Toddler Peek at the Week 12.15.25

Hello, Toddler Families! 

Dreidels are the theme this week as we continue our Chanukah celebration in Beis! Dreidels are a four-sided top that have a Hebrew letter on each side. The letters are an acronym for “A Great Miracle Happened There”. We are singing several Chanukah songs including "I Have a Little Dreidel"- a simple song with repetition. As we sing, we spin around and drop like a dreidel. 

Spinning a dreidel is very challenging at this age as it requires great fine motor skills. As your child tries, and sometimes does not succeed, they are learning another skill: perseverance. In Montessori we try to only help the child with the part of a work they need help with. The reason for this is to build focus, stamina and perseverance. It can be incredibly hard to sit back and watch our children focus and find their own success, especially when we know a different or better or faster way to do it! 

Dr. Montessori teaches that when we intervene before asked for help, we send the message that our children are not capable of completing the task at hand.  What a beautiful thing it is to watch them find their confidence and focus as they grow!

A Home Tip: Allow your child to struggle. Wait for your child to ask for help before stepping in. The trickiest part is that this also means not offering praise or reinforcement because that is also a distraction. Many times, if a child is given "wait time" they will accomplish more than we realize they can do. 

We will be continuing with our Chanukah songs, books, puzzles, and art this week while exploring outside as much as possible. Keep sending those warm layers! We are so grateful to partner with you and have the privilege of watching your children persevere. We hope you enjoy the Chanukah walk through this week and the pieces of Chanukah art that will come home to decorate! 

Warmly,

Morahs Megan, Sarah, and K

Toddler Peek at the Week 12.08.25

Hello, Toddler Families!

As Chanukah begins this Sunday night, our children have been steadfast in a variety of crafts and art projects to decorate the classroom for the Chai Tots Chanukah walk-through! 

We have observed the toddlers in Dr. Montessori’s sensitive period of movement (https://www.dailymontessori.com/sensitive-periods/montessori-sensitive-periods/) so we have been incredibly intentional in incorporating both fine and gross motor skill work in both the art projects and our increasing time spent in the classroom based on the shift in weather outside!

The toddlers are exploring materials including paint, clay, wood, paper, markers, string, stickers, and glue. Each material offers a sensory experience while they continue to fine tune those motor skills and coordination. They are singing Chanukah songs daily (both during Judaics circle time and on their own around the room!), reading books about the season, spinning dreidels, manipulating a wooden menorah with candles and flames, as well as flipping wooden latkes and working on puzzles. These works throughout the classroom allow for each toddler to respond to their need for movement while also reinforcing their sense of order and language.  

We encourage you to ask your children to sing for you their new songs or share details about their current favorite Chanukah book. That engagement and dialogue at home is so helpful for the transition to and from school and your bonding experience with your toddler! 

Thank you for continuing to focus on punctuality and routines as we create a united community and expectation for our toddlers. We are also so grateful you are all sending layers and gloves and hats for your children as we plan to go outside daily as long as the temperature allows. 

We can't wait to see you next week for the Chanukah walk through and to share in the magic of this season of light together.

Warmly,

Morahs Megan, Sarah, and K

Toddler Peek at the Week 11.24.25

Dear Chai Tots Parents,

Thanksgiving week is here! This short week, we will be finishing up crafts to celebrate the holiday. Gratitude is a central theme in Judaism and one that we regularly encourage as Montessorians. All classrooms will be discussing gratitude. We will model expressing three things for which we are thankful, while helping our friends to find examples in their own lives and express it. 

In the Montessori environment, gratitude is a key component of peace education, and grace and courtesy exercises. Beginning in our infant room, children are encouraged to use sign language for please and thank you, and encouraged to tidy up and put away materials. In the toddler and 3-6 environment, we model saying “excuse me,” as well as how to walk around others’ works. Grace and Courtesy lessons are offered naturally throughout our work periods so that children have the tools to gracefully move about their environments and are equipped with the phrasing to use when life inevitably bumps into them! 

Our 3-6 students will be cooking together in the classroom this week. One item on the menu is corn. The cultivation of corn was an important agricultural contribution made by Native peoples. It is almost universally liked by all kids too! 

As adults, we reflect on the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday with warmth, remembering that, historically, this day brought peace and cooperation to Wampanoag and the English. We wish all of our Chai Tots families a peaceful Thanksgiving holiday, and want you all to know that we are grateful for you and your precious children!

Warm and cozy Thanksgiving wishes,

Chai Tots Morahs

Toddler Peek at the Week 11.17.25

Hello, Toddler Families.  

This week we are looking at fine motor skills and strengthening! As you've likely seen, almost all of the work on our shelves have a fine motor component to them.  Some of our fine motor activities are intentionally stored in a safe manner so that our friends who are not ready to use these materials independently take them to a Morah for help. Examples are scissors in a zippered pouch or small erasers in a closed container with a screw-top lid. This allows the Morah to give the child a one-to-one lesson on how to use these materials and a reminder of which friend is using which work. 

As your children show the ability and maturity to be able to use the materials safely and responsibly, we give a lesson on how to open the container so the work can be done independently. Many parents might worry that teaching the children how to open these types of containers will make things easier for them to “get into” at home and school. We assure you that where there’s a will, there’s a way and they WILL figure out a way! By teaching them that there are appropriate ways to use the materials BEFORE teaching the way to access them, we are giving them the right skills at the right time. This helps them foster their independence at their own pace.  

Some of the other works in our classroom that help with fine motor skills are water droppers, pouring work, small paint brushes, puzzles, lacing wooden beads onto string, paint sticks, a the tzedakah button dropping work. There are so many ways you can and probably already are working on these skills at home! Brushing teeth, self-feeding, building with blocks, painting, and even turning the pages in a book are all great practice for fine motor skills. This fine motor work helps facilitate pincer strength and gets your children ready for writing!

Simplicity in a toddler Montessori classroom aligns with the philosophy of respecting the child, fostering independence, and creating an environment that supports optimal learning and development.  It allows toddlers to thrive in a space that is carefully designed to meet their unique needs and abilities and as we enter into this new year, it is a beautiful time to foster this concept and growth! 

If you have any questions about how you can further help your child at home, or about anything we are doing in the classroom, feel free to ask.

Warmly,

Morahs Megan, Sarah, and K 

Toddler Peek at the Week 11.10.25

Hello, Toddler Families!

During the month of November we reflect on all the things for which we have to be grateful, including our friends, families, and our wonderful school community here at Chai Tots. We work hard to instill a sense of community in our classroom as well as within our whole school.

The children have been practicing mealtime routines including washing their hands, getting their own containers and water bottles, opening and closing lunch boxes and containers, arranging their food on plates if needed, and cleaning up after themselves when the snack or meal is through. This helps them foster more independence and self-confidence as they learn to care for themselves and their environment. We certainly have our share of messes in the toddler room, but we like to focus on progress over perfection, and we’re seeing LOTS of progress with these skills!

In our classroom, we engage in "community snack" with a table of four available seats. We specifically have only four seats so that we can create a designated opportunity for patience and waiting should a child be ready to eat but no seat is available.  Often times your children will pull up a "waiting chair"  and we are seeing such growth in patience! Community snacks are also a great way for the children to bridge the gap between home and school. Good table manners are important for your children to have in many settings throughout their life and reinforcing these behaviors and skills at home and at school will help to prepare them for all those opportunities.

Community snack offers an opportunity to work on fine motor skills as some of our snacks may need peeling (oranges) or cutting into pieces (bananas). We will model and then allow the children to practice using child-safe tools to cut and peel their foods as necessary. Please feel free to allow your children to practice these skills at home to reinforce what they’re learning at school. Cooking is a great family activity and a wonderful way to spend time together!

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or would like any recommendations on what knives or kitchen utensils to purchase!

Warmly, 

Morahs Megan, Sarah, and K

Toddler Peek at the Week 10.27.25

Hello, Toddler Families

This week we continue to focus on self care, such as putting on and taking off jackets, mittens, hats, socks, and shoes. A popular motto used by Montessori teachers is “help me to help myself.” What does this mean? We observe for signs of frustration or wait for the children to ask for help. When it comes to dressing, specifically, this means allowing them the time and space to remove and put on articles of clothing without interruption or offering to help. 

The “Montessori Coat Flip” is one of our favorite dressing techniques. Lay the coat out so the hood/tag is at your child’s feet. Show them how to insert their arms into the arm holes and then stand and flip the coat over their head. Voila! The zipper or buttons can be trickier. With zippers, we help them to start it and children can finish. Here is the song we sing to accompany the “Coat Flip:”

“Tag by the toes,

Arms in the holes,

Over your head,

And on it goes!”

Socks are often more challenging than shoes for toddlers. To practice the motion of putting on socks, children can stretch rubber hair bands with their hands! They can even practice pulling hair bands over their feet onto their ankles and back off again. Start by only pulling them over their toes and let them just pull over the heel, until they get the hang of that step. 

We teach dressing and undressing not just to make our jobs easier, but mainly because children feel a sense of accomplishment from completing these skills independently and this boosts their overall confidence. Lastly, it's important to focus on the positives. They may put their clothes on backwards or inside out, but focus on all the progress they've made!

A Home Tip: Allow your child to struggle. Wait for your child to ask for help before stepping in and when you do, move slowly and patiently and only offer as little help as is necessary. The trickiest part is that this also means not offering praise or reinforcement because that is also a distraction. Many times, if a child is given "wait time" they will accomplish more than we realize they can do. 

We are excited to have a beautiful final week of October exploring the changing season and all of the magic that comes along with that.  As always, please let us know if you have any questions!

Warmly,

Morahs Megan, Sarah, and K

Toddler Peek at the Week 10.20.25

Hello, Toddler families!

A goal you've likely observed is that we want to be outside with the children every single day because as the saying goes, "there is no bad weather, just bad clothing". As our weather continues to shift and change in the autumn and winter months, we will continue to bundle up and get out into nature. The colder weather, rain, and snow provide a plethora of sensory experiences from the feel of the crisp air, the sound of snow crunching and the sight of sun sparkling on the water and ice.  These all help your children learn more about the world around them and allow them to develop language around their new discoveries and experiences. Also, playing outside in colder weather has health benefits including a boost to immunity!

Helping to bundle up your toddler can be a frustrating experience for you both. When we start to model these practical life skills such as putting on hats, gloves, boots, and coats, it gives the child a sense of accomplishment and independence, as well as giving the grown-up a little break! We are working now on the coat "flip" and have a work on the shelves for practicing putting on/taking off socks and mittens. We keep a bin of mittens for our friends to use outside to ensure those little hands are always warm. 

We'd love if you would send in a pair of boots to keep here for the year- that way the shoes come home clean and we are always prepared for the weather. We are also happy to keep personal hats and gloves here and as our friends from last year know, we'd love if everyone can send in a rain suit (such as these: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rain+suit+toddler&ref=nav_bb_sb  ) to leave here.  It ensures your child's clothes come home mud-free and dry! 

Have a beautiful week and please let us know if you ever have any questions or any topics you'd like to be explored in the Toddler Peek!

Kindly,

Morahs Megan, Sarah, and K

Toddler Peek at the Week 10.13.25

Hello Toddler families!

We hope you had a beautiful Sukkot.  Here at school we sat with friends in the Sukkah for snacks and lunches, Davening, and a Friday Shabbos party. We enjoyed shaking the Lulav and smelling the sweet smell of the Etrog. We hope you all enjoyed the Sukkot art sent home!

This week we want to share a popular activity in our room - the use of scissors. In Montessori environments, toddlers are taught to use real scissors to cut paper strips, rolls of clay, and string/rope whereas in traditional environments they are not taught until preschool age. Learning to cut and use scissors ultimately helps children develop the coordination needed for handwriting, eating, dressing themselves, holding and carrying small objects, and of course builds focus and concentration.

The children began the year tearing paper into small pieces and later will glue them onto larger sheets. They also tore paper fringed from the end of a larger sheet to expand on that fine motor development. We have now progressed to using loop scissors, special early use scissors with one loop for a palm grasp, instead of two loops for a finger and thumb. We will continue to build muscle control and fine motor development as we move onto cutting items other than paper throughout the year. Slicing through play doh “snakes” and plastic straws requires stronger grasp and skill, and is really satisfying for them! 

We are loving spending time outdoors in this cooler weather and have been exploring the way leaves change colors and what nature looks like in Autumn.  On your next walk outdoors with your toddlers, explore the variety of shapes and sizes of acorns, the colors on trees, and the crunch of leaves under their feet! 

Warmly,

Morahs Megan, Sarah, and K 

Toddler Peek at the Week 09.29.25

Hello and Shana Tova!

This week’s Peek at the Week is all about simplicity in the Montessori practice and the idea of “less is more.”  

It may feel like we don’t have a lot of works out at one time in the classroom and this is done very intentionally. A simple and organized classroom allows toddlers to engage with a carefully selected set of materials, promoting concentration and a deeper understanding of concepts. We also have each child in mind as we select work for the shelves, making sure that we have something for each of our wide range of abilities and interests. 

Having a clear and organized space also helps so much for the ease of maintenance. Our shelves are loosely categorized so that Morahs and children can easily put things back where they belong. When new work is put on the shelves, the Morahs can present a lesson to the children on the whole cycle of the work. This includes putting the work back on the shelf the way it was found. This allows for the next child to use the materials to be able to complete their work cycle from start to finish.  

We give lessons based on the Montessori SHOW method.  

Slow

Hands

Omit

Words

• Demonstrate how the work is done SLOWLY, ideally reaching your hands around your toddler from behind and using the hand over hand method when appropriate.  

• Best practice is to use as few words as possible, and simply show the child the steps to the activity.  

There are many ways you can incorporate more simplicity and the SHOW method at home with your toddler. Try taking several of the less used toys and putting them into storage for a couple of weeks, then as your child tires of what’s available, you can reintroduce the stored items. This helps see what your child is really interested in and what they might have outgrown. Bonus: you have less clutter and less clean-up to manage!              

Kitchen activities are a great way to demonstrate the SHOW method.  Give your child a safe knife to cut their own grapes or bananas into slices. Bonus: take some of the work off your own plate and allow them to be a part of the process; it usually makes them more invested in trying new things!

Simplicity in a toddler Montessori classroom aligns with the philosophy of respecting the child, fostering independence, and creating an environment that supports optimal learning and development.  It allows toddlers to thrive in a space that is carefully designed to meet their unique needs and abilities and as we enter into this new year, it is a beautiful time to foster this concept and growth! 

Gmar Chasima Tova, May we be sealed for a good sweet year!

Morahs Megan, Sarah, and K 

Toddler Peek at the Week 09.15.25

Hello, Toddler Families

Our children are continuing to grow in mastery of self-care tasks. Zipping lunchboxes is preparing them to zip jackets needed in the cooler days ahead. The snack and lunch routines are becoming more natural each day. Observing the students beginning to care for each other is heartwarming and we have seen them bring each other tissues, offer a snack container to the friend waiting patiently, and working together on socks and shoes before outside time. Each day in the classroom is an opportunity to nurture your child as they grow into a respectful, aware, and kind human being. We are already seeing such increasing independence with your little ones as they navigate each morning and transition into the classroom.  Their focus during the morning work cycle is increasing and they truly are such beautiful learners. As an extension of the classroom, we encourage you to create the space and time to allow for your children to open and close their own items at home, work to put on their own socks and shoes, and allow them to experience frustration as they begin to master tasks that are more challenging for them.  A rule in Montessori is not to offer help where help has not been asked for.  It allows your child to internalize their own abilities and successes, building confidence and resilience with each step!

We have begun to incorporate Rosh Hashanah into our classroom as we approach the Jewish New Year. Morah Chaya is sharing songs and stories with us during Davening each day and we are preparing to hear the Shofar! Your children are loving the arts we already have out and are now working on crafts for Rosh Hashanah.  We can't wait to share them with you. 

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We really appreciate your turning in your child’s Ages and Stages questionnaires as soon as possible if you haven't yet done so.  These provide us valuable information about what you see at home and help us prepare for fall conferences with each of you!

Kindly,

Morahs Megan, Sarah, and K

Toddler Peek at the Week 09.08.25

Hello Toddler Families,

We are excited to have added a few new works in the classroom.  We use observation to determine what works are being used regularly, and what works could be adapted to make them harder or easier depending on the students needs. 

This week, we are happy to have an old favorite, the tzedakah box and buttons!  The children love to hear the clink as the buttons hit the bottom of the box and it helps so much with their fine motor skills as they manipulate the slender button into the narrow opening.  We also added some real clothespins for the children to manipulate and practice their pincer grasp in preparation for writing and scissor work!

This week, our peek is going to focus on something we all have a love-hate relationship with: sleep! 

Toddlers are some of the most fickle and difficult sleepers I know; they also need sleep more than anyone to grow and thrive. We have a pretty great group of sleepers in the toddler room this year, but that didn’t happen by accident; it happened because the toddler Morahs have worked hard to set up a routine and environment that allows for successful sleep. Here’s what we’ve done…

We start thinking about naptime as early as lunchtime. As we sit down to lunch, we close the curtains to the playground to help reduce distractions and allow the children to start calming down. We have a quiet, slow, and deliberate lunch and follow the same steps every day, so they are starting to know what comes next in the day. After lunch, we continue to move and speak quietly and slowly as we set out the cots, help children take off shoes and socks, and change diapers as needed. Morahs are moving around the room, turning off lights, turning on our sleep sounds and closing our curtains.

When the children lie down on their cots, we have them set up in pods so that each child is close to a Morah and so the Morahs can provide support, such as gentle pressure or a pat on the back. We use blackout curtains in the classroom until all the children are asleep, then we slowly open the curtains a little at a time, so their bodies don’t get confused with a long period of total darkness. We know how much daytime sleep can make or break nighttime sleep, so we really value and respect our children’s nap time. We are careful to move around and in and out of the classroom quietly and ask that no visitors come in during this time.

When the children start to wake, we move them outside or into the big room so that the other children can sleep as long as they need to. We remind the children to use quiet voices as they wake to start to show them to respect others' sleep as well.

We hope it is helpful to give you a glimpse of our nap routine. If you have any questions, or want any ideas on how you can tweak your home nap routine, feel free to reach out to us. We would love to chat about it!

Happy napping from all your Toddler Morahs!
Sarah, Megan and K

Toddler Peek at the Week 09.02.25

Happy September, Toddler Families 

As the cooler weather [hopefully] begins to set in, we'd like to explore toilet learning in the Montessori space before we are all dressed in multiple layers!

Believe it or not, all your children are in some stage of toilet training. Whether they are getting a diaper change while another child uses the toilet, sitting on the toilet during their diaper change, or are successfully sitting on and using the toilet, they are all learning a lot about the process every day. 

The basic principles of toilet learning emphasize an appropriate environment, independence, self-directed learning, and respect for the child’s natural development.  Toilet learning is a child-centric approach with the adult offering routine, consistency, and positive reinforcement.  Fostering your child's independence can include ensuring you have a floor or child size potty, allowing your child to witness or imitate you in the bathroom, and teaching the words and phrases related to toileting.  In the classroom we are already working with each child to be able to "push down" and "pull up" their clothes, remove their own diaper facing a mirror, and sitting on the toilet with each change.  

We invite each of your families to find a weekend that would work for your family to begin using underwear/no bottoms and having your toddler sit on the toilet in regular intervals.  The best part is you can send them to school on that Monday in underwear and we will take it from there. Amazingly, the Montessori sensitive period for toileting is 12-18 months of age so we are excited to get started as soon as you are!

In our classroom when we aren't toileting, our children are so beautifully engaged in the work cycles and engaging socially with one another.  We are exploring fine motor strength with 3D stickers, lacing, and paper tearing, cause and effect with in and out work like buttons into a tzedakah box, and language work with magnets, textured leaf puzzles, and animal matching.  

Thank you so much for trusting us with your wonderful toddlers and allowing us the gift of watching them flourish,

Morahs Megan, Sarah, and K

Toddler Peek at the Week 08.25.25

Hello Toddler Families!  

We are starting to get the hang of our routines in the toddler room already and we are so pleasantly surprised at how comfortable and self-sufficient your children are in the classroom space!  Last week we talked about our routine and some of the basic skills we focus on in the first few weeks of school.  This week, we want to focus on something that all toddlers have a special place in their heart for...FOOD!  

Food is such an important part of a toddler's day.  It not only gives them the nourishment they need for their growing body and minds but also allows for:

•  social interaction at the snack and lunch table

• language development when we talk about the foods we eat

• sensory experiences as we touch, taste and smell our food

• opportunities to work on our fine motor skills as they open containers and zip top bags

We eat in a family/community style setup with all the children and Morahs at one big table.  This gives us the opportunity to gather together and share conversations about our food and our day.  We encourage the children to talk about what is in their lunchboxes, compare and contrast and talk about all the colors and textures they can see and feel.  We love this time to bond with them over something familiar and important to them and their families.  It's so much fun to see the different things they bring and hear, "My Mommy made it for me" with so much love and pride in their voices.  

One thing that we are working hard on is independence.  We always help when necessary, but first have the children try themselves and only offer support if they truly cannot do it.  We also focus on showing them HOW to do it, verses doing it for them whenever possible.  There are many lunch and snack containers that are easy to use and great for toddler food.  If you have any questions or need suggestions, feel free to ask!  

Here are some lunch and snack "dos and don'ts":

• DO pack a healthy AM and PM snack in 2 separate labeled containers

• DON'T allow your toddler to pack their leftover mashed birthday cake as their snack

• DO send lots of fruits, veggies and protein 

• DO pack their foods in child friendly containers and bags that are easily opened for independence

• DON'T send containers that require a vice grip or a locksmith to get into

• DO pack a reusable spoon and fork in your child's lunch if needed

• DON'T pack soup and send your child a plastic knife as a utensil  

• DO have fun and enlist your toddler to assist in the packing

• DON'T leave all the packing to your 2 year old!  

Again, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask!  By now you should all have at least one parent added to our whatsapp group. This is a great way to contact Morahs as well as ask questions to the group that other parents may have the answers to!  If you need another parent added or would prefer any changes in this communication just ask. 

Thank you for sharing your precious children with us!

Love, 

Morahs Megan, K and Sarah  

Toddler Peek at the Week 08.18.25

Hello and Welcome to the new Beis families!  We are so excited to spend the year growing with your children.  In our first Peek of the year, we'd like to share the details of our day and some of what is vital in the Montessori space.  Our daily schedule is guided by this:

Toddler Beis Daily Routine

8:00-9:00 - Arrival (Hang up backpacks, place lunch, water and snack in bins, enter room and switch to slippers)

9:00-10:00 - Work Cycle (Morning snack open from 9:30-10am)

10:15-10:30 - Davening Mon, Tues, and Thursday; and on Friday - Shabbos Party! (Wednesdays starting in September we will have music with Morah Joanie)

10:15-11:10 - Gross Motor Play

11:20-12:00 - Lunch, toileting, clean up, cots out

12:00-2:30 - Nap

1:30-2:30 - Transition from nap to Gross Motor Play

2:30-3:30 - Afternoon work cycle with snack open

3:30 - School Day Dismissal

3:30-5:30 - After Care

In the Montessori philosophy, The Prepared Environment is the idea that everything has a purpose and a place. Amazingly, this includes the Morahs (and caregivers in a home space). We are considered to be a part of the environment in a child's learning.... quiet and still and available. Each morning we take great pride in guaranteeing your children walk into an environment where every work is complete and everything is in its place. This allows them to be most successful and establish a beautiful sense of pride in their accomplishments.

Our first month is largely focused on several Montessori principles including Care of Self, Care of Environment, and Practical Life.  Our students will begin mastering routines (putting away lunch, snack, and water, putting on slippers), observing as we model Care of the Environment by putting away our work and items, cleaning our tables and under our chairs, Care of Self by washing their hands, wiping their own noses at our tissue table, and allowing them autonomy and patience during toileting. 

Practical Life has already been introduced and will scaffold as the year goes on.  Currently your children are transferring water by sponge, window washing (spray bottle, squeegee, and towel), working with various containers to open and close, as well as all of the practical life around us- socks and shoes, pushing down and pulling up pants, and washing hands. 

As you see this independence grow and stretch at home, let us know about those magical moments! We are here for any questions, conversations, and beautiful updates about your toddlers.  

Thank you for trusting us with your children and allowing us the honor to watch them grow into beautiful citizens of the world.

Warmly,

Morahs Megan, Sarah, and K 

Toddler Peek at the Week 05.19.25

Hello Toddler Families!

As we prepare to end the school year, we wanted to share with you ideas for time at home this summer. Here are a few things that we have worked on in the classroom and shared with you in Peeks throughout the year. In order for your child to continue to grow over the summer and either be ready to join 3-6 or have a great transition back to the toddler classroom, working on these areas will really help with those transitions.  

Continue to allow your children the opportunities to dress and undress themselves whenever possible. We use the language, “push down your pants,” if you want to use the same language. If your child has mastered toileting, allow them to use the toilet in different environments, and continue to practice making sure the pee ends up in the toilet! Give them plenty of reminders about wiping and start to teach them how to wipe after a bowel movement as well.  

Next up, taking care of the environment.  There are so many opportunities to practice this at home, from cleaning up their own space after mealtimes, helping to wash and dry dishes, to helping to fold laundry. We encourage the children to clean up spills and sweep up the floor if they drop food with child sized brooms, dustpans, and rags for little hands so that they can use real tools that work well for their bodies. They can help water plants, work in the garden, or pull weeds.  One of the most important things you can remind them of is cleaning up their own work or toys when they are finished. This helps us so much in the classroom and will make your lives easier as well!  

Finally, working on fine and gross motor skills: Fine motor skills include opening and closing jars, snaps, zippers, etc. Coloring and painting are great practice as well as play-doh and clay. Wooden clothespins to practice pinching open and placing on the edge of a container is great for the pincer grasp-- a vital pre-writing skill! Using rubber bands or hair scrunchies are a great way to practice getting shoes and socks on and off. Gross motor skills are so easy in the summertime such as ride-on toys, the park or playground, walking in the woods, etc.  Climbing, running, and jumping in and out of the pool are more ways to work on these skills.

Lastly... Thank you. Thank you for a school year full of beautiful moments and wonderful laughter and perfectly timed chaos.  Thank you for trusting us with your most treasured tiny humans and allowing us to honor the horme and curious spirit in each one of them.  You gave us the gift of time, exploration, and wonderment with them.  Thank you for creating spaces and time in your homes and in your lives to explore the Montessori philosophy and principles.  What you have honored in them this year will contribute in the most beautiful ways as they grow and change.  Thank you for allowing us to nurture your darling children each and every day.  They have taught us more about life than we ever could have expected.  

Thank you, for the magic of your children and the joy they have brought to our lives. 

With all of our love and gratitude,

Morahs Megan, Sarah, and K

Toddler Peek at the Week 05.12.25

Hello, beautiful toddler families!  

One of the core concepts in Montessori education is Horme.  Horme is identified as "vital energy as an urge to purposive activity." For our purposes, Horme is a term used by Dr. Montessori to describe a quality of the child’s absorbent mind. The horme is within each child and is an “unconscious willpower” that drives them to develop and learn.

When we see a toddler climb on a table, dump out the whole basket of legos, or pour water right on the floor we usually wonder, “Why in the world would they do that?”. These are all great examples of Horme at work. From age 0-3, children are in a stage that we call the unconscious absorbent mind. They are learning things at an incredible rate and are doing so without even trying to do so. Almost every action that a toddler performs is in an effort to learn more about the world around them.  

When we notice children dumping out baskets of work, we may redirect them to our sensory bin where they can find appropriate materials to dump and pour. Water almost always appeals to a child’s sense of horme, so we can provide them opportunities to explore this through water pouring activities, baby washing, car washing and hand washing.  

Next time you find yourself wondering, “Why did they do that?” we can start to ask ourselves, “What are they trying to learn from this?”. Then you can find an appropriate activity to meet that need. Here are a couple of examples:

1. You find your child “playing” with their food. They are likely seeking sensory input that can be attained by allowing your child to help with the preparation of their meals, making edible play-dough and paint and giving them opportunities to both eat with their fingers and use utensils.  

2. Your child is getting out of their bed repeatedly at bed time. This is a sign they are seeking ways to become more independent or that they need activities to help them wind down before bed. You can help them by providing clear boundaries, and also a small basket of soft toys and books that they can use only at bedtime.  

Toddlers can really challenge us at times but when we start to change our perspective to look at what they are trying to learn and absorb, we can give them what they need without compromising their safety (or our sanity).  

Good luck, and may Horme be with you and your beautiful little humans!  

Warmly,

Morahs Megan, K and Sarah

Toddler Peek at the Week 04.28.25

Hello, Toddler families

As we approach summer days with more time at home and as a family, we'd like to share with you an essential part of the Montessori philosophy known as Grace and Courtesy.  This philosophy emphasizes Respect, Empathy, and Kindness as our children learn how to interact with others in a polite and respectful manner.  

This is tricky as there isn't forced use of "please", "thank you", "excuse me", or "I'm sorry" but the modeling of such kindness and demonstrating the practices.  For over half of our class, this will become more common practice as they graduate from Beis Toddler and transition up to the Gimmel 3-6.  But for all of our children, we have been modeling grace and courtesy all school year and are excited to share it with you to continue practicing over the summer.  As our older children have done such a beautiful job mastering grace and courtesy, they really have become the models for our younger children.  In the specific use of our own language, we have seen changes from "Open this", "I want this", and "I can't do it" (with the subsequent meltdowns!) to "Please can you help me...", "I would like this please...", and even the sign language for please, thank you, more, and help.  

Our Montessori children truly are and continue to become such beautiful citizens of our community and the world at large. With their critical thinking, exploratory nature, self-confidence and independence (sometimes the most challenging one as a parent of a toddler!), grace and courtesy is just a notable assist to the goodness they offer.  

Home Tip: be incredibly aware of the language you use at home with each other and your children.  At the dinner table say, "I would like a napkin please" as you reach for one; or find an opportunity to apologize and ask "could you accept my apology" versus a forced "I'm sorry".  Also, remember to slow down.  There's a general rule -- when you've said your child's name or asked a question, count to 8 before you repeat yourself or say their name again.  Our tiny humans are working hard and fast on processing so our patience may allow for sparks of grace and courtesy to show when least expected!

Thank you, as always, for trusting us with your beautiful children. They really do offer such magic to our days and we can't wait to spend this month laughing and changing with them.

Warmly,

Morahs Megan, K and Sarah

Toddler Peek at the Week 04.21.25

Hello Toddler Families,

We hope you had a good Pesach and enjoyed some extra time with your families! Can you believe that we only have a little more than a month left of school? The last few weeks of school are always lots of fun mixed with a little bit of chaos.

With springtime upon us, we’re excited about all the things that grow! You learned about our flower arranging work in our last peek and we want to share some other spring activities we have planned.

1. Our sensory bin is filled with brown beans, flowerpots, gardening tools and artificial flowers. The children have loved the sensory experience of the beans, working on pouring skills and arranging the flowers beautifully. It’s also a great way to practice picking up and sweeping as many beans end up on the floor!

2. We are looking forward to growing some beans in our windows. We will put the bean in a small zip lock bag with a wet paper towel and tape it to the window. The children will be able to observe the beans as they sprout and grow. (See picture below for example.)

3. We also will grow some grass. We have some containers that are going to be for Morah Sarah’s hamster, but first we get to watch it grow!

We are busy making last-minute touches and finishing up our art show pieces. We are so excited to share the things we’ve been working hard on all year. We hope you are able to attend on Thursday, May 1.

Finally, we look forward to having conferences with you on May 5 and May 6. We are ready to share all the ways that your children have grown and all the things they’ve learned in the toddler room this year. We are sad that most of our friends are moving on or moving up, but we know that they are ready and prepared for their next adventure.

Thank you endlessly for sharing your beautiful children with us. We are so GRATEFUL to be called their Morahs!

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Warmly,

Morahs Megan, K and Sarah

Toddler Peek at the Week 04.07.25

Our classroom is buzzing with excitement about spring and all the things growing and blooming. 

Toddlers are fascinated by growing things. They love to get their hands dirty, wet, and messy as they explore all the sensory experiences that the earth has to offer. One of the things we try to teach our toddlers is to leave growing things to keep growing. When we see them trying to pick leaves off a tree, growing grapes off a vine, or petals off a flower we remind them that plants are also living things that belong to the earth and need to be respected and taken care of. We explain that we can explore the leaves and petals that have fallen on the ground, but to let the living things continue to grow. The children help to water and wash the leaves of our indoor plants as an everyday example of caring for living things. You can reinforce this idea at home by allowing your child to help you care for plants around your house and garden. Another way is to grow herbs in the window and show them how we can incorporate them in our cooking!

As a way to incorporate spring and respect for living things in the classroom we have flower arranging. Glass vases with doilies and a small pitcher with a funnel. The children have demonstrated such patience, fine-tuned fine motor work, and appreciation for the flowers once they are set at each table. It’s incredible to watch them treasure their classroom the way they do!

Your children have also been hard at work on their Passover crafts while also learning songs and reading about Pesach. You may hear a lot about frogs on King Pharoah’s head in the coming days! With this short week (no school Friday), we are wishing everyone a beautiful Passover holiday and time with family.

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Warmly,

Morahs K, Megan, and Sarah

Toddler Peek at the Week 03.31.25

Dear Toddler Families,

Hope everyone enjoyed all the Purim celebrations!! Now that Purim is behind us we are already looking forward to the next Holiday Passover. 

In our classroom, we are deeply committed to fostering an environment that encourages independence, concentration, and development of the whole child. One aspect of this environment that might not always get the spotlight, but plays a crucial role in a child’s growth, is heavy work.

What is Heavy Work?

Heavy work refers to activities that involve pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, or other physical tasks that require strength and effort. These activities might seem simple at first glance, but they offer incredible benefits for children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

Heavy work aligns with Dr. Maria Montessori’s belief in the importance of physical activity as part of the child’s overall education. By engaging in these tasks, children not only strengthen their muscles but also build vital sensory and motor skills that are essential for their growth.

The Benefits of Heavy Work

1. Sensory Integration
   Heavy work activities stimulate the proprioceptive system, which helps children understand where their body is in space and how it moves. This contributes to better body awareness and spatial orientation.

2. Regulation of Energy
   Heavy work can be particularly helpful in supporting children who may have difficulty focusing. These activities help release excess energy, allowing children to calm down and focus more effectively on other tasks.

3. Strengthening Motor Skills
   Lifting, pushing, and carrying activities help develop both fine and gross motor skills. Over time, this improves coordination, balance, and body control, which are essential for many activities, including writing and playing.

4. Emotional Regulation
   Completing heavy work tasks often requires determination and focus, which can lead to a sense of accomplishment. It also helps children learn how to self-regulate, providing them with emotional resilience.

5. Promoting Independence
   When children engage in heavy work, they develop confidence in their abilities. These tasks often have a clear beginning and end, offering children a sense of accomplishment as they complete them independently.

Exampes of Heavy Work in our Environment:

• Carrying trays and buckets: Moving items from one place to another, whether it's carrying water or other objects, offers a perfect opportunity for heavy work.

• Sweeping and mopping: Using a broom, mop, or dustpan involves pushing and pulling, which provides sensory input.

• Gardening: Digging, planting, and carrying soil or small gardening tools are great physical tasks for children.

• Building and organizing: Arranging furniture, stacking blocks, or moving classroom materials all contribute to the child’s sense of effort and achievement.

• Stacking and unstacking: Tasks like stacking chairs, books, or containers are effective for muscle strengthening.

• Pushing the tunnels on the playground: Our children love to roll and push the giant tunnels out on the playground, the added bonus is the ride that the friends on the INSIDE get to have!

• Climbing: The pulling and pushing that children have to do when climbing playground equipment or on to trees and rocks provide great heavy work experiences. 

In our classroom, we believe in offering children freedom of choice, allowing them to engage in these tasks naturally. Whether it’s sweeping the floor or helping set up for lunch, the act of performing purposeful physical work is deeply integrated into our daily activities. Encouraging children to help with classroom chores or take part in more challenging tasks can offer both physical and emotional benefits.

Heavy work is more than just physical labor—it’s a vital part of a Montessori education that supports children’s sensory development, motor coordination, emotional regulation, and sense of independence. By providing opportunities for these activities, we’re helping children develop not just their bodies, but also their confidence and self-awareness.

Thank you for continuing to support the children in their journey of discovery and growth.

Warm Regards,

Morahs K, Megan, and Sarah