Young Children’s Community
Journey to Independence (18 months – 3 Years)
Some refer to this developmental period as “The Terrible Twos.” We disagree; toddlers are terrific! We love everything about them – Their energy, determination and curiosity – and purposefully created a very special place for your toddler to learn.
Help Me To Do It Myself
Your child has an innate drive to be independent, which we encourage by creating an environment where everything is just the right size for her to do things on her own. Child-sized tools that fit her tiny hands allow her to prepare a snack and serve it to friends. A miniature broom empowers her to clean up on her own. The skills of self-care and toilet learning occur at this time. Your child learns a set of concrete life skills and self-confidence but, more importantly, develops the belief that she can choose to make a genuine impact on her world.
Not a classroom, a 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!
A Beautiful Environment
Our bright and sunny toddler classrooms are specially designed for your child between the ages of 18 and 36 months. It is a world scaled down to your child’s size. Here, your child paints, cooks, waters the garden, sings songs with friends and plays with materials that develop fine and gross motor coordination.
Practice Makes Permanent
Often, children who don’t do things for themselves simply don’t know how or haven’t been given the chance. We take a different approach by observing your child closely, providing just the right lesson when she is ready and then allowing her to practice again and again (and again!) until she masters it. Mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities in an atmosphere of patience, trust, and respect.
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, trying to blow bubbles, might be encouraged with “Blow! Can you make the air move just like the wind?” Your child’s mind effortlessly absorbs the new vocabulary, which plants the seeds for reading, writing, and self-expression in the future.
First Friends
Making first friends and learning how to function within a community is a life-shaping experience for your child. Your child emerges with strong friendships that will continue as she moves through the rest of the programs in Montessori.
An Environment Conducive to Learning
Where so many early childhood programs are chaotic and overwhelming, parents are often surprised to see the peaceful tone of our young children's community classroom. The calm atmosphere and lack of distraction helps her to develop impulse control and concentration, planting the seeds for learning in this classroom and beyond.
A Joyful Experience
Maria Montessori once said, “One test of the correctness of the educational procedure is the happiness of the child.” Take a peek into our Young Children's Community. 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.
Essential Skills for a Successful Life
The
Children's House
classroom is designed to help your child become his best self. Through “grace and courtesy” activities, we teach your child how to solve conflicts, how to act politely in social situations and how to be kind and helpful to friends.
Ready to Move Up
Sometime between the ages of 2 1/2 to 33 month of age, your child’s language skills and self-expression will develop rapidly; he will express a growing confidence in independence and a keen interest in broader concepts; he will want to know what lies ahead, outside of the Toddler Classroom. At this point, he is ready to move up to the
Children's House Classroom, for children from the ages of 3 to 6.
