Toddler Curriculum (18 months-3 years)
Fostering individuality in the early years is what we aim for at MiltonMontessori. Our classrooms are designed to meet the independent and curious nature of toddlers, allowing them to freely explore in a beautiful and safe environment. This new found freedom of movement is balanced with emphasis on the respect of others and the environment, verbalization of needs and the practical life skill of caring for themselves. The toddler curriculum provides for both individual and group activities in the following areas:
Practical Life: Exercises such as pouring, sweeping, dusting, buttoning, zipping, and table setting are introduced early, providing opportunities for children to care for themselves and their environment. Lessons of grace and courtesy are practiced daily to help toddlers learn about sharing and how to be considerate of others.
Manipulatives: Manipulative exercises are designed to facilitate hand-eye coordination, small muscle control, and spatial relationships.
Language: Toddlerhood is a sensitive period for language. Children learn to use words and expand their growing vocabulary to express their feelings and needs. This is also the perfect time to provide a sequenced foundation of pre-reading skills. We present literacy activities during small group time as well as individual moments in comfy reading nooks, all to encourage a love of literature.
Mathematics: Mathematics makes use of manipulative materials to enable the child to internalize concepts of number, symbol, sequence, operations, and memorization of basic facts.
Peace: Peace lessons give toddlers the skills to work through anger and frustration in a positive way, while encouraging tolerance, cooperation, and respect for others.
Music: From early exposure through our Music program, music appreciation and rhythm sense develop naturally.
Art: Toddlers experiment with many different art mediums and are encouraged to focus on the process, not the product.