Clementine Early Childhood Community

Clementine Early Childhood Community Clementine is a classroom in downtown Libertyville offering Montessori parent-child classes to children ages 0-3+.

Clementine is a space in downtown Libertyville offering Montessori parent-child classes for children ages 0-3. Parent (or other caregiver--grandparent, nanny) and child attend together. The children work & play in a prepared Montessori environment, and the adults observe, chat with each other, learn and talk about various parenting topics, and join their kids with the materials.

Even though it’s October and pumpkins have definitely started to make their way into the classroom, the apples stick aro...
10/02/2026

Even though it’s October and pumpkins have definitely started to make their way into the classroom, the apples stick around just a little bit longer.

Our preschooler class is peak Clementine.Besides lots of lessons with more parts and steps, there’s so much collaboratio...
10/01/2026

Our preschooler class is peak Clementine.

Besides lots of lessons with more parts and steps, there’s so much collaboration.

Today, two kids took turns at the apple tree peg lesson, and when they discovered that one apple was missing, everyone searched together. (Still looking!)

We practiced waiting and watching while everyone took a turn choosing something from the basket to test as a sink or float.

We all mashed berries for yogurt.

At lunch, we discovered that almost everybody enjoys stomping in puddles, and almost everybody likes wearing rain boots to do it.

Next week: spiderweb paintings and mac & cheese!

09/24/2026

I actually didn’t count, but it was a lot.
Everything from a toy they hadn’t seen before to the way we have something set up on the shelves to words that guide their child.

Truly, my goal for families is that they leave class every week thinking not only:

“That’s a good idea!”

but also:

“I can do that too!”

Taking it home is literally the whole point.

It’s early in the session, but I already know: This Wednesday Toddler class is full of: news-tellers, problem solvers, a...
09/24/2026

It’s early in the session, but I already know: This Wednesday Toddler class is full of: news-tellers, problem solvers, artists, tryers, basket holders.

It’s going to be a fantastic session with this group!

09/17/2026

I remember how it felt to move from the city like it was yesterday (it wasn’t) and it was exciting, but also hard to leave some of that old life behind.

I needed what we’ve built, and now we’re waiting to meet you!

Maybe you’re missing the community of moms of young kids you already had, or maybe you moved just as you were starting your family.

Whatever your story, you can find your people at Clementine.

We have weekly classes to enjoy with your child, but that’s just where it starts. Our community is: heading to the farmers market or for lunch afterwards, night out events, people to ask for a recommendation for whatever new thing you remembered you need out here, and big group walks in the park.

If you’re a family with a baby or toddler in Libertyville or the northern suburbs, you belong!

As much as toddlers can, we try to follow a one-activity-at-a-time plan for lots of reasons. But once in a while, I have...
09/17/2026

As much as toddlers can, we try to follow a one-activity-at-a-time plan for lots of reasons. But once in a while, I have a sense that there’s something happening that I should pay attention to instead.

This morning, just before this unfolded, I had that sense. And I explained myself to his mom, who’s been coming for a long time, and she said: I felt that too.

Which means that: something not only went really right in the classroom today, but also, it’s been going that way for a while. And I’m happy about that!

Playdoh is one of those things that as an adult, you either love or you really don’t—we definitely have two camps here!—...
09/11/2026

Playdoh is one of those things that as an adult, you either love or you really don’t—we definitely have two camps here!—but for everyone, it can be overwhelming to offer to young toddlers because the 30 colors all mix into brown and the 50 tools end up all over the house. (Plus the little dried bits!)

But playdoh (and its cousin clay) is ALSO one of the most wonderful activities to build toddler language, sensory perception, fine motor control, and concentration. And it’s fun!

Great news: A simple tray actually leads to more meaningful play and is easier for your child to choose from, organize, and put away. Win-win!

(And if you just can’t go there yet—it’s all set up and ready to go for our classes, so you can just enjoy.)

09/10/2026

It’s taken me a while to figure out exactly how to set up the classroom for our crawlers, and it’s a little extra work on Wednesday afternoons (but you know I have a system!).

But when I see the babies moving in all this open space—and crawling through little nooks & crannies, and pulling up on shelves…worth it!

Montessori is more than toys, though that’s part of it too. It’s about thinking through how the whole environment meets the needs of the children, observing, and adjusting. And it’s something I love to do in the classroom so you can bring the ideas into your home.

(We had our first crawler class of the session today, and what a delight! Peek in stories to see the babies in action.

If you’re local to Libertyville/the northern suburbs and have a young baby, follow along over the next few months so you’ll be ready to join us in the new year—or, we have one infant class spot left for fall!)

You never know what might happen at the farmers market, but no matter what, every time, you’ll be in awe of the people w...
09/04/2026

You never know what might happen at the farmers market, but no matter what, every time, you’ll be in awe of the people who work market after market, every week, every day. It’s a hard job!

And you’ll be grateful for the volunteers that make it possible in our little downtown and for the accidental community it brings to your tiny business, so that you can say if someone asks: “are you local?” you can respond: “You could almost see the classroom from here.”

Thanks for another fantastic summer, 𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐘𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 (the market goes into October, but I’m headed back to the classroom!)

08/22/2026

That’s just what we did—that’s a wrap on Music + Magic 🎶🪄 2026!

Our summer events are usually me and a whole lot of craft store trips, but for this one, we had to think big.

🪄 Are there any kid magicians out there? (He turned himself into one!)

🎶 Will teenagers want to come play for preschoolers? (Yep, and they’ll give up Friday night beforehand to rehearse together!)

Perfect weather, professional performers, fun families—plus a few crafts I couldn’t resist and a giant rainstick!—equals a fantastic Saturday morning!

I just love this community.

(Clementine offers adult-child classes for babies and toddlers and events like this one in our bright + peaceful Montessori classroom in downtown Libertyville. If you think having a crew like this in your life sounds great, it might be just where you belong this fall!)

Address

526 N Milwaukee
Libertyville, IL
60048

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Clementine Early Childhood Community posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Clementine Early Childhood Community:

Shortcuts

Share

Category