Montessori Toddler Program: The Best Beginning

Adapted from ‘The Montessori Way: An Education For Life’

by Tim Seldin and Paul Epstein, Ph.D.

(used by permission)

Research clearly shows that the most important period in a human being’s educational and emotional development is not the years of high school and college but rather the first six years of life. This is the time when children absorb everything in their environment and can lay the foundation of a secure and emotionally stable adulthood. The Montessori approach is a basic philosophy of nurturing the young child’s potential in an atmosphere of support, understanding and respect, using multi-sensory materials.

In the past, many people pictured a child’s mind as a blank slate on which adults, through instruction, could “write down” the content of a good education. Likewise, another common metaphor was that of an empty bowl waiting to be filled with the contents of the school’s curriculum. Maria Montessori demonstrated that both concepts are inaccurate.

The young child’s mind is more like that of an acute observer or scientist, eager to learn, explore, try new things, and master new skills.

Most significantly, Maria Montessori recognized that with the right stimulation, the child’s ability to concentrate, absorb, and master new ideas and skills is enhanced. She also learned that the earlier we begin a program of intellectual, physical, sensory and artistic education, the more dramatic the results.

The early childhood years are a time of great sensitivity to language, spatial relationships, music, art, social graces, and so much more. If, during this period, the mind is stimulated by the child’s exposure to a rich environment, the brain will literally develop a much stronger and lasting ability to learn and accomplish. In short, while our culture may believe that preschool teachers are the least significant educators our children will encounter, in reality the contribution that they offer is of inestimable importance in a child’s education.

This is especially true of those who teach toddlers. The importance of the toddler age cannot be underestimated. Toddler Montessori educators are passionate about their work. They are specialists in their field while at the same time being warm, loving adults.

The focus of the Toddler classroom is on independence and self-awareness. Montessori Toddler teachers have an extensive list of activities and developmentally appropriate educational materials. Each material must isolate one concept or skill at a time. The classroom is divided into four distinct areas:

Practical Life

In this area, daily living exercises such as pouring, sweeping, dusting, buttoning, zipping and table setting are introduced. These provide opportunities for children to care for themselves and their environment. The exercises also help foster fine motor skills as they develop hand-eye coordination.

Sensorial

This area of the classroom enables the child to explore and order objects in terms of size, color, shape, texture, sound, taste and smell.

Language

At this age there is a huge expansion into language. Toddlers learn language primarily related to their observations, but teachers also tell stories and sing songs, and there are special materials for more abstract vocabulary.

Life Sciences

This area of the curriculum exposes the child to the music, art and movement of different countries throughout the world. Materials and activities are used which help the child to develop coordination, balance and strength since this is a period characterized by the need to explore everything.

Grace & Courtesy

Lessons of grace and courtesy are also practiced daily to help toddlers learn to share things and be considerate of others. Although the classroom is divided into well-defined areas of learning, the layout is open to allow plenty of room for social interaction.

The first few years of a child’s life are the most formative years. This is a period when children effortlessly absorb concepts and habits. It is also a time when roots for a love of learning are established.

(Note: Children do not need to be toilet-trained to be enrolled in the Toddler program.)