Young Toddler Peek at the Week 09.29.25

Dear Parents,

Dr. Maria Montessori discovered and wrote about sensitive periods in young children’s lives. Sensitive periods are times when babies and children have an intense urge to learn and acquire new skills. For toileting, the sweet spot is 12-24 months; just where we are!

In our Young Toddler classroom, we change diapers adjacent to the toilet which leads to curiosity and interest in sitting. We encourage the children to “push down” and “pull up” their pants, with assistance during this time, promoting independence and body autonomy. We have some friends who opt to sit on the toilet during diaper changes throughout the day. This proximity and familiarity with toilet learning will lead to more successful, and likely sooner, diaper-free time. 

Hand washing has also been introduced, and quickly became one of the more popular “works” in the room. Stepping up to the stool, lifting the handle and watching the water flow from the faucet is very exciting! (We even have one child who washes his hair, scrubbing and mimicking shampooing ;) Since we observed a fascination with water in the sink, we decided to add some pouring work to the sensory bin. The bin is filled halfway with water. We present a miniature, glass pitcher and a bowl. We demonstrate how to dip the pitcher and pour the water into the bowl, “First dip, then pour.” This activity requires focus, so it is a one-child work. We keep towels underneath the bin for safety. It is simple and repetitive, and oh-so-much fun! 

Wishing you a wonderful week!

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

Morahs Rachael, Pallavi, Kristi 

Young Toddler Peek at the Week 09.15.25

Dear Parents,

We are looking forward to another festive week preparing for Rosh Hashanah! Last week we dove into the holiday preparations with an abundance of apples– the symbolic food of Rosh Hashanah. Miniature faux apples in the sensory bin, apple-shaped sponge painting, and real apples in bushel baskets (picked by the 3-6 kids on their field trip!) to feel, hold, and scrub in water. 

This week, we will showcase another important Rosh Hashanah object– the shofar, the horn from a Ram that is blown on Rosh Hashanah. Our young toddlers will be invited to dip their fingers into brown paint, as well as sand. This will be a sensory art activity to feel the smooth paint, in contrast with the rough sand. The sand symbolizes the rough texture of the shofar. Rabbi Kalmanson will demonstrate the sounds for us from a real Shofar.

Throughout all of our holiday preparations and while doing our regular classroom work, we are always modeling and practicing language with the children. We go around the table and give names to snack and lunch items. We practice grace and courtesy by saying please and thank you, and we address our friends and Morahs by name. We model speaking in phrases and short sentences with clear diction and expression. We weave mini language lessons into all areas of the classroom so that it is an immersive experience. We are beginning to see young friends talk to each other more frequently. Many times this is exemplified by stating, “My work!” to a friend who wants to use the same material. We also observe friends asking, “You ok?” after a friend falls down. Some children like to repeat the Morahs’ words, saying to their friends: “Time for lunch!” 

We extend a warm welcome to the newest member of our Young Toddler community, Nora! We are excited to have you and look forward to a wonderful time together!

Warmly,

Morahs Pallavi, Rachael, and Kristy

Young Toddler Peek at the Week 09.08.25

Dear Parents,

We are happily preparing for Rosh Hashanah in a myriad of ways. On the bookshelf are three new board books showcasing the holiday with vibrant photos and invitations to touch and feel objects that symbolize Rosh Hashanah. Similarly, in our sensory bin, we have added small apples and cinnamon sticks among a bed of dried split peas. The apples and honey are the auspicious symbols of the Holiday, representing a sweet new year to be had by all. The dried split peas are simply an engaging medium in which to place the apples. The children will enjoy digging, pouring, and transferring these items all week! 

Art is also on the agenda this week! We will invite the children to participate in apple stamping with an apple-shaped sponge. Painting at this age is more about the experience than the final product. Painting can be calming (rhythmically moving fingers and hands, the feeling of cool paint on skin) and contribute to increased self-esteem. When children are allowed the freedom to create art as an open-ended activity, versus highly structured one, it builds confidence. So while we do provide some initial structure to the activity, we also leave it open-ended. We will wear smocks and/or take off clothes when we create art, and we use non-toxic tempera paint. Getting messy is half the fun!

All week long, we will be engaging our five senses as we prepare for Rosh Hashanah with our young friends. This week, we officially welcome Ezra to our class! Ezra already knows everyone well and has transitioned with ease. He is a joyful addition to our community!

The Ages and Stages parent questionnaire was sent home last Friday. This developmental screening tool is helpful to identify areas of strength, as well as areas of concern. It ensures teachers and parents are aligned in expectations. Please take some time to complete this questionnaire, and return to us by Friday, 9/12. 

Thank you for your continuted support!

Warmly,
Morahs Rachael, Pallavi, and Kristy

Young Toddler Peek at the Week 09.02.25

Dear Parents,

Did you know that confidence is built through nose blowing? That’s right! In a Montessori classroom, even the simplest daily tasks are viewed as meaningful opportunities for children to build independence and confidence. One such task—often overlooked by adults, but deeply empowering for children—is learning how to wipe their nose.

This Practical Life activity is introduced in our young toddler environment, and reinforced in the older classrooms. It is designed not only to support hygiene, but also to encourage autonomy, intentional movement, and body care. 

We have a nose wiping station set up in the room with a wall mirror and a tray of 5 folded tissues. When we notice a runny nose, we model and provide guidance in this way: 

  • Invite the child to come to the mirror.

  • Help them notice something on their nose. We say “mucus.” 

  • Show the tissues and select one, unfolding it slowly and deliberately.

  • Invite your child to select and open a tissue.

  • Face the mirror and demonstrate– again, emphasizing deliberate movements. 

  • ”Pinch and pull” is one phrase that you can use. 

  • Allow the child to try. Assist as needed.

  • Follow up with handwashing to reinforce cleanliness.

Learning to be successful in one simple task, nose wiping, builds confidence and self-reliance. Remember to keep the tissues where your child can reach them. Children love being able to independently take care of their needs! It's the perfect practical life activity that toddlers crave.

Warmly,

Morahs Rachael, Pallavi, and Kristy

Young Toddler Peek at the Week 8.25.25

Dear Parents,

As parents of toddlers, you know how eager and excited they are to learn about how the world around them works! Developing their fine motor skills so that they can explore the world is essential for independence, concentration, and academic preparedness like writing. In our classroom this week, we have added several new materials designed for this purpose: “Recuse the animals” engages the children to delicately lift and pull rubber bands off miniature animal figurines that are strapped to wooden blocks. Another variation of this you can make at home is taping (with painters tape) animal figurines, small vehicles, or puzzle pieces to the table or floor to remove. We have also added a colander with pipe cleaners that entices the children to push the pipe cleaner through any of the holes. It’s interesting to watch them as they maneuver their fingers, learning through experimentation, at which angle they should grasp the pipe cleaner to successfully fit it through the hole. We also added play doh and a small rolling pin to a shelf. This work provides sensory exploration, as well as fine motor refinement. 

These activities provide hands-on, self-directed learning opportunities, strengthening hand-eye coordination and dexterity while fostering problem-solving skills and self-confidence. 

Labeling Request: Please label all snack and lunch containers with your child’s name. 

Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Warmly,

Morahs Rachael, Pallavi, and Kristy

Young Toddler Peek at the Week 8.18.25

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the Young Toddler Community!

We have enjoyed meeting and reuniting with all five members of our classroom. The children are getting comfortable with their new surroundings and with each other. We are establishing routines and learning about our new friends. 

Our daily schedule is as follows:

9:00-9:30 - Gross Motor Time

9:30 - Snack

9:45-11:00 - Work Cycle 

11:00-11:30 - Lunch

12:00-2:00 - Nap

2:00 - Snack

2:30-3:20 - Work Cycle

3:20-3:30 - Music & Movement I

3:30-4:00 - Gross Motor Time

4:00 - Snack 

4:30 - Music & Movement II

5:00 - Gross Motor Time

We are grateful to have two dedicated work cycles each day. Work cycles are when the magic happens in a Montessori classroom. Work cycles are uninterrupted times for us to give lessons, observe the children with the materials, and really protect and encourage the child’s focus. More so than in other styles of learning, as Montessori teachers, we are trained to “sit on our hands” and “bite our tongues,” thereby respecting the child’s concentration and minimizing external stimuli and distractions. 

In mid-September, Ms. Joanie’s Music begins on Wednesday mornings. This is the highlight of the week, with interactive sing-a-longs, ukulele playing, and a variety of additional unique instruments. Because music and movement are so important to development, we make sure to also incorporate a daily music and movement session to our afternoon routine! This regular part of our day offers a wonderful way for your toddlers to learn and grow. We love this creative time for your child to express themselves, gain confidence, and connect with friends and teachers in a new way. 

We can't wait to share these parts of the day and more special moments with your little one this year!

Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Warmly,

Morahs Rachael, Pallavi, and Kristy