Montessori Routines – Daily Routine For Toddlers In Childcare

• The daily routine may be altered to accommodate for seasonal changes, wet weather, and special events
• Spontaneous groups times occur throughout the day
• Educators plan learning experiences for each day (these are displayed on the curriculum planning sheets in your child’s classroom)
• We seek to accommodate each child’s individual eating and sleeping schedule
• All Montessori Academy childcare centres are sun-safe and allergy aware
• A record of your child’s day is communicated to you via our family communication app

Montessori Academy opens at 7:30am. Upon arrival, please remember to sign your child in and place their bag and belongings in their locker. Children need a labelled water bottle, hat, and spare set of clothes each day. If your child attends a non-catered centre, they will also need a healthy packed lunch.

When you are ready to enter the classroom, please knock on the door, and wait for an educator to greet your child. Older children are encouraged to knock on the door once they have been introduced to the Grace and Courtesy Curriculum. Please say goodbye at the door to minimise disruption to the class.

Once your child enters the classroom they will begin the Montessori Work Cycle. Children may choose to work individually, with an educator, or in a small group setting.

Students are encouraged to learn by moving, follow their interests, and pack away before they proceed with the next activity. Learning is individually paced and based on each child’s developmental needs and interests.

Around 10am, the Montessori Work Cycle concludes, and children enjoy a nutritious morning tea from a rotating menu of fresh fruit, muffins, cereal, healthy slices, and sandwiches accompanied by milk.

The children then go outside to play and engage in activities that encourage their physical development and fundamental movement skills. Children practice ball skills, running and jumping, play in the sandpit, engage in collaborative play, and participate in games, music, and dancing activities.

After outdoor play, the children participate in group time which typically includes planned activities based on children’s interests.

Group time activities may include language activities, group interest projects, lessons in grace and courtesy, walking on the line, art and craft, or music and movement.

Throughout the day children participate in both planned and spontaneous group time experiences.

Around 11:30am, the children settle in for the lunchtime routine. Lunch is a social time, where educators encourage talking about different types of food and table manners. Lunch is also a great time to practice skills such as spooning, tonging, and using a fork. At the end of the meal, children pack away their own plates or lunch boxes, scrape food waste into the bin, and assist with tidying up the room.

After lunch, children sleep or have quiet rest time. The room is darkened and quiet sleep music lulls the children into a restful sleep. Children sleep or rest on floor beds. Quiet activities are available for children who do not sleep.

Around 2:30pm, the children begin to wake up, and communal afternoon tea is served. This is typically fresh vegetable sticks and dip, sandwiches, cheese and crackers, yoghurt, wraps, fresh fruit, or healthy muffins accompanied by water.

Once children have finished eating, they participate in outdoor play. Children follow their interests, explore the outdoors, and participate in individual and group learning experiences that foster social skills and fundamental movement skills.

In the late afternoon, from around 5:00pm onwards, children return inside and begin winding down for the day. During this time, children engage in open-ended play, using building blocks, construction pieces, or animal figurines. Children also have a late snack.

At 6pm, all children have returned home with their families. The childcare centre is thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the next day. Throughout the day families will receive updates about their child’s day via our family communication app.