Toddler Classrooms

 
 

It may seem like yesterday when your ‘baby’ was born, but now he or she is a Toddler!  Our toddler program maintains very high standards for providing physical care for each child as their schedules begin to coalesce to one.  We maintain the flexibility for individual variances as needed for naps and diaper changes, but we also begin to learn about our environment as we talk about weather, day of the week and special events like birthdays.  Classrooms are equipped with Discovery Areas for learning and play, including Home Living, Blocks & Manipulatives, Music, Science, Language and others.

Within this playful classroom setting, we observe and assess the developmental skills of each child:

  • Cognitive  (Examples are ‘sorts distinctively different objects’, ‘searches for hidden object’, and carries out directions with 1 or 2 steps’)

  • Language  (Examples are ‘points to objects when identified’, understands and uses more and more vocabulary words’ and ‘responds appropriately to action verbs like stand, sit, roll over’)

  • Fine Motor  (Examples are ‘holds crayons’, places objects in a cup’ and ‘unscrews lids on jars’)

  • Gross Motor  (Examples are ‘walks pushing a chair’, ‘steps over 4” object’ and ‘walks sideways’)

  • Socialization  (Examples are ‘releases object when asked’, plays house’ and ‘uses please & thank you’)

  • Self Care  (Examples are ‘drinks from sippy cup’, ‘wets hands to wash’ and ‘takes spoon to mouth’)

  • Emotional  (Examples are ‘expresses joy with another child’, ‘has tantrums’ and wants to do things ‘by myself’)

The teachers chosen to work with toddlers are persons with special talent for managing the frequent emotional displays as they care for the physical needs of each child.  Within the classroom, children have freedom to play alone in the various Discovery Areas, or come together for ‘circle time’, stories and games.  As children develop new skills, our assessment program helps identify activities that will encourage each child to try new things that require additional skills.  We work to enable your child to develop positive personality and character traits, to be happy and well-adjusted to life.

While we have daily communication with parents all year long, the anecdotal journaling for each child becomes the basis for formal parent-teacher conferences twice per year.  We provide daily communication of your toddler's activities such as meals (what and how much was eaten), naps, diaper changes/pottying, learning activities, and photos or videos via the Procare app. You may also send and receive messages to/from staff in the app throughout the day. You will feel a sense of confidence when you leave your tiny person in our care while you are at work!