TODDLER PROGRAM

Younger and Older Toddler Program (Ages 12 to 35 months)

In our Toddler Program, we focus on the continued development of foundational skills that are essential for future learning and growth. This classroom is designed to cater to the needs of toddlers as they explore their environment and develop critical skills:

Younger Toddlers (12 to 24 months)

At this stage, toddlers are beginning to assert their independence and explore the world around them with curiosity. Our program is designed to foster this natural exploration while promoting:

Sensory and Motor Skills Development: Activities are geared towards enhancing both fine and gross motor skills through hands-on exploration, such as stacking blocks, manipulating toys, and engaging in physical play.

Language Development: We place a strong emphasis on language acquisition, helping toddlers expand their vocabulary and understanding of basic instructions. Regular verbal interactions, songs, and storytelling sessions are used to familiarize them with sounds, words, and simple phrases.

Social and Emotional Skills: Toddlers are supported in developing their social and emotional skills through activities that encourage sharing, turn-taking, and the recognition of emotions. This stage is crucial for building self-awareness and the ability to interact with others.

Older Toddlers (24 to 35 months)

As toddlers grow, they become more active and inquisitive, requiring activities that challenge and stimulate their developing minds:

Independence and Self-Confidence: We design activities that promote independence and self-confidence, such as simple problem-solving tasks and opportunities for making choices. These experiences help toddlers build a sense of autonomy.

Language and Communication Skills: Language development continues to be a key focus, with activities that encourage more complex language use, such as forming short sentences and following multi-step instructions. We also support dual language learners by integrating their home language alongside English through interactive play and social interactions.

Cognitive and Problem-Solving Skills: Older toddlers are introduced to more structured activities that involve sorting, matching, and early counting, which help develop cognitive skills and logical thinking.

Social Interaction and Emotional Regulation: Through group activities and guided play, we help toddlers refine their social skills, such as cooperating with peers, expressing emotions appropriately, and developing empathy.

BENEFICIAL LEARNING CENTERS

For toddlers aged 12 to 35 months, learning centers should be designed to support their rapid developmental growth across various domains, including sensory exploration, language development, social interaction, cognitive skills, and motor development. Below are some developmentally age-appropriate learning centers for this age group:

1. Sensory Exploration Center

Focus: Encourages toddlers to explore their senses through touch, sight, sound, and smell.
Activities: Sensory bins filled with materials like rice, water beads, or sand; textured objects; musical instruments like shakers and bells; and simple sensory bottles with colorful liquids or glitter.
Developmental Benefits: Enhances sensory processing, fine motor skills, and cognitive development through hands-on exploration.

2. Language
and Literacy
Center

Focus: Supports early language development and a love for books.
Activities: Board books and picture books, interactive read-aloud sessions, storytelling with puppets or flannel boards, and simple songs or rhymes.
Developmental Benefits: Builds vocabulary, listening skills, and early literacy awareness by introducing toddlers to language in a fun and engaging way.

3. Art and
Creative
Expression Center

Focus: Allows toddlers to express their creativity and develop fine motor skills.
Activities: Crayons, washable markers, large sheets of paper, finger paints, playdough, and simple collage materials like paper scraps, stickers, and glue sticks.
Developmental Benefits: Develops fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity, providing opportunities for self-expression.

4. Dramatic Play Center

Focus: Encourages imaginative play and social interaction.
Activities: Child-sized kitchen sets, dress-up clothes, baby dolls, stuffed animals, pretend play props like phones and shopping carts, and themed play areas (e.g., a mini grocery store or doctor’s office).
Developmental Benefits: Promotes social-emotional development, role-playing, and language use in a social context.

Focus: Develops problem-solving and spatial awareness skills.
Activities: Large, soft blocks, stacking toys, interlocking building toys (like Mega BloCks), simple puzzles, and shape sorters.
Developmental Benefits: Enhances cognitive skills, spatial reasoning, and fine motor coordination through constructive play.

5. Block and Construction Center

Focus: Combines music with physical activity to support gross motor development.
Activities: Musical instruments such as tambourines, maracas, and drums; scarves or ribbons for dancing; action songs with movement; and rhythm sticks.
Developmental Benefits: Develops gross motor skills, rhythm, coordination, and encourages self-expression through movement and music.

6. Music and Movement Center

" Imagination will take you everywhere." – Albert Einstein

7. Science
and Nature Exploration Center

Focus: Introduces basic science concepts and fosters curiosity about the natural world.
Activities: Simple nature objects like leaves, rocks, and shells; magnifying glasses for exploration; sensory bottles with natural materials; and simple hands-on activities like planting seeds or observing insects.
Developmental Benefits: Encourages curiosity, observation skills, and an understanding of the natural world.

Focus: Supports physical development through active play.
Activities: Soft climbing structures, tunnels, balance beams, ride-on toys, large balls for kicking or throwing, and simple obstacle courses.
Developmental Benefits: Enhances gross motor coordination, balance, and physical strength, allowing toddlers to develop their physical abilities in a safe environment.

8. Gross Motor
Skills Center

Focus: Introduces early math concepts through play.
Activities: Simple counting games, stacking rings, sorting toys by color or shape, large beads for threading, and number puzzles.
Developmental Benefits: Supports early math skills, fine motor control, and cognitive problem-solving abilities through engaging activities.

9. Math and Manipulative Center

Focus: Provides a calm space for relaxation and emotional regulation.
Activities: Soft pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, quiet books or toys, and soothing music or ambient sounds.
Developmental Benefits: Helps toddlers learn to self-regulate, relax, and enjoy quiet time, supporting their emotional well-being.

10. Quiet and Cozy Corner

These learning centers are carefully designed to meet the developmental needs of toddlers aged 12 to 35 months, ensuring they have the opportunity to explore, learn, and grow in a supportive and stimulating environment.

TODDLER PROGRAM

Younger and Older Toddler Program (Ages 12 to 35 months)

Younger Toddlers (12 to 24 months)

Older Toddlers (24 to 35 months)

BENEFICIAL LEARNING CENTERS

1. Sensory Exploration Center​

Focus: Encourages toddlers to explore their senses through touch, sight, sound, and smell.

Activities: Sensory bins filled with materials like rice, water beads, or sand; textured objects; musical instruments like shakers and bells; and simple sensory bottles with colorful liquids or glitter.

Developmental Benefits: Enhances sensory processing, fine motor skills, and cognitive development through hands-on exploration.

2. Language and Literacy Center

Focus: Supports early language development and a love for books.

Activities: Board books and picture books, interactive read-aloud sessions, storytelling with puppets or flannel boards, and simple songs or rhymes.

Developmental Benefits: Builds vocabulary, listening skills, and early literacy awareness by introducing toddlers to language in a fun and engaging way.

3. Art and Creative Expression Center

Focus: Allows toddlers to express their creativity and develop fine motor skills.

Activities: Crayons, washable markers, large sheets of paper, finger paints, playdough, and simple collage materials like paper scraps, stickers, and glue sticks.

Developmental Benefits: Develops fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity, providing opportunities for self-expression.

4. Dramatic Play Center

Focus: Encourages imaginative play and social interaction.

Activities: Child-sized kitchen sets, dress-up clothes, baby dolls, stuffed animals, pretend play props like phones and shopping carts, and themed play areas (e.g., a mini grocery store or doctor’s office).

Developmental Benefits: Promotes social-emotional development, role-playing, and language use in a social context.

Focus: Develops problem-solving and spatial awareness skills.

Activities: Large, soft blocks, stacking toys, interlocking building toys (like Mega BloCks), simple puzzles, and shape sorters.

Developmental Benefits: Enhances cognitive skills, spatial reasoning, and fine motor coordination through constructive play.

5. Block and Construction Center

Focus: Combines music with physical activity to support gross motor development.

Activities: Musical instruments such as tambourines, maracas, and drums; scarves or ribbons for dancing; action songs with movement; and rhythm sticks.

Developmental Benefits: Develops gross motor skills, rhythm, coordination, and encourages self-expression through movement and music.

6. Music and Movement Center

7. Science and Nature Exploration Center

Focus: Introduces basic science concepts and fosters curiosity about the natural world.

Activities: Simple nature objects like leaves, rocks, and shells; magnifying glasses for exploration; sensory bottles with natural materials; and simple hands-on activities like planting seeds or observing insects.

Developmental Benefits: Encourages curiosity, observation skills, and an understanding of the natural world.

Focus: Supports physical development through active play.

Activities: Soft climbing structures, tunnels, balance beams, ride-on toys, large balls for kicking or throwing, and simple obstacle courses.

Developmental Benefits: Enhances gross motor coordination, balance, and physical strength, allowing toddlers to develop their physical abilities in a safe environment.

8. Gross Motor Skills Center

Focus: Introduces early math concepts through play.

Activities: Simple counting games, stacking rings, sorting toys by color or shape, large beads for threading, and number puzzles.

Developmental Benefits: Supports early math skills, fine motor control, and cognitive problem-solving abilities through engaging activities.