Toddler Communities

Peace.  A brief moment in the Toddler Communities confirms this is the most peaceful environment in the school.  The children are naturally drawn to the child-size work, replicating their parent's work:  preparing food, doing dishes, watering plants...these are the activities that are driven by the child's inner teacher.  It is when we listen to that teacher that peace results.

Diversity.  The toddlers are exposed to a wide variety of races, cultures, and religions through their carefully curated library of books and music.  As children from a wide variety of religions, races, and cultures join our communities, the toddlers see only the friends they love.

Responsibility.  As the toddlers gain independence in toileting and otherwise caring for themselves, they simultaneously demand to do things for themselves.  While their words may sound demanding, "I'll do it myself!" is their first foray into responsibility.

Toddler Program

Some refer to this developmental period as “The Terrible Twos.” We disagree; toddlers are terrific. We love everything about them – their energy, determination, and curiosity – and purposefully created a very special place for your toddler to learn - our Montessori Toddler Program in Kansas City, MO.

Help Me to Do It Myself

Your child has a natural drive to be independent which we encourage by creating an environment where everything is just the right size for them to do things on their own. Child-sized tools that fit their tiny hands allow them to prepare a snack and serve it to friends. A miniature broom empowers them to clean up on their own. They are taught the skills of self-care and toilet training. Your child learns a set of concrete life skills and self-confidence – but, more importantly, develops the belief that they can choose to make a genuine impact on their world.

Not a Classroom, a Community!

At Clay-Platte Montessori, our students grow together into a close-knit, caring community. When children work, learn and grow together, they learn much more than any of them could learn alone.

A Beautiful Environment

Our bright and sunny Toddler program classrooms are specially designed for your child between the ages of 18 and 36 months. It is a world scaled down to your child’s size. Here, your child paints, cooks, water the garden, sing songs with friends and plays with materials that develop fine and gross motor coordination.

Practice Makes Permanent

Often, children who don’t do things for themselves simply don’t know how or haven’t been given the chance. We take a different approach – by observing your child closely, providing just the right lesson when they are ready, and then allowing them to practice again and again (and again!) until they master it. Mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities in an atmosphere of patience, trust, and respect.

Absorbing Language

We surround your child with a rich and stimulating conversation to support this once-in-a-lifetime period of rapid language development. Your child, trying to blow bubbles, might be encouraged with “Blow! Can you make the air move just like the wind?” Your child’s mind effortlessly absorbs the new vocabulary, which plants the seeds for reading, writing, and self-expression in the future.

First Friends

Making first friends and learning how to function within a community is a life-shaping experience for your child. Your child emerges with strong friendships that will continue as she moves through the rest of the programs in Montessori.

An Environment Conducive to Learning

Where so many early childhood programs are chaotic and overwhelming, parents are often surprised to see the peaceful tone of our toddler classroom. The calm atmosphere and lack of distraction help them to develop impulse control and concentration, planting the seeds for learning in this classroom and beyond.

A Joyful Experience

Maria Montessori once said, “One test of the correctness of the educational procedure is the happiness of the child.” Take a peek into our Toddler program classroom and you will see children who are happy, engaged, and deeply connected to their friends and teachers. As a result, your child develops a deep affinity for school and a true love of learning.

Exploration

To be a toddler is to be curious. There are so many things to see, touch, hear, feel and do in the classroom! Beautiful materials that stimulate their senses are rotated frequently on low shelves to pique your child’s curiosity. They are encouraged to move freely around the classroom, to choose activities, and explore their own interests.

Ready to Move Up

Sometime between the ages of 2 1/2 to 3 years of age, your child’s language skills and self-expression will develop rapidly; they will express growing confidence in the independence and a keen interest in broader concepts; they will want to know what lies ahead, outside of the Toddler Classroom. At this point, they are ready to move up to the Primary Classroom, for children from the ages of 3 to 6.