Parents ask · Starting out

Does my child need to be potty trained to start Montessori?

Not at Mills. Potty training is not a condition of entry for our toddler program, which takes children from age two.

Plenty of schools do make toilet independence a prerequisite, and it rules out a lot of two-year-olds for reasons that have more to do with staffing than with the child. Children arrive at two ready for very different things.

We work with families on toileting the same way we work on everything else — at the child’s pace, consistently, and without making it the center of their day. It is worth asking every school you tour, because the answers differ sharply.

Where to go from here

Other things parents ask

What age should a child start Montessori? When can we enroll — is there an application deadline? Do Montessori schools work for two working parents? Is Montessori worth the money? Do Montessori children do well in traditional schools afterwards? What does a Montessori school day actually look like?

All questions →

Still deciding?

Call the school office at 650-616-9000, or come and watch a morning.

Schedule a Tour Call 650-616-9000