PROGRAMS > Toddler - 15 months (+/-) to 3 years (+/-)
“To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.”
- Dr. Maria Montessori
Program Options
The Toddler Program is offered 5 days per week. The following options are available:
- Half-day: 8:20am to 12pm
- School-day: 8:20am to 3:05pm
- All-day:
7:30am to 6:00pm (care provided to All-day students for an additional 16 days during the academic school year)
What You Might See in Our Toddler Classroom
Visit one of our Toddler classrooms and you may see a child carefully pouring water from one pitcher to another, proudly putting on their own shoes, or happily making a flower arrangement with steady concentration. You might notice an older toddler showing a younger classmate how to return a material to the shelf or hear a child exclaim, "I did it!" after mastering the skill of zipping up their jacket.
These everyday moments are powerful examples of the foundational life skills Dr. Maria Montessori recognized as essential during the first three years of life. She described this stage as a period of intense mental activity, when the child absorbs everything that the environment has to offer through what she called the
Absorbent Mind. During these early years, children develop independence, coordination, concentration, language, and confidence through purposeful, hands-on experiences carefully prepared to meet their developmental needs.
A critical time for learning
Dr. Montessori identified the first six years of life as a sensitive period, when the child has a natural desire to learn certain things. If the skill is not acquired during this period, learning it later will be harder.
The Crabapple Montessori School classroom provides an orderly environment that supports toddlers during the sensitive period, so they can learn what they are ready to learn. At this age, they are learning to walk, control their hands, develop coordination, and expand their vocabulary. They are acclimating to the world and becoming independent.
Fostering Independence and Social Interaction
The environment is thoughtfully prepared to support a toddler’s natural drive toward independence, exploration, and discovery. Through purposeful activities in the areas of Practical Life, Language, Movement and Sensorial exploration, children develop concentration, coordination, confidence, and a growing sense of independence.
The Toddler years are a time of tremendous social and emotional development. Through Grace and Courtesy lessons and daily interactions within the classroom community, children learn to care for themselves, respect others, wait their turn, contribute to the community, and develop awareness of those around them.
While the Montessori classroom is orderly and carefully prepared, it is also a happy and engaging place where children are encouraged to explore, repeat activities to lead to mastery, and learn through hands-on experiences. Mistakes are welcomed as an essential part of the learning process, allowing children to build problem-solving skills, independence, and confidence at their own pace.
What Our Parents Say
"My daughter currently is in the Toddler program at CMS, and we are amazed at the progress she has made since she started. It is exciting to see her become more independent as she learns how to navigate the world around her. We are grateful for CMS. The teachers are amazing, the administration is professional, the classrooms are spacious, and the campus is well-maintained."
– AARON
"Our oldest daughter has been attending Crabapple Montessori for 2 years. We could not be happier with our school. We are seeing great progress in her development and education. The staff is extremely helpful, attentive and genuine in their desire to educate and better our daughter. Rita’s teachers have been exceptional. We have full confidence in their technique and methodology."
– OLGA & LEONARD
