Kalila Nursery

At Kalila, the child is surrounded by a stimulating and secure environment, with atmospheres and materials that fit their needs. Our wish is to allow every child to develop his/her own autonomy, motor skills, creativity, and we aim at alerting the kids to observe their environment and care about it.

Peace is an art that is learnt at the youngest years of age, on a very tiny scale. Accepting others and recognizing their rights, is a concept that starts very early. This is called tolerance; it is indeed the idea that we are worthy of respect, apart from our similarities or differences.

So let’s create a warm and caring atmosphere for our kids. The non-violent communication, meditation and empathy will help the child find his/her place in the group, class, school, to finally find a place in society, which happens at a very crucial moment for building his/her identity.

From birth until 6 years of age, the child is in full self-development. He/she observes the adults as reference figures. The children discover the world while exploring their environment, with both their body and soul, and while discovering the language, being fully soaked in the surrounding culture.

The spirit of a child is like a sponge. Everything for a kid, even the mere game, is a source of learning.

Maria Montessori called it: “the absorbent mind”

we have 3 major age groups

The Pandas

• This infants’ room offers the ideal environment for babies to discover their surroundings and explore their setting on the ground, on carpets and building blocks. All within a space customized for them that enables their exploratory and sensory skills.
• we will pay particular attention to the specific needs of your child, respecting his rhythm and working at his pace. Our steady and consistent team of caregivers will become the emotional support system specific to
  his development.
• small team, calm and serene atmosphere.

The Elephants

• Unrestricted Mobility is the golden rule of this age group. The child chooses what he desires and knows what he needs. No rush, children’s laughter are the rules of the game.
• Playing is the child’s work. By playing, the child achieves a host of sensory, motor, and cognitive experiences and can develop his imagination like never before. Allowing the child to hijack a game means respecting his or her project. When the wonder is mutual, the child and the adult draw inspiration from each other.
• A natural pedagogy that instead of demanding results, respects the rhythm of the child without evaluation and without comparison. The adult supports and stands by the child by caring for him so that he feels secure, nurtured in his discoveries and gaining confidence in himself.

The Giraffes

• We accompany the child socially, emotionally and intellectually.
• We guide him to conquer his autonomy, to trust himself and to learn for himself.
• Pedagogy based on respect for life, freedom and spontaneity, which promotes personal fulfillment.
• We use the Montessori material so that the child chooses his work but the freedom of choice is relative since nothing is left to chance.
• We immerse the child in an environment rich of experiences, thought and set up for him with specific purposes.

Communication is first of all, the act of listening to let the child speak, and second, the act of speaking to make the child listen.

• In a welcoming manner, without any judgments.
• Listening in the purpose of helping the child express his/her feelings.
• By drawing a distinction between the child and his/her actions: we do not say “you are unbearable”, but instead “I don’t bear that…”
• The adult sees the strengths of the child and encourages him/her to rely on them.
• The adult enhances some behaviors deemed inappropriate by shedding a positive light on them.
• The encouragement is a milestone in the child’s identity construction.
• Recognizing and welcoming the emotions of the child.
• Instead of perceiving the error as a failure, seeing it as an opportunity to learn.
• In order to make the child find what he/she needs.
• To the needs of a child with empathy, respecting his/her rhythm.
• “Decoding” the behavior and providing the most correct answer possible.
• “Being creative” in order to divert him/her from a crisis in a clever way.

What are the free motor skills?

• Move “by himself/herself”: A PLEASURE
• Natural physiological development: A FREEDOM
• The child acts on his/her own, he/she build up his/her SELF-ESTEEM, AUTONOMY
• The child knows that he/she can reach a certain position or not: A SENSE OF SECURIT

It is very healthy for the young child to walk barefoot. It allows the kid to be conscious about all the parts of his/her body. This is the first step towards a well-balanced walk. Walking barefoot will help the kid develop the leg muscles, which are equipped with multiple sensors that send sensory information to the brain.

The leg informs the child about the nature of the floor, as well as of the required manner to step on it. This is how he/she will find balance and gain self-confidence.

We use quality products and our menus are developed by a nutritionist, we are also very watchful of special diets and allergies. Our meals are “homemade”, prepared day by day on-the-spot, in order to guarantee the best quality for eco-friendly consumption: no disposable bags or packages at Kalila.

The menu will be updated monthly on our website and it will be posted on the wall of the Nursery.

• Breakfast is served between 8:00 and 9:00.
• To the Pandas upon request and based on their needs.
• Lunch: a full balanced meal
• Served to the Elephants at 11:30
• And to the Giraffes between 12:00 and 13:30.
• A snack of fresh fruits is served at 14:30 approximately.
• Another snack is served at 15:15 to the kids of the Nursery.
• All our meals are served with mineral water.
• Lunch time is full of learning experiences, such as self-hygiene (washing hands and face, brushing teeth…).
• It is also a moment where the kids gather to enjoy the food together and to show friendliness.