MamaMonte

MamaMonte is a Montessori-centered playgroup for Mommies/Primary Carers and their children. Our space will be prepared for you with such care and attention so it is as beautiful as possible for the children. The primary goal of this class is to: 1. Promote kindness and respect to our children and their choices; 2. Empower children as they learn with their hands at their own pace; and 3. Build a community of Montessori lovers and take in what they will learn in this 2-hour class to their homes and their daily lives. 

Did you know that 85% of the brain development happens before the age of 3?

And what better way to support this formative years of our little ones than with the Montessori materials scientifically developed by Dr. Maria Montessori? And the best way to do this is with you Moms - you are your child's first teacher! Join us as we convene in a playgroup with like-minded Mommies to develop and hone our child's skills with our carefully curated, authentic Montessori materials that are age-appropriate based on the guidelines set by Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) and American Montessori Society (AMS). 

Meet Steffie – Your MamaMonte Guide

Steffie is the Founder of Kids Wood Play Cafè and a dedicated Montessori parent and practitioner for the past six years. A graduate of UP, she combined her academic foundation with years of self-study, immersing herself in Montessori books and applying her learnings with her daughter, Ellie. This hands-on approach deepened her understanding of Montessori principles, inspiring her to create MamaMonte, a Montessori-inspired Mommy and Me playgroup at Kids Wood Play Cafè.

In 2023, she launched MamaMonte with the vision of providing a nurturing space where parents and young children could experience Montessori together. She collaborated with certified Montessori guides to lead the sessions while she focused on designing the program’s framework, developing the materials, and preparing the learning environment to ensure an authentic Montessori experience. To further refine her approach, she completed a specialized course on Setting Up a Montessori Playgroup with Simone Davies, author of The Montessori Toddler and The Montessori Baby. She is also preparing to pursue her AMI 0-3 accreditation this October 2025 to deepen her expertise further.

Steffie’s passion for Montessori was born out of her own parenting journey. Raising Ellie in a Montessori-aligned environment, she saw firsthand the benefits of a child-led approach—fostering independence, curiosity, and a love for learning. At just five years old, Ellie enjoys practical life activities such as washing dishes, folding her clothes, sweeping, baking, and waiting patiently in public spaces without relying on gadgets for entertainment.

Through MamaMonte, Steffie hopes to bring like-minded parents together in a supportive, enriching environment—one where babies and toddlers can engage in purposeful play while their caregivers gain practical Montessori insights for everyday life.

Benefits of a Montessori playgroup for the family and child(ren)

• The children benefit 24/7 from the Montessori approach – not just in a 2-hour class, but also in their daily lives.
• The children build skills of independence at home – for example, learning to dress themselves, the Montessori coat flip, having a place for their things, caring for the environment.
• It lays a foundation at a critical time of child development.
• It introduces parents/carers to principles they can practice for years with their child.
• It makes Montessori accessible to families before preschool, when there is already so much their child is capable of.
• Parents/carers feel supported and more confident.
• Families feel safe and free from judgement.
• Parents/carers receive a concrete understanding of the approach, seeing it in practice – not just from a book or Instagram.
  
• Helps bring back the joy and simplicity to raising children – they see their role is not to control, but to be the child’s guide.
• Helps families set up their homes to meet the children’s needs.
• If they attend a Montessori school, the expectations at school match those at home – for example, they understand there are freedoms and limits just as at school.
• Meet like-minded families

Watch this: How to expand your babies potential with education from birth  and change your children's lives for life!

Class Schedule:

• Sessions are held once a week during Sundays for 2 hours from 10am-12pm.
  
• Learning Areas: Practical Life, Language, Gross Motor Movement, Hand-Eye Coordination and Arts and Crafts. You may also attend 1 class or 2 until 4 classes depending on your schedule.
• A typical session includes:
  • 1st hour - The children explore and work at their own pace.
  • 2nd hour - Snacks preparation. The children can choose to join their Guide in snack preparation or they can continue to work on their chosen activities.
  • Last 30 minutes - We eat the snacks prepared as a group. The children will be taught how to set the table and how to clear the table after eating snacks.
  • Last 10 minutes - Circle Song or Story time

Enrollment Information:

• Open to children aged 15 to 36 months accompanied by a parent or primary caregiver.
• Limited to 15 spots to ensure a personalized and attentive experience.
• Registration is required in advance.
• Please fill out our waiver here before coming to the MamaMonte class to ensure a smoother check-in process.
• Bonus: Free lending of our books The Montessori Baby, The Montessori Toddler and The Montessori Child during the duration of MamaMonte classes this September.