TODDLER
18 - 36 months
The toddler program allows children to expand their world through exploration. This is a nurturing environment rich with wonder, where young ones can learn through their five senses. Toddlers gain independence in this sensorial environment as they learn to manage their own bodies and needs.
The toddler classroom facilitates a positive transition from a home to their new classroom community. At this age, building trust in their new environment and with new people is critical to a child’s feeling of security and their ability to happily grow and learn.
Students will have some exposure to the other languages offered at IMS, supporting their transition to the Early Childhood classrooms. Children transition out of the toddler classroom when they are ready, usually around their third birthday. IMS offers half-day and full-day options for the toddler class. Full-day toddlers have nap time in the afternoon.
Help Me to Do It Myself
Your child has a natural drive to be independent. IMS encourages this by creating an environment where everything is just the right size for them to do things on their own. Child-sized tools that fit tiny hands allow children to prepare a snack and serve it to friends. A miniature broom empowers them to clean up on their own. Children are taught the skills of self-care and toilet training. Your child learns a set of concrete life skills and self-confidence, and, more importantly, develops the belief that they can choose to make a genuine impact on their world.
A Beautiful Classroom Community
Our students grow together into a close-knit, caring community. When children work, learn and grow together, they learn much more than any of them could learn alone! The toddler classroom is specially designed for children between the ages of 18 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.
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, then allowing them to practice again and again (and again!) until they can so it independently. Mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities in an atmosphere of patience, trust and respect.
Absorbing Language
We surround your child with rich and stimulating conversation to support this once-in-a-lifetime period of rapid language development. Your child, trying to blow bubbles, might be encouraged with “Blow! Can you make the air move just like the wind?” Your child’s mind effortlessly absorbs the new vocabulary, which plants the seeds for reading, writing and self-expression in the future. Because there is one toddler class, the toddler program is entirely in English. Families choose their immersion language track when they apply to the toddler program.
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.
An Environment Conducive to Learning
Where so many early childhood programs are chaotic and overwhelming, families are often surprised to see the peaceful tone of our toddler classroom. The calm atmosphere and lack of distraction helps children develop impulse control and concentration, planting the seeds for learning in this classroom and beyond.
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.
Exploration
To be a toddler is to be curious. There are so many things to see, touch, hear, feel and do in the classroom! Beautiful materials that stimulate the senses are rotated frequently on low shelves to pique your child’s curiosity. Children are encouraged to move freely around the classroom, to choose activities, and explore their own interests.
Ready to Move Up
Sometime between 2.5 to 3 years, your child’s language skills and self-expression will develop rapidly. They will express a growing confidence in independence and a keen interest in broader concepts, wanting to know what lies outside of the toddler classroom. At this point, they are ready to move up to the
Early Childhood Program, for children from the ages of 3 to 6.
Immersion Language
The toddler program is entirely in English. Families choose their immersion language track when they apply. Language immersion begins in the Early Childhood classroom.
Enrollment Ages
Starting at 18 months as of August 31.
Length of Day
- Half day: 8:30AM-12:00PM
- Regular day: 8:30AM-2:45PM
- After School: 2:45PM-5:30PM
International Montessori School only offers five-day programs.