September is a wonderful time for little ones to explore, play, and discover something new. For infants and toddlers, simple activities can turn an ordinary school day into an opportunity to build new skills. From sensory play to music, movement, art, and practical life activities, age-appropriate experiences can support early development while keeping children engaged and happy.
At Montessori Kid’s Land Academy, September brings a variety of hands-on learning opportunities designed around children’s developmental needs. This month, classroom learning includes themes such as All About Me, Transportation, Safety, and Health, while children also practice motor skills, practical life activities, creativity, and independence.
- Celebrate Labor Day Together
September also begins with Labor Day. Monday, September 7, 2026, is Labor Day, and the school will be closed.
The school closure gives families an opportunity to spend some extra time together and enjoy simple activities at home. Parents can involve young children in age-appropriate household tasks, such as putting toys away, helping set the table, watering plants, or returning books to their proper place.
These everyday activities can make the holiday both enjoyable and educational. Children can practice following simple directions, building independence, and participating in family routines. Families can also enjoy reading together, listening to music, taking a walk, or having creative playtime.
- Explore Through Sensory Play
Infants and toddlers learn a lot through their senses. September-themed sensory activities can give young children a safe way to touch, see, hear, and explore. Teachers can introduce soft fabric, large leaves, colorful materials, or child-safe textured items during supervised classroom activities. Talking about how each item feels and looks can also encourage early language development.
Our classroom activities are thoughtfully planned to support early learning. In Room 1, babies practice grasping objects, placing items in and out of containers, stacking objects, and pouring from one container into another. These simple hands-on tasks help develop fine motor control, focus, concentration, early problem-solving, and independence.
These experiences can help children explore their surroundings while building curiosity, communication, and confidence, nurturing early childhood development in Redlands, California.
- Enjoy Music and Movement
Music is an easy way to bring energy and fun into the classroom. Teachers can play cheerful songs and encourage toddlers to clap, sway, march, or move along to the beat. Infants can enjoy listening to music while teachers gently encourage age-appropriate movement and participation. These activities can support coordination while creating positive social experiences.
Movement can also be encouraged through purposeful Montessori activities. Room 2’s September activities include throwing, using a hole puncher, clamping clothes, and stringing objects. Throwing helps children develop coordination, arm strength, and control, while clamping and stringing activities strengthen hand muscles, finger dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and concentration.
A supportive preschool environment can give infants and toddlers the comfort they need to explore at their own pace. When children feel secure, they can participate more confidently in music, movement, play, and other daily learning experiences within a safe learning environment in Redlands, California.
- Create Art Inspired by Georges Seurat
Young children do not need complicated materials to enjoy creative activities. This September, Rooms 2 and 3 will explore the work of French artist Georges Seurat and his unique Pointillism technique. Children will experiment with dots, colors, patterns, and different painting tools as they create collaborative artwork.
Pointillism offers an engaging way for preschoolers to discover how individual dots and marks can come together to create a larger picture. Through this experience, children can practice creativity, fine motor skills, and self-expression while discovering a new way to explore color and art.
Families can also continue creative exploration at home with simple activities such as rolling and pinching playdough, tearing paper for art projects, or using child-safe scissors with appropriate supervision. These activities can give young children opportunities to strengthen their hands while expressing their creativity.
Age-appropriate early childhood programs can include creative activities that make learning enjoyable. Art, sensory play, and guided exploration give young children opportunities to practice new skills while expressing themselves in ways that match their developmental stage.
- Practice Practical Life Skills
Young children naturally want to do things for themselves. September is a great opportunity to encourage that growing independence through simple, practical life activities.
In Room 3, children will practice cleaning objects, mixing colored water, pouring grains and water, weaving ribbon, and peeling carrots. These practical life activities help children develop fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, focus, independence, responsibility, and confidence while learning to care for themselves and their environment.
Parents can continue these lessons at home by giving children small responsibilities. Toddlers and preschoolers can practice pouring water into a cup, wiping the table after meals, putting dirty clothes in the hamper, matching socks, helping set the table, or returning toys and books to their proper places.
The goal is not perfection. Instead, children benefit from having the opportunity to try. Allowing young children to participate in everyday tasks can help them build concentration, confidence, and a sense of responsibility.
- Encourage Language and Reading Time
September is also a wonderful time to build language skills through short, consistent reading sessions. Families can spend 10 to 15 minutes reading together each day, and encourage children to participate by asking simple questions about the story.
Questions such as “What do you think will happen next?” or “Can you find something red on this page?” can turn reading into an interactive experience. Asking children to describe a favorite character or retell part of a story can also encourage communication and comprehension.
These simple conversations can complement classroom learning while helping children become more comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas.
- Take Learning Outdoors
If the weather allows, teachers can take children outside for a simple exploration activity. A short walk around the preschool can introduce toddlers to trees, sounds, textures, and environmental changes. Teachers can point out what they see and ask simple questions, helping children connect words with the world around them.
Outdoor exploration can also provide opportunities for movement, observation, and sensory discovery. Even a short time outside can give young children a chance to notice details in their surroundings and practice new vocabulary.
Choosing a licensed daycare facility can give families added confidence when looking for quality care and learning opportunities for young children. A supportive preschool setting can help make everyday activities meaningful while encouraging children to learn through play and hands-on experiences.
- Build Independence at Home
The September Family Corner focuses on building independence every day. Families are encouraged to give children opportunities to try tasks themselves rather than doing everything for them immediately. Small attempts can help children develop confidence, concentration, and responsibility.
At home, toddlers and preschoolers can practice putting on their shoes, washing their hands independently, carrying their backpack, putting dishes in the sink, cleaning up after an activity, or choosing and completing a simple activity without help.
Families can also practice grace and courtesy by encouraging children to say “please” and “thank you,” to wait their turn, to greet family members politely, to use an indoor voice, and to clean up before choosing another activity.
A simple September family challenge is to choose one practical life activity and practice it regularly throughout the month. With encouragement and patience, children can become increasingly comfortable completing everyday tasks on their own.
- Make September a Month of Discovery
September offers many opportunities for young children to learn through meaningful experiences. Whether they are exploring sensory materials, moving to music, creating Pointillism-inspired artwork, practicing practical life skills, enjoying a story, or helping with a task at home, children can develop important skills through activities that feel natural and enjoyable.
At Montessori Kid’s Land Academy, we believe learning should feel engaging, welcoming, and age-appropriate. Our preschool programs give infants and toddlers opportunities to explore, play, create, and build important early skills through hands-on experiences.
