The child who enters the toddler environment is walking and have their hands free to engage with the materials. Toddlers are developing through all their senses, so they need to touch and try as they discover the world around them.
Building the child’s self-esteem, concentration and self-confidence is the ultimate goal in the environment and this is accomplished through repeated successes with the activities in the community. Allowing freedom in a safe space is a core principle to the Toddler Community, while following three important limits that will be beneficial for a lifetime – respect for self, respect for others and respect for the environment.
The routines of everyday living are the foundation of our toddler curriculum. Activities that promote independence, order, coordination, and concentration, as well as support social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
Our practical life curriculum provides children with the opportunity to develop skills to care for themselves and their environment. The environment is completely adapted to their size and needs to build their independence and belief of ‘I can do it by myself’ fostering the development of self-esteem and self-worth. Practical life activities are simple, incorporate purposeful movement, development of the senses and offer a repetitive cycle, which aids in establishing patterns of order and sequencing. Some examples include-
Washing, dressing, toileting, and eating, according to each child’s individual capacity
Sweeping, mopping, recycling paper, plant care and gardening.
All toddlers have an innate need to move and when allowed to move around their environment freely, they grow up to feel a sense of trust from their caregivers. Our environment provides the space and activities that incorporate purposeful movement in the indoor and outdoor environment.
Walking, climbing, running, jumping, balancing, climbing steps, and movement of furniture
Reaching, grasping, picking up objects, transferring objects, using tools and utensils, engaging with creative expression activities such as painting, clay, scribbling.
One of the many joyful aspects of a toddler environment is food preparation. Learning how to prepare one’s own food is a critical life skill and allows children to master real tools in the process. When preparing food for the whole group, children experience being a contributing member of their community and develop a real sense of belonging. This is one of the first steps in becoming a well-functioning social being.
During the first plane of development (0-6years) children are able to learn to communicate simply by being immersed in a language rich environment. Our guides strive to be good language role models by listening attentively, respectfully, and responsively to all attempts made by the children to communicate. Activities will include naming objects, describing actions and intentions, presentations with real and replica objects that interest the child, discussing pictures, conversation, music, singing, and poetry.
"Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment."
We look forward to welcoming you and your family into our community.
Discover our thoughtful approach to early education
