Toddler Community – Kirkwood Children's House

The Toddler Community is designed to meet the specific needs of our youngest children.

Toddlers, like older children and adults, want to participate fully in their society. They want to challenge themselves and perform important, meaningful activities. This desire is especially strong during the toddler age, when a child begins to master the balance, coordination, and reasoning skills needed to participate in real work. During this stage in their lives, their experiences construct the basis for their personality and lay the foundation for the adult they will become.

In a Montessori Toddler Community, a trained Montessori teacher presents individual and group lessons, guiding each child’s progress individually. Shelves, tables, sinks, and chairs are custom-sized for toddlers to allow for full exploration and participation. The beautiful, specially-developed Montessori materials appeal to the natural curiosity of toddlers; they are designed to be challenging, but also to allow children to learn and succeed on their own. This leads to greater self-esteem, a positive self-image, and strong concentration skills.

Program Curriculum

Practical Life Activities

In the Montessori program, toddlers learn at an early age how to properly care for themselves, others, and the environment. Toddlers gain independence through toilet independence, washing their hands, and dressing. They also help maintain the cleanliness of their classroom by washing windows, folding laundry, raking leaves, and watering plants. These activities give toddlers the life skills needed to participate in society as adults.

Language Activities

Montessori language activities for toddlers build on their natural tendency to listen and absorb everything they hear. Children in a Montessori Toddler classroom are exposed to a rich vocabulary and explore the seemingly endless opportunities for naming objects. The teacher and assistant have peaceful, respectful conversations with the children, and children model these respectful conversations with one another.

Food Preparation

Eating is an important social event for the children. Toddlers eat family-style with their teachers and participate actively in the preparation of the meal by setting the table and cleaning upon completion. The children also prepare and serve individual morning and afternoon snacks using a toddler-sized sink, hutch, and dish-washing stand.

Sensory Development

Toddlers spend time sorting, cutting, sewing, and participating in other activities that enhance gross and fine motor development, including eye-hand coordination, body equilibrium, and cause-and-effect relationships. Our indoor gymnasium also provides wonderful opportunities for large motor development.

Problem Solving

The Toddler Community contains many activities that develop logical thinking, such as sorting or matching materials and puzzles. Most materials are self-correcting to give the child control of error in the work. Materials become progressively more complex as the child develops skills.

Art & Music Activities

Singing, rhythm activities, and playing instruments are all regular activities in the Toddler Community. Art is explored in the form of drawing, painting, cutting, gluing, and collage making.

Outdoor & Garden Time

Toddlers at KCH spend time outside each day. They play on our playground, go for walks around the 3-acre wooded campus, and garden in our raised toddler garden beds. During the morning work time, toddlers are free to work among the trees on the outdoor environment deck connected to the classrooms.

Transition to Primary

When toddler children show signs of readiness – typically between two and a half and three years old – they begin to visit one of the Primary classrooms. Then, when the parents, teachers, and child are ready, the child will transition fully into the Primary classroom. This transition happens very naturally.