The Montessori Toddler Classroom is specially designed for children approximately eighteen months to three years old.
The first three years of life are a time of very rapid personal development. The Montessori classroom is based on a deep understanding of the relationship between child development, learning and the environment. Our toddler rooms are environments specially designed to support the young child’s “absorbent mind.”
“Help me to help myself,” is the kind of independence a young child desires and the guides in the toddler classrooms are trained to help toddlers to gain that independence while boosting self confidence.
The toddler room is a multi-age environment with up to 12 students between the ages of 18 months to 3 years. The space is organized with order and movement in mind to best support the freedom to move and discover. The room is arranged into different areas equipped with purposefully created materials that are made for toddlers. The different spaces in the room include practical life, food preparation, psycho-sensory motor, language, art, music, and movement.
The program is from 8:15 – 3:00 and follows the same academic calendar as the rest of our school.
The morning “Work Period” is vital to the success of a Montessori education. During this time, children have two hours to choose and carry out their own work, mostly independently. Children can explore materials that support their growth in language, concentration, problem-solving skills, music, art, self-care, care of the environment, food preparation, gross and fine motor skills and social skills.
A key element of the toddler room is toilet learning which begins on the first day a child enters the environment. This helps the child to learn that we use the toilet at school and greatly helps them gain independence. Please send your child to school with pull ups or training pants and after your child becomes more comfortable at school, we will communicate when we think it might be best to begin the full process of using the toilet.
A typical day in the life of an STXM Toddler:
| 8:00 – 8:15 | Arrival |
| 8:00 – 10:00 | Work Period |
| 10:00 – 10:30 | Snack |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Circle Time |
| 11:00 – 11:45 | Outdoor Play |
| 11:45 – 12:15 | Lunch |
| 12:15 – 12:30 | Clean Up |
| 12:30 – 2:30 | Nap |
| 2:30 – 2:45 | Wake Up |
| 2:45 – 3:00 | Go Home |
Another important aspect of a toddler environment is socialization and communication. Around 18 months, children experience an “explosion of language” as well as a need to be more social. While children are encouraged to work independently during the work period, there is plenty of time for group activities such as during circle time or outdoor play.
A Montessori toddler environment focuses on developing independence, practical life skills, and social skills. We are helping the child to foster a love of learning at a young age!