Toddler

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 toddler classroom. The calm atmosphere and lack of distraction helps them to develop impulse control and concentration, planting the seeds for learning in this classroom and beyond.

How we welcome you

Our youngest learners benefit from seeing their trusted adults interacting and engaging them with the Guide and Assistants in the Toddler room. Once a student is enrolled, we will reach out to set up a time for a home visit. This is an opportunity for the Guide to observe your child in their environment and ask and answer questions that will help them to plan for their time in the classroom. Our program also offers a transition week where students can ease into their routine with a trusted adult at their side for the first few days!

“Help me to do it myself”

Your child has a natural drive to be independent which we encourage by creating an environment where everything is just the right size for them to do things on their own. Child sized tools that fit their tiny hands allow them to prepare a snack and serve it to friends. A miniature broom empowers them to clean up on their own. They are taught the skills of self-care and toilet training. Your child learns a set of concrete life skills and self-confidence – but, more importantly, develops the belief that they can choose to make a genuine impact on their world.

Toilet Awareness/Training

Our students are provided an environment that allows for opportunities to build their independence around toileting. This is a very important task at their developmental stage and it is one that requires consistency and committment at home as well as in our classroom. We offer increasing independence around toilet use with joyful encouragement rather than bribes/prizes. We ask that families follow our lead to make their child's toileting journey a successful one.

A beautiful environment

Our bright and sunny toddler classrooms are specially designed for your child between the ages of 12 and 36 months. It is a world scaled down to your child’s size. Here, your child paints, troublshoots puzzles, sings songs with friends and plays with materials that develop fine and gross motor coordination.

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.

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 Toddler 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.

Ready to move up

Sometime between the ages of 2 1/2 to 3 years of age, your child’s language skills and self-expression will develop rapidly; they will express a growing confidence in independence and a keen interest in broader concepts; they will want to know what lies ahead, outside of the Toddler Classroom. At this point, they are ready to move up to the Children's House (ages 3-6). After careful consideration, the guide, the parents/guardians, and the Children's House guide will agree on the best time for this transition. This move depends on availability in our Children's House level.