The toddler stage is a crucial period in a child’s development. During these formative years, their brain is rapidly developing, laying the foundation for their future growth and learning. Parents and educators alike strive to provide the best possible environment to nurture toddlers, and the Montessori educational approach offers a unique and effective way to support their holistic development. In this blog post, we will explore what makes toddler development special and how the Montessori method assists toddlers in reaching their fullest potential.
- Sensitive Periods:
Toddlers experience sensitive periods during which they are highly receptive to learning specific skills or concepts. The Montessori method recognizes these sensitive periods and tailors the environment to meet toddlers’ evolving needs. For instance, during the sensitive period for language, Montessori classrooms provide a rich language environment through storytelling, songs, and vocabulary-building activities, helping toddlers develop their language skills effortlessly. - Independence and Self-Help Skills:
Toddlers naturally strive for independence and want to do things on their own. The Montessori approach fosters this desire by creating an environment that encourages self-help skills. In a Montessori classroom, toddlers are given the freedom to engage in practical activities like washing their hands, pouring water, or dressing themselves. This independence boosts their self-confidence and lays the groundwork for future autonomy. - Hands-On Learning:
Toddlers explore the world through hands-on experiences. Montessori materials play a crucial role by engaging their senses and promoting active learning. Colorful puzzles, sensory bottles, and tactile objects stimulate their curiosity and encourage them to explore and manipulate their environment. This hands-on approach not only supports cognitive development, but also enhances motor skills and coordination. - Individualized Learning:
No two toddlers are alike, and the Montessori philosophy acknowledges this uniqueness by focusing on individualized learning. Montessori educators observe each toddler’s interests, strengths, and areas for growth, tailoring activities to meet their specific needs. Toddlers are given the freedom to choose their activities from a carefully curated range of Montessori materials, fostering a love for learning and sparking their natural curiosity. - Prepared Environment:
The Montessori classroom is a meticulously designed environment that promotes independence, order, and respect. Toddlers thrive in this prepared environment, where everything is accessible and child-sized. The materials are arranged in a logical order, encouraging sequential learning and developing their ability to categorize and organize information. - Focus on Practical Life Skills:
Montessori recognizes the importance of practical life skills in a toddler’s development. Simple tasks like pouring, sweeping, or buttoning teach toddlers concentration, coordination, and a sense of responsibility. These skills not only enhance their daily life competence but also lay the groundwork for their future academic achievements.
The Montessori method provides a holistic and individualized approach to toddler development. By acknowledging their unique needs and potential, Montessori empowers toddlers with independence, self-confidence, and a love for learning. Through hands-on experiences, an enriched language environment, and a prepared environment, toddlers achieve their best potential, laying the foundation for a lifetime of successful learning and growth.
Welcome to Montessori Nature’s Guide to Montessori Toddler Online Resources. You may be a new teacher in the Montessori classroom who is looking for inspiration or a parent who recently heard about the Montessori method but doesn’t know really where to start, or you are simply searching for more ideas. I hope this post will help you to navigate toward great materials and save you some time!
Montessori Toddler Curriculum
Montessori Curriculum for “Toddlers” by Sorting Sprinkles
“Over the years, I’ve naturally accumulated A LOT of “stuff” to plan out these days of discovery and learning: from the free Montessori albums (yes, some people have generously published their albums online!) to the much appraised, practically AMS endorsed KHT ones (my all-time favorites). I’m not sure why but I love collecting Montessori albums (a bad habit considering most of them don’t come in cheap!). This year again, I’ll be using a mix of it all (and probably venture off curriculum again and again…and again…). Curious about what I have planned for my 2.5 year old? Here is the “big picture” with a few hints of what we’ll explore in the upcoming school year”.
18 – 24 Month Toddler “Curriculum” by Married Mama Melissa
“This is my daughter’s 18-24 month curriculum. We are not strict about our activities. If Sugar doesn’t want to do an activity, we move on to the next one. We also don’t do it all at once or every day. It’s just something I do with her because I feel like she should be taught these things at her age”.
Montessori Scope and Sequence(Infant – Age 12) (free) by Montessori Compass
Areas covered: Infant Art, Music, and Movement, Cosmic Studies, Geography, History, Language, Arts, Mathematics, Practical Life, Science Sensorial
“This Scope & Sequence is not intended to be a “one-size-fits-all” checklist of lessons. Our goal is to equip Montessorians from all around the world with a resource that is both useful and adaptable, while staying true to the Montessori Method and its traditions. Lessons/materials are tagged to the appropriate cycle years and are paired with very specific measurable learning objectives”.
Montessori Curriculum for Parents by Montessori House
The Montessori teaching curriculum has been developed by our experienced Montessori House teachers for parents to use at home.
Montessori Teaching Album for Babies Infants Toddlers
Montessori Curriculum for Toddlers & PreK
Montessori Curriculum for PreK thru Kindergarten (Primary)
Montessori Curriculum Albums Infant through First Grade: Complete Set of Six Albums
Self-paced Homeschooling for Every Grade
SchoolhouseTeachers.com provides a highly interactive and engaging curriculum that covers a variety of subjects, from math and science to language arts and history. With over 400 courses available, there is something for every student’s unique learning style and interests. You can access the curriculum at any time, from anywhere with an internet connection, allowing you to tailor your child’s education to fit your family’s schedule and needs. Additionally, the platform offers resources for parents, including lesson plans, teacher guides, and grading tools, making it easy for you to stay organized and track your child’s progress.
Key Features:
School Boxes for PreK – 12th Grade containing:
In-Depth Curriculum Guides for Each Subject: These guides cover core subjects in detail, ensuring a thorough understanding of each area.
Engaging and Challenging Content: The curriculum is tailored to stimulate and challenge students, keeping them engaged and motivated.
Full Academic Year of Rich Educational Material: Every guide provides a complete year’s worth of learning, drawing from the diverse and extensive courses on SchoolhouseTeachers.com.
Access to 400+ self-paced homeschooling courses
Access to World Book plus 25,000+ streaming family videos
Customer support by chat, phone, email
Raising Toddlers the Montessori Way – blogs and resources
Wikisori – Wikisori, among other things, is an online Montessori Album project built by Montessorians for Montessorians.
Essentials of a Montessori Toddler Classroom by Sorting Sprinkles.
“Unless you are a certified Montessori teacher taking a few sabbatical years, your first year of home schooling your child using the Montessori method can be a bit overwhelming. Despite all the research, planning, and reading, it’s always a bit difficult to target what’s really essential in a home school setting”.
Transitioning Your Toddler into Your Homeschool Environment by Every Star Is Different.
“I wanted to be sure to share our experience and give some tips about transitioning your toddler into your homeschool environment in hopes you can avoid any unnecessary stress during the transition”.
Handmade Montessori Inspired toddler toys and materials found on Etsy.
Montessori Nature printables – designed with toddlers in mind.
The printables are designed to simplify the learning process, make complex concepts easier for young minds to comprehend, and transform information into knowledge.
I invest hours of extensive research into creating each printable. Cards are accompanied by true-to-life images, photographs, or watercolor clipart. I bring along my many years of experience working as a teacher and homeschooling my children.
All cards are presented to you as digital instant downloads. There is no shipping or waiting involved. All printables are delivered to your email ready to be printed. You can start using them right away.
“One of the most difficult tasks for a Montessori parent or caregiver is adapting the home environment to work for children who mouth objects as well as older children. Our Montessori home is in a constant state of change with grandchildren visiting often. Right now, they range from toddlers to early elementary. I’m sharing ideas for preparing a Montessori space in your living room adapted for those ages”.
“How do you know if your child is ready for an activity? Observe their sensitive periods, try an activity and if they maintain interest then continue. If not, look for ways to adapt it to their level or interest”.
“In this fast-paced society where children are overwhelmed with information and activities, spending time in nature is crucial. Simply getting outside and enjoying the natural world without any specific purpose, is so important”.
“When I was working in a primary environment (children 3 to 6), at VMS, I learned that consistency is the main key when you are trying to set up boundaries. For example, sometimes I had to show a child how to tuck in their chair over and over until they internalized the concept. It was such a joy to see that proud child showing their friends how to tuck in a chair in a respectful and loving way. I realized that it was all worth it”.
“Over the weekend I introduced Otis to the water dispenser. I think it’s good for a child to get lots of practice pouring from a pitcher and really there is no better way than to pour their own drink several times a day”.
“A lot of popular opinions about toddlers seem to be negative. There is a belief that they are angry, troublesome, destructive, clingy, dependent, incapable, frustrating and complex. These are misconceptions driven by a misunderstanding of the child’s true nature and developmental needs. Toddlers are indeed complex but they are also amazing little humans with so many positive characteristics. They are capable and creative scientists with an amazing sense of order and inherent joy when they are provided with the right environment and opportunities to support their development. This course will help you see your toddler with new eyes and give you the tools to support their development”.
“As we continue our wild animals exploration, the boys and I watched documentary shows in Netflix about animals in Africa. Vito enjoyed watching the shows and kept on naming the animals that he can identify. With this, we worked on vocabulary words by identifying other wild animals that he’s not familiar with like gorilla, panther and rhinoceros”.
“The hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence” M. Montessori
“The importance of the hand is at the heart of Montessori education. The use of hands helps the child construct itself thought Maria Montessori. “The hand is the tool of the mind”. Years later, science tends to prove that indeed manipulation is paramount in learning, and that retention will be greatly enhanced if the child learned through manipulation rather then mere rote learning.”
“Jasper has been loving painting these days — at almost any time of the day. Case in point: today he painted before breakfast. Having the paint and paper available on the art shelf at all times has been really allowing him to pursue this love”.
Recommended Reading
Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies
It’s time to change the way we see toddlers. Using the principles developed by the educator Dr. Maria Montessori, Simone Davies shows how to turn life with a “terrible two” into a mutually rich and rewarding time of curiosity, learning, respect, and discovery.
Montessori at Home Guide: A Short Guide to a Practical Montessori Homeschool for Children Ages 2-6
This beginner’s guide to the Montessori Method of homeschooling for children ages 2-6 is written by parents who have embraced this method of educating their own children. It was written in hopes of simplifying the process for other parents and caregivers who are considering doing the same. The Montessori Method of education can best be described as an “Aid to Life” rather than a specific method of passing on academic objectives.
Child’s Play: Montessori Games and Activities for Your Baby and Toddler
For children, playing is learning, and this appealing book is filled with more than 60 Montessori-inspired play-and-learn ideas that parents and kids can enjoy together. The games are arranged progressively, starting with simple games for infants and advancing to games and activities suitable for active toddlers. Each game description includes instructions for play, items and materials needed and suggested related play activities for parents and their toddlers.
Open the door to teaching infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds successfully with these 300 activities linked to the latest development in child development. Observe what your children are already doing, then give them varied opportunities to develop at their own pace. Simple Steps outlines a typical development sequence in ten domains: social/emotional, fine motor, gross motor, language, cognitive, sensory, nature, music and movement, creativity, and dramatic play.
Montessori from the Start: The Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three
Based on Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophies for nurturing babies and toddlers, this practical and useful guide is brimming with instructions, anecdotes, and encouragement for raising calm, competent, and confident children—from designing the baby’s bedroom to encouraging life skills such as dressing themselves and working both independently and collaboratively.
Toddlers Together: The Complete Planning Guide For A Toddler Curriculum
Toddlers (1 to 3 years old) experience the joy of learning all year long with these hands-on, seasonal activities. Cynthia Catlin, who has worked with toddlers for over ten years, brings you fun, easy-to-do activities geared toward the toddler’s unique stage of development.
First Art for Toddlers and Twos: Open-Ended Art Experiences
Discover the natural curiosity and enthusiasm of toddlers and twos as they explore creative art experiences designed just for them. In this updated, color edition of First Art, you will find more than seventy-five art experiences, with lots of variations that add to the fun and tips for making the activities run smoothly. First Art for Toddlers and Twos starts children on a journey full of exploration and creativity!
The Joyful Child: Montessori, Global Wisdom for Birth to Three
Every culture has wisdom but in modern times much of it has been lost. The first three years of life are too important for experiments, but the Montessori guidelines presented here have held true all over the world, no matter what the culture of the child, for over 100 years. It is the goal of this book to help parents look for, discover, appreciate, and support the mental, physical, and emotional needs of the child in the first three years of life.
No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame
Janet Lansbury is unique among parenting experts. As a RIE teacher and student of pioneering child specialist Magda Gerber, her advice is not based solely on formal studies and the research of others, but also on her twenty years of hands-on experience guiding hundreds of parents and their toddlers. “No Bad Kids” is a collection of Janet’s most popular and widely read articles pertaining to common toddler behaviors and how respectful parenting practices can be applied to benefit both parents and children. It covers such common topics as punishment, cooperation, boundaries, testing, tantrums, hitting, and more. “No Bad Kids” provides a practical, indispensable tool for parents who are anticipating or experiencing those critical years when toddlers are developmentally obliged to test the limits of our patience and love. Armed with knowledge and a clearer sense of the world through our children’s eyes, this period of uncertainty can afford a myriad of opportunities to forge unbreakable bonds of trust and respect.
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind
In this pioneering, practical book, Daniel J. Siegel, neuropsychiatrist and author of the bestselling Mindsight, and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson offer a revolutionary approach to child rearing with twelve key strategies that foster healthy brain development, leading to calmer, happier children. The authors explain—and make accessible—the new science of how a child’s brain is wired and how it matures. The “upstairs brain,” which makes decisions and balances emotions, is under construction until the mid-twenties. And especially in young children, the right brain and its emotions tend to rule over the logic of the left brain. No wonder kids throw tantrums, fight, or sulk in silence. By applying these discoveries to everyday parenting, you can turn any outburst, argument, or fear into a chance to integrate your child’s brain and foster vital growth.
No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind
Highlighting the fascinating link between a child’s neurological development and the way a parent reacts to misbehavior, No-Drama Discipline provides an effective, compassionate road map for dealing with tantrums, tensions, and tears—without causing a scene.
Defining the true meaning of the “d” word (to instruct, not to shout or reprimand), the authors explain how to reach your child, redirect emotions, and turn a meltdown into an opportunity for growth. By doing so, the cycle of negative behavior (and punishment) is essentially brought to a halt, as problem solving becomes a win/win situation. Inside this sanity-saving guide you’ll discover.
Other toddler resources you might find helpful in your classroom
-
Indigenous Australia Matching Colouring Tracing$2.00
-
Counting 0-10 Math Cards English Spanish Fall Theme$3.00
-
Counting 0-10 Math English Spanish Summer Theme$3.00
-
Fruits and Berries Toddler Picture Cards$3.50
-
Bugs Insects and Minibeasts Toddler Picture Cards$3.50
-
Animals Toddler Picture Cards$3.50
-
Visual Daily Routine Activity Cards for Young Children$2.50
-
Counting 0-10 Math Cards Spanish Spring Pre-K and K$3.00
-
Counting 0-10 Winter Cards English Spanish$3.00