Infant & Toddler Program

The first three years are a time of exploration, experimentation, and immense growth.

A young child with curly brown hair crouches on grass and sand, holding a yellow flower and examining it closely.
Abstract digital artwork with overlapping pastel-colored shapes including green, purple, and white.
Minimalist abstract design with layered semi-circles and a circle at the top, in shades of green.

This specialized curriculum is designed to prepare adult learners to understand and support the child’s profound work of self-construction during this foundational stage of life. Through this training, you will build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to guide infants and toddlers in a purposeful and developmentally appropriate way.  

The AMS Infant and Toddler credential meets the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families requirement for those supervising young infants and toddlers in state-licensed facilities. Upon satisfactorily completing all academic and practicum requirements, you will be awarded a MACTE accredited, AMS-affiliated Infant & Toddler credential.

A black and white photograph of Maria Montessori smiling softly, wearing a dark top and a pearl necklace.

 “There are many who hold, as I do, that the most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six. For that is the time when man's intelligence itself, his greatest implement, is being formed. But not only his intelligence; the full totality of his psychic powers.”

— Maria Montessori

Three women sitting around a wooden table working together on a pink and blue geometric structure made of sticks. One woman has orange hair and glasses on her head. The second woman has blonde hair and wears a green jacket. The third woman has dark hair tied back and wears a yellow coat with a fur-lined hood. There are papers, a tablet, and a die on the table.
An illustration with a green half-circle, brown circle, and light blue half-circle.

Academic Phase: 

Courses include Philosophy; Pedagogy; Environmental Design; Child, Family and Community; Observation; Personal Growth and Development; Program Leadership; and Child Development. For course descriptions see the MEIPN Student Catalog.

The academic phase starts in June and continues for one year.

  • Consists of 222 contact hours of instruction and independent observations.

  • Hybrid program - in-person classes (143.5 hours) held on one or two Saturdays each month, and online classes on Canvas (66.5 hours) with Zoom sessions throughout the year.

  • Students without a MACTE/AMS-recognized Early Childhood Credential will take an additional 24-hour online Early Childhood Overview class immediately following the Infant & Toddler course.

Montessori shapes: a forrest green triangle.

“I liked the opportunities to practice different forms of observation.”

– MEIPN grad

Two women sitting at a table in a classroom, smiling at the camera, with papers and a laptop in front of them.
Four blue diamond shapes above five green semi-circles on a green background.

Practicum Phase:

The Practicum is a vital part of your Montessori training, giving you the opportunity to apply what you have learned in a real classroom setting. This hands-on phase helps bridge theory and practice allowing you to observe, support, and guide children while continuing to grow your skills and confidence as a Montessori educator.

AMS allows three Practicum models at the Infant & Toddler Level:

  • infants only (birth to 18 months)

  • toddlers only (18 - 36 months)

  • both infants and toddlers

Practicum begins after the start of the academic phase.

  • Requires a minimum of 3.5 hours per day, five days per week in a Montessori Infant or Toddler classroom (a minimum of 540 hours over nine months).

  • Ideally, you will work under the supervision of an experienced, credentialed Montessori teacher. This is called a supervised practicum.

  • In some cases, you may be the lead teacher in the classroom. This is called a self-directed practicum and you will receive one extra field visit.

Student-teachers choose their own practicum site.

Four women working together at a table, building a geometric structure with colorful straws and connectors, with papers and instructions on the table.
Three people sitting at a meeting table, engaging in a discussion, with various items such as notebooks, pens, a coffee cup, and a laptop in front of them, against a background with posters on the wall.
A person wearing glasses and a black shirt with colorful text is playing with colorful wooden animal-shaped pieces and a balancing game on a yellow table.
Three women sitting on a carpeted floor playing a card game with small cards, spoon props, and a tray, while one woman takes notes in a notebook.
MEIPN-Spooning.jpg
Group of people assembling small green and blue plastic models at a table in a room with forest-themed wall decor.
A diverse group of people posing together in an indoor setting, some sitting on the floor, some standing, with a table and shelves in the background.

Questions?