At Chesterfield Montessori, we emphasize community, not just as an abstract concept, but as a lived daily experience. Our commitment to Montessori in Every Moment℠ means recognizing that every part of the day, no matter how small, is an opportunity for meaningful connection, growth and learning. This lens is especially powerful in the Toddler/YCC community, where development is rapid and foundational.
What Is Community?
The word community comes from the Latin communis, meaning “common, public, general, or shared by all or many.” In addition to shared space, we also think about community as a shared sense of meaning, values and connection.
At its core, community begins with the most fundamental human group: the family. Families form children’s first social experience and the first place where values, culture and expectations are passed down. This bond has helped humans survive and thrive throughout history.
Partnering with Families
At our school, we honor and respect each family's unique values, striving to foster strong home and school relationships. Our partnership with families is a mutual journey, in which the caregivers at school and home come together with a shared purpose: to nurture children’s natural growth.
Building the Toddler Community
We design both our both indoor and outdoor learning environments to meet each child where they are, providing just the right level of challenge, comfort and beauty. In creating community, we focus on essential, concrete elements like people, space and materials, while also attending to intangible aspects that provide a profound sense of order.
The People: The adults—both the lead guide and trained assistants—focus on personal and professional preparation. Their role is not to direct the child but to support their natural development with presence, purpose and peacefulness.
The Space: The physical environment must be appropriately sized, thoughtfully arranged and aesthetically pleasing. If it’s too large, children can feel lost or overstimulated. If it’s too small, they may feel crowded and unsettled. We design every detail—from the furniture to the flow of the day—with intention.
The Materials: Everything in the classroom is purposeful, developmentally appropriate and in harmony with authentic Montessori principles. We carefully select materials to support children’s movement, independence, concentration and sense of order.
Profound Order: A true Montessori community also relies on an invisible but essential structure: the order that underlies everything. Children have a fundamental need for order, especially during the first six years of life when they are in their sensitive period for order.
External order in routines, consistent expectations and a well-organized space helps children form inner order, which is the foundation of emotional regulation, concentration and autonomy.
A Living, Breathing Community
Creating an authentic Montessori community for toddlers is both an art and a science that requires intentional environments, well-prepared adults, and a deep respect for children’s developmental journey.
From the moment a child arrives, through routines like putting on shoes or washing hands, we approach each interaction with intentionality. The environment, the materials and the adult’s presence all work together to support the child’s natural drive toward independence and belonging. It’s in these seemingly ordinary moments that the deepest learning often takes place. By choosing to live Montessori in Every Moment℠, we create a community where toddlers not only grow but flourish.
“Through practical exercises...the children develop a true 'social feeling,' for they are working in the environment of the community in which they live, without concerning themselves as to whether it is for their own, or for the common good,” - Dr. Maria Montessori
Schedule a visit to see what our intentionally designed community looks like in action!
