Our toddler classrooms have children between the ages of 18 months to 3 years.

The Toddler Community is a prepared environment, which provides for the physical, psychological, and developmental needs of a child less than three years of age. The environment created allows for freedom of movement and the growth of independence. The child is free to act and to develop according to his/her own inner direction guided by the nurturing hands of a loving directress.

The materials used give the child an opportunity to learn through movement. Emphasis is placed on motor, sensorial, language and social development. The environment is arranged specifically for and corresponds to the growing developmental needs of the child. Everything in the environment either teaches skill or develops concentration.

“The first educational influence upon a child should have as its object the guidance of the child along the way of independence. No one can be free if he is not independent; therefore, to attain this independence, the active manifestations of personal liberty must be guided from earliest infancy.” (Maria Montessori) For a child 18 months to 36 months, great work lies in his/her ability to develop impulse and self-control.

The toddler classes are guided by nurturing, knowledgeable teachers who exhibit the skills and abilities to guide toddlers between the ages of 18 months-3 years.

Primary classrooms are specially designed to focus on the individuality of each child in respect of their needs and talents, as opposed to the needs of the class as a whole. The entire environment is created to facilitate their learning process. Maria Montessori observed that children learn by doing and wrote that the "hand was the instrument of the mind".

The Montessori curriculum, techniques and materials satisfy the natural tendency for this age. Independence, coordination, order, self-discipline and concentration are developed through the materials.

The children are given lessons using the materials and then are free to explore and observe. An emphasis is placed on the process rather than the product of learning. The aim is to develop a love of work and a joy of learning. The Primary Program encourages independence and freedom within limits and responsibility.

The Primary Montessori Program of education is divided into five major categories: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Culture. The Montessori Primary Program is based on the three-year cycle, with the third year serving as the culmination of the preparatory work during the first two years. During the third year, everything the child has been doing for the past two years comes to maturity, resulting in exciting leaps and bounds.

Practical life activities enhance the development of control and movement, sequencing and concentration through inviting and purposeful work.

Sensorial materials enable the child to order, classify and describe sense experiences such as dimension, color, texture, sound and sight.

Language includes oral language development, written expression, reading, elements of grammar, and literature.

Mathematics makes use of manipulative materials to help the child gain an understanding of the concepts of number, symbol, sequence, operations, and memorization of basic facts.

Music and art are vehicles for self-expression as well as areas around which to build appreciation for other modes of communication.

The Kindergartners at Young Minds spend the day in their multi-age classrooms and receive individual instruction according to their age and abilities. Due to the mixed-age classrooms, the kindergartners have an opportunity to truly practice their leadership skills in guiding their younger peers.

The foundation of our program is based on all of the Montessori curriculum areas, such as, language, mathematics, social studies, geography, botany, zoology, art, music, Spanish, and research development. (See more on our Curriculum page) Our kindergartners continue to advance in all of the areas at their own pace, and together with the guidance from their teacher, beyond typical kindergarten requirements.

We offer a sensory based approach of learning that leads the child to various opportunities for self discovery. Children at this age possess what Dr. Maria Montessori called the “ Absorbent Mind” , their ability to easily absorb and retain information and experiences from their environment. The prepared classroom environment is laid out in a logical, sequential way in order to promote their natural tendency towards learning.

Appropriate lessons are presented to children based on observation on their academic level of readiness. The teacher observes and records each child’s progress, knowing when to introduce new challenges and interventions.