Toddler Program

Between 16 months and 24 months, children make great leaps in their development.

As they grow, they begin to develop their cognitive senses as well as improve their motor skills and more movements. Toddlers are naturally curious to their surroundings and eager to grow and learn in new environments.

Foundations for a Montessori Toddler

Allowing independence at this young age may seem daunting to most parents, but it is the foundational step towards building self-confidence. As toddlers continue to grow our classroom provides gentle support and encouragement. Your child will learn skills such as:

Practice simple independent self- help tasks.
Explore their environment and make meaningful connections.
Experience Fine and Gross Motor skills.
Understand simple social interactions.
Learn early language and vocabulary related to their environment through songs, rhyming, conversations, and being read to.

Toddlers gain confidence in the completion of simple activities leading to a natural desire to learn new skills and more advanced and challenging tasks.

Expansion of Gross Motor Movement

Most toddlers learn to walk as early as 10 months through 14 months of age; yet walking is just the beginning. Their physical development involves providing opportunities for Toddlers to be active and interactive; to develop their coordination, control, and gross motor skills. Balance is one of the key components to gross motor movements as well as running, jumping, hopping, skipping, walking in line, including climbing play equipment and participating in nature walks.

Fine Motor Skills and Sensory Development

While Toddlers develop motor functions very early in life, it continues to progress as they age. During this period, we focus on expanding and refining grasping and holding skills. Activities for refinement of manipulative skills, eye- hand coordination, flexibility of the wrist, lightness of touch and careful handling of objects and materials that progress to more challenging fine motor accomplishments as they advance in age and prepares them for future writing.

Communication and Language Development

Involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skill in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations. On average Toddlers comprehend far more than using words to express their needs. Our Toddler caregivers work with children who are at varying degrees of speech. They encourage the use of new vocabulary; learning words used for daily items, foods, animals, colors, fruits , vegetables, and objects in their surroundings. They also use interactive activities using pictures/objects, songs, music, stories to enhance each child’s language skills.

Reviews

"My 17mo daughter recently started in the toddler summer program at MAV. She's had a great summer, and we're looking forward to continuing into the school year. The teachers and admin have all been very friendly and helpful answering my questions and getting her adjusted. This is her first childcare experience, and has done so well with the Montessori style. Her language skills have grown (including sign language) and they have exposed her to so many fun new activities. She loves going and the MAV staff has made us all feel so welcome!"

Olivia S.