Creative Montessori Rolling Playdough

Toddler Program: Ages 18 Months–3 Years

The toddler years are a period of extraordinary growth as children begin to explore the world beyond their families and establish a sense of independence. At Creative Montessori School, this developmental stage is honored through a carefully prepared environment that supports autonomy, concentration, and emerging social skills.

In the toddler classroom, children engage deeply with hands-on materials designed to support their natural drive for order, movement, and exploration. Through purposeful activity and repetition, toddlers develop focus and experience joy as they master new skills and gain confidence in their abilities.

The Practical Life area is a central component of the toddler environment. Children practice everyday activities such as pouring, folding, buttoning, zipping, sorting, and caring for their classroom. These experiences strengthen fine and gross motor development, coordination, and independence while fostering a sense of responsibility and pride.

Each child’s development unfolds at an individual pace within a warm, responsive setting. Montessori-trained teachers carefully observe each child, offering guidance and introducing new challenges when the child is ready. Through meaningful interaction with materials, peers, and their environment, toddlers build foundational skills and develop a deep sense of confidence, independence, and joy in learning — hallmarks of an authentic Montessori experience.

Parents frequently observe meaningful changes as their children grow in the Toddler Program, including:

  • Increased independence and confidence
  • Strong concentration and focus during activities
  • Pride in doing things “by myself”
  • Emerging social skills and awareness of others
  • Joy and enthusiasm for coming to school

“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.” -- Maria Montessori

Toddler

18 months - 3 years
Toddler classrooms at CMS are nurturing and stimulating environments where young children learn through all their senses and begin to develop an interest in exploring the world around them.

Primary

3 - 6 years
In a Primary classroom, the mixed age groups afford the older children the chance to serve as leaders in the classroom, and provide examples for the younger children to learn from and to model in a social and academic setting.

Lower Elementary

6 - 9 years
In Lower Elementary classrooms, mixed-age learning encourages curiosity, collaboration, and growing independence, allowing children to build strong academic foundations while learning from and alongside their peers in a supportive community.

Upper Elementary

9 - 12 years
In Upper Elementary classrooms, students take on greater ownership of their learning, developing leadership, critical thinking, and confidence as they prepare for the increased responsibility and independence of adolescence.

Secondary

12 - 14 years
The Secondary program connects academics to real-world experiences, empowering adolescents to think critically, explore personal interests, and grow into confident, responsible, and engaged learners.