As soon as a baby can confidently stand on their own, they’re entering a new stage of independence, exploration, and social interaction with their environment. Whether they’re a bit wobbly or already moving quickly, they’re stepping into a whole new world. At this stage, they’re no longer a baby but not quite a toddler either—essentially between worlds. Most Montessori toddler programs separate one-year-olds from older toddlers, with programs typically starting around 18 months and many not accepting children until they’re two. Schools usually group children from six weeks to 18 months in an infant/mover class before transitioning them to an older toddler class for children ages 18 months to three years.
We used to start children at 18 months as well. However, we found that when families toured with toddlers younger than 18 months, the children seemed ready to join us. This led us to reconsider our approach. Our commitment to following the child’s development is more important than adhering to a specific age milestone. For example, when transitioning from Toddler to Primary, development is the key factor, not the child’s third birthday. Children can move to Primary as early as two and a half years old or as late as three and a half, just as some children walk at ten months and others at 14 months.
We began to feel limited by our 18-month start policy. Our lead toddler teacher advocated for starting children earlier. After discussing her observations and suggestions, we offered families more flexibility with our age requirement. We steadily kept dropping the start age based on a series of successes and the consistent observation that our younger toddlers were all flourishing. We noticed that younger children adapted more smoothly and peacefully. They experienced less separation anxiety, adjusted to napping at school more easily and engaged in socialization with greater confidence.
After careful consideration, including reading, observing, and making environmental adjustments, we welcomed our first one-year-old into the program in 2023. Since then, we have been impressed by the independence and confidence of our one-year-olds. Unless there are specific developmental delays or health concerns, we are now starting children at one year of age.
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