Toddler (18 mo – 3 yrs old)


The Toddler Program

The Khalsa Montessori Toddler classroom is a dynamic environment where the youngest Khalsa students can gain a solid foundation in Montessori education. Children are exposed to “an education of the senses” as they explore Montessori materials, as well as, learn how to be a part of a community. Circle time, music and movement, and work periods throughout the day provide many opportunities for students to connect with their environment, peers, and teachers.

Caring for the environment both inside and outside of the classroom is a large part of the toddler curriculum. Children learn to sweep, mop, wash windows, wash tables, wash dishes, and clean up after each activity. Raking, watering plants, arranging flowers are activities each member of the Toddler community performs on a regular basis. Such activities not only maintain order and cleanliness, but over time promote feelings of intrinsic self-worth, as the child discovers how capable they are at so many varied tasks that assist not only himself/herself, but the overall school community.

The Toddler-aged child also learns important self care skills, such as food preparations, dressing, and later toilet learning. It is from the cumulative experiences of taking care of oneself (in an age-appropriate manners) that independence and self esteem flourish. The child internalizes life lessons through hands on experiences (not extrinsic rewards, i.e. stickers or adult praise), and self-correcting materials that by design teach patience, perseverance, and eventually success.

A sense of order occurs as the child maintains their school environment and learns to put materials back in the same place every day. A daily schedule also assists with internalizing order and is very comforting to the young child.

Understanding each child as an individual, while helping them adapt to school life as a member of a group, is an important goal for Khalsa Toddler teachers.

 Toddler Extended Care

Extended Care and Vacation Care are available to all Toddler students. Families have the option to sign up for either Extended Care, Vacation Care or both when they fill out their annual School Year Enrollment Contracts.

The program is operated in accordance with the Department of Health Service guidelines and is annually inspected to maintain compliance. The staff is CPR and First Aid certified and undergoes annual training mandated by the AZDHS. All staff employed in the Extended Care program will maintain a valid Level 1 IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card (FCC).

Our School Year Calendar includes the dates covered by our Vacation Care program. For more information and pricing, please consult the Toddler & Primary Tuition Rates page.

Summer Program

Khalsa Montessori School offers a Summer Program, which runs for 8 weeks. There are 4 Summer Sessions that run for 2 weeks at a time. Summer Registration typically begins at the end of February/beginning of March.

The Khalsa Montessori Summer Program offers students a variety of fun and creative activities with in a Montessori setting. Toddlers thrive on consistency. Giving them an experience of routines while developing their gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, self-care skills, and verbal skills is an important focus during the summer. We also present Montessori lessons along with practicing Grace and Courtesy. Current students will have the opportunity to continue cementing their lessons from the last school year. Incoming students will get the opportunity to learn classroom routines, get initial Montessori lessons, and make new friends.