Clementine Early Childhood Community

(Scenes from this past week's multi-age classes!)

Session classes are full this fall 🎉 ...so we're adding a six-week multi-age mini-session for waitlisted families, with space for a few more!

Tuesdays | 9:00a-10:10a | 6 weeks, starting 10/22

Registration opens to email list families tomorrow (Thursday) at 8:00a…message me to join!

Tuition includes weekly classes and session events like parent discussions, park walks & moms' night, and more, beginning as soon as you register.

Learn more about multi-age classes at our pinned post and on our website here:

clementinecommunity.com/fall24

A registration link will go out to email list families tomorrow morning; visit our website for open registration starting Friday at 8:00a.

We'd love to have you join our community of wonderful families!

With the rain we had on Sunday and then again today, I feel extra lucky with the gorgeous weather we had for yesterday’s park walk.

I spent most of the time talking to families (and one hand was full of a kid-offered bouquet), so not many pictures – but this is one I got of what one of the adults called “the summit .” I had never thought of it that way on all the previous times I’ve taken this walk, but she was right – we came to the top of the hill and all of a sudden the view shifted, and it was magical.

Walks are not classes, and I love them for different reasons. I love seeing kids stride confidently along the path with a quick look back now and then for mom or dad. Families from different classes meet and chat and make plans to meet again. I get to know the children in a whole different way, and it’s probably mutual.

When I first imagined Clementine, these walks were always part of my dream. I had some low or no-shows the first session or two, but they slowly become a favorite part of our community.

Session families, if you missed this one, there are two more this fall before we move indoors for open gym. Everyone else, if you join us in the future, you’ll see what these walks are like as you discover what Clementine is all about.

We had a fantastic first full week back in the classroom!

I get things done (and even relax a little bit) during our weeks away from classes, but it definitely feels like something is missing in my life. I’m just so happy to be here with kids!

I'm thrilled to feature just a few of Clementine's grandparents this Grandparents' Day, because I love when grandparents come to class. Seeing them enjoy the classroom with their grandchildren is delightful. A gift for all of us!

I love smoothie week for all kinds of reasons, not least of which is the chance for kids to try the blender.

Once the ingredients are in the jar, someone patrols the room to let everyone know that the noise is about to start. Nobody has to blend, but everybody can. Some love to blend and will push the button enthusiastically until the next person’s turn, some push for just a second, some watch, and some aren’t interested and keep working on something else.

We respect all of these choices, because our classroom is purposefully focused on respect for each other and respect for children in general.

This day, everyone happened to gather around. Some kids wanted to blend and some kids didn’t. This guy was originally in the no-thank-you group, but I could see his interest building as each turn was taken.

The final time I offered, he courageously walked over to the floor table and pushed the button not once, but twice. He was (as he should have been) proud of himself, but the most beautiful thing was how proud the rest of the group was of him too.

Our classes are about the smoothie, but they’re also not really about the smoothie at all.

We had our last infant class this morning…seven weeks of learning, observing, great conversations, and darling babies. We talked about everything from infant concentration and independence (yep!) to motor milestones to baptism outfits, first travels, the best baby carriers, and Emily in Paris.

I love being busy and on the move with bigger kids in crawler classes and up (luckily, it’s how I spend the most time!), but this class is a chance for me to slow down every week and dig deep into what Montessori can offer to kids and whole families.

These moms gave an emphatic yes when I asked if I could share their numbers so they could keep in touch. (Next session, I’m taking some brilliant advice and offering a contact list for anyone who wants to be a part of it!) In a short time, these strangers are friends. And lucky me to have gotten to know them and to be able to continue to see the babies grow into toddlers and beyond.

If you’re a brand new or expectant mom looking for a chance to connect like this, I hope you’ll join us a month from now in our fall infant class; we have two spots left. Please reach out if you’d like to learn more!

Our fall open house is this Thursday!

Open house is for everyone!

> Interested families, come check out our classroom and learn more about classes. It's a fun outing for you and your child, a chance to meet some new families, and an easy way to get answers to your fall session questions.

> New fall families, introduce your child to the space and routines before the first day of class. Think of it as a meet-the-teacher!

> Returning families, it's like a mini pop-in!

Drop in this Thursday, 8/22 any time between 10:00a and noon; come and go as works for your schedule. Our address is 526 N. Milwaukee; park on the street or in the lot behind the building, then come through the Liberty Walk and turn right & walk a few doors down to the classroom.

I'd love to see you; please share with a friend who might be interested in Clementine!

A photo a week from a wonderful summer of fun and friendship!

It's great to have consistent groups during the school year because kids and adults can really get to know each other. With the extra time, we can do some more elaborate activities like making waffles and trying science experiments, and we can all get more involved in our work. We can have longer conversations. It feels more like school, and I love it.

Summer classes are a little different from session classes. Families may come every week, every other week, or once a month, or try class for the first time. They might see another family they met at the park or at a walk last spring and have fun catching up. Class goes by in a flash! It just feels a little more like summer, and I love it too!

After today, I'll be switching gears--planning all the projects and pulling out the apple and leaf activities and the preschooler lessons. The pace will be different for families and for me, and I'm ready for it after this breezier time.

Grateful for summer, looking forward to fall!

Early registration reminder! ⏱

Sign up through tonight (Friday) to save $25 on fall session tuition.

Email me for:

✅ sibling signups/multi-class discount codes
✅ pricing and a custom link for a preschooler sibling spot

I know I say this every session, but we have such wonderful groups forming, we'd love to have you join us!

Fall session registration is open!

Join us starting in September for:

✨ weekly classes in our bright and peaceful classroom

📅 a full calendar of special events: park walks & open gym, parent discussions, moms' night, and more

🤭 a private instagram group to chat about development, parenting, and share links & resources

💖 community, connection, and new friendships!

view the schedule here:

https://clementinecommunity.com/fall24/
..then register here:

https://clementinecommunity.com/register/
..and save $25 during early registration through next Thursday, 8/15.

We'd love to have you join us!

We had a spray park meetup planned for this afternoon, but the temperature had other plans. It wasn’t raining so I headed to the park anyway, but as cool as it was (isn’t it odd how a 70 degree day in November or March would have every single family outside, but in August it feels like winter?), I brought a book in case I ended up being the only one who showed.

Five families braved the cool, and we had the best time as a big group. Some knew each other from classes, another is new to Clementine, and we all chatted, swung (and pushed), rode the merry- go-round (and spun), slid (and caught at the bottom), & climbed (and spotted).

We discovered that we might be able to turn on the water ourselves, and everyone gathered as we gave it a try. Success! and we tried the spray with our hands, splashed in some puddles, and checked out the drains.

I did not need my book!

Fall registration begins this week!

If you're thinking about joining us this session, swipe through to learn more about each type of class, and to the end to see what Clementine has to offer your family.

Message me or visit our website to join our email list for early registration on Tuesday morning.

Please share with a family you think might like to join us!

If you're looking for the fall session schedule too, tomorrow is the day!

🍊 check midday for the link in our bio

🍊 browse classes this weekend (on the website, in our weekly email, and in this space) and ask questions (DM, email, or I'm happy to chat!)

🍊 early registration opens next Tuesday, 8/6 @8:00a for email list families (message me or scroll down on our homepage) and to everyone on Thursday, 8/8.

Classes begin 9/3!

Kids love science, and I love setting up science activities for kids!

Join us for Clementine's biggest (free!) special event, Science Saturday:

✅ this Saturday, 8/3

✅ 11:00a-noon (drop in)

✅ Libertyville park location (shared after registration)

What to expect:

🧪 simple science demos & explorations (neat things to see for babies, neat things to do for toddlers and up)

🧬 move at your own pace around the stations

🦠 nothing will be noisy, but it might be messy—old clothes suggested!

🧲 come early / take a break / stay afterwards for time at the playground and to chat with other families

Every summer, we host an extra-special event to bring families together and get the word out about Clementine, so I’d love it if you’d invite a friend who might be interested in future classes!

Siblings are very welcome; please register each child individually so I can have supplies ready:

https://ClementineCommunity.as.me/sciencesaturday24

Hope to see you for some science-y fun!

The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful for our beach meetup today.

☀️ sand, splashing, swinging, sunglasses, chatting, shells, & minnows
☀️ preschooler class reunion with spontaneous group hug
☀️ watermelon! 🍉

My kids don’t need me at the beach anymore, so this is one of my favorite days of the summer. 🧡

My heart is so full after another fantastic summer week!

So many connections made:

☀️ in our multi-age classes: spending time with friends from past groups, continuing to get to know families they’ve met at special events, and welcoming new families to our community

☀️ storms clearing up just in time for moms to meet for yoga and chatting afterwards until the beach closed

☀️ at our open house…I love showing off the classroom!

☀️ fantastic conversation with the moms of new babies in our infant class

We’re halfway through the summer session, and there’s so much more fun to be had!

Lots going on this week, I had to shrink my fonts!

🎈all pop-in classes are full, but please let me know if you'd like to be added to the waiting list.

🐤 one more spot for our infant class beginning this Wednesday, 7/10 at 11:10

🧘‍♀️ moms' beach yoga this Wednesday evening, such a nice group signed up!

🧘‍♀️ our midsummer open house is a great way to find out more about classes, ask questions, meet other families, and check out the classroom. Drop in anytime between 10:00a and noon!

and next week...

🌽 pop-up mini classroom at the Libertyville Farmer's Market; stop by on the hour to meet up with another family or two to walk the market or stop at the playground

🏖️ beach meetup next Friday (with 🍉!)
..plus spots in our Wednesday pop-in.

Message me or join our email list for special event details, everyone is welcome!

I'm so excited to have babies back in the classroom!

Our summer infant class begins next week: we meet on Wednesdays from 11:10-11:50 for seven weeks, beginning 7/10.

Meant for babies from birth through sitting (up to around 6 months), infant classes are a peaceful and gentle way for moms to connect with their babies, get to know other parents, build a regular activity into each week, and talk about some new ideas about babies' development and thoughtful parenting.

The classroom is set up with beautiful activities to support infant development. The adults focus on a particular topic each week, chat about whatever is on our minds (sleep, feeding, gear, and all of our challenges, successes, and questions), and spend plenty of time observing and enjoying the babies.

It's truly a highlight of every week for me!

register here:

clementinecommunity.com/register
..or message me to learn more. I'd love to have you and your baby join us!

Join us tomorrow (Monday) evening for crafting ! It's a relaxed gathering of moms: bring your favorite lap craft and a bag chair; I'll have the simplest snacks plus supplies for knitting if anyone wants to learn. (Even if you're not a crafter, come to chat!)

Also this week: Tuesday's pop-in is full, but we have some spots open for Wednesday:

Wednesday, 7/2 | 9:30a-10:30a | multi-age (~4m+)
..and our first park walk of the summer:

Friday, 7/5 | 11:00a | siblings & friends welcome!

Register for pop-ins here:

clementinecommunity.com/register
..and message me to join our email list for all of our summer event details!

PS: Save the date for moms' beach yoga next Wednesday, 7/10!

(Some of) the dads of Clementine...Happy Father's Day to all who dad!

(3 of 3)

Spring is our shortest full session, barely making its way into three different months, but the children have still grown so much in so many ways. I love looking back at each class's gallery from start to finish!

Continuing our tradition of sharing a favorite photo of each social-👍kid, which I hope gives a sense of just how wonderful it is to spend my mornings in this classroom with these families!

(2 of 3)

Spring is our shortest full session, barely making its way into three different months, but the children have still grown so much in so many ways. I love looking back at each class's gallery from start to finish!

Continuing our tradition of sharing a favorite photo of each social-👍kid, which I hope gives a sense of just how wonderful it is to spend my mornings in this classroom with these families!

Spring is our shortest full session, barely making its way into three different months, but the children have still grown so much in so many ways. I love looking back at each class's gallery from start to finish!

Continuing our tradition of sharing a favorite photo of each social-👍kid, which I hope gives a sense of just how wonderful it is to spend my mornings in this classroom with these families!

Today, group one of three.

The summer class pack discount ends tonight!

☀️ 3️⃣-class pack for $85 (a great way to see what classes are like)

or

☀️ 5️⃣-class pack for $130 (best deal!)

New families, sign up for your first class for $15 with code FIRSTPOP, then use your pack for the rest of the summer.

Buy packs here: https://bit.ly/clemsummerpacks

Classes begin Tuesday, 6/18...can't wait to meet you!