Exciting News: A New Home for Waterdown Montessori School

Montessori Toddler Program

The Montessori Toddler environment is carefully prepared to meet the developmental needs of children approximately 16 months to 3 years of age. At this stage, children are experiencing what Dr. Maria Montessori described as the “absorbent mind” — a remarkable period of rapid growth in language, movement, independence and social development.

Within a calm, orderly and nurturing environment, toddlers are given meaningful opportunities to participate in everyday life. They learn to care for themselves, practise dressing, prepare simple foods, care for their surroundings and make purposeful choices throughout the day.

Language development is supported through rich conversation, songs, stories and carefully chosen materials, while movement and hands-on exploration help children build coordination, concentration and confidence.

The mixed-age community also provides important opportunities for social development. Children begin to learn how to participate in a group, respect others, express their needs and develop empathy and consideration for their peers.

At Waterdown Montessori School, our Toddler Program provides a secure and thoughtfully prepared environment where young children can explore, develop independence and build the foundations for a lifelong love of learning.

About the Toddler Program

Our Toddler Program offers a calm, respectful and carefully prepared Montessori environment designed specifically for children in this important stage of development.

The program supports each child’s growing independence, language, movement and social development while providing the consistency, care and security young children need. Throughout the day, toddlers participate in purposeful work, practical life activities, group experiences, outdoor play, meals and rest.

With a low student-to-staff ratio, our Montessori educators are able to know each child well, support emerging routines and independence, guide social interactions and respond thoughtfully to individual developmental needs.

The environment includes age-appropriate materials and experiences that strengthen fine and gross motor skills, language, concentration, coordination and problem-solving. Children are also given meaningful opportunities to care for themselves, care for their surroundings and participate as capable members of their classroom community.

Through these daily experiences, toddlers begin building the confidence, independence and foundational skills that support their continued growth within Montessori education.

The Toddler Environment

The Montessori Toddler environment is carefully prepared to support young children as they explore their surroundings, develop new skills and begin to understand themselves as members of a community. Throughout the day, children are given meaningful opportunities to connect with their environment, their peers and their Montessori educators through purposeful, hands-on experiences.

Caring for the environment is an important part of the Toddler curriculum. Children participate in practical activities such as sweeping, washing, watering plants, preparing spaces and returning materials when their work is complete. These experiences help develop coordination, concentration, independence and a growing sense of responsibility for the classroom community.

Children also develop important self-care skills, including dressing, food preparation, handwashing and, when developmentally appropriate, toileting independence. Through repeated opportunities to do things for themselves, toddlers begin to experience the satisfaction and confidence that come from becoming increasingly capable and independent.

A sense of order is especially important during the Toddler years. Materials have a consistent place within the environment, routines are predictable, and children learn to complete a sequence of activity from beginning to end. This consistency provides security while helping children develop organization, self-regulation and independence.

Through these everyday experiences, toddlers strengthen language, movement, coordination, social awareness and confidence while building the foundations for continued learning and development.

Language Development

Oral language is nurtured through rich, meaningful interactions throughout the day. Children build vocabulary as their environment is carefully named and described, while stories, songs, conversation, fingerplays and exposure to clear, precise language support their growing ability to understand and communicate.

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills are strengthened through purposeful, hands-on activities that refine hand-eye coordination, dexterity and control. Children work with a variety of age-appropriate materials that strengthen the hands and fingers, including activities that develop the pincer grasp and other movements that later support writing and practical independence.

Gross Motor Skills

Movement is an essential part of toddler development. Both indoors and outdoors, children are given regular opportunities to strengthen coordination, balance, body awareness and confidence through walking, climbing, carrying, balancing and other purposeful movement. Sensory experiences with water, sand, varied textures and materials further support exploration and physical development.

Cognitive Learning

Cognitive development is supported through purposeful, hands-on experiences that encourage concentration, problem-solving, memory and logical thinking. Children explore concepts such as matching, sorting, sequencing, size, shape and cause and effect through carefully chosen materials and everyday activities, building understanding through direct experience and repetition.

Independence

Independence is fostered through everyday opportunities to care for oneself and contribute to the classroom community. Children practise dressing skills, help set the table, make purposeful choices about their work and, when developmentally appropriate, build increasing independence with toileting and other self-care routines.

Social Opportunities

The Toddler environment operates as a community, giving children daily opportunities to interact, cooperate and build relationships with both peers and adults. Children are guided to return materials, share space, listen, take turns, wait patiently and greet others. Lessons in Grace and Courtesy are woven naturally into the daily routine, helping children develop empathy, consideration, respect and confidence in their social interactions.

Enrollment Process

At Waterdown Montessori, our Admissions Process is designed to help parents understand what is involved in the Montessori program, and ensure that parents are educated about this philosophy of education before registration.

School Tour
Observation
Application and Enrollment

School Tour

Visiting WMS is an important first step in the enrollment process. Prospective families are invited to contact us to receive access to our current tour calendar and schedule a visit.

Tours provide an opportunity to explore our campus, visit our learning environments, learn more about our Montessori programs and approach, and ask questions about your child’s stage of development and the enrollment process. Classroom observations may also be available when appropriate.

Families can request the tour calendar through our website, by email, or by calling the school office at 905-689-2171.

Observation

Classroom Observation

As part of your visit, families may choose to spend approximately 20 minutes observing in one of our classrooms. We recommend that children do not accompany parents during the observation so that you can focus fully on the environment and the work taking place.

During your observation, you may notice:

  • a calm, purposeful classroom environment
  • deep levels of concentration and engagement
  • children independently choosing and completing meaningful work
  • children working collaboratively, sharing ideas and helping one another
  • older and more experienced students naturally supporting younger classmates
  • the Montessori guide observing, presenting lessons and offering support with intention
  • respectful interactions between children and adults
  • a strong sense of order, independence and community

Following the observation, you will have an opportunity to discuss what you noticed, ask questions and learn more about how Montessori principles are reflected in the classroom each day.

Application and Enrollment

Application and Enrollment

Following your visit, families who wish to move forward will be invited to complete the appropriate enrollment forms. Because space is limited and some programs receive more interest than there are spaces available, completing an application does not guarantee enrollment.

Our admissions process is intended to support thoughtful, successful placements for both the student and the classroom community. In considering enrollment, we look at space availability, the age and composition of the classroom, the child’s developmental and educational needs, and the family’s understanding of and commitment to Montessori education.

Continuity is an important part of the Montessori experience. Whenever possible, we encourage families to view enrollment as a long-term educational partnership and to allow their child to experience the full developmental cycle of each program.

Depending on the age of the student and the program being considered, additional conversations, school records, a student visit or a classroom experience may be requested before an enrollment decision is made.

Final placement decisions are made by the Head of School in consultation with the Montessori guides and the family, with the goal of creating a learning environment in which each student can thrive and contribute meaningfully to the classroom community.

Contact Us!

We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions and show you our classrooms of actively engaged learners.

    © 2015-2026 Waterdown Montessori School All Rights Reserved.