Introducing the Montessori Toddler Program
The Montessori Toddler Program is active, self-paced, and involves learning using all five senses. Children are introduced to the five areas of the Montessori Curriculum, including: Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics, Language and Culture, and develop competence through repetition and practice.
Between the ages of two and three, toddlers move through sensitive periods for language, order, small objects, toilet training, music, grace and courtesy, and the senses. The design of the toddler classroom, and the educational materials within in, reflect these interests and provide rich opportunities for learning that nurture children’s complete development.
Similarly, the daily routine reflects this age groups need to learn through movement and hands-on experience, while embracing children’s individual needs, interests, and learning style. Once children complete the Toddler Program, they progress to the Montessori Preschool Program, where they master the progression of the Montessori Curriculum, and prepare for their transition to school.
Toddler Learning Goals
Can identify common objects, body parts, and colours by name
Recognises numerals and counts by rote
Participates in physical activities
Ability to use the pincer grip when writing and drawing
Shows self-confidence and interacts well with others
Speaks in sentences and expresses thoughts and feelings
Distinguishes between sights, smells, tastes and sounds
Demonstrates problem-solving skills and shows curiosity
Can identify common objects, body parts, and colours by name
In toddler learning, the identification of common objects, body parts, and colours by name is facilitated through tools like Language Cards, Object Boxes, and Colour Boxes, which provide visual and tactile stimuli to enhance vocabulary acquisition and conceptual understanding, fostering early language development and cognitive growth.
Recognises numerals and counts by rote
Preschoolers learn to recognise numerals and count by rote through activities like using Sandpaper Numbers, Number Rods, Spindle Box, and Numbers & Counters, which provide tactile experiences and visual aids to reinforce numerical concepts, fostering early numeracy skills and a foundational understanding of quantity and number recognition.
Participates in physical activities
In toddler learning, participation in physical activities is encouraged through outdoor play and music & movement programs, providing opportunities for children to develop gross motor skills, coordination, and spatial awareness in a fun and stimulating environment, fostering physical development and a love for active play from an early age.
Ability to use the pincer grip when writing and drawing
Practical Life activities in toddler learning facilitate the development of the pincer grip for writing and drawing, engaging children in tasks such as using tongs, tweezers, and small utensils, which strengthen fine motor skills and encourage the use of the pincer grip essential for precise manipulation of writing and drawing instruments.
Shows self-confidence and interacts well with others
In preschool learning, the development of self-confidence and positive social interactions is fostered through a supportive environment that encourages exploration, risk-taking, and respectful communication, where children engage in collaborative activities, express themselves freely, and receive encouragement and validation from educators and peers alike.
Speaks in sentences and expresses thoughts and feelings
The Montessori Language Curriculum supports toddlers in speaking in sentences and expressing thoughts and feelings through group activities and projects, providing opportunities for language development through meaningful interactions, storytelling, and collaborative exploration, fostering communication skills and emotional expression in a supportive and engaging learning environment.
Distinguishes between sights, smells, tastes and sounds
The Montessori Sensorial Curriculum facilitates toddlers in distinguishing between sights, smells, tastes, and sounds through specialized activities and materials designed to engage the senses, enabling them to explore and differentiate sensory stimuli, fostering sensory awareness and perceptual development at an early age.
Demonstrates problem-solving skills and shows curiosity
Toddler learning fosters problem-solving skills and curiosity through independent activities, granting freedom to engage, express, and repeat tasks, encouraging exploration and discovery as children navigate challenges and satisfy their innate curiosity through hands-on experiences.
Toddler Curriculum
In addition the Montessori Curriculum, all Montessori Academy childcare centres also teach the Australian Government’s Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF): Belonging, Being & Becoming. The EYLF incorporates five learning outcomes that work hand-in-hand with the Montessori Curriculum to support children’s learning from birth to age five.
Five Key Outcomes of the EYLF:
- Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity
- Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of well-being
- Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners
- Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators
The Montessori Culture Curriculum covers the study of the arts, geography, science, environment, national culture, music, and history. Through cultural activities children learn about their community and the world. They discover similarities, differences, and develop an understanding, appreciation and respect for diversity and all living things.
Example materials and activities include:
- Land and water globe
- Flag puzzles
- World map puzzle
- Life cycle puzzle
- Botany cabinet
Montessori toddler language materials assist children in learning letter recognition, phonics, simple word structures, vowels and consonants, and the early stages of writing and reading.
Example materials and activities include:
- Sandpaper letters
- Three part cards
- Metal insets
- Plain paper cutting strips
- Object picture matching
Montessori mathematics materials assist children in developing an understanding of abstract mathematical concepts through hands-on experiences. Through the mathematics materials, students learn to identify and quantify numerals, count and sequence numbers, add and subtract, identify patterns, and learn about number systems.
Example materials and activities include:
- Sandpaper numbers
- Spindle box
- Number rods
- Cards and counters
- Cut-out numerals and counters
Sensorial activities are designed to help children develop and refine the senses of sight, touch, taste, smell and sound. These skills assist with classifying, sorting and discriminating between objects to interpret their sensory impressions. These skills are necessary foundations for language and mathematics.
Example materials and activities include:
- Pink tower
- Brown stairs
- Red rods
- Geometric tray
- Thermic tablets
Practical life activities focus on care of self, care of others, and care of the environment. In addition to teaching daily life skills, practical life activities promote independence, social skills, grace and courtesy, concentration, and coordination.
Example materials and activities include:
- Spooning
- Pouring
- Gardening and plant care
- Grating
- Window washing
Daily Routine Overview
The toddler routine outlines the typical daily flow for children aged two to three years in the Montessori toddler community. The toddler daily routine provides a consistent pattern of activities for learning time, meals, rest, and outdoor play. The predictability of the routine helps children to feel secure and positively influences their emotional, cognitive, and social development.
| 7:30am – 9am Morning | 9am- 11:30am Mid Morning | 11:30am – 12pm Lunch time | 12pm- 2pm Sleep or rest | 2pm-4:30pm Afternoon | 4:30pm-6pm Evening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre Opens | Morning tea | Lunch time | Sleep time | Afternoon tea | Indoor activities |
| Morning Greeting | Outdoor Play | Socialising | rest time | Outdoor play | Late afternoon snack |
| Montessori Work Cycle | Group time | Clean up | Quiet activity | Pack up time | Centre closes |
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Montessori is a child-centered approach that nurtures curiosity, independence, and confidence from the very first years. Through hands-on activities, real-life experiences, and playful problem-solving, toddlers explore, learn, and grow at their own pace, building the foundations for lifelong learning and wellbeing.
Other Programs
0-2
Infant Program
The Infant Program is designed to meet the developmental needs and interests of children aged 0-2. Children learn through movement and exploration.
3-6
Preschool Program
The Montessori Preschool Program is a structured academics and wellbeing program that prepares children for their transition to school.
4-6
School Readiness
Our School Readiness and Kinder Preparation Program combines school-styled workbooks with practical school readiness skills.
0-2
Infant Program
The Infant Program is designed to meet the developmental needs and interests of children aged 0-2. Children learn through movement and exploration.
3-6
Preschool Program
The Montessori Preschool Program is a structured academics and wellbeing program that prepares children for their transition to school.
4-6
School Readiness
Our School Readiness and Kinder Preparation Program combines school-styled workbooks with practical school readiness skills.
Montessori Materials for Toddlers
The Spindle Box clarifies the concept that numeral symbols represent certain quantities. It also introduces the natural sequence of numbers and the concept of zero and its symbol.
Tranferring water with a dropper teaches children concentration and care while indirectly preparing them for measurement.
The Pink Tower teaches children to visually discriminate by dimension. It also develops fine motor skills, introduces the concept of the base ten, and indirectly prepares children for the decimal system.
The Number Rods help children learn the names of numbers and their sequence in order to relate the spoken number to its corresponding quantity.
Working with the Metal Inset teaches children to develop their pencil grip, refine their fine motor skills, and learn how to draw within an outline and patterns.
The Spindle Box clarifies the concept that numeral symbols represent certain quantities. It also introduces the natural sequence of numbers and the concept of zero and its symbol.
Tranferring water with a dropper teaches children concentration and care while indirectly preparing them for measurement.
The Pink Tower teaches children to visually discriminate by dimension. It also develops fine motor skills, introduces the concept of the base ten, and indirectly prepares children for the decimal system.
The Number Rods help children learn the names of numbers and their sequence in order to relate the spoken number to its corresponding quantity.
Working with the Metal Inset teaches children to develop their pencil grip, refine their fine motor skills, and learn how to draw within an outline and patterns.