Pebblecreek Montessori School Plano - Montessori Schools in Plano Texas

Toddler Transition Program

12 months - 18 months

When the infant reaches specific benchmarks (around the age of 12 months), the guide begins the process of transitioning him/her to the next stage of development; the toddler level.   About the age of 12 months, the infants are now mobile and begin to shift their emphasis from development of fine motors (grabbing things) to development of gross motors skills (larger muscle development)  like pulling up , walking, reaching and getting up from a sitting position. This new mobility enables them to explore more things independently. They begin to recognize their classmates and enjoy playing and socializing in a parallel way.  

Respect is fundamental when working with toddlers. This is the central point of Maria Montessori's approach to infant and toddler care. At this age, children begin to develop the skill of attention, a span that typically lasts two to five minutes for quiet activities. This skill is developed through the use of sensorial materials.

Toddlers enjoy pushing, throwing, and knocking things down. They like games in which they manipulate things; putting objects in containers and dumping them out again. This enjoy working with concrete materials like blocks stored buckets or boxes and small containers, which can nest inside one another. They also enjoy the thrill of making sounds and banging together which can be satisfied through music.  The environment and guides treat the toddlers are little people who are learning to be big people. They are not "toys" to be manipulated and moved about at whim.

 

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