Infant & Toddler

The Smithville Montessori Academy infant program lays the foundation for a lifetime of learning. Music and movement help our youngest members become familiar with the world around them. Once they become mobile, the toddler program takes learning to the next level.

The toddler classroom offers space for movement, space for individual work, and space for group activities. Toddlers are given opportunities to work on the development of language skills, art, music sensorial, and practical life. We use a number of multi-sensory, sequential, and self-correcting Montessori materials to facilitate learning. The tasks are designed so that each new step is built upon what the child has already mastered, thus removing the negative experience of frequent failure. A carefully planned series of successes builds upon inner confidence in the child assuring him that he can learn by himself. We nourish the child's self esteem through repeated successes with these activities. These confidence-building activities likewise contribute to the child's healthy emotional development.

Through song and dance, and freedom of choice, the toddlers have access to a variety of large muscle activities that offer them opportunities to jump, climb, balance, crawl, or skip indoors and out. These exercises as well as creative art activities are offered for each child to choose. This freedom in a safe space is crucial to the toddler program.