Toddler Montessori Program

I'm looking into daycare options by me and there is a Montessori program that I visited today. My DD will be close to two when she starts the program. It seemed like a nice learning environment but I was surprised how different it seemed to a traditional day care. It seemed a lot more serious but that she would learn a lot more. I want to make sure she also has fun too.

The program I'm looking at has comparable costs to regular day-care however the day is shorter (which works for us now but won't necessarily work in the future - depends on my DHs job). Also this program has no cribs, the toddlers nap on cots which is strange to me but my DD is fairly go-with-the-flow so I'd be willing to give it a try.

So for anyone who has done Montessori for toddlers, did you find it made a difference? Did they learn a lot from it? Did they have fun? I understand that different programs will have vastly different approaches and standards but I just want a general idea from anyone experienced with the Montessori approach for this age group specifically.

Toddler Montessori Program

bump for the night crew

Re: Toddler Montessori Program

I think it depends from Montessori to Montessori. The people I know IRL who have sent their children to the program either LOVE it or HATE it. I have not found an in between when discussing it. I would look to see how the older children interact with the younger children as that seems to be the biggest issue if they are not helping to teach/shunning the younger kids.

Toddler Montessori Program

A friend of mine that I worked with at a daycare center now teaches at the Montessori School at CA and absolutely loves it. Her child is enrolled as well. She cannot say enough good things about it. I've only taught in a traditional setting and don't know much about Montessori. I agree with the above poster that I also heard it depends on the Montessori school.

Toddler Montessori Program

Ok, I complain about my school a LOT but ...
yes, she loves it
Yes, she learns from it (which is my #1 reason for not taking her out)
Yes, she has tons of fun.

I have issues with the admin but the basic principles of the montessori are very strong. Builds independence, the value of one on one instruction, group projects, sharing, taking turns, personal space, manners (so many its hard to even begin from table setting to knocking on a door). Fine and gross motor skill attention. I also really love the way they break down words and math.

AJ's been in since 2 and now she's 4. I truly feel she HAS benefited. Our school day ends at 2:45 but she's still there for afterschool care. We need that and before care as her day starts at 8:30, we work 8:30 to 5 (5:30) so she's in from 8am to 6pm.

Specifially at 2 she was learning word usage (She didnt speak until nearly 28m). She learned sharing and personal space as well as independence to work on a project until it was done no matter how long it took or if she wanted to do it over and over. She was very fast to learn matching and color grading (difference shades of colors) matching color of different objects and grouping. She learned not to take projects from others, how to wait her turn. Yes she slept in a cot but she learned to set her bed, take off her socks, tuck herself in and how to put away her bedding. She learned a lot about self efficiency. She would come home and push her chair in and asked to help sweep up small messes. If she dropped water on the floor she'd ask for a napkin to wipe it up. She also fine tuned her grasping and concentration skills as well as learning to write left to right and up to down with lines and shapes. All projects are laid out so that she works left to right and she has to put away a project before starting a new one.


ETA: Independence was the key for us. She was in a traditional day care until 18m.

They had cameras in the rooms we could connect to and so the hubby and I would watch her. While other children ran over to watch bubbles AJ would look, then go back to her toys. She was stacking, sorting and disassemble/reassembling things. She loved puzzles and to pretend to read. But she was mostly by herself. The other kids would run around and play but AJ wanted quiet time sometimes to figure something out. Sure she ran around too but she seemed different from the others. That bubble scene is stuck in my mind. I saw a group of kids all doing different things and then the care giver brought out the bubble machine and the children all milled over to her like moths to a flame, except my kid. She was on the other side of the room and just looked over and that was it. They tried to pull her from her task (she was sorting colored blocks) and she got upset. Then they just sorta ‘left her there’ and all the kids jumped and ran in the bubbles. AJ was trying to figure out why one colored block didn’t fit with the rest. Then about 30mins later that care giver grabs a book and AJ sits directly in front of her quietly waiting while they gathered the kids. She sat captivated and happy.

So I realized, she’s different than the others. Where can she go that would encourage her curiosity and take advantage of this very brief time in her life we have to ‘set her up’ educationally? I chose Montessori.
(sorry so long)

Message edited 1/10/2013 10:05:05 AM.

Re: Toddler Montessori Program

I have two kids in Montessori programs. Like PP say, it really depends on the school. We live in Northern NJ and there were 3 that I could choose from with comparable pricing.I felt two of them were too strict and ran like a business. The one that we chose is in a building that looks like a home and the teachers are very caring. Both children were in traditional daycares before. My DS moved to the Montessori school the day after his 3rd bday. He is about to turn 5. DD moved there in Sept when she was 21 mths. They are there from 8-5:30 with before and aftercare. Both LOVE the school and have benefited.

DD: in Sept she was very clingy and shy (even being in daycare before) and barely spoke. She knew her ABCs and knew to count to 10. Five mths later, she is a whole different child. SO Independent. She shakes hands with people (looking them in the eye -this is a huge concept our school teaches), works on her own, comes home with at least 4 projects a day, holds a pencil perfectly, counts to 30, walks her plate over to the sink and hands it to me, cleans up after herself, loves to "read", knows her shapes. I know part of it is growth in the last 5 mths but the school has impacted her development. When she is in before care and aftercare, she is with her brother and 3-6 year olds. She holds her own with them.

DS: he was older when he joined and two years later its hard for me to remember all the details. I can tell you what I like - he is reading 2-3 letter words, he works independently, the class voted on what continent to study this fall and they chose Australia. DS can tell me at least 50 facts about Australia -lol. He also knows all his continents and is doing basic math. He speaks a few words of French (French classes 45 minutes every week) and is learning to play the piano (he can do 5 songs) since Oct. He can read all music notes. Socially, he is doing great. He is friendly with the kids at his schools and with any kids he really meets. He also speaks and respects adults.

Overall, we chose the school because we wanted our kids to have a loving and caring environment but also learn. They love their teachers and the school.

Message edited 1/10/2013 11:46:51 AM.

Toddler Montessori Program

I think it totally depends on the school. I visited the only truly "accredited" program on Long Island and it was significantly stricter in following the Montessori method than the two other just affiliated schools are. That said, I think if you like the way the school runs it doesn't matter about the accreditation/affiliation bit. All three schools I looked at seemed great and the kids seemed really happy! My sister is a montessori teacher in the city and she swears by the method. I'm probably going a different route for nursery school, but am still considering it for preschool/3 yr program.

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Message edited 1/15/2013 4:57:10 PM.

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Message edited 1/15/2013 4:53:13 PM.

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my children are in a montessori school that is fully accredited and has children from 6 weeks - 6 years of age. I cannot say enough about how amazing it is. i think the most influential concept that i like about the montessori method is the idea that you should give your child the tools to be self suffient - to build their confidence by allowing them to care for themselves and ibelieve in their own capabilities. My 2.4 yr old has benefited so much by being there. when i tell you that he puts his own coat and shoes on in the morning and clears his own plate in the garbage and puts the dish in the sink, im not kidding. im not ashamed to admit that i would still be feeding him and 'babying' him not knowing any better that he was capable of these things on his own, but they taught him how and what 2 yr old doesn't love the idea of "I do it myself!"
We couldnt be happier

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Toddler Montessori Program

Thank you for all your answers!

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