The Toddler Community

(18 months to 3 years)

"One test of the correctness of education procedure is the happiness of the child.” Maria Montessori

The Toddler Community is a nurturing social environment specifically designed to meet the needs of young children. It provides learning activities which allow the child to work at her own rate. The prepared environment provides a secure, positive place that encourages the development of confidence in the child, as well as self control and independence. These very young children experience their first contact with other children and learn to participate in a cooperative group.

Materials are carefully designed to help children move with control, communicate, and adapt to the environment. The child chooses, practices, and masters individual and group work through real experiences in the community. Every toddler experience is a forerunner of more structured experiences; for example, hand and eye coordination movement which is essential for reading, is strengthened by painting, modeling, manipulative materials and outdoor play.

The prepared environment encompasses the following objectives:

• Practical life exercises - real life activities for self-care, care of the environment and social relations.

• Sensorial - activities that appeal to the child’s interest and which respond to the need for touching, tasting, listening, smelling, feeling, and manipulating.

• Language – familiar objects in the environment are used as a practical introduction to communication that expands vocabulary while improving articulation and pronunciation, encourage thinking, listening, expression of ideas and the answering of questions in sentences.

• Physical – outdoor large motor activities encourage the development of coordination, equilibrium, and strength.

• Self-expression – art, craft, and music activities introduce the child to various techniques for self-expression and communication

• Social relations – encourage a healthy relationship with adults and with the other children.