-day professional development experience invites Montessori educators to return to the roots of Dr. Montessori’s call for excellence in serving the youngest children. Through reflective discussion, observation, and practical exploration, participants will examine what it truly means to offer "the best for the smallest"—from the physical environment and adult preparation to the subtle art of relationship, respect, and responsiveness.

Together, we will revisit the essential principles that underlie Montessori’s Assistants to Infancy framework, explore current research that aligns with Montessori insights, and reawaken our sense of purpose and precision in our daily work with infants and toddlers. Participants will leave with renewed inspiration and concrete strategies to elevate the quality of care and education in their communities, ensuring that every child’s earliest experiences are grounded in beauty, order, and love.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. Articulate Montessori’s vision of excellence for the first three years of life, grounded in respect for the child’s natural development.

  2. Identify and refine the key elements of an optimal Montessori environment for infants and toddlers, including physical, emotional, and relational aspects.

  3. Demonstrate deeper awareness of the adult’s role as observer, guide, and model within the prepared environment.

  4. Connect Montessori principles with contemporary findings in neuroscience and early childhood development to support informed practice.

  5. Reflect critically on their own work to identify areas for continued growth and refinement in service of the youngest children.

  6. Develop actionable plans for enhancing the quality and consistency of Montessori practices in their classrooms or communities.

  7. Strengthen collaborative dialogue with colleagues to build a culture of excellence and shared commitment to Montessori’s ideals for birth to three.

Erin Smith

Erin Smith has been working in Montessori environments since 2001, and as a classroom guide for sixteen years. She has worked as an Assistant, Nido guide, Toddler guide, Primary guide, Parent-Infant Class Facilitator and Instructional Coach. Erin is also an AMI Trainer at the Assistants to Infancy level and an A to I Consultant for AMI/USA. She has worked on AMI training courses in the United States, Europe and Asia. Erin is the Director of 0-3 Training and the Trainer in Residence at The Montessori Institute in Denver, Colorado.