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Toddler Programs
Toddler Program Age Guidelines
Our Toddler program in SoHo serves children from 18 months to 3 years old.
Our Toddler program in Flatiron is for children who turn 2 years old by December 31, 2025, through 3 years old.
In both locations, older 2-year-olds may be considered for the Primary program if it is a better developmental fit.
We do not have a strict age cut-off. Placement is based on a child’s academic and social readiness, and we encourage families to contact the Admissions Office with any questions.
Primary Program Placement
The Primary program typically includes children from 2 years and 9 months through 6 years old. Many children complete their Kindergarten year with us as part of this program.
Toddler Program Schedule:
Half Day (five days per week)
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Limited spaces available.
Full Day (five days per week)
8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Early drop-off is available beginning at 8:00 a.m. Our Aftercare program runs from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
The Montessori Toddler classroom is a thoughtfully prepared environment for children ages 18 months to 3 years, designed to support the development of intellect, movement, and language. With guidance from both a Lead and Assistant Guide, children build self-confidence as they work independently and at their own pace using hands-on materials that foster logical thinking, creativity, and a sense of responsibility.
Purposeful activities—such as caring for plants or practicing how to button and unbutton—help children develop concentration and practical life skills. The classroom is rich with opportunities to refine hand-eye coordination, explore music, and strengthen balance through artistic and kinesthetic experiences.
Each day, children experience the satisfaction of completing tasks on their own and the joy of contributing to the classroom community. They are gently introduced to community expectations and begin to take pleasure in being patient, respectful, and kind.
Toddler Program Curriculum:
Our Montessori Toddler program offers a nurturing, hands-on environment that supports the development of independence, coordination, language, and creativity. Each area of the curriculum is thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of children ages 18 months to 3 years.
Practical Life
Children engage in everyday tasks like sweeping, folding, polishing, and setting the table. These activities build focus, coordination, and a sense of responsibility as children care for their environment.
Self-Care
Toddlers practice dressing skills—buttoning, zipping, snapping—and learn to put on and take off their own shoes. Toilet learning is approached gently and respectfully, in partnership with families.
Language
A language-rich environment includes songs, rhymes, conversation, and materials that build vocabulary and strengthen communication skills.
Sensorial & Fine Motor Development
Children use manipulative materials that refine hand-eye coordination and support the development of fine motor control.
Self-Expression
Music, movement, and art are woven into the day, offering toddlers joyful ways to explore sound, color, and motion.
Outdoor Exploration
Indoor play spaces and regular trips to nearby parks give children opportunities to move their bodies, develop balance, and interact with the natural world.
Dr. Maria Montessori recognized the deep connection between movement and cognitive development. She observed that young children naturally absorb everything in their environment and learn best through active exploration. In response, she designed a thoughtfully prepared classroom environment that supports the developmental needs, interests, and independence of young children.
In our Montessori Toddler classrooms, children are offered meaningful, hands-on experiences that engage their senses and foster practical life skills. The environment is carefully designed to balance freedom with gentle structure, allowing toddlers to explore with confidence and purpose. Within this secure and nurturing space, toddlers develop independence, concentration, and a sense of belonging.
Developmentally Informed Transitions
As a developmentally driven school, we approach classroom transitions with care and intention. When a child nears their third birthday, we assess individual readiness—academically, socially, and emotionally—to determine the most appropriate time to move to our Primary program. This decision is made collaboratively by the child’s current Toddler Guides, future Primary Guides, and the Assistant Head of School, ensuring a smooth and supportive transition.
“A child in his earliest years, when he is only two or a little more, is capable of tremendous achievements."
–Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child