Toddler Room – Age 18 months~3 "I am a Special Person"

Our toddler room has a ratio of 7 to 1. Beginner students do not need to be toilet-trained prior to attending school. The teachers and students will work together with the parents when the child shows interest and is ready. Students in this class are not given an admission test but will be asked to spend approximately 20 minutes with the director for a student evaluation. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine if the child is ready to follow directions and participate in short group activities.
The two year old environment is specially designed in order to allow the young child to grow, develop and gain independence in a safe and nurturing atmosphere. The child at this stage in life is a sensorial explorer, unconsciously absorbing every aspect of the environment through language and movement activities. Directed small group experiences include songs, stories, snacks, outdoor play, and motor skills activities woven into the beginner’s day. The child is absorbing directly from the environment, almost as a sponge. It is during this phase that many language and motor skills are acquired without formal instruction.
The objective for our younger students just entering into the Montessori environment is to nurture, instill self-confidence, independence and also begin toilet training. The child is exposed to a lot of hands-on activities to develop their attention span, hand-eye coordination, large and small muscle control and care of self and the environment.