Toddler
Delivering on our Mission
Independence + Empowerment
By engaging in purposeful, self-directed work, students build academic confidence and personal agency, becoming fearless, forward learners who trust their abilities and ideas.
Toddler Learning Outcomes
Independence + Empowerment
Academic: Meaningful activities that increase the child’s fine and gross motor skills, sense of order, sequencing, communication, early literacy skills, and concentration to support a strong foundation for academic learning.
Social Emotional: The child understands that they are their own person with agency, empowered to do for themselves and others, resulting in discovering how their actions can make a positive impact to their classroom community.
Experiential: Awareness of the larger world through literature, geography, and neighborhood walks.
Our Toddler Montessori classrooms are thoughtfully designed to support the rapid developmental growth of young learners. Mixed-age groups provide cognitive stimulation while meeting each child’s social and emotional needs within a nurturing community.
The Toddler Montessori environment offers space for children to explore freely within a purposefully prepared setting that fosters independence, self-identity, and joy in learning. Our dedicated staff guides each child with warmth and respect. Classrooms maintain a 1:5 adult-to-child ratio, led by a Montessori-certified Lead Teacher and an Assistant Teacher, with ten children ranging in age from 14 to 36 months.
Through movement and exploration, children expand their understanding of the world as parallel play gradually becomes interactive collaboration. They learn to communicate their needs and build self-confidence while developing the social skills required for respectful relationships. Classroom activities emphasize care of self and environment, strengthen gross and fine motor development, and provide structure that supports emerging pre-academic skills.
A defining element of the Toddler program is its rich social and language environment, where children are immersed in meaningful communication and guided toward greater independence. During this stage of rapid development, our staff thoughtfully supports each child’s growing autonomy and discovery in a loving, respectful, and professional manner.
Why the Toddler Program at MAC?
Innovative Academics
Dr. Maria Montessori observed that children learn through movement and exploration. Our Montessori trained teachers individually observe each child and prepare the environment in a certain order, with specifically designed Montessori materials, so that the child is drawn to and can stay engaged in their activity. Teachers guide social interaction through modeling slow and purposeful movements and respectful communication. The most vital component of the class is the dynamic social and linguistic experiences where each child is immersed into the more ordered world of communication and learning. During the child’s time in Toddler, their language development explodes. Teachers encourage children to practice the art of conversation and foster gross and fine motor skills, providing structure and organization for pre-academic learning.
Exploration of Character
Toddler children are motivated to make sense of their world through their strong sensitive period and need for order. The child learns how to make a choice and act on that choice. Classrooms specifically encourage independence, with items located on shelves that are child-sized, where each child is given a thoughtful presentation of each work. This gives the child the opportunity to choose their own work and replace it when done. Toddler children come in each morning and excitedly place their belongings in their cubbies, put their lunches away and learn to move about the classroom with intention. They begin to understand routine and engage in activities that teach the care of oneself and the environment.
Fearless, Forward Learners
An accessible space allows the child to pursue their interests on their own, solidifying their ability to "do it myself." Toddler children learn the ability to use their words when conflicts arise, and practice independent skills such as toileting and dressing. An emphasis is placed on toilet learning and teaching children to "listen to their bodies” allowing them the space to make mistakes until the repetition of mistakes becomes individually perfected practices. Our teachers provide opportunities to refine independent skills so the children become confident, autonomous, and helpful learners.
Program Highlights
Food preparation is part of our work cycle. Children are invited to help a teacher chop, season and stir vegetables before they cook them to add to their lunch as a school provided vegetable side.
I am so proud of the critical skills my son learned in the Toddler Community. By 2.5 years of age, he knew how to dress himself, use the toilet independently, clean up after himself, and be respectful to those around him.
-Toddler Parents
Now accepting applications! To learn more about our admissions process, click below.