Toddler

Child-sized sinks allow the children to wash their own hands independently. For those children who show an interest, child-sized toilets encourage children to be as independent as possible when learning to use the toilet. 

Pouring water from one pitcher to another, tweezing pom-poms and scooping and spooning objects help children feel proud that they can do things for themselves as well as build fine motor control needed later for correct pencil grip.

Lessons are given to each child in the environment on a daily basis. Grace and courtesy includes care of the environment such as sweeping, dusting, washing windows, using towels to tidy up spills, care of plants and care of classroom animals. 

Care of self includes such things as washing one’s own hands and face, catching a cough or sneeze in the crook of the arm, putting one’s own coat on, and dressing or undressing. These are big accomplishments for such a young child and it is evident on the child’s face as they are proud of what they can do independently!

It is important for children to touch since they learn actively through this sense. What is rough? What is smooth? What is salty? What is sweet? Montessori materials such as the knobbed cylinders to discriminate size - width, depth, and height, or matching sound cylinders by sound, help refine the child’s senses.

The youngest children are given words such as “more please” as well as the sign for the word using American Sign Language. This gives the child the ability to communicate with others while verbal language is developing. 

The book corner is a popular spot for the children and they love to be read to either by a teacher, an older child visiting from an upper level classroom, or even a classmate who is retelling the story in his own way. 

Objects can be found on the shelves for naming or matching. Letter sound booklets are available for the older toddlers to read independently or with a friend. They practice the sound each letter makes (rather than focusing on the name of the letter) and name pictures that begin with that sound. 
Children love to dictate their words to be recorded on their drawings. The language work is so enticing to children that they are naturally drawn to it.