Toddler

18-36 months


The South Coast Montessori Toddler Community is an environment that bridges the gap between the Infant and the Primary. This environment is for the young child who is ready to make a conscious effort toward independence and ready for more advanced work.


Program Options:  3, 4 or 5 Consecutive Days

Half Day: 8:15-11:30am/Full Day: 8:15am-3:00pm

Extended Day: 8:15am-4:00pm

Toddler Program

A toddler classroom is carefully designed with age appropriate furniture and activities that foster independence, support cognitive and language development and strengthen fine/gross motor skills.

  • Language development through spoken language and conversation, specific language materials, and a vast, rotating library.
  • Fine and gross motor development through eye-hand specific manipulatives and independent use of child sized furnishings.
  • Independence with practical life skills. Setting the table, preparation and serving of food, care for the environment, sweeping, and washing tables. Advanced self-care skills such as learning to dress, personal hygiene and toilet training are developed in the toddler community.
  • Social development -  through modeling and consistently guiding social interactions with a sensitive approach based on respect for individual differences. Practicing grace and courtesy with each other.
  • Creative Expression through music, movement, songs and art are a daily part of the curriculum. Emphasis is given to both quality time spent concentrating on purposeful indoor activities as well as outdoor activities and free exploration in nature. 

Teachers and assistants are trained to interact with children based on knowledge of the direct influence of positive relationships to brain/mind/personality development. Developing close relationships with families, and consistent daily communication is a priority.

Daily Schedule:

8:15 - 8:30 Arrival and greetings.

8:30 - 10:30 Indoor/Outdoor work period with Montessori activities, lessons, art, books, gardening, music and movement, food preparation, baking, morning circle, and community snack which includes setting the table, washing hands, sitting down for snack together, and clean up.

10:30 - 10:45 Transition to outdoor play and exploration.

10:45 - 11:30 Outdoor play using the toddler yard with sandbox, wheelbarrows, balls and climbing structure. Or going on walks exploring the big field on campus.

11:15 - 11:30 Transition to lunch and prepare half day children to go home.

11:30 - 12:30 Community lunch and transition to nap.

12:30 - 2:30 Afternoon nap/rest time.

2:30- 3:00 Transition children from nap and prepare full day children to go home.

3:00 - 3:45 Snack and after school care with fun indoor and outdoor activities.

3:45 - 4:00 Final pickup time for extended day children.

 "He does it with his hands, by experience, first in play and then through work. The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence."

- Maria Montessori

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