This Montessori-inspired curriculum supports infants and young toddlers in a calm, nurturing, home-based learning environment. Activities emphasize independence, language development, movement, and hands-on exploration using real materials.  This curriculum framework supports New Jersey childcare program documentation while also providing a clear overview for parents of the Montessori approach used at Astor Place Montessori.

Outdoor Exploration

During the warmer months, infants and toddlers spend a meaningful portion of their day outdoors in our safely enclosed backyard environment. Inspired by Dr. Maria Montessori’s belief that a thoughtfully prepared space encourages movement, exploration, and discovery. ​​

Learning Goals

• Build language through songs, books, conversation, and rich verbal interaction with caregivers
• Strengthen fine and gross motor coordination through movement activities, grasping materials, climbing, and purposeful work
• Encourage curiosity and exploration of the environment through sensory materials and discovery-based experiences
• Develop concentration and focus through hands-on Montessori activities designed for repetition and engagement
• Practice grace and courtesy within the classroom community by learning respect, patience, and kindness toward others
• Foster independence and self-care skills such as feeding, dressing, and participating in daily routines
• Refine sensory awareness through materials that support visual, tactile, and auditory exploration
• Experience connection with nature and outdoor exploration, supporting physical development and observation of the natural world 🌿

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Together, these experiences lay the foundation for confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning during the earliest and most important years of development.