Coming in September 2025
The Taylor School’s New Montessori Toddler Community is opening this fall!
Beyond Daycare: The Benefits of a Montessori Toddler Community.
For our very young students, ages 15-33 months, joining a Montessori toddler community has far-reaching developmental benefits that include:
- Fostering a deep sense of self-confidence and autonomy
- Enhanced fine and gross motor skills
- Improved language acquisition and communication skills
- Strong social and emotional development
- Cognitive and physical exploration
- Increased curiosity, engagement, and executive functioning skills
Prepared environment:
The classroom is thoughtfully arranged with child-sized furniture, accessible shelves, and specific curriculum areas for practical life (dressing, washing hands), language development, sensory exploration (and fostering mathematical thinking), and gross motor skills.
Individualized learning:
Children are encouraged to choose activities based on their interests and developmental level, allowing for self-directed learning and exploration and building on children’s intrinsic motivation for learning.
Focus on daily living skills:
Activities like preparing snacks, setting the table, dressing themselves, and cleaning up are incorporated into the daily routine, promoting joy, competence, independence, and responsibility.
Language-rich environment:
Teachers use rich vocabulary and clear language to support language development and communication skills. Didactic materials offer concrete opportunities for cognitive and neurological development.
Social Interaction and Nurturing Support:
Opportunities for cooperative play, group activities, and sharing are facilitated to foster a sense of self, boundaries, social skills, empathy, and a deep connection to others.
Sensory exploration:
Various textures, materials, and sensory experiences are provided to stimulate children’s senses and curiosity. These activities feed children’s organic need to seek out and understand the world around them. In developing a deep connection to the senses, the child can discover their natural learning style and fullest potential.
Respectful guidance:
Teachers observe children closely and provide gentle guidance and support as needed, respecting their unique pace and needs. Scaffolding the organic development process is known as “following the child,” a scientific approach to balancing self-regulation and inner discipline with freedom and a love of learning.