WHY MONTESSORI FOR TODDLERS?

We believe true education retains the magic and joy of learning throughout every stage of a child’s development toward becoming a responsible member of society. This community will foster your young child’s emerging independence and desire for exploration. It is in that spirit that our Toddler Program was lovingly crafted, integrating learning for our littlest Montessorians with purposeful work and social-emotional development in a respectful, caring, thoughtfully-prepared environment designed to promote your child’s growth in all areas of development.

Our 24-36 month olds are served through:

Community-Building

Placing children in mixed age groupings

Respect for the independence and character of your child

Modeling of gentle, soft-spoken, patient, and trusting interactions

Engaging in group social interactions

Learning about sharing and kindness with others

Learning respect and boundaries within the class community

Creating an emotional safe haven for children

Discrete Skill Building

Self-care: Washing, dressing, toileting, and eating, according to each child’s individual capacity.

Care of the environment: Cleaning, food preparation and food service; plant and animal care

Language: Naming objects, describing actions and intentions, discussing pictures, conversation, music, and singing

Social skills: Developing manners through interactions with peers and staff-led small group games

Growing Autonomy

Independent work time with enriching educational materials and activities

Responsibility for helping keep the environment clean

Developing competence and confidence in doing things independently (e.g., putting on/taking off shoes themselves)

Choice and responsibility in food and nutrition

Toilet training

Global Citizenship

Learning to take care of self and others through developing a beginning awareness of others and their emotions

Exploration of the natural world

A culture that celebrates the potential of each and every child

CURRICULA

During the first 3 years of life, your child develops more rapidly than at any other time. During this phase, your child absorbs large amounts of information from the environment through observation and experiences. These are the years that lay the foundation for later learning — and the stronger the foundation, the more the child will be able to build upon it.

The Toddler Program offers a curriculum that emerges for each child’s unique skills and interests. Based on daily observations, staff introduce new materials and activities that pique curiosity and stimulate learning. Learning objectives for your child at this age include developing skills such as language, concentration, problem solving, visual discrimination, and physical coordination.

LEARNING STRUCTURE & GENERAL SCHEDULE

Our Toddler morning class begins at 8:30 am. The class is composed of a maximum of 15 children in a multi-age group of 24-36 month olds. There is a Montessori Directress and enough assistant teachers in the classroom to maintain a 1:5 teacher to student ratio.

Our toddlers begin their mornings by changing from outdoor shoes into indoor shoes, washing hands, and saying goodbye to their parents. They then independently choose works off the shelves. After an extended period of independent work time, they enjoy a community snack. Interspersed throughout the morning are stories, song, movement, toileting, and preparation for outdoor play. A nutritious lunch is provided at around 11:40am, followed by naptime from 12:15pm-2:15pm. Students with a 2:30 pickup program may be picked up anytime between 2:15pm-2:30pm.

For our toddlers who need after school care, the afternoons provide more opportunity to learn through exploration of independent works from the shelves. Afternoon community snack is provided, as well as more outdoor playtime if the weather permits. Additional social and emotional development with peers through songs, stories, and art are built-in to the schedule as well. Families may pick up anytime between 2:30pm-5:30pm.

Montessori Toddler Students must meet the following criteria before being eligible for enrollment:

– Each child must be steadily walking independently.

Translate »