What Is The Montessori Toddler Community?
Sarah Moudry on the importance of community for children before the age of three, published by NAMTA. 24 pages, soft cover, 2008 edition. The toddler community is the part of Montessori that parents most often have not heard of, and twenty four pages is the right length for the question they actually ask, which is why a child under three would be anywhere other than at home. Paper and cardstock.
“Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world.”
What Is The Montessori Toddler Community illuminates the developmental transformation occurring between 12-36 months, when children transition from unconscious absorption to conscious exploration of their environment.
- Understanding developmental characteristics of children ages 12-36 months
- Creating environments that support toddler independence and movement
- Implementing practical life activities appropriate for toddler development
- Facilitating language development through daily routines and interactions
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This guide by Sarah Moudry addresses educators' need to understand how toddlers construct themselves through purposeful movement and emerging language skills. The booklet's authentic classroom photographs reveal how prepared environments must evolve to meet toddlers' drive for independence, showing specific furniture heights, material arrangements, and activity areas designed for maximum autonomy. During this sensitive period for order and routine, this educational resource demonstrates why toddler communities differ fundamentally from infant environments, requiring distinct approaches to freedom of movement, practical life activities, and social interaction. The guide's comprehensive coverage helps educators recognize how toddlers' need for repetition, their emerging will, and their drive for physical independence shape every aspect of the prepared environment, from toileting areas to snack preparation spaces.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Find a quiet space for focused reading. Have a notebook ready for observations and planning. If possible, visit an existing toddler community before reading to form initial impressions.
- 1
Read the introduction and developmental overview sections first, noting key differences between infant and toddler needs
Mark passages that challenge your current understanding of toddler capabilities - 2
Study the classroom photographs carefully, identifying specific environmental features and their purposes
Create sketches of furniture arrangements and material placements shown - 3
Review practical life and language sections while observing toddlers in your care
Document which activities from the book match your children's current interests - 4
Use the environment preparation guidelines to assess and modify your current space
Start with one area at a time, such as the self-care station
Every Child Is a Little Creator
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