2 months to 36 months
Infants and Toddlers are cared for emotionally, physically and developmentally. High quality standards are incorporated in a loving, home-like environment that encourages independence and movement. The environment is an adapting continuum to support the child’s growth, exploration and freedom of movement.
We encourage the children to sit at a table and feed themselves as soon as they are able. Independence creates self-esteem. Our teachers are responsive to their physical needs and their need to learn through exploration and positive experiences.
Toilet training is part of the program. We incorporate methods that create a natural transition, such as stand up diapering which involves the child in the diaper changing process.
The prepared environment provides materials and activities for language development, social and self-help skills, sensory and perceptual growth, physical and motor development, and building beginning classroom skills.
Single Infant/Toddler Environment
While many schools continue to have the Nido and Toddler Community in separate classrooms, there are more schools that are beginning to change to a single infant toddler environment. We decided to create a single classroom environment after attending the American Montessori Society annual conference in San Francisco in 2012. We had the opportunity to see the difference in the development of the children in a mixed classroom versus two single classrooms. We noticed that the infants were far more confident in the environment, met development milestones sooner, and were much less dependent on caregivers. While toddlers were more assertive, gentle and graceful, and naturally developed independence and leadership skills. The reason for this is because during the infant and toddler stages (0-3), the children are still in the first plane of development, where exploring is essential to their learning. This is where the “absorbent mind” comes into play. The close proximity of the infants and toddlers, allows the infants to not only take learning cues from the caregivers but from the toddlers as well.
Schedule
In our Toddler program we offer 2, 3, and 5 day programs.
Part-Time, Full-Time, and Extended Days are available.
Since WOW is a bilingual school, Spanish lessons take place 3 times per week.
2 Days (Tuesday and Thursday)
Part-Time: 8:00am – 12:00pm
Full-Time: 8:00am – 3:00pm
Extended Day: 8:00am – 5:30pm
3 Days (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)
Part-Time: 8:00am – 12:00pm
Full-Time: 8:00am – 3:00pm
Extended Day: 8:00am – 5:30pm
5 Days (Monday – Friday)
Part-Time: 8:00am – 12:00pm
Full-Time: 8:00am – 3:00pm
Extended Day: 8:00am – 5:30pm
