The toddler class is a language rich, developmentally appropriate environment for children between the ages of eighteen months and three years. The two and half hour class is designed to provide these very young children an environment for their developing independence in an atmosphere of understanding, respect and support. With this in mind, the environment is a prepared "little society". The child is not "served", but encouraged to become a functioning member of the community and to explore it fully. Everything in the environment is proportionate to the child's size and is designed to be safe and aesthetically pleasing - appealing to the child's natural curiosity.
The main goals of the Toddler environment are to help the children become able to function independently, to allow them to explore the environment and manipulate the objects in the environment freely, to assist them in their rapid language development and to introduce them to methods of developing their minds and bodies. The freedom to explore and learn in a safe place is crucial to the Toddler Program. And the freedom to choose is tempered by the three basic ground rules of the environment that will be beneficial for a lifetime - respect of self, respect for others and respect for the environment.
Activities are positioned around the room for toddler to choose independently. They have freedom of movement to explore, and they are given the time they need to complete what they start. Each activity deals with a particular theme, skill, or subject of value to toddler development. The activities allow toddlers to experience the concepts of sequence, form, shape, movement and sound, and will change and evolve as the child grows physically, emotionally and intellectually.
Toddlers very much enjoy learning life skills. Activities, which up until now have been going on around them, but which they can now do themselves, are seemingly irresistible: getting dressed, preparing snack, setting the table, washing dishes, sweeping the floor, etc. Being able to use breakable objects for the first time, rather than their plastic substitutes, creates an instantaneous surge of pride at this age.
The child in the Toddler Program begins literally to step out into his or her first experience beyond the family. This highly ordered environment allows the toddler to begin to explore, to refine movements, to increase language in a language-rich setting and to move toward independence in a safe, warm, stable venue where s/he will acquire the skills to "do it myself". The toddler launches into social relationships with peers and starts to understand the importance of cooperation and assertiveness. The Toddler environment is a nurturing place for the children to begin what Montessori referred to as their "education for life".
Unlike the primary and Extended Primary programs,
the toddlers may enroll for either two, three,
or five days a week in the 8:30 - 11:00 AM
session or the 12:15- 2:45 PM session.
