"...at no other age has the child greater need of an intelligent help, and any obstacle that impedes his creative work will lessen the chance he has of achieving perfection." (From The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori).
These little ones strive to "do it myself" as this is how human beings learn best. For this reason, you will observe children washing tables or hands, putting items in order, counting or "reading." In the Pre-Children's House, children are introduced to age-appropriate Montessori materials to begin learning shapes, colors, counting and sorting. They repeat work to master pincer grasp which will later influence their writing abilities and gross motor skills for coordination.
Staff will introduce and encourage the independent use of the restroom when the child demonstrates interest and readiness. Toilet training is a developmental signal that indicates the child is ready to begin mastery of materials in the Children's House classroom. Therefore, once toilet-trained, Pre-Children's House students will be transitioned to the Children's House five-morning program.