The youngest learners: 18 months to 3 years

Curious and energetic by nature, toddlers embrace everything around them with open arms. These are years of rapid physical as well as mental development, with children expressing an intense interest in the physical world. They are budding scientists and artists exploring the law of gravity or the wonder of colours and shapes, discovering a world beyond Mommy and Daddy.

Nurturing Toddlers

When Joanne Mendolia's first-born, Simona, was 2 years old she decided to enrol her in Casa Dei Bambino Montessori School in Woodbridge, Ontario. "I was pregnant with my second child and we decided that Simona needed something more than being at home with me," Joanne says. "We wanted more than babysitting, we wanted her to be in a learning environment."

"They are like sponges as toddlers. It's a time of rapid growth and brain development and I had heard so much about the benefits of a Montessori setting."

Now that Simona is 4 years old, Joanne says she is sure she made the right decision to start her daughter in a supportive private school environment at an early age. "She has such a strong vocabulary. She doesn't use any baby words and she can show you the continents on a map."

Joanne was so pleased with Simona's progress that in February she decided to enrol 18-month-old Martina in the school's three-day-a-week toddler program. "Even after a few months, I can see her growing independence and love of learning."

Joanne has decided to keep her daughters at the Montessori school until Grade 1 and then she'll consider other options. "My husband and I are really happy. We think our daughters will be well prepared for whatever comes next. We're spending this money and we're getting good results."

Parent's perspective: no other care could compare

Liesl Alli already notices the differences between her two daughters.

Anisa, now 10, was taken care of by a relative when she was a toddler, like many other children at that age. But when her youngest, Ariana, was 18 months, Alli didn't have that option when she needed to go back to work. So she enrolled Ariana in the toddler program at Tall Pines School, in Brampton, Ontario.

"It was the best thing for her," Alli says. "I just noticed everything-the social skills, the communication."

Now four, Ariana-who got used to spending time with other children early-is outgoing and full of energy. Anisa has always been much shyer.

"I can just see the difference in both children," Alli says.

Ariana has always been much more independent as well. She does things by herself, and doesn't want mom's help for anything. It was a surprise for Alli, who didn't go through the same adjustment with Anisa, who was more used to having things done for her, having spent those early years at home and with family.

"At 18 months, [Ariana was] carrying her lunchbox down the hallway, and it's so funny because they're just dragging them like luggage," Alli says. "We would have fights over this, because she was wanting to be so independent. And I wasn't ready for that."

Helping toddlers learn means giving them freedom, but within limits. While your young ones might need to assert their independence by making their own decisions, it can sometimes be a laborious process for parents. The answer: Set out a few options from which they can make their choice.