Toddler Community

The Journey to Independence
The Journey to Independence

Some refer to this developmental period as “The Terrible Twos.” We disagree; toddlers are terrific. We love everything about them—their energy, determination and curiosity—and purposefully create a loving, gentle, home-like place for your toddler to learn.

Toddler with squeegee at window

Help Me to Do It Myself

Children learn by doing. Learning to care for themselves—washing hands, putting on jackets—and doing it themselves is an important part of the toddlers’ daily work. Your child has a natural drive to be independent, which we encourage by creating an environment where everything is just the right size for her to do things on her own. Child-sized tools that fit their tiny hands allow them to prepare a snack and serve it to friends. A small broom empowers each child to clean up on their own. They are taught the skills of self-care and toilet learning. Your child will learn a set of concrete life skills and self-confidence—but, more importantly, they will develop the belief that they can make a genuine impact on the world.

Toddlers and guide at picnic lunch

Not a Classroom, a Community!

Our students grow together into a close-knit, caring community. When children work, learn, and grow together, they experience much more than any of them could acquire alone.
Toddlers and guide at tiny picnic table for lunch
Toddler with guide at painting lesson

A Beautiful Environment

Our bright and sunny toddler classroom is specially designed for children between the ages of 15 and 36 months. It is a world scaled down to your child’s size. Here, your child paints, cooks, waters the garden, sings songs with friends and plays with materials that develop fine and gross motor coordination.
Toddler with buttons dressing frame

Practice Makes Permanent

Often, children who don’t do things for themselves simply don’t know how or haven’t been given the chance. We take a different approach—by observing your child closely, providing just the right lesson when they are ready, and then allowing them to practice again and again (and again!) until they master it. Mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities in an atmosphere of patience, trust, and respect, and the emphasis is always on process rather than on product.

Toddler with buttons dressing frame
Toddlers reading with guide

Absorbing Language

We surround your child with rich and stimulating conversation to support this once-in-a-lifetime period of rapid language development. As your child begins to realize that everything around him has a name, they become fascinated with their environment in a new way. The toddler guides have special training to offer your child keys to the world of language so your child can effortlessly absorb new vocabulary, which plants the seeds for reading, writing and self-expression in the future.

smiling children holding hands

First Friends

Making first friends and learning how to function within a community is a life-shaping experience for your child. Your child emerges with strong friendships that will continue as she moves through the rest of the programs in Montessori.
smiling children holding hands
Toddler with adult at garden box

An Environment 
Conducive to Learning

An Environment 
Conducive to Learning

Where so many early childhood programs are chaotic and overwhelming, parents are often surprised to experience the peaceful tone of our toddler classroom. The calm atmosphere and lack of distraction helps toddlers to develop impulse control and concentration, building a foundation for learning in this classroom and beyond.

Toddler with image card

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.
Toddler with image card, pointing and looking up
Adult hands holding a rabbit, toddler child patting rabbit

Exploration

To be a toddler is to be curious. Toddlers crave sensory input, order, and information about the real world. There are so many things to see, touch, hear, feel, and do in the classroom that support this drive. Beautiful materials that stimulate the senses are rotated frequently on low shelves to pique your child’s curiosity. Toddlers are encouraged to move freely around the classroom, to choose activities, and to explore their own interests.

Toddler climbing on log

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. Toddlers follow growing confidence in independence and a keen interest in broader concepts to wonder what lies ahead, outside of the Toddler Community. At this point, they are ready to move up to the Children’s House, which serves children from the ages of 3 to 6.

Toddler climbing on log

Virtual Tour

Virtual Tour

Schedule a visit with Kehr, Director of Admissions

Learn More

We invite you to learn more about our school, our programs, and our community. Complete either form below, and our Director of Admissions will reach out to talk more about how MSB can benefit your family. 

INQUIRE REQUEST A TOUR
Share by: