Montessori Infant & Toddler Programs Elmhurst
Montessori Infant & Toddler Programs Elmhurst
Welcome to Our Infant & Toddler Community
W Montessori Academy provides the Montessori infant curriculum Elmhurst families trust for their children’s first educational experiences. Our programs serve infants from six weeks through toddlers up to three years, creating environments where the youngest learners develop independence, language skills, and social awareness through authentic Montessori practices.
Located in Elmhurst, our kids Montessori academy Elmhurst specializes in early childhood development during the most formative years of human growth. These early months and years represent a period when children absorb information at rates they will never again experience, making the quality of their educational environment crucial for lifelong learning success.
Our Montessori curriculum for toddlers Elmhurst recognizes that infants and toddlers learn through movement, sensory exploration, and meaningful interaction with their environment. Each classroom is designed to support natural development patterns while providing structure that helps children feel secure and confident as they explore their world.
Our Montessori Philosophy for Infants & Toddlers
The Montessori approach transforms early childhood education by recognizing infants and toddlers as capable individuals who can participate actively in their own learning and development. Our Montessori kids academy Elmhurst implements Dr. Maria Montessori’s principles specifically adapted for the youngest learners, focusing on respect for the child, prepared environments, and uninterrupted work periods appropriate for developing attention spans.
Children at this age possess what Dr. Montessori called the “absorbent mind,” naturally soaking up language, movement patterns, and social behaviors from their environment. Our role involves creating spaces and experiences that support this natural absorption while providing appropriate challenges that encourage growth and development.
Infant Program Development
Movement & Motor Skills
Our Montessori infant curriculum Elmhurst begins with supporting natural movement development from the earliest ages. Infants spend time on soft mats where they can move freely, developing muscle strength and coordination without restrictive equipment that limits natural movement patterns.
The environment includes opportunities for tummy time, rolling, crawling, and eventually walking as children reach developmental readiness. We provide safe spaces for exploration while honoring each child’s individual timeline for reaching motor milestones.
Language Foundation
Language development starts from birth through constant conversation, singing, and reading with our youngest children. Caregivers narrate daily activities, describe what children are experiencing, and respond to early communication attempts with enthusiasm and respect.
Books are available throughout the infant environment, introducing children to images, stories, and the rhythm of language. We incorporate multiple languages naturally through songs and simple vocabulary, taking advantage of the infant brain’s remarkable capacity for language acquisition.
Sensory Exploration
Carefully selected materials provide rich sensory experiences that support brain development and learning. Natural materials like wood, cotton, and metal offer different textures, weights, and temperatures for children to explore through touch and manipulation.
Mobiles and visual displays provide appropriate stimulation for developing vision while avoiding overstimulation that can overwhelm young nervous systems. Each material serves specific developmental purposes while encouraging natural curiosity and exploration.
Toddler Community Program Structure
Practical Life Activities
Our Montessori curriculum for toddlers Elmhurst emphasizes practical life activities that allow children to participate meaningfully in their daily care and classroom maintenance. Toddlers learn to pour water, prepare simple snacks, clean surfaces, and care for plants and classroom pets.
These activities develop fine motor coordination, concentration, and independence while building self-confidence and a sense of contribution to the community. Children gain skills they can use throughout their lives while experiencing the satisfaction of meaningful work.
Independence Building
Toddlers naturally seek independence, and our environment supports this developmental drive through child-sized furniture, accessible materials, and opportunities for self-care. Children learn to wash their hands, use the bathroom independently, put on coats, and clean up after activities.
The physical environment includes low sinks, small pitchers, and tools sized for toddler hands. This setup allows children to care for themselves and their space without adult assistance, building confidence and competence.
Social & Emotional Development
Mixed-age groupings allow toddlers to learn from older children while serving as role models for younger ones. This structure mirrors natural family dynamics and provides opportunities for developing empathy, patience, and leadership skills.
Children learn to communicate their needs, resolve conflicts peacefully, and participate in group activities. Our approach emphasizes natural consequences and problem-solving rather than punishment, helping children develop internal motivation and self-regulation.
Daily Life in Our Programs
Morning Routines
Each day at our kids Montessori academy Elmhurst begins with calm arrival routines that help children transition from home to school. Individual greetings acknowledge each child while providing time for gradual adjustment to the classroom environment.
Children participate in morning preparation activities such as preparing snacks, caring for plants, or organizing materials. These routines provide structure while allowing children to contribute meaningfully to their classroom community.
Work Cycles
Infants and toddlers engage in work cycles appropriate for their developmental stage and attention span. Young children may focus on a single activity for several minutes, building concentration and experiencing completion satisfaction.
Materials are available on low shelves where children can see and access them independently. Teachers observe carefully, offering new materials when children show readiness and interest while avoiding interruption of focused work.
Outdoor Experiences
Daily outdoor time connects children with nature while supporting gross motor development and sensory exploration. Our outdoor spaces include gardens, natural play areas, and opportunities for various movement experiences.
Children participate in gardening activities, observe seasonal changes, and engage with natural materials like water, sand, and plants. These experiences support scientific thinking and environmental awareness from the earliest ages.
Rest & Quiet Time
Individual sleep and rest schedules accommodate each child’s natural rhythms. Infants nap as needed throughout the day, while toddlers may have designated rest times with options for sleep or quiet activities based on individual needs.
Quiet activities such as looking at books or gentle manipulative work provide alternatives for children who no longer nap but still need downtime during the day.
Curriculum Components
Language Development
Our montessori curriculum for toddlers Elmhurst provides rich language experiences through conversation, storytelling, singing, and poetry. Children hear proper grammar and vocabulary while adults model clear communication and active listening.
Books are available throughout the environment, and children participate in group story times as well as individual reading experiences. We introduce written language through environmental print and simple labels that connect spoken and written words.
Mathematical Thinking
Mathematical concepts emerge naturally through daily activities such as counting, sorting, and measuring. Children experience quantity, comparison, and sequence through concrete materials and practical life work.
Simple activities like setting the table introduce one-to-one correspondence, while cooking projects involve measuring and following sequences. These experiences build mathematical thinking foundations for later formal mathematics learning.
Cultural Studies
Even very young children begin learning about their world through cultural activities that introduce geography, science, and social studies concepts. Simple maps, globes, and pictures of different environments spark curiosity about the world beyond their immediate experience.
Care of plants and animals introduces biological concepts, while simple science experiments encourage observation and hypothesis formation. These activities build foundations for later formal cultural studies.
Family Partnership
Communication & Observation
Daily communication keeps families informed about their child’s experiences, development, and interests. We share observations about milestones, challenges, and growth areas while maintaining open dialogue about home and school coordination.
Regular documentation through photos and written observations helps families understand their child’s day and continue supporting development at home. We value family input about their child’s needs, preferences, and home experiences.
Home Extension
We provide families with ideas for extending Montessori principles at home through environment preparation, activity suggestions, and independence-building strategies. Simple changes to home environments can support the development children experience at school.
Parent education opportunities help families understand child development and Montessori approaches. Workshops, resources, and individual consultations provide tools for supporting children’s growth at home.
Health & Safety Standards
Nutrition Support
Proper nutrition supports optimal development during these critical early years. Our meal programs emphasize whole foods, appropriate textures for developing eating skills, and introduction to diverse flavors and foods.
Children participate in food preparation activities that build fine motor skills while teaching about nutrition and food sources. Family-style meals encourage social interaction and proper eating habits.
Safety Protocols
Comprehensive safety procedures ensure that our environments meet the needs of mobile infants and active toddlers. Our spaces are designed with safety considerations while maintaining opportunities for appropriate risk-taking and exploration.
Staff training in infant and toddler development ensures that adults understand age-appropriate expectations and can provide appropriate guidance and support for each developmental stage.
Enrollment Process
Program Selection
Our Montessori kids academy Elmhurst offers flexible scheduling options to meet family needs while maintaining program integrity. Full-day and part-day options allow families to choose programs that work with their schedules and their child’s needs.
Transition processes are individualized to support each child’s adjustment to group care. Gradual introduction schedules help children and families feel comfortable with their new environment and routines.
Getting Started
Families begin with tours and information sessions that explain our approach and allow observation of our programs in action. These visits help families understand how Montessori principles apply to infant and toddler development.
