Montessori for Toddlers

Montessori for Toddlers offers early learning through hands-on activities, including sensorial materials that develop sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound through exploration. Children take part in real-life practical life activities such as physically cleaning, pouring, and flower arranging, as well as art and culture projects using a variety of mediums that encourage creativity and self-expression. The program also includes music and language at Circle Time with songs, poems, books, rhythm, and musical instruments, along with early exposure to conceptual math, geometry, counting, animal life cycles, physics, and toddler-appropriate science, plus outdoor play, nature discovery, outdoor yoga, rhythm dance, and discovering insects, butterflies, and hummingbirds around the outdoor play space.

• Ages: 1–4 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Friday half-day mornings and Monday–Thursday full-day options

Montessori for Toddlers was established in 1989. The program offers a small group experience for children 18 months to 4 years in a peaceful home environment prepared with inviting and challenging materials, with a beautifully prepared environment inside the classroom and out in the garden and a rich outdoor play space. The stated mission is to provide open communication that includes parent conferences and educational evenings, work closely with parents to support a healthy separation experience, provide a safe, orderly, nurturing, and inviting environment, teach students through hands-on, individualized experiences, instill in students a love of learning, recognize and appreciate the unique personality, and support the child’s desire to be independent.

The leadership team includes Terese Bradshaw as Directress and founder of Montessori for Toddlers, Lori Picardi as Head Teacher in the classroom, Connie Blake as Assistant Teacher at MFT, and Moira Dolan as Summer Intern at MFT. Terese Bradshaw received a bachelor’s degree in Child Development from San Francisco State University, completed Montessori Training at Pacific Coast Montessori School in 1989, is a Certified Positive Discipline Trainer, leads workshops in Positive Discipline for many local preschool staff, and holds a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit from the California State Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Lori Picardi received a bachelor’s degree in General Design from San Jose State University, completed the Montessori and Positive Discipline online courses, and has completed the Infant and Child CPR and First Aid Certificate. Connie Blake has completed the Infant and Child CPR and First Aid Certificate. Montessori for Toddlers holds California State License #214200027.

Parent feedback includes comments that both the oldest and youngest children in one family have thrived at Montessori for Toddlers and that the space teaches children they are capable of doing so much, from Jason Zahorenko. Lisa Zanassi states appreciation for a loving and enriching environment and notes that both of her children’s growth has been amazing. Rachel Farac reports that both of her kids went to Terese Montessori, that they are thriving at their schools, and that she highly recommends this school, noting it is small and that she found it great for ages 2–3.5 or for a child who needs a small class. Lorinda Flanagan, a mom and 2nd grade teacher, states that Terese is an expert in the field of education and that in her search, no other preschool matched the quality of this program. Diana Planson describes the program as one small cozy classroom in a home in a quiet neighborhood and says it was a perfect transition into school that was not intimidating and where her daughter received the attention she was used to at home. Tristan Christiansen notes that Terese and Lori have great communication with parents, are quick to respond to emails, update parents through back-to-school nights and parent-teacher conferences, and post pictures on the classroom website.

Last updated March 28, 2026.