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Toddlers

Our toddler room is made up of a mixed age group ranging from 18 months to 3 years of age.  This makes for a more challenging play level for the younger toddlers.  It also allows for the older toddlers to help guide and ‘create’ play for the younger children.  Our program promotes the importance of learning through play, which enhances self-esteem. 

While no one specific area of development is stressed over another, a few principles of development are emphasized in the planning process.  Until approximately two years of age, children learn most efficiently through movement and through their senses.  Therefore, frequent opportunities to develop large muscle skills are provided both inside and outside daily.  Sensory activities offered include playing with water, play-dough, shaving cream and finger-painting.

Our caregivers understand that children learn most effectively from concrete experiences and hands on interactions with their world.  Therefore, these opportunities are provided for each theme.  As language is emerging, staff members provide language models and frequent opportunities for children to practice their newly emerging communication skills. 

Emerging independence is another important developmental task of the toddler years.  As children are ready, they are encouraged to feed themselves, and to participate in other self care tasks such as removing shoes, putting on their own coats, or putting things in their cubby.  When caregivers and parents agree jointly on a child’s readiness, the process of toilet training is begun and integrated in the toddler’s day as well.  As children reach 3 years of age and are completely potty trained, they are transitioned in the Pre-K 3 classroom to meet their changing needs.