Welcome to the Nido. Development is so rapid in the first three years of life, and being able to prepare an environment and guide children during this time is a great privilege. This is the twelfth school year that I have had the honor to be a part of The Children’s House community, and I’m happy to be continuing to partner with the Nido families this year.

Thank you!
Jeanette Kania

"We see the figure of the child who stands before us with his arms held open, beckoning humanity to follow." ~Dr. Maria Montessori, Education and Peace

Clover

Nido Classroom
Infants 3 months - 16 months

Back to School Letter 2025-26
Car Seat Checks

‹ Back to Classroom Pages

Jeanette Kania, Nido Guide

A.A. Science & Arts, Early Childhood emphasis
Continuing student in Family Life Education, Bachelor of Arts, Spring Arbor University
AMI Assistance to Infancy Certification, Montessori Institute -Denver

The Children's House experience (2015-present)
Nido-Young Children's Community Support
Young Children's Community Guide
Nido Guide

Jeanette grew up in Traverse City and found Montessori almost ten years ago. She has worked in every 0-3 classroom at the school and loves partnering with families to support children during the first years of their lives. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, reading, and being outside with her husband and their children, Astrid and Laszlo.

Madison Stewart,
Classroom Support

Chloe Flynn,
Classroom Support

Ashleigh Cole,
Classroom Support

Related Content

Blog 1
Learning through Food
Jeanette Kania
Learning through Food
Jeanette Kania

As we enter the season of many holidays, it is a wonderful time to reflect on all the meanings that food can have. Food can be used as a means of connection, showing love, building community, and preserving traditions. In the Nido, meals are a central part of our community.

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Jeanette Kania
Incorporating Holidays into the Classroom
Jeanette Kania
Incorporating Holidays into the Classroom
Jeanette Kania

In September of 2020, the staff of The Children’s House was privileged to virtually host Britt Hawthorne for an Introduction to Anti-Bias Education. Every time we have an adult learning opportunity as a staff, I try to make an intentional change to the way that I think about things in my classroom and my worldview in general.

Read More →
Jeanette Kania
Believing in the Child
Annie Botsford
Believing in the Child
Annie Botsford

The role of the adult is not to pave a pathway for the child, but to make sure that the child has what they need to forge their own way. The greatest way for us to support children is to treat them with constant love, trust, and respect. It is so important that each child feels loved just as they are. 

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Annie Botsford
Four Calling Birds
Britny Tollstam
Four Calling Birds
Britny Tollstam

That year, I was given the chance to do something I had longed for many times. In September of 2007, I took charge of the Nido program at The Children’s House, and my dream of guiding infants came true. The Nido program itself was still in its infancy and just four babies, Alexander, Dillyn, Elise, and Lola, were put under my care for the school year.

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Britny Tollstam