The toddler routine outlines the typical daily flow for children aged two to three years in the Montessori toddler community. It provides a consistent pattern of activities for learning time, meals, rest, and outdoor play. The predictability of the routine helps children to feel secure and positively influences their emotional, cognitive, and social development. The toddler daily routine is adapted to meet children’s needs, support emerging interests, and nurture the development of each child’s personality and intelligence.
7:30am – 9am
Centre opens
Morning greeting
Montessori Work Cycle
10am – 12:00pm
Communal morning tea
Outdoor play
Group time
12:00pm – 12:40pm
Lunch time
Socialising
Clean up
12:40pm – 2:30pm
Sleep time
Rest time
Quiet activities
2:30pm – 4:00pm
Communal afternoon tea
Outdoor play
Pack up time
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Late afternoon snack
Indoor activities
Centre closes
Imagine Montessori SD opens at 8:00am. Upon arrival, please remember to sign your child in and place their bag and belongings in their locker. Children need a labelled water bottle, hat, and spare set of clothes each day. If your child attends a non-catered centre, they will also need a healthy packed lunch.
When you are ready to enter the classroom, please knock on the door, and wait for an educator to greet your child. Older children are encouraged to knock on the door once they have been introduced to the Grace and Courtesy Curriculum. Please say goodbye at the door to minimise disruption to the class.
Once your child enters the classroom they will begin the Montessori Work Cycle. Children may choose to work individually, with an educator, or in a small group setting.
Students are encouraged to learn by moving, follow their interests, and pack away before they proceed with the next activity. Learning is individually paced and based on each child’s developmental needs and interests.
Around 10am, the Montessori Work Cycle concludes, and children enjoy a nutritious morning tea from a rotating menu of fresh fruit, muffins, cereal, healthy slices, and sandwiches accompanied by milk.
The children then go outside to play and engage in activities that encourage their physical development and fundamental movement skills. Children practice ball skills, running and jumping, play in the sandpit, engage in collaborative play, and participate in games, music, and dancing activities.
After outdoor play, the children participate in group time which typically includes planned activities based on children’s interests.
Group time activities may include language activities, group interest projects, lessons in grace and courtesy, walking on the line, art and craft, or music and movement.
Throughout the day children participate in both planned and spontaneous group time experiences.
Around 11:30am, the children settle in for the lunchtime routine. Lunch is a social time, where educators encourage talking about different types of food and table manners. Lunch is also a great time to practice skills such as spooning, tonging, and using a fork. At the end of the meal, children pack away their own plates or lunch boxes, scrape food waste into the bin, and assist with tidying up the room.
After lunch, children sleep or have quiet rest time. The room is darkened and quiet sleep music lulls the children into a restful sleep. Children sleep or rest on floor beds. Quiet activities are available for children who do not sleep.
Around 2:30pm, the children begin to wake up, and communal afternoon tea is served. This is typically fresh vegetable sticks and dip, sandwiches, cheese and crackers, yoghurt, wraps, fresh fruit, or healthy muffins accompanied by water.
Once children have finished eating, they participate in outdoor play. Children follow their interests, explore the outdoors, and participate in individual and group learning experiences that foster social skills and fundamental movement skills.