At Laguna Niguel Montessori Center, we understand that toddlers are full of excitement and curiosity about the world around them. Using a classic Montessori approach, we direct that energy into a positive educational experience that helps grow each child’s intellectual, emotional and social skills to prepare them for the next stage of their development.

Absorbent Mind

Dr. Maria Montessori believed that toddlers take in a great deal of information unconsciously, which is a process she termed as the “absorbent mind.”

The absorbent mind period has been likened to a preparation stage, in which the child’s mind is being prepared for the future. It is a period of rapid growth and enables children to learn their first language, cultural customs, and the beginning of social cues and understanding.

This is a time that can have tremendous impact on a child’s development and personality. It is vital that the absorbent mind period is treated with care and our expert Montessori guides understand the child’s needs during this stage.

Sensitive Periods

Dr. Montessori posited the theory that there are several “sensitive periods” during a child’s development that occur at different times until the age of 6. During these periods, children are especially drawn to and susceptible to learning. They acquire a great deal of physical knowledge, such as walking, and intellectual knowledge, such as language. Our guides understand how to give children the proper mix of freedom and structure, so they get the most out of these special learning windows of opportunity.

During the toddler stage, there are three sensitive periods that children experience: order, language and movement. We focus on all three to enhance your child’s development in a way that is enjoyable and effective. When children enjoy development during these periods, they are more likely to enjoy the process and continue to improve in these areas as they get older.

Prepared Environment

The effect our surroundings have on our mind is often overlooked, especially when it comes to children in educational settings. Dr. Montessori believed that creating a “prepared environment” for children was crucial for a good education and our expert staff provides that for our children.

We provide a calm and inspiring setting that is properly structured with the right amount of order and freedom for children to develop independence in a proper manner. Our educators engage children with a variety of activities and materials that excite children’s senses and intellectual curiosity. In our prepared environment, children learn the joy of learning.