Toddler Care & Pre-school Program

The toddler classroom offers very young children a unique year or two of self-development in a tender atmosphere of special understanding, respect, and support. It is unique in that the classroom provides a very specific structure which fulfills the social, physical, emotional, and psychological needs of each child.

Toddlers are given opportunities to work in the development of Language Skills, Art, Music, Sensorial, and Practical Life. Activities in the Practical Life area give children the chance to develop skills to care for themselves and their environment. Emphasis is placed on control of movement and grace and courtesy. Practical Life activities are simple and can be accomplished by each child. They offer repetitive cycle, which helps the child establish patterns of order and sequencing. Because these are very real activities, each child becomes grounded in reality. Building the child’s self-esteem is the ultimate goal and this is accomplished through repeated successes with these activities.

Through song and dance, and freedom of choice, toddlers have access to a variety of large muscle activities that offer them opportunities to jump, climb, balance, crawl, or skip. These exercises, as well as creative art activities, are offered for each child to choose. This freedom in a safe space is crucial to the toddler program. However, it is always tempered by two important limits that will be beneficial for a lifetime, respect for others and respect for the environment.

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Pre-school Curriculum

We have five main areas of curriculum and activity at the pre-school level: Practical Life and daily living skills, Sensorial, Language Development, Movement, Art and Music.

In Practical Life children experience real-life situations and activities promoting dressing and undressing, grooming and toilet learning, carrying things, cleaning, and grace and courtesy.

Sensorial awareness is learning about dimensions, shapes, colors, tactile, auditory, taste, and smell.

Language Development is the acquisition of the language connected to their observations and sense training. There are also stories and singing and talks and dialogues, as well as special materials for more abstract vocabulary.

Movement is essential in a program like this. One of the major differences in a Montessori toddler class is that the children are free to move around at will, carrying heavy objects, walking the line, climbing, and taking long walks outside.

Art and Music are approached from a skills-based perspective, and the children can freely choose cutting, gluing, painting, magic makers, or clay. We listen to music of all varieties to help children develop an ear for music, as well as more formal instruction on rhymes, moving to music, and practicing duplicating rhythms.

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Toddler and pre-school programs are available at both locations. A set schedule of Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. or Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. is offered.
Flexible scheduling is also available to meet family needs.

For additional information, a school tour, or registration, please contact us at:

Montessori Children's Village 214 Sherman Street Wausau, WI 54401 Phone: 715-842-9540 info@wimontessori.com	Rib Mountain Montessori 5201 Lilac Avenue Wausau, WI 54401 Phone: 715-355-0908 info@wimontessori.com