Is Montessori child care the right option for your toddler? Your two-year-old is ready to start preschool but you're not sure which daycare center program to choose. As you explore the local options, take a look at what you need to know about Montessori, daycare, and toddler development.

What Is Montessori?

Montessori refers to an educational philosophy that shapes the content, activities, and learning experiences young children have in this type of early childhood program. Dr. Maria Montessori founded her first school, known as a Casa dei Bambini (or Children's House), in 1907. The methods these schools use come from the research of Dr. Montessori and are firmly grounded in child development theory. 

Unlike other types of daycare programs, Montessori schools use a very specific approach to learning. This includes child-centered strategies, specialized materials, and multi-age classroom groupings.

Is Montessori Child Care?

Yes, a Montessori program can provide care for your child. But this early childhood environment offers much more than just supervision while mom or dad is away. Along with adult supervision, Montessori centers provide an immersive educational experience that can help children to learn, grow, and develop into independent thinkers. 

Why Should a Parent Choose Montessori Over Other Types of Daycare?

There isn't one way to answer this question. Before you select a childcare program, you will need to think about your overall educational values, beliefs, and goals. Montessori programs put the child at the center of the learning process. This means your child can lead their own experiences, gain independence, and develop self-motivation skills. 

Along with these benefits, the multi-age classroom can help your child grow as a person, build social skills, and become part of a long-term caring community. Instead of a new teacher every few months or every year, your child will stay with the same educator. This can help your young child build a lasting relationship, fosters trust, and may make you feel more comfortable with the entire daycare experience. A two-year-old would typically start in the zero to three classroom. As the child grows, they will move into a room for three to six-year-olds.

Is Montessori the Right Option for Working Parents?

Some Montessori schools only provide part-time preschool. These include partial day or partial week schedules. A center that does not offer full-time care is not the best option for many working parents. But if you don't work full weekdays, work on the weekends, work from home, or have a partner who helps with child care, a part-time Montessori pre-K is an acceptable option. 

Even though some of these schools operate on a partial day/partial week schedule, others offer a full-time child care program. Talk to a child care center director or staff member to learn more about their daycare schedule. 

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