Beginnings Classroom (18 – 36 months)

The toddler years are the period of most rapid growth in a child, only surpassed by the first twelve months of life. Recent research has confirmed what Dr. Maria Montessori told us at the beginning of the last century, that the first 3 years are crucial to a child’s development. She wrote that it is during these years that the personality of the child is formed. With that in mind, we begin to understand the importance of giving very young children an environment that provides them the greatest opportunity to develop to their fullest potential.

The MCHE toddler environment is specially created to meet the social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs of this age group. It is not a watered down pre-primary classroom but one that parallels it. The ability to move freely within the classroom, choosing activities especially designed to meet a specific developmental need, is an integral part of our educational philosophy. Freedom of movement allows for optimal brain development. Allowing children the opportunities to make appropriate choices builds confidence and self-esteem. The promotion of independence is of primary importance. We allow and encourage the children to do as much as they are capable.

The Montessori classroom is truly “their environment”. The teachers create the environment and then become facilitators to the children as they interact within that environment. Activities in the classroom are arranged on a tray or in a basket and placed on shelves arranged by specific area. These areas are sensorial (activities that help develop the five senses, because it is through our senses that we absorb all knowledge), practical life (life skills of pouring, scooping, transferring, etc.), math and science, language (which includes the reading of books in the library area) and art. Music and gross motor activities, either outside on our own playground or in the large motor activity room as weather warrants, are also important elements of the daily schedule.

We believe that order, routine and consistency are paramount to young toddlers. Providing these essentials creates trust within them towards the world that they are just beginning to discover. Since it is the real world in which they live, we believe in giving children activities that will ground them in that real world. For exsample, as often as possible, children are given child-sized versions of adult tools (i.e. brooms, dustpans) and real pictures of things instead of drawings.

As children acquire the desire to toilet learn, we are most willing to work with parents as their child begins to master this new skill. The move from diapers to underwear is certainly a developmental milestone and one that both parent and child will recognize as a great accomplishment!

The toddler years are wonderful years marked with a child’s growing desire towards independence while still desiring the oneness that was shared with parents during infancy. The Montessori Children’s House environment recognizes and supports toddlers in their development towards adulthood.