Toddler
For children aged 18 – 36 months, our toddler program provides a nurturing place where the child builds relationships with teachers. We understand that for many toddlers this will be their first experience away from home.
The classroom has one lead teacher and two assistants, with the child to adult ratio no more than 1:6. Our Montessori Toddler teacher holds an American Montessori Society (AMS) certification in infant/toddler.
Toddler parents may also choose a 4 or a 5 full day week schedule. Students wanting 5 full-days will be given priority enrollment over students looking for 4 full-day enrollment.
The toddler space encourages and supports independence, self-care skills, developing order and concentration.
Education must begin at birth.”
Maria Montessori
Developmental Notes
18 months – 36 months
The main developmental needs of a toddler are self-care, movement and language. The toddler environment provides an engaging space where the child can be independent and fulfill their own curiosity in a space specifically designed for them.
- Self-care: One of the largest milestones of this age group is mastering toileting. A child is ready for the toddler environment when they are interested in working on toilet training. Toddlers in this program must be in pull-ups or underwear but do not need to be potty-trained.
Toddlers are also interested in doing things on their own, the long work cycle and few transitions will allow longer periods of time for children to be independent in dressing themselves, cleaning up or preparing for meals. The supportive adults in the environment will offer encouragement and help when the child needs it or asks for it.
- Movement: Children strengthen their gross motor skills and coordination through a variety of activities within the classroom and in the outside environment. Some activities include climbing, balancing, scrubbing and pouring.
- Language: The toddler program has a language-rich environment. Toddlers understand, but are not always able to verbalize. The environment has hands-on activities that reinforce vocabulary and language development. Toddlers also build language through reading, singing and rhyming activities.
- Routine: Toddlers need routine and repetition to feel comfortable and trust the adults in the environment. The classroom space will provide a consistent and age-appropriate routine with few transitions to allow for children to build self-esteem and to initiate their own curiosity and learning interests.
OUR TODDLER CLASSROOM:
- Warm, friendly and nurturing staff
- The classroom space offers a home-like environment
- A range of stimulating educational materials
- The use of sign language to aid these very young children in their communication skills.
- Classroom environment is customized for the individual students to allow them to learn and be independent.
- Multi-hour, uninterrupted work time, which supports the young child’s development and allows the child to explore their own interests.
- Individualized attention from adults
- Lessons in practical life, setting a table, toileting, changing and putting things away.
- Food experiences
- Music and art experiences
CURRICULUM AND CLASSROOM:
The Montessori Toddler classroom has a range of stimulating educational materials available on low shelves so children can self-initiate work. The Montessori philosophy stresses respect for oneself, others and the environment. Work materials are organized and stored in ways that enable children to independently choose work, successfully complete the work and put the work back ready for the next person to use. A range of materials are available to the children so they may choose increasingly challenging work as their competency grows. This physical space arrangement helps build the child’s self-esteem by providing an environment that can successfully care for themselves with a minimum of adult intervention.
Your child’s Montessori journey starts with you.