The Toddler House classroom serves 12 children, ages 14 months through 3 years. Program hours are 8:30- 12 noon, 5 days per week. The carpool lane is open from 8:15-8:30 for drop-off and pick-up from 11:45-12 noon. A Montessori Certified Infant/Toddler Director and an assistant guide the environment. An after school program is available for children age 2 and up.

Depending on the child's birth date, a young toddler may be enrolled in the Toddler House for two years. The multi-age classroom is an introduction to Montessori's three year cycle and helps create a real world community. During the second year the director will create a more challenging environment, to include greater responsibility, opportunities for leadership, and "works" borrowed from Children's House if necessary.

The children participate in additional resource activities such as music and art. Volunteer opportunities in the classroom are available for parents, caregivers or family members who would like to provide additional resources such as cultural lessons, movement, yoga, or other organized activities.

Goals of a Montessori Toddler Program:

In support of these goals, the Toddler House offers a unique phase-in and separation process. A separation environment involves the primary caregiver staying in the environment as a point of reference and reassurance for the child. The guides support each child's individual needs: some separate very easily and do not need the caregiver after the first day; others may need a few days or a week to feel comfortable. It is important that the caregiver follow the child's lead and allow the child to ease into the routine at his or her own pace. During this time a sense of trust will be developed throughout the toddler community: between child and director, parent and director, and parent and child. The phase-in process involves the child coming into the environment for short periods of time, the minutes gradually increasing until the child is in the environment, without his or her primary caregiver, for the full morning.

The Toddler House environment includes "work" which assists in promoting concentration, coordination, independence, and order. For the toddler, much of the work available falls into more than one category of works: sensorial, practical life, language, pre-math or pre-writing, and cultural and outdoor. As the year progresses, each child is given developmentally appropriate opportunities for increased responsibility, freedom, positive choices and active learning.

In continuing support of the program goals, The Toddler House provides and promotes work to allow the process of normalization in each child. Also known as self-actualization, normalization is a lifelong process that involves developing a healthy body, mind and spirit. From The Normalized Child by Kathleen Futrell, some fundamental concepts in a normalized child include:

To completely support Montessori's philosophy of following the child, the educational directors (guides) must understand each child and his or her stage of development. This understanding is gradual process obtained through a home visit, several observations, and information provided on family history, home environment, temperament, special sensitivities, and other issues. Parent Information/Education Nights will be provided during the year to include incorporating Montessori philosophy in the home.

The Montessori sensitive period Grace and Courtesy, which includes social relations as well as control of movement, is the main focus of the Toddler environment in the process of normalization. Through grace and courtesy lessons, lifetime skills of positive interpersonal relationships and respect for a peaceful, harmonious environment are taught through modeling, demonstrations and role-playing. These include but are not limited to: watching/observing; waiting; interrupting/asking for help; shaking hands; taking turns; using a quiet voice/polite tone; excusing self/apologizing; saying please/thank you; inviting/refusing a partner; walking around people and objects; balancing; rolling a rug; carrying work or a rug; sitting on chair; walking/standing in line; making silence; caring for books/work/environment; respecting others and their space. All of this, combined with lessons in kindness and friendships, guide and direct the Toddler House through each day.

The Toddler House provides a special understanding of each individual child, flexibility with consistency, mutual respect of others and the environment, freedom of choice within limits, and the foundations for a lifetime of self-development.