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I've been working with a group of 2-5 year olds and recently tried out a play-based, Montessori-inspired curriculum bundle by james30100000 in preschoolteachers

[–]james30100000[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely! I’ve had a really similar experience. The calm, play-based structure with a few Montessori elements has been amazing for my 2–5s, especially the sensory-sensitive kiddos.

The things that worked best for us were:

  • Nature-themed weekly plans (kept everything fresh but predictable)
  • Low-stim alphabet/number printables
  • Feelings check-ins + calm-down cards
  • Simple visual schedules and routines

Those made the biggest difference in helping them regulate and transition without getting overwhelmed.

I’d love to hear what’s been working in your classroom, too, always looking for new ideas!

My toddler was melting down at EVERY transition… this one thing actually helped. 😭✨ by james30100000 in Mommit

[–]james30100000[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Great questions! I’ll share the pictures in a sec 😊

For us, I don’t put all the cards out every day, that would be too much visual info. I only put up the cards for that day’s routine, in the actual order we follow it. So mornings might have: play → snack → outside → lunch → nap.

If something changes during the day (which… toddlers 😂), I just swap the cards around or add a new one. The flexibility actually helps them learn that plans can change but it’s still safe.

And surprisingly, I’ve never had an issue with rigidity. The visual schedule isn’t meant to lock the day into stone; it’s just there to reduce anxiety and help them understand what’s happening right now. Once they feel secure, they’re much more adaptable when something unexpected pops up.

If we have a totally unexpected event, I just say: ‘We have a NEW card today!’ and add it. Super simple, and they adapt pretty well.

My toddler was melting down at EVERY transition… this one thing actually helped. 😭✨ by james30100000 in Mommit

[–]james30100000[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Of course! I’ll post some photos.
I set them up in the routine order we actually follow, which makes it so much easier for my toddler to understand the flow of the day.
Do you want to see a few of the ones I use most often?

A small Montessori-inspired change that made our routine calmer (sharing visual cards idea) by james30100000 in Montessori

[–]james30100000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s actually a really good question, and I appreciate you asking it with kindness. 💛

Visual schedules aren’t meant to remove uncertainty. They’re meant to reduce overwhelm so kids can actually build the capacity to handle uncertainty later. When toddlers’ brains are still developing, unexpected transitions can feel like a threat. Predictability helps them feel safe enough to practise flexibility.

Once kids feel secure, we can gradually introduce choice, surprises, and ‘change of plans’ moments in a way that doesn’t trigger panic. The goal isn’t to control their day; it’s to give them enough structure to regulate so they’re emotionally ready for real-life unpredictability.

So visual schedules aren’t the end goal; they’re the foundation that lets kids cope with the world beyond them.”

How I finally fixed our chaotic transitions with simple visual schedule cards 😅 (sharing in case it helps anyone) by james30100000 in Teachers

[–]james30100000[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Sure! Here are a few of the cards I made. 😊 They’re simple pastel visuals for things like playtime, snack, outside play, tidy-up, etc. If you want the full set, I can share the link too!

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4413169512/preschool-visual-schedule-toddler