Welcome to my Montessori internship portfolio!

Here, you’ll find a glimpse into the incredible journey of Leo, a curious and capable toddler growing through his third year of life. As part of my internship at Montessori Connection West, I observed Leo’s development in a classroom of 16 children, capturing moments of discovery, independence, and joy.

This project is inspired by Maria Montessori’s philosophy, especially the idea that children experience Sensitive Periods, natural windows of intense learning. With trust, time, and a prepared environment, young children like Leo show us just how much they can do.

Thank you for visiting!

Introduction

As part of my internship at Montessori Connection West, I had the privilege of conducting a year-long study focused on early childhood development through the lens of Leo, born on July 7, 2022. Leo is the firstborn child of Kay and Stef and a proud older brother to May, who is now a busy one-year-old toddler himself. Our classroom includes 16 children, and observing Leo within this dynamic learning environment has been a rich and meaningful experience.

To those unfamiliar with the developmental needs of young children, it may seem as though toddlers are simply playing, wandering, or observing without purpose. But anyone who has worked closely with young children knows just how much learning is happening behind those seemingly simple moments. From problem-solving and social exploration to physical coordination and language growth—these early years are full of incredible transformation.

Maria Montessori’s study of child development revealed that young children pass through Sensitive Periods—specific windows of time when they are especially receptive to acquiring certain skills. These periods are marked by an intense internal drive and joy in practicing new abilities. Leo, like many children in our Nido and Sprouts classrooms, exemplified these Sensitive Periods in action—particularly in movement, language acquisition, independence, and the refinement of the senses.

Children in infancy and toddlerhood learn by doing. They absorb knowledge from their surroundings with effortlessness and delight—if we allow them the freedom and trust to explore. Montessori believed that children thrive when we prepare environments that respond to their developmental needs and follow their lead with care and respect.

Throughout this project, I gathered observation notes, photographs, and video clips to document Leo’s developmental journey from age two to three. What I observed was a child growing not only in body and mind, but in self-confidence and joyful independence. These findings are organized according to the Sensitive Periods of development and can be found in the tabs above.

Leo’s story has been a powerful reminder of the potential within every child—and how essential it is that we offer them the space and support to unfold naturally.

Leo became more coordinated, agile, and confident in his movements.

His physical growth during this year included:

Running smoothly and changing direction with ease
Climbing furniture, playground structures, and stairs with alternating feet
Kicking, throwing, and beginning to catch a ball
Using hands skillfully: turning pages, stringing beads, building tall block towers
Using toilet with increased awareness of body cues

Leo loved to move! Every step, jump, and tumble was part of his journey toward physical mastery and independence.

Physical Development

Washing Hands

Going down the stairs

Hanging a coat

Carrying a heavy object

Jumping with two feet

Building tower

Cutting playdoh

Chopping an apple slice

Using a tweezer

Spraying water

Pouring jug to jug

Opening and closing faucet

Sliding down

Climbing up the stairs

Climbing on a structure

Leo’s thinking skills took a big leap. He began to solve problems with intention and showed a growing understanding of how the world works.

Highlights of his cognitive development included:

Engaging in pretend play with imagination and creativity
Completing simple puzzles and matching games
Recognizing shapes, colors, and starting to count objects
Beginning to understand cause and effect (“If I press this button, the light turns on!”)
Following two- or three-step directions

Leo often surprised those around him with thoughtful questions and clever ways of figuring things out.