Understanding Young Children
Rooted in Child Development and Montessori Principles
Young children are extraordinary.
During the first years of life, they are building the foundation for everything that follows—learning how to move, communicate, think, connect, and make sense of the world around them.
The more we understand how children naturally develop, the less we feel the need to control, hurry, or fix them. Instead, we begin to recognize what they are showing us and respond with greater confidence, patience, and trust.
Here you'll find thoughtful guidance to help you better understand your child and create an environment where they can flourish.
The developmental pathways below offer an overview of the remarkable journey from infancy through childhood, highlighting key characteristics of each stage and practical ways to support children as they grow.
Enjoy the journey through the magic of childhood development!
The Beginning Stage:
Birth - 9 months
Observation, movement, and the foundations of early development.
During the first months of life, babies are adapting to life outside the womb while beginning the extraordinary work of building trust, attachment, and an understanding of the world around them. Though often viewed as passive recipients of care, infants are actively engaged in development from the very beginning. They are absorbing their environment through their senses, forming relationships, and laying the foundation for future movement, language, and learning. By understanding the developmental needs of this stage, parents can create environments and routines that support both the baby's growth and their own confidence in the journey of parenthood.
This stage focuses on understanding the baby’s earliest drives for movement, connection, and exploration while creating calm, supportive environments at home.
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The Young Explorer Stage:
9 - 18 months
Supporting curiosity, movement, and the first steps toward independence.
With newfound mobility comes a powerful drive to explore. Whether crawling, cruising, or taking first steps, young children are increasingly motivated to move toward what captures their interest and to participate in the world around them. This stage is marked by rapid growth in movement, language, and independence, often accompanied by an emerging desire to do things for themselves. As parents begin to see the world through the eyes of a young explorer, they can create spaces and routines that support curiosity, encourage communication, and provide opportunities for meaningful participation in daily life.
As babies become mobile, parents learn how to prepare environments that encourage exploration, language development, and growing autonomy.
The Emerging Independence Stage:
18 - 24 months
Understanding the toddler’s growing sense of self.
The emerging independence of the toddler years can be both exciting and challenging. Children at this age are developing a growing awareness of themselves as separate individuals and are driven by a powerful desire to act on the world independently. They are eager to imitate the adults around them, participate in everyday activities, and do things "by myself." At the same time, their need for consistency and order remains strong, helping them make sense of a rapidly expanding world. By understanding the developmental characteristics of this stage, parents can create supportive routines, offer appropriate choices, and establish clear, loving boundaries that nurture both independence and security.
This stage explores the toddler’s powerful drive for independence, imitation, and order, while helping parents establish supportive routines and clear boundaries.
The Growing Confidence Stage:
2 - 3 Years
Nurturing independence, concentration, and participation in daily life.
Between the ages of two and three, children often demonstrate remarkable growth in confidence, capability, and self-awareness. What once required constant assistance can now be approached with increasing skill and determination. Language is expanding rapidly, imagination is beginning to emerge, and children are eager to participate as valued members of the family and community. While this stage can bring strong opinions and big emotions, it is also a time of tremendous opportunity. By offering meaningful responsibilities, fostering independence, and creating environments that support success, parents can help children develop a strong sense of competence, belonging, and confidence in their growing abilities.
Parents explore practical ways to support their child’s growing capability, language, and desire to contribute meaningfully to the home environment.
The Early Childhood Stage:
3-6Years
Supporting curiosity, responsibility, and deeper independence.
The years from three to six are often described as a period of extraordinary growth and possibility. During this stage, children possess a remarkable capacity to absorb information from their environment and are driven by a deep desire to learn, master new skills, and make sense of the world around them. As concentration deepens and independence expands, children become increasingly capable of caring for themselves, contributing to their communities, and engaging in meaningful work. By providing rich experiences, clear expectations, and opportunities for purposeful activity, adults can help nurture a lifelong love of learning, a strong sense of responsibility, and the confidence that comes from meaningful accomplishment.
This stage focuses on fostering concentration, responsibility, and a love of learning as children move through the rich developmental years of early childhood.
