In this class, students begin to learn the basics of Montessori education. Our Montessori toddler programs offer so much more than childcare. The classroom design fosters your young child’s emerging independence and desire for exploration. The environments are designed to promote your child’s growth in all areas of development. Learning objectives for your child at this age include developing skills such as language, concentration, problem-solving, visual discrimination, and physical coordination. Additionally, GMA Montessori toddler programs provide support and guidance for families through programs that may include parent education. Our learning activities include: • Self-care: washing, dressing, toileting, and eating, according to each child’s individual capacity • Care of the environment: cleaning, food preparation, and food service; plant care and animal care • Large-motor activities (indoors and out): walking, climbing, running, jumping, balancing, climbing steps, and more • Fine-motor skills: reaching, grasping, picking up objects, transferring objects, using tools and utensils, doing artwork • Language: naming objects, describing actions and intentions, discussing pictures, conversation, music, and singing • Social skills: developing manners through interactions with peers, teachers, and adult-led small group game

The Montessori Primary program offers a unique, mixed-age classroom environment, for children approximately 2½ to 6-years-old. Children engage in individual learning experiences, as well as one-on-one interactions, which are integral to the Montessori Method. As children get older, they tend to see things that adults find ordinary as very interesting and special. Practical life exercises like sorting, pouring, or washing dishes absorb them completely. We recognize this as the beginning of control and coordination of mind and body. That’s why Montessori learning revolves around tangible, hands-on experiences. Children use concrete materials to learn math; movable alphabet letters to explore language; and cubes, cylinders, and other objects to categorize find spatial relationships, and more. ​