Toddler: The Journey to Independence
2 - 3 Years
Education begins from the moment a child opens their eyes and starts taking in the world. Children, no matter how young, are taking in the world around them and learning from it. As they get older, they desire to explore the world. Additionally, they seek to gain some independence from their parents. These things are what the Montessori toddler classroom focuses on.
A TRUE COMMUNITY OF CHILDREN
Not a classroom, a community!
Our students grow together into a close-knit, caring community.
Help me to do it myself
Imagine your two year old getting excited to help set the dinner table with you. We can help make that happen! Your child has a natural drive to be independent which we encourage by creating an environment where everything is just the right size for him or her to do things on their own.
Friends prepare snacks, and serve it to friends. A miniature broom empowers your child to clean up on their own. They are taught the skills of self care and toilet training, your child learns a set of concrete life skills and self confidence but, most importantly, develops the belief that they can choose to make a genuine impact on their world.
A Beautiful Environment
Our bright and sunny toddler classroom is specially designed for your child between the ages of 2 and 3 years. 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.
The Montessori toddler classroom is carefully prepared to provide a wide range of stimulating, engrossing activities within a caring, calm environment. The materials are placed low on shelves so children learn to choose and use them independently.
Exploration and Practice
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 he or she is ready and then allowing them to practice again and again (and again!) until they master it.
Mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities in an atmosphere of patience, trust and respect. Each material has a purpose in helping children develop their potential.
First Friends-Happy Children
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 at Princeton Preparatory Schools.
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.
Great Learning Environment
Where so many early childhood programs are chaotic and overwhelming, parents are often surprised to see the peaceful tone of our toddler classroom.
The calm atmosphere and lack of distraction helps children to develop impulse control and concentration, planting the seeds for learning in this classroom and beyond.
To be a toddler is to be curious. There are so many things to see, touch, hear, feel and do in the classroom!
Christian Environment
Faith speaks the language of the heart. It is an expression of hope that goes beyond the conscious mind.
Having a faith upbringing supports three main ideas. First, it gives children a sense of connectedness with others outside their family. Second, it can be a guiding force and give children a moral compass. And lastly, it gives them a sense of gratitude.
By the time they leave the toddler classroom, your children will become more tolerant and sensitive to to everyone around them.
Ready to Move Up!
By 3 years of age, your child’s language skills and self expression will develop rapidly.
Your child will express a growing confidence in independence and a keen interest in broader concepts.
He or she will want to know what lies ahead - outside of the Toddler Classroom. At this point, we know that your child is ready to move up to the Casa Classroom which accommodates children from the ages of 3 to 6 years.
