​Toddler Program

Our Montessori Toddler Classroom is for children ages 18 months to 3 years old. Our program
provides toddlers with the experience of learning and socialization in a small group. Toddlers in our environment are given many opportunities for learning through discovery and exploration based on the developmental needs of each child.

The furniture and materials are appropriately sized and prepared so that the toddler develops
independence, concentration and coordination. Toddlers in the Montessori Classroom develop a love of learning because it is designed based upon their favorite interests. Our environment helps the children to gain self-confidence,  self-esteem, and self-control as well as independence.  Soon after starting your toddler will start showing you and saying, "I want to do it myself." Children who gain these skills at a young age are better prepared to be successful in all social and learning environments as they get older.

MSOE Toddler Program Curriculum

Practical Life includes the following areas:

Grace and Courtesy: The most important part of our curriculum. The children learn what it means to be courteous, kind, patient, and respectful to others and our environment. It is emphasized through lessons and modeling appropriate behavior throughout the day, each and every day.

Care of the Person: Work Activities such as hand washing, combing hair, wiping nose, putting on and taking off shoes, and dressing and undressing are some of the activities that provide independence.

Care of Environment: Work Activities include watering plants, sweeping, dusting, mopping and cleaning up a spill are some ways the toddlers learn responsibility and competence.

Control of Movement: Moving about the classroom while carrying trays and work mats. Gross Motor Movement during Music and Movement time, Outside time and sitting attentively during Circle Time are all examples of how children learn how to develop self-control of their bodies.

Language
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Toddlers are in a Sensitive Period of Language. A Sensitive Period is a window of time
during which a child is most able to be successful at learning a concept. Receptive and
Expressive, Language is very important in a toddler’s development. To expand the toddler's vocabulary, there are many objects, cards and matching name activities that are available for the children to choose from after a lesson is given.

Sensorial

These are Montessori materials that aid in eye-hand coordination, dexterity and fine motor development. Many works are available that integrate all of the five senses of sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste which allow the child to discriminate between similarities and differences.

Manipulatives

There are many Manipulatives in our environment that give the children the opportunity to build and be creative. Legos, Mega Blocks, Wooden Blocks, Bristle Blocks, and Wooden train sets are just a few of the Manipulatives the children can enjoy. This aids in the development of balance and coordination, large and small muscle control and decision-making. 

Art

There are many opportunities for the toddlers to express themselves through Art Mediums such as play dough, paint, glue, drawing, and cutting. Creativity is encouraged as the child's own interpretation and vision. 

Music

Music and Movement is part of the daily curriculum. During Circle songs, fingerplay, poems, and gross motor activities are introduced and reinforced. A "Special" Music Class is held once a week where the children are introduced to new songs and use many different instruments while working on rhythm and beat and tempo as they move, dance and interpret the music.

Spanish
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Spanish lessons are introduced every day. Our Curriculum includes learning Spanish words for numbers, colors, food, animals, family members and many others.

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The daily routine is established the beginning of the school year to promote the "Sense of Order" children need during this developmental stage. The Lead Guide follows the child in their intellectual, social, emotional, physical and psychic developmental stages that they are in, and each child is treated as an individual and given attention to their specific need.