My Baby just finished her first week (3 days) of toddler school. Since this is a class for 2 year olds, the transition period is longer then most other classes. This week we went to school for one hour, next week is two hours, and the following week starts the regular schedule of two and a half hours a day. I stay with her during the class until the teacher feels she’s ready for me to leave. I was the only parent in the class all week. I’m ok with that, she’s my youngest, and I hope she needs me forever. The class is at a Montessori school. I really like the Montessori method of teaching for this age because there is such a focus on individualized learning through play. My Princess attended the same toddler class and we love the program.
This week the class started in the back playground where there is a huge sandbox. My Baby loves sand so we were off to a great start.
After playing in the back playground, all of the children went to the bathroom to wash their hands. The toddler class has their own bathroom with everything at their height. It was so adorable to watch my Baby get soap, wash her hands, get a paper towel, and step on the trash can to throw away the paper towel. She didn’t want to wait in line so she grabbed a stool in one of the bathroom stalls and put it in front of the sink. She loves to play with water…clearly.
After washing their hands, they head to the classroom for “work” time. During this time, the children have the freedom to choose something to play with or work on. The classroom is setup into individual stations to make this decision specific for the children. During “work” time, my Baby did some puzzles. Ms. Katalin, her teacher (who was also my Princess’s teacher), was helping my Baby and her classmate, G, work on the puzzles. I absolutely love Ms. Katalin. She is so nurturing and patient. My Princess still remembers her and the experience in her classroom.
My Baby loved this little slide. She does not like to go on slides at the playground so I was surprised she was on it, but I think this one was little enough for her to not be scared coming down.
One of the teachers aids, Camelle, was helping my Baby name the plastic fruit. Cleaning up your work before choosing something else to do is something that is enforced starting the first day of school. From experience, this is something they learn to do in the classroom and doesn’t necessarily transfer to how they play at home.
My Baby’s favorite part of “work” time was getting her own snack. The tray, paper towel, tin cup and plastic cup are all at the station and she needs to put it together and then find a seat at the snack table before she starts eating. She was in heaven.
After “work”, it is circle time. During this time, Ms. Katalin, played a recorder, handed out stars and sang “Twinkle Twinkle”, then played a ball rolling game. My Baby was very interested in the whole experience of circle time. She sat right next to Ms. Katalin.
The class ends with each child popping bubbles and then they are dismissed to go home. This so far is my Baby’s most memorable part of school. When I ask her what she did at school, the first thing she always says is bubbles.
My Baby seems so little at school. Part of me is so excited she is in school because I have been dreaming about having this free time for some time, but most of me is so sad my Baby is big enough now to go to school. I don’t know why but my Baby going to toddler school somehow makes me feel like a grandmother. I know…weird.
Chrissy xo