The Montessori Method is a child-focused education approach that enables children to engage with their work deeply and teaches them to respect their surroundings, work independently, and use specially designed learning materials. The Montessori Method for toddlers can be as effective as it is for other ages and help foster self-motivated and rigorous growth in your young learner.
The toddler age range is a critical time for brain development, so it's beneficial for your child to receive the nurturing support they need to grow and become balanced in their physical, emotional, social and cognitive well-being. Discover why Montessori is good for toddlers and how this academic approach can benefit your child.
Critical Development Period
During the toddler age range, children's brains begin critical development. Around age 2, children experience the first critical spurt. At this time, the number of synapses or connections between neurons increases, giving children twice as many synapses as adults and enabling children to learn faster. Children at this age will have more synapses than at any other point in their life, making their experiences at this time crucial for learning and development.
At this point, toddlers begin to have increased coordination and be better able to control their movements. They can become more attentive to small details and begin grasping for small objects. They may also start building complex sentences and discover grammar rules and sentence construction. Additionally, toddlers begin to understand cause and effect, leading them to evaluate why events are occurring or the outcomes of their actions.
Sensory skills also kick in at this age. Children begin noticing different color shades, identifying new sounds and tones and refining their ideas of textures and tastes. This stage is typically when parents recognize their child's extraordinary abilities, such as having an ear for music, an interest in painting or drawing or an interest in cooking or eating good food.
Using Montessori During Critical Development
The first critical development period will last until around age 7, giving parents and instructors a short window to lay the foundational groundwork. Children's experiences can impact their ability to develop a love of learning, understand emotional intelligence and recognize the importance of education.
Toddlers need stimulation to learn new skills during this time. It can be difficult or even impossible for children to learn or develop necessary skills if they do not connect with stimuli. This lack can affect their ability to learn as they age and make it much more difficult to grasp concepts of language, music and other topics.
Implementing a holistic Montessori approach can aid in creating a unique environment where children can learn fundamental skills and develop into curious, independent and knowledgeable people. Sapientia Montessori's toddler program provides the necessary stimulation children need to cultivate their skills through hands-on learning experiences and giving unique exercises that hone their abilities.
Uninterrupted Learning
The type of stimuli your toddler experiences is just as important as the amount of time they can work with it. Uninterrupted learning gives young children the time they need to investigate and understand new ideas and topics. Additionally, uninterrupted learning teaches children how to focus for long periods, giving them plenty of opportunities to experiment with trial and error and gain confidence as they better understand the world around them and become more independent.
Childhood development depends on age-appropriate activities, free of interruptions or external impacts. Young children can work alone or play with a group of other toddlers and explore the world in a new light. However, when an adult steps in to help the child, the child may stop trying, losing valuable opportunities to learn concepts like cause and effect, critical thinking and problem-solving.
Sapientia Montessori practices the perfect balance of uninterrupted learning while providing assistance when children need it. We closely monitor children during uninterrupted learning periods to ensure they engage in safe and age-appropriate activities to enhance learning. We encourage children to imagine, explore, innovate and discover new ideas and concepts without interruption so they can become confident in their abilities and learn valuable skills.
Individualized Learning Plan
Every toddler moves at their own pace and has unique needs, meaning a one-size-fits-all approach to education will be ineffective. Instead, each child needs an individualized learning plan that reflects their abilities and encourages them to push their limits while gaining confidence in themselves.
Sapientia Montessori encourages development, and we give each toddler their own space and materials to explore, experiment and create without restrictions. Learning in a constructive and stimulating environment, your child can play, discover, experience and interact in whatever way works for them under the supervision of our trained teachers.
Parents love how we encourage their children to interact with new concepts and ideas. One parent says:
"Our two boys have had a great experience at this school. The Montessori method of teaching is extremely effective and allows kids to move at their own pace. Highly recommended!" - Ryan P
Language Development
During the critical development period, toddlers can learn complex language skills. As your toddler goes from speaking in simple words and phrases to trying new sounds and syllables, they can understand language more deeply. You'll likely notice an explosion of language at this age, and we want to help your child hone their skills to better communicate with you and their peers.
The Montessori Method for toddlers helps children become compelling communicators. At Sapientia Montessori, we teach language in tandem with reading and writing skills because language lays the foundation for these topics. In our stimulating classrooms, we encourage children to communicate consistently with their peers and articulate their opinions and thoughts meaningfully.
We focus on the child as a whole, emphasizing social skills and emotional expression among peers. We encourage children to learn from each other and find new ways to vocalize their wants, needs and desires. Our methods can help your child craft healthy emotional and expressive lives.
Learn More About Our Toddler Program
Sapientia Montessori is part of one of the oldest Montessori schools in Greater North Austin. Over the last three decades, we've established the highest standards for the development, education and care of the whole child. Our well-established socio-academic programs have helped children foster a love of lifelong learning.
Our mission is to develop young learners into curious, confident and inquisitive individuals that exhibit outstanding character, sensitivity to others and academic excellence. We nurture children to help them get a jump on social, physical, spiritual, emotional and educational development.
With Sapientia Montessori, your child can thrive and learn in a stimulating environment that encourages exploration and growth. You can easily schedule a tour of our school to see if we're the right fit for you and your child. Learn more about our toddler program and discover how Sapientia Montessori is good for toddlers and can benefit your child.
