It means discipline isn’t about taking something away; it’s about repeatedly teaching the child what to do instead, as well as illustrating and explaining the natural consequences of specific actions. Helping a child to develop inner discipline is an art and a science.

Montessori Infant & Toddler programs offer a curriculum that emerges from each child’s unique skills and interests. Learning objectives for your child at this age include developing skills such as language, concentration, problem solving, visual discrimination, and physical coordination.

12 Toddler & Preschooler Montessori Activities – Using What You Already Have!

1. Sink/Float. This is another traditional Montessori activity that I have really simplified for the home.
2. Open/Close.
3. Stereognostic or Mystery Bag.
4. Mystery Box.
5. Colour Sorting/Finding.
6. Sort Small to Big.
7. Pegging Work.
8. Nature Tray.

What You Can Teach Your Two Year Old

1. NEW WORDS AND CONVERSATIONAL SPEECH. Your 2-year-old should have gained a slew of new vocabulary words in the past year.
2. READING BOOKS.
3. PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE.
4. PRETEND PLAY.
5. DRAWING AND COLORING.
6. NUMBERS AND COUNTING.
7. LETTERS AND SOUNDS.
8. BUILDING.

Incorporating Montessori Principles at Home

1. Organize Your Environment.
2. Emphasize Life Skills.
3. Teach Concentration.
4. Focus on Inner Motivation, Not Rewards.
5. Baby-Proof Your House.
6. Use Baby Gates to Create Areas for Exploration.
7. Make Their Bedroom Child-Friendly.
8. Utilize Child-Sized Furniture.

For example, one of our first practical life lessons is on the safe and quiet moving of a chair. If you exclusively use cushions in your home for portable seating, this lesson ceases to be practical for you.

The Montessori environment lends to assessing a child naturally. In fact, assessment tools are used on a daily basis within a Montessori early childhood classroom. Here are a few examples where assessment naturally occurs in a Montessori early childhood classroom: How is the child choosing work? How is he utilizing the work?

“The Montessori teacher is an artist – trained in noticing the cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral needs of children. We are constantly assessing a children’s position along their own arc of educational understanding, and adjusting our practices to best meet them when they’re ready to learn.”

Montessori Madmen Formative assessment considers the whole child development and makes assessments based on observations of the child. This type of assessment is essentially ongoing progress monitoring every day to check for mastery and understanding.