Bambino
The Toddler program offers children ages 15 months to 3 years the opportunity to learn through real-life experiences. The classroom provides a warm, peaceful atmosphere where young children develop essential skills and actively participate in their own care and the care of their classroom environment. This creates a community of respect and mutual understanding, where each child feels like a valued member.
What sets the Toddler Community Apart?
Our toddler community includes a Guide, an assistant, and typically 12 to 14 children aged 15 to 36 months. Each classroom is a specially prepared environment designed to meet the needs of children at this stage, allowing them to become independent and engaged learners. Young children go through sensitive periods of order and language development, so our Toddler Community is designed with this in mind to facilitate growth, exploration, and socialization. Toddlers have a tremendous capacity for mental absorption and are encouraged to explore and discover with quiet enthusiasm.
When Will My Child be Ready for the Toddler Community?
We look for key milestones such as independent walking, transitioning from both morning and afternoon naps to just one afternoon nap, and moving away from using a bottle. Once these milestones are reached, children are ready for introduction into the toddler environment.
If your child is not yet ready for the toddler environment, we recommend considering our Nido Program. This program collaborates closely with our Toddler Environment to prepare children for a smooth transition.
Typical Toddler Day
During our work period, each child engages in a variety of activities such as cleaning, watering plants, learning to sew, creating collages, preparing food, washing dishes, or baking bread. With each activity, children practice motor skills, concentration, and develop self-confidence. Every morning, we gather for a community snack prepared by the children with adult guidance. The table is set with flowers, placemats, and cloth napkins, and everyone practices good manners.
Throughout the morning, we engage in music, poetry, songs, and art materials are always available. There is joy and excitement each day as the child’s personality unfolds and blossoms, revealing the individual they are becoming.
“I can’t say enough good things about this wonderful place! My little girl started out in the Nido room at just 3 months and she is now in the Toddler room and has had amazing teachers from the start. They hug & love on my daughter just like I do and it does my heart good to know that I am leaving her in such loving hands when I head off to work. That makes all the difference to a working mom! My daughter has also really thrived in the Montessori environment and teachings. This place is one of the best in the Atlanta area and I highly recommend it.
– Andrea T.
How do we Approach Toilet Training?
Once a child begins walking steadily, we recommend using cloth training pants, which they can pull up and down independently. We will then have them sit on the toilet for short periods at regular intervals throughout the day. This approach serves two purposes:
- It sets them on a path to independence in toileting.
- It helps them become aware of their bodily functions, allowing them to connect the sensation with sitting on the toilet.
When this routine is consistently followed both in the classroom and at home, it typically results in children becoming toilet trained much faster.
How do Mealtimes Work?
At our school, we prioritize serving nutritious and well-balanced meals to support the healthy growth and development of our students. Each meal is carefully planned to include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy to ensure that children receive all the essential nutrients they need.
We serve wholesome and delicious dishes such as grilled chicken with quinoa and steamed vegetables, whole grain pasta with marinara sauce, and fresh fruit salads. Additionally, we provide two healthy snacks daily, which might include options like yogurt with granola and berries in the morning and apple slices with almond butter in the afternoon. Our commitment to providing nutritious meals and snacks helps to fuel our students’ learning and play throughout the day.
What are the Important Components of a Toddler Environment?
Nurturing Development in Our Toddler Community
When children are young, they absorb the entire world around them through their five senses. Our Toddler Community caters to these senses by offering an environment rich in sensorial experiences.
The first three years of a child’s life are critical to language development. We strive to provide a language-rich environment by incorporating various language activities and vocabulary into all that we do, including snack time, outdoor play, and group activities. Additionally, we offer multiple direct language lessons, exposing children to numerous opportunities for language growth.
Practical life experiences and activities are a significant aspect of the toddler class. Children participate daily in tasks such as window washing, dishwashing, wood polishing, and baking. By contributing to the community in this way, they learn they are valued and respected members of the group.
Children in the toddler environment are given the freedom of movement. We allow them to move freely in an inviting space prepared specifically for their developmental stage. To enhance their movement skills, the room is designed for them to independently carry tables and chairs and practice practical movement activities such as setting the table and washing their hands.
Many children are accustomed to having things done for them, such as getting dressed, having their nose wiped, and being fed. In the toddler environment, we encourage children to learn the essentials of self-care. We teach them basic skills like dressing themselves, washing their hands, and wiping their nose, empowering them to take pride in doing things independently.
Learning to care for the environment around them is a vital life skill we foster from the earliest years. Children learn to keep the environment clean, orderly, and well-maintained. By doing this for themselves, they develop respect, ownership, and responsibility for the space around them, both indoors and outdoors.
In case you think your child would flourish in a Montessori environment, grant us a call or plan a visit online. We would adore for you to visit our school and learn more.