Assistance to Infancy

Toddler: Ages 15 months - three years

Did you know that during the first three years of your child's life, they will develop more rapidly than at any other time? These important years provide the foundation for later learning. The Toddler Program at Meadows Montessori School is so much more than daycare. Starting with our teachers' rigorous training, to the meticulously prepared classrooms, and beautiful materials, the Toddler Program offers a sensory-rich and exploratory curriculum that emerges from each child's unique skills and interests.

Nurturing your child's natural instinct for wonder, exploration, and discovery

During the infant and toddler years, your child will develop skills in language, concentration, problem-solving, and physical coordination. They will play alongside other children at first and then ​with​ others. They will start to make sense of the world around them, with a developing sense of order and sequence, and also cause and effect. Based on daily observations, teachers introduce new materials and activities that engage curiosity and stimulate learning.

Our Toddler classroom is designed to be comforting, soothing, and home-like. Our south-facing classroom is filled with sunlight, plants, natural materials, and organized play spaces designed not to overstimulate, but to engage your child's natural instinct to touch, feel, smell, taste, and explore their environment.

Carefully prepared Montessori materials and activities promote independence, order, coordination, and concentration, as well as support social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. These learning activities include:

•  Self-care: washing, dressing, toileting, and eating, according to each child’s individual capacity

•  Care of the environment: cleaning, food preparation and food service; plant care and animal care

• Large-motor activities (indoors and out): walking, climbing, running, jumping, balancing, climbing steps, and more

• Fine-motor skills: reaching, grasping, picking up objects, transferring objects, using tools and utensils, doing art work

• Language: naming objects, describing actions and intentions, discussing pictures, conversation, music, and singing

• Social skills: developing manners through interactions with peers, teachers, and adult-led small group games

Half-day toddlers participate in the morning activity cycle, lunch, and outdoor play. Half-day pick up is at 12:00 pm. The full-day toddler program includes a nap/rest period in the afternoon and an additional snack. *All food for the 2020/2021 school year is provided by each child’s family .

The work of the child consists of creating the human being that it has to become. The adult works to improve [their] environment, while the child works to improve [their] self.

-Maria Montessori