At Montessori Children’s House, we teach your child according to his or her age appropriate capabilities and individual needs. Each child develops within predictable phases that our experienced certified teachers are trained to recognize and manage. We guide the children’s learning through toddler and preschool activities that will challenge and develop their abilities, but are not past their capabilities.

The goal of a Montessori education is to help children become responsible, self-motivated learners competent in all areas of life. The Montessori Method recognizes "sensitive periods" in a child when he can absorb information from an enriched hands-on environment provided to him.

From toddlers to preschoolers, each child grows through multiple stages that are distinct and predictable. Some of these stages are listed below to aide you in dealing with your child and to understand his or her growth development.

Toddler Stage: Independence

From 18 months to 3 years of age, the main focus is independence versus security. Toddlers start seeing themselves as independent from their mothers. They say “No” as a way to establish independence and do things themselves. Parents can help build their children’s self-esteem by offering them choices whenever possible to allow them to make decisions without defying you.

The children's absorbent minds take everything in through sensory experiences. They obtain basic knowledge through the senses. Coordination and muscle development develops quickly. They become interested in small objects.

At this age, children start to acquire skills in mental imagery and language. They are very self-oriented and view the world from their own perspective. Sharing and toilet training are two things that require practice and attention during this period. A parent’s verbal praise when a child shares is a great teaching method.

Child Development: 18 Months to 2 Years Old

A child at this developmental stage should be starting to run and climb. She is able to hold a cup with both hands and drink from it.

Doing things by herself, when she wants to do them, is important to the child at this stage in child development. Improved dexterity and growing independence marks this age. She will test you as she tries to balance her need for security with her desire for independence, but she will have a hard time making decisions as to what she should do. Parents should set firm limits but allow her to make her own choices when possible.

At this stage, the child will lack the self-control necessary to express anger and frustration in words and may bite, hit, or pull hair instead. The child should be provided with a variety of physical play activities to curb aggressive behavior.

Language improves quickly at this age. The child’s vocabulary grows fast and she can recognize names of familiar people and objects. She is able to use two to four word sentences and simple phrases and improve her memory by repeating the words for everything she sees.

She becomes possessive of things, and “No” is her favorite word as she tries to become independent. She begins to play make believe, and will follow you around doing whatever you do in her efforts to learn how her world works. Positive encouragement will help her self-esteem.

Child Development: 2 Years Old

The baby is a toddler now, walking and running well, climbing stairs, and riding a tricycle. She will enjoy the playground where she can ride and climb. Her energy will put her in danger, so close supervision is a necessity. She is able to drink from a cup with one hand and eat finger foods by herself.

Toilet training should begin at this stage and is made easier by the toddler now wanting to be dry and clean. Not all children are ready for toilet training at the same stage of development so do not force it or use negative reinforcement.

The two-year-old will become very protective of her things and will not share for fear of not getting them back. Sleep problems are common as she relives fears and anxieties of the daily events. Encourage her growing independence by not intervening when the child wakes at night, but let her learn that she can settle back down by herself.

The toddler will understand and test your authority as she learns to make choices and take control over her world. She likes to be with children her age but has trouble with the concept of playing together. Her quest for independence will show itself in doing the opposite of what she is told. The “terrible twos” are known for their temper tantrums and violent emotions. She will have a sense of humor and will play tricks. She will also have a fear of separation.

The child at this stage begins to speak in short sentences with an increased vocabulary of 200 to 400 words along with the use of plurals and verbs. She’ll spend a great deal of time sorting as a play activity as she begins to understand categories. The toddler will now enjoy anything with switches, buttons or knobs, and will enjoy building towers.

Preschooler Stage: Curiosity

From 3 through 6 years of age, a child will be a sponge soaking up everything for understanding. Curiosity is the basis of all the learning that takes place at this stage. Parents should answer their child’s endless questions in short, simple sentences. Imagination develops throughout this stage and should be encouraged. Providing night lights and stuffed animals to cuddle helps with night fears.

Sensory refinement, refinement of movement, concern with truth and reality are all developed through the toddler stage. Provide your child with wooden puzzles, blocks, fat crayons, and large paper to help develop coordination and prepare them for school. Encourage socialization and sharing as your child will respond to both at this age.

Child Development: 3 Years Old

Though self-centered, a three-year-old child begins to understand relationships and friends start to become an important part of her life. She enjoys being part of a group. She learns to take turns and follow directions. The child at this stage needs social interaction with peers, so enrolling her in preschool is a good idea. Arrange play dates and take her to playgrounds to encourage continued development of socialization skills.

Language development and drawing skills will help the child communicate and socialize. The child at this age uses short sentences and explores the world with language. She is able to use a pencil and scissors and can draw recognizable figures. Toys that help the preschooler develop new skills will interest the child, such as puzzles, craft supplies, and musical instruments.

A three-year-old child should be able to stand on one leg, jump up and down, and should be self-sufficient in many of the routines at home. She can carry and maneuver objects as she wants. Intense curiosity about the body and developing the skill to dress and undress will lead to some awkward moments.

Child Development: 4 Years Old

A four-year-old preschooler will learn phonetics, the alphabet, comprehend the concept of writing and reading, master basic speaking grammar, tell stories, and know over 1500 words. The child will engage in coherent conversations, give her name, age and address, and will understand time. She feels pride in accomplishments. The preschooler uses imagination to try out new things, and increase self sufficiency. Parents should not distress if their child is being willful, making up stories, wandering off, and showing off.

Physically, the 4-year-old child will have developed enough to climb a ladder, skip, and walk up and down stairs with ease. She should be toilet trained by now, able to almost dress and undress by herself, eat with a fork and spoon, and wash and dry her hands.

Four-year-olds prefer to play with other children, will become competitive, and prefer sex-appropriate activities. Their attention span increases and they are able to play more independently, allowing them to spend more time apart from parents without separation fears.

Child Development: 5 Years Old

A five year old will be competitive in play, highly organized, and enjoy games requiring rules and taking turns. She will be eager to carry out some responsibilities, and will feel pride in accomplishments. The child will become interested in the broader world beyond just her home and school. The 5-year-old personality is more serious minded, practical, cooperative, and self-assured.

At this stage of child development, the typical preschooler will speak fluently, know over 2,000 words, tell long fanciful stories, and count objects up to about 20. She can read her own name, ask for the meaning of words, and knows colors. She begins to know the difference between fact and fiction, though easily believes in magical logic. Reality is not firm. Perception dominates judgment.

At five, the child exhibits right or left handedness clearly, and generally starts to lose baby teeth. She draws recognizable humans and houses, and enjoys elaborate make believe group play. Normally, 5-year-olds can write the letters of the alphabet and identify the sounds that correspond to most of them. Some children at this age learn to read if introduced, but the majority will learn to read in kindergarten. Children usually are capable of tying their own shoes and buttoning their own buttons before the age of six.

Child Development: 6 Years Old

Most children at age 6 can tell right from wrong and have the desire to do the “right” thing, though they may be prone to telling stories and doing what they are not supposed to do. 6-year-olds are excitable, impulsive and changeable. They will boast, want to be first, have the most, be slow to follow instructions, and be a bit aggressive.

Many 6-year-olds begin to read and print letters and simple words. They can read and write numbers, and can add and subtract single digit numbers. They can draw pictures with more details. Their speech becomes more social, and should be intelligible to others outside the family. Children at this age often like to help set the table, choose menu items, serve themselves, and generally become more aware of the importance of manners.

At this developmental stage, children are more poised, and have more coordination and stamina. A 6-year-old child is more skillful with her hands, may be able to ride a bicycle instead of a tricycle, catch and throw balls, hop, skip, jump, and enjoy team sports. The baby teeth will continue to fall out, and adult teeth and permanent molars will start coming in. The child will be casual and careless in washing and dressing.

Montessori Children’s House

At Montessori Children’s House, our teachers see each child as an individual and teach each of them through their own specific needs and developmental stages. We use the Montessori methods and materials to provide a creative environment for children’s hands-on curiosity to challenge and increase their abilities and skills.

The Montessori environment promotes self-esteem, encourages fundamental motivation, spontaneous activity and self-education. A Montessori education teaches a child respect for oneself, others, and the environment. The Montessori method allows each child the ability to obtain a good self-image enabling him to feel secure, independent and self-confident. The fundamental motivation of a Montessori education is to guide the child to grow in knowledge and strength as a whole person and thus gain the practical skills and insight into determining their successes in their future lives.

For more information about our classrooms, activities and the Montessori methods please contact us at:

Phone: 305-380-0513 or by Email: info@montessorichildrenshouse.com