With the toddlers, the goal is to provide for each child's need to move, to feel comfortable and to feel competent. Our focus is on involving the children with materials, teachers and other toddlers so that the child can construct knowledge based on those interactions. The children alternate between group and individual learning times throughout the day. Group time may be a story, art, music or introduction of a new concept. Individual time can be spent in the library area, practical life and dramatic play areas or choosing a puzzle or another learning material from one of the shelves.

Each day your toddler will experience these types of activites:

• Quiet and Calm - learning materials, books, listening activities, "thinking times"
• Structured - story time, movement activities, "musical moments"
• Craft and Discovery - use of various art media, water and sand play, science materials, dramatic play, dress-up, housekeeping
• Large Motor Activities - climbing equipment, simple movement games, outdoor play, riding toys.

     Toddlers are explorers and our program is designed with that in mind. We try to allow as much independent choice as possible while they learn to expand their world to include others.

     The children are read to daily. The toddlers have a separate, fenced playground that they use daily, weather permitting.

Toddler Daily Schedule

• 7:00 – 8:30 Free playtime
• 8:30 – 9:00 Breakfast
• 9:00 – 9:30 Small muscle activities, e.g. puzzles, small blocks, manipulatives
• 9:30 – 10:00 Music and movement
• 10:00 – 11:00 Outdoor play
• 11:00 – 11:15 Free play time
• 11:15 – 11:30 Cleanup and lunch preparation
• 11:30 – 12:00 Lunch
• 12:00 – 12:15 Preparation for nap
• 12:15 – 3:00 Nap
• 3:00 – 3:15 Snack
• 3:15 – 3:45 Art activities
• 3:45 – 4:30 Large muscle play, indoors or outdoors
• 4:30 – 5:30 Free choice, e.g. blocks, puppets, dramatic play, sensorial materials, manipulatives