Toddler
Introducing
The Montessori Nest Environment provides children with a nurturing learning environment that is full of educational materials that meet their specific developmental needs and interests during the first two years of life. During this stage of development, infants move through sensitive periods for movement, hand-eye coordination, language, order, small objects, and toilet training. The design of the infant classroom, and the educational materials within in, reflect these interests and provide rich opportunities for learning.
Similarly, the daily routine reflects this age groups need for consistency and repetition, while embracing children’s individual needs, interests, stage of development, and learning styles.
Toddler
by name is facilitated through tools like Language Cards, Object Boxes, and color Boxes, which provide visual and tactile stimuli to enhance vocabulary acquisition and conceptual understanding, fostering early language development and cognitive growth.
Recognizes numerals and counts by rote: Preschoolers learn to recognize numerals and count by rote through activities like using Sandpaper Numbers, Number Rods, Spindle Box, and Numbers & Counters, which provide tactile experiences and visual aids to reinforce numerical concepts, fostering early numeracy skills and a foundational understanding of quantity and number recognition.
Participates in physical activities: In toddler learning, participation in physical activities is encouraged through outdoor play and music & movement programs, providing opportunities for children to develop gross motor skills, coordination, and spatial awareness in a fun and stimulating environment, fostering physical development and a love for active play from an early age.
Ability to use the pincer grip when writing and drawing: Practical Life activities in toddler learning facilitate the development of the pincer grip for writing and drawing, engaging children in tasks such as using tongs, tweezers, and small utensils, which strengthen fine motor skills
and encourage the use of the pincer grip essential for precise manipulation of writing and drawing instruments.
Shows self-confidence and interacts well with others: In preschool learning, the development of self-confidence and positive social interactions is fostered through a supportive environment that encourages exploration, risk-taking, and respectful communication, where children engage in collaborative activities, express themselves freely, and receive encouragement and validation from educators and peers alike.
Speaks in sentences and expresses thoughts and feelings: The Montessori Language Curriculum supports toddler in speaking in sentences and expressing thoughts and feelings through group activities and projects, providing opportunities for language development through meaningful interactions, storytelling, and collaborative exploration, fostering communication skills and emotional expression in a supportive and engaging learning environment.
Distinguishes between sights, smells, tastes and sounds: The Montessori Sensorial Curriculum facilitates toddlers in distinguishing between sights, smells, tastes, and sounds through specialized activities and materials designed to engage the senses, enabling them to explore and differentiate sensory stimuli, fostering sensory awareness and perceptual development at an early age.
Demonstrates problem-solving skills and shows curiosity: Toddler learning fosters problemsolving skills and curiosity through independent activities, granting freedom to engage, express, and repeat tasks,
encouraging exploration and discovery as children navigate challenges and satisfy their innate curiosity through hands-on experiences.
Infant
Language
Montessori toddler language materials assist children in learning letter recognition, phonics, simple word structures, vowels and consonants, and the early stages of writing and reading.
Example materials and activities include:
Sandpaper letters
Three part cards
Metal insets
Plain paper cutting strips
Object picture matching
Mathematics
Montessori mathematics materials assist children in developing an understanding of abstract mathematical concepts through hands-on experiences. Through the mathematics materials, students learn to identify and quantify numerals, count and sequence numbers, add and subtract, identify patterns, and learn about number systems.
Example materials and activities include: Sandpaper numbers
Spindle box
Number rods
Cards and counters Cut-out numerals and counters
Sensorial
Sensorial activities are designed to help children develop and refine the senses of sight, touch, taste, smell and sound. These skills assist with classifying, sorting and discriminating between objects to interpret their sensory impressions. These skills are necessary foundations for language and mathematics.
Example materials and activities include:
Pink tower Brown stairs Red rods Geometric tray
Thermic tablets
Practical Life
Practical life activities focus on care of self, care of others, and care of the environment. In addition to teaching daily life skills, practical life activities promote independence, social skills, grace and courtesy, concentration, and coordination.
Example materials and activities include: Spooning
Pouring
Gardening and plant care Grating
Window washing
Dressing Frame
Culture
The Montessori Culture Curriculum covers the study of the arts, geography, science, environment, national culture, music, and history. Through cultural activities children learn about their community and the world. They discover similarities, differences, and develop an understanding, appreciation and respect for diversity and all living things.
Example materials and activities include: Land and water globe
Flag puzzles
World map puzzle
Life cycle puzzle Botany cabinet
Daily
The toddler routine outlines the typical daily flow for children aged two to three years in the Montessori Infant community. The toddler daily routine provides a consistent pattern of activities for learning time, meals, rest, and
outdoor play. The predictability of the routine helps children to feel secure and positively influences their emotional, cognitive, and social development.
About the Infant Routine
The daily routine may be altered to accommodate for seasonal changes, wet weather, and special events
Spontaneous groups times occur throughout the day Educators plan learning experiences for each day
We seek to accommodate each child’s individual eating and sleeping schedule
In Ella’s Classroom childcare we are sun-safe and allergy aware
A record of your child’s day is communicated to you via our family communication app
Morning Routine
Ella’s Classroom opens at 7:30am. Upon arrival, please remember to sign your child in and place their bag and belongings in their locker.
When you are ready to enter the classroom, please knock on the door, and wait for an educator to greet your child. Older children are encouraged to knock on the door once they have been
introduced to the Grace and Courtesy Curriculum. Please say goodbye at the door to minimize disruption to the class.
Work Cycle
Once your child enters the classroom they will begin the Montessori Work Cycle. Children may choose to work individually, with an educator, or in a small group setting.
Students are encouraged to learn by moving, follow their interests, and pack away before they proceed with the next activity. Learning is individually paced and based on each child’s developmental needs and interests.
Mid-Morning Routine
Around 10am, the Montessori Work Cycle concludes, and children enjoy a nutritious morning snack from a rotating menu of fresh fruit, muffins, cereal, healthy slices, fruit pouches, organic bars, organic chips or sandwiches accompanied by milk.
The children then go outside to play and engage in activities that encourage their physical development and fundamental movement skills. Children practice ball skills, running and jumping, play in the sandpit, engage in collaborative play, and participate in games, music, and dancing activities.
Group Time
After outdoor play, the children participate in group time which typically includes planned activities based on children’s interests.
Group time activities may include language activities, group interest projects, lessons in grace and courtesy, walking on the line, art and craft, or music and movement.
Throughout the day children participate in both planned and spontaneous group time experiences.
Lunch and Rest Time
Around 11:30am, the children settle in for the lunchtime routine. Lunch is a social time, where educators encourage talking about different types of food and table manners. Lunch is also a great time to practice skills such as spooning, tonging, and using a fork. At the end of the meal, children pack away their own plates or lunch boxes, scrape food waste into the bin, and assist with tidying up the room.
After lunch, children sleep or have quiet rest time. The room is darkened, and quiet sleep music lulls the children into a restful sleep. Children sleep or rest on floor beds. Quiet activities are available for children who do not sleep.
Afternoon Routine
Around 3:00pm, the children begin to wake up, and communal afternoon snack is served. This is typically fresh vegetable sticks and dip, sandwiches, cheese and crackers, yogurt, wraps, fresh fruit, fruit pouches, cereal, organic bars, organic chips or healthy muffins accompanied by water.
Once children have finished eating, they participate in outdoor play. Children follow their interests, explore the outdoors, and participate in individual and group learning experiences that foster social skills and fundamental movement skills.
Evening Routine
In the late afternoon, from around 4:30pm onwards, children return inside and begin winding down for the day. During this time, children engage in open-ended play, using building blocks, construction pieces, or animal figurines. Children also have a late snack.
At 5:30pm, all children have returned home with their families. The childcare center is thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the next day. Throughout the day families will receive updates about their child’s day via our family communication app.