The Casita (1 1/2 to 3 years)
CMS has two toddler communities, or Casitas. One community has an All Day program available (8:15am to 6:00pm) and the other community has traditional hours (8:15am to 2:45pm). The All Day Casita also has a limited 2:45 departure option, which is usually reserved for siblings of older children in the school. The Casita communities have 12-13 children with guides and assistants.
Each environment has many opportunities to fulfill the following needs: freedom of movement, independence, language development, caring for the self, caring for the environment, and mastery of the toileting process. The morning begins with a period of self care as they enter the room, hanging up their coats and putting extra clothes away. This is followed by a work period in which the child receives lessons and chooses freely from the materials in the room or in the outdoor extensions. The children prepare snacks for themselves during the morning as they wish. These activities consist of juicing oranges, slicing fruits or eggs and making biscuits to share. Lunch is a communal affair in the All Day Casita and the children take part in its preparation.
During the first three years of life the child is gifted with an unconscious Absorbent Mind that takes in, like a sponge, everything that is in the environment. Knowing this, the Casita guide takes great care in preparing the surroundings to create an atmosphere of tranquility, order and beauty.
For many children the Casita is their first school or outside care experience. Because of this we seek to make our environment as similar to the home as possible. The activities the children engage in are things they have seen used in their homes. Food preparation activities pave the way for more practical life work: sweeping, mopping, and washing tables and dishes. All of this happens spontaneously with few cues from the guide as they become aware of the need to clean up and take care of the environment.
Alongside the children’s activities in daily life are opportunities for learning the language spoken around them. During class activities the guide is careful to speak slowly and softly so that her speech is clear for the child. Children can choose from a wide array of language enhancing activities, starting with real things and progressing to realistic objects, and then to picture cards for naming. The children also enjoy singing together and reading books and reciting little poems.
