 The Montessori
Toddler Program allows the child to function independently in an atmosphere of love and support, flourishing in an environment
that believes in and supports his innate abilities. Keeping
in mind the child's natural learning characteristics, the
prepared environment offers a complete range of activities
that are purposeful and sensorial in nature. |
 The
Toddler Community exists to recognize the abilities of the
very young child. The child is becoming aware of himself as
a separate person and needs a place in which to explore this
separateness. It was Maria Montessori’s belief that
a child’s normal development is a series of small triumphs
in independence. The classroom is prepared in such a way as
to support these small steps while still allowing the child
to focus on the ultimate goal of self-construction. Keeping
in mind the child’s natural learning characteristics,
the prepared environment offers a complete range of activities
that are purposeful and sensorial in nature. |
 The
main focus of the Toddler community is to meet the developmental
needs of the child of this age particularly in the areas of
concentration, language expansion, toilet training, refinement
of movement and socialization. The ultimate goal is always
to assist the child in becoming more and more independent. |
 Mastering
the skills in self-care such as dressing, grooming and toileting
is a major step on the road to independence. Learning to take
care of oneself is internally motivated and a child’s
efforts in mastery take a considerable amount of time. Engagement
in these activities begins as collaborative work with the
adult in the environment and then moves to the child’s
independent work. |
 Once
the child learns to care for herself, she becomes more interested
in her environment and those activities that revolve around
its care such as sweeping, washing dishes and preparing
food. She also begins to notice the community that surrounds
her and reaches out to experience that aspect of her daily
life, beginning to establish social relationships and offering
the best of herself to the community. |
 The
toddler environment supports both of these aims by providing
activities and opportunities in which the toddler is engaged
in self–construction and in the community aspect of
the classroom. These activities may include lessons in practical
life skills, manipulative materials for eye-hand coordination,
gross motor activities and lessons in community living.
The assurance and independence gained through the work
of the toddler environment will support the child in meeting
future challenges with confidence.
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