Between the ages of 18 months and 2.5 years old, children experience enormous growth. During this stage of development, children learn how to communicate feelings, navigate transitions, develop critical thinking skills, and build friendships. More families are turning to Montessori education because it empowers children to become more independent, motivated, and capable through hands-on learning and thoughtfully prepared classroom environments.
The Children’s House Montessori School Difference
At Children’s House Montessori School (CHMS) in Arlington and Alexandria, that development begins with classrooms intentionally designed for toddlers. Walk into a CHMS toddler classroom, and you will see children pushing in their chairs, preparing their own snack, cleaning up after themselves, watering plants, practicing language skills, and independently choosing lessons from child-sized shelves. Every material and lesson has a purpose: to help young children build coordination, concentration, and the foundation for academic and social success during one of the most important stages of development.
Throughout the school day at CHMS, toddlers naturally build meaningful friendships with one another, whether that means engaging in parallel play on the playground, working on a lesson beside a friend, or helping a classmate clean up spilled water. These small everyday moments help children develop empathy, social skills, and patience within the classroom community.
As children grow more comfortable expressing themselves, experienced and certified CHMS teachers gently guide them to learn how to communicate their needs and interact respectfully. The calm and collaborative Montessori environment gives young children opportunities to build emotional awareness alongside academic readiness from an early age.
Outcomes
At CHMS, parents often notice the impact of the Montessori approach early on. Toddlers begin taking greater initiative in everyday routines, communicating their needs more clearly, and navigating transitions with confidence.
These outcomes reflect what research has consistently shown about high-quality Montessori education. Children flourish in environments that support child-led learning, intrinsic motivation, and concentration. In CHMS toddler classrooms, those skills are developed through purposeful daily activities that actively engage their hands with their mind.
Since 1999, CHMS has provided an authentic Montessori education in a warm, connected school community.
CHMS is currently welcoming toddler and preschool families for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. Families interested in learning more are encouraged to connect with the admissions team and schedule a tour to experience the CHMS approach and community firsthand.
