The Montessori Toddler program offer children aged 18 to 36 months opportunities to explore their independence and connection to the world using their extraordinary capacity for learning. The environment for Toddler program is set up much like a home, with distinct areas for preparing food, eating, changing clothes, toileting, group activities, individual work, and quite moments. By allowing the child to develop relationships with adults and children outside her own family; however, the Toddler program offers opportunities beyond those typically available in a family home. Developing these relationships builds social skills and helps the child start to understand her relationship to her community and her environment. She now broadents her idea of her role in the community and her contribution to the world. Coming into the Montessori Toddler program, the child sees herself as an individual ready for this living environment that offers opportunities for social interaction, independence, self-expression, as well as small and large motor development. All furniture is a size that allows maximum independence and the toddler materials are designed to be attractive and inviting to the children.  Social interaction with other children, development of language skills, care of oneself and the environment, food preparation, music and movement activities are integral to the Montessori toddler experience.

THE TODDLER CURRICULUM 

Because of what Dr. Maria Montessori termed“the absorbent mind,” children develop many language and motor skills without direct instruction, as long as their environment is rich with learning opportunities.  The enenvironment is designed to allow the children to explore and to develop concentration and coordination. The primary of the program is to create a nurturing and secure environment young children can do what they do best – explore everything!

Practical Life            

This area is particularly emphasized as the activities in this area give children the chance to develop skills to care for themselves and their environment in the following areas: control of movement, grace and courtesy. Practical life activities are simple and can be accomplished by each child.  The focus is on helping the child attain and enjoy independence.

Work Period

Children may choose activities from the various areas of the class-room that include art, sensorial, language, puzzles, math, science, practical life and manipulatives. The building of a child’s vocabulary is a part of every aspect of the classroom from snack time to manipulating a toy to group activities.  Within the classroom there is also the availability of books, water play and sand play. Gross motor equipment is also available to help develop the large muscles.

 Music and Movement

Through song and dance and freedom of choice, the children have access to a variety of large muscle activities that offer them opportunities to jump, climb, balance, crawl, and skip.  Along with the mind, both fine and gross motor skills develop rapidly from three months to three years. Attention to these needs supports balanced development.
Social and Emotional

A well-rounded and happy child, whose social and  emotional development has been supported by responsive individual attention, reacts positively in the classroom environment, copes with frustration, and learns easily

Toileting

Since self-care and toilet learning are an integral part of our curriculum at this level, each child is offered the opportunity to use the toilet as needed. The children are encouraged to be active participants in diapering and toileting. Diapering in the toddler class (if needed) is done standing up so that they can fully take part in their own care. Outdoor Play The toddlers have their own play area specifically designed for toddlers.  They transition to using the larger primary playground.