Toddler

The Toddler program provides students:

• with materials that develop fine and gross motor coordination, cognitive, social, and language skills through activities like painting, sorting, fixing snacks, watering plants, and singing songs with friends.
• a peaceful environment where, free from distractions, toddlers can calmly develop impulse control and concentration, planting the seeds for learning in this classroom and beyond.
• a close-knit, caring community where the teacher or “guide” acts as a gentle, calm observer and facilitator, preparing materials, modeling respectful interactions, and stepping in only when needed.

Practical Life and Self Care: "Help me to do it myself." Practical life prepares the child for life and builds a set of concrete life skills. Child-sized tools that fit tiny hands allow your toddler to prepare a snack and serve it to friends, while a miniature broom empowers independent clean-up. Through daily activities such as washing hands, watering plants, or putting on shoes, toddlers learn coordination, concentration, and independence. Every task is meaningful, helping the child feel capable and connected to their community.

Absorbing Language: We surround your child with rich and stimulating conversation to support this once-in-a-lifetime period of rapid language development. Your child's mind effortlessly absorbs new vocabulary through daily interactions—such as being encouraged during play with phrases like, “Blow! Can you make the air move just like the wind?”—which plants the seeds for reading, writing, and self-expression in the future. 

Grace, Courtesy, and Community: Our students grow together into a close-knit, caring community. When children work, learn, and grow together, they learn much more than any of them could learn alone! Maria Montessori once said, “One test of the correctness of the educational procedure is the happiness of the child.” Take a peek into our Toddler classroom, and you will see children who are happy, engaged, and deeply connected to their friends and teachers. As a result, your child develops a deep affinity for school and a true love for learning.

Fine and Gross Motor Coordination: Our beautifully prepared environment is a world scaled down to your child's size. Here, your child paints, cooks, and plays with specialized materials specifically designed to develop fine and gross motor coordination, helping them build spatial awareness and physical independence.

Ready to Move Up (Transition): Sometime between the ages of 2 1/2 to 3 years of age, your child's language skills and self-expression will develop rapidly. You will see an increase in confidence and independence, as well as a keen interest in broader concepts. Your child will want to know what lies ahead, outside of the Toddler Classroom. At this point, it is time to transition up to the Early Childhood program, which is designed for children from the ages of 3 to 6.