The First 1,000 Days

How early experiences shape child development, learning, and family well-being.

A workshop for parents, caregivers, doulas, and educators who want to better support children from pregnancy through the early years.

Because a child’s education begins long before the classroom.

“What the hand does, the mind remembers. What the child experiences becomes a part of his soul.”
— Dr. Maria Montessori

What You Will Learn

In this workshop you will discover how to:

understand the importance of prenatal and perinatal development
support infant nervous system regulation through responsive caregiving
recognize how postpartum recovery and matrescence influence early caregiving
apply Montessori principles to caregiving during the earliest years of life
create continuity of care between families, birth professionals, and childcare environments
support children’s development through respectful and responsive care

You will also gain a clear introduction to Montessori philosophy and how it applies to caregiving during the first years of life.

No previous Montessori knowledge is required.

The First 1,000 Days Through the Montessori Lens

This workshop is presented through the respectful, child-led framework of education developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. A physician, researcher, anthropologist, and pioneer in early childhood education, Dr. Montessori called her approach “scientific pedagogy” — an approach grounded in careful observation of children and deep respect for human development.

Drawing from Zaure’s experience as a Montessori educator, daycare founder, and certified postpartum practitioner, this workshop explores the often-overlooked connection between:
• prenatal development
• postpartum care
• caregiver–child relationships
• early childhood education

Together we explore how:
• prenatal and perinatal experiences influence development
• the connection children form with caregivers shapes early learning
• supporting the mother supports the child
• continuity of care between families, birth professionals, and childcare providers strengthens children’s well-being

Through the Montessori lens, participants gain a deeper understanding of how early caregiving environments shape the foundations for learning, resilience, and emotional well-being.

Workshop Info

Live Virtual Workshop — April

In-person workshops are offered in select locations.

Education Begins in the Womb

The first three years of life are a period of extraordinary development. Science increasingly confirms what Maria Montessori observed decades ago — development begins long before the classroom.

During the first 1,000 days children form the foundations for:
• emotional regulation
• social connection
• worldview
• learning capabilities

"The child absorbs the world around him with his mind and his life.”
— Dr. Maria Montessori

The caregiving environment during the first 1,000 days becomes the child’s first prepared environment.

Understanding this stage helps childcare providers and Montessori educators:
• support infants and toddlers more effectively
• collaborate more closely with parents
• understand the developmental context children bring into the classroom
• create continuity between home, caregiving, and Montessori environments

About the First 1,000 Days

The first 1,000 days — from pregnancy through the first years after birth — represent one of the most important periods in human development. During this time, learning unfolds through relationships and caregiving. The connection infants form with caregivers during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period creates the emotional and biological environment from which development grows.

Supporting the mother, the caregiver, and the family system becomes an essential part of supporting the child. This is why continuity of care between families, birth professionals, and childcare providers is so important.

“The child’s development follows a path of successive stages of independence.”
— Dr. Maria Montessori

When families and professionals work together, children receive the stable and responsive environments that allow them to thrive.

Who This Workshop Is For

This workshop is designed for:
• expecting and new parents
• Montessori educators and daycare teachers
• doulas and birth professionals
• nannies and au pairs
• anyone supporting families in early childhood

If you work with or care for young children, this workshop will deepen your understanding of how
early experiences shape development and learning.

How the First 1,000 Days Shape Learning in the Classroom

Even when infants enter a daycare classroom, they do not arrive as blank slates. They have already built certain learning patterns and have developed through the experiences in the earliest environments at home and even in the womb.

During the first 1,000 days, the foundations are formed for:
• movement and coordination
• language development
• emotional regulation
• independence and confidence
• the ability to focus and learn

These early experiences influence how children adapt to the Montessori environment — how they explore materials, form relationships, and engage in independent work.

When educators understand the developmental journey that begins before the classroom, they are better able to:
• support children with greater empathy
• recognize developmental needs behind behaviors
• collaborate more effectively with families
• create continuity between home and classroom environments

Why Attend This Workshop

Montessori schools and childcare programs attend this workshop to help their teams:

• better support infant and toddler teachers
• strengthen partnerships with families
• deepen teachers’ understanding of early development
• create continuity between home and classroom environments

Participants explore evidence-based Montessori principles and how they apply not only in classrooms but also in the earliest caregiving environments of life.

“Her work is incredibly valuable for daycare professionals supporting infants and parents.”

— Patricia C., Daycare Center Director

“Zaure is incredibly knowledgeable about Montessori philosophy and brings a calm presence to both parents and children.”

— Sammi C., Prenatal Yoga Instructor

“Zaure’s Well-Being After Birth class was incredibly helpful for my husband and me.”

— Mishea M., Chiropractor

About the Presenter
Zaure Vuk, M.Ed

Daycare founder, Montessori educator, and certified postpartum practitioner.

Drawing from her experience working with families, educators, and newborns, Zaure developed an interdisciplinary approach to early childhood development that integrates Montessori
philosophy with prenatal and postpartum care.

Her work has been presented internationally at conferences and professional summits exploring:
• early childhood development
• postpartum care
• Montessori-informed caregiving

As part of the teaching faculty at the Center for Embodied Montessori Learning & Care (CEMLC) she also provides specialist training for Montessori educators studying the first 1,000 days through the Montessori lens.

“When we support the mother, we support the child.”
— Zaure Vuk, M.Ed

Join the Workshop

Reserve your seat for the next workshop and explore how early caregiving environments shape learning, development, and family well-being.

“The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn.”
— Maria Montessori