The first few years of a child’s life are the most formative years. It is a time when children effortlessly absorb concepts and habits. It is also the period when roots for a love of learning are established.
Given a day at Wild Roots Preschool and Child Care, according to Maria Montessori’s observation of children in their first 3 years, they absorb their environment unconsciously and enjoy learning most at this stage of development. In our carefully planned and organized toddler classroom, we meet the specific needs of toddlers by channeling their curiosity in creative and practical ways. Our experienced toddler teachers understand the unique responsibility of ensuring that each child is nurtured and respected in a way that encourages growth in a safe place. In the “Little Roots” classroom, the toddler will be exposed to age appropriate materials that stimulate the absorbent mind and encourage natural curiosity.
Activities in the Toddler room:
- Montessori inspired Practical Life: Pouring, scooping, buttoning, zipping, folding, lacing, sorting, beading
- Montessori inspired Sensorial: stimulating the visual sense with specific sensorial materials that introduce colors, shapes, and dimensions
- Language: Picture sequencing, introduction to letters, matching work, puzzles, songs, story telling, puppetry, themed projects, and learning from the spontaneous environment and inspired projects
- Mathematics: Introduction to numbers, stacking and nesting, number puzzles and blocks, sorting and counting, and using the world around them as it teaches
- Reggio Emilia inspired art: Using expressive media such as watercolors, clay, tempera paints, light, shadow, cooking, baking, music and movement
- Grace and Courtesy activities that assist children in displaying respect for their environment and peers.
- Peace Education: Peace through demonstration of puppetry, dramatic play, daily affirmations, confidence strengthening, and leading by example
Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may better be able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each child. -Plato
Our primary program is a unique environment with enriching activities, experiments, and exploration. Our classroom environment is designed to inspire the child to discover his own learning style and habits through his own exploration of the materials.
Our classrooms provide children with the opportunity to benefit from two holistic approaches of early childhood education. Each classroom incorporates the following into our unique curriculum:
Montessori materials in
the environment:
Scientifically designed to create the foundation for all essential lifelong concepts. The role of the adults is to observe the child and classroom dynamic in order to base individual and group lessons according to each child’s particular stage of development. The children are self directed and motivated based on their current interests and developmental stages. It is the role of the adult to assist the child in the process of self-discovery, while allowing the opportunity for growth in a non-competitive environment.
Reggio Emilia materials in
the environment:
The environment acts as a “third teacher”. We provide natural, recycled, and purposeful man-made materials with the intention that children will explore, create, share, and reflect from spontaneous learning through various materials. The role of the adult is to provide a welcoming environment that encourages children to freely explore their world and turn every experience into a learning process. The adult will aide in this process through careful interaction and advocation for the natural learning process.
Areas of learning through our
unique environment:
- Language
- Mathematics
- Sensorial
- Practical Life
- Science
- Geography
- Creative Art
- Natural Play
- Peace Education