Guiding Toddlers’ Journey of Self Construction

(18 months – 3 years old)

Your toddler has a once in a lifetime opportunity to absorb information from the environment, like a sponge. Our classroom environments are built specifically to ensure optimal learning based on the sensitivities and interests of the toddler child.

Reggio Emilia toddler classrooms are simple and slower-paced. Each item in the environment is chosen carefully and purposefully, considering all the ways the child moves within the space – tables and chairs are toddler-sized, the shelves are the right height, each item a child needs to aid independence is available and accessible. Our toddler guides are nurturing, patient, loving and understand the immense responsibility they have in helping to guide the child’s work of self-construction through independence.

To help guide children’s learning, each classroom environment is set up with learning materials that sensorially and concretely aid in the development of fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and concentration so she can acquire the executive functioning skills for independence, building a foundation for meaningful and impactful learning throughout her life.

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The Prepared Environment

Wunderkind toddler classrooms are simpler and slower paced than the preschool classroom. Tables and chairs are smaller and the teacher-child ratio is lower (1:6).

The atmosphere is positive, supportive and non-competitive – and includes a lot of singing and physical movement. The toddler  materials are specifically structured to meet the developmental needs of toddlers and to support their need for purposeful activity.

Our toddler classroom focuses on two main areas, language development and acquiring skills for independence and social interactions.

A young child has a special aptitude for learning certain things:

 

  • Especially sensitive to order – and we build on that interest to establish good habits that last a lifetime.
  • Able to absorb language from his environment – learning even big words easily and with pleasure – and becomes happier as he learns the words to express his needs, rather than needing to resort to crying or tantrums.
  • Eager to learn to take care of himself, to become independent – and we guide him to learn how to do things by himself, thereby developing his budding sense of self-efficacy.

Schedule & Daily Routines

Language Development

Toddler age children have a special sensitivity for learning the language they hear spoken around them. With this special sensitivity in mind, the toddler classroom offers many creative and intriguing linguistic concepts to expand their growing vocabularies. By participating in conversations, listening to stories, classifying objects and learning songs and poems, they nurture their budding language skills.

Skills for Independence

A toddler spends a large amount of time learning the self-help skills that lead to independence. We believe through independence true freedom is gained and guide the development of the child with this in mind. We offer our toddlers endless opportunities to practice daily tasks – from washing a table to watering plants; from dressing themselves in simple clothes to mastering buttons, bows and zippers.

Social Skills Development

We lovingly guide your child to develop the foundational skills needed to live together peacefully within their community and global society. We guide them to hang up her own jacket or apron, and return work to its proper place in the shelf. We encourage her to problem-solve rather than say “I can’t”, comfortably asking for help when it is needed.

Psychosensorial Activities

Our toddler program also contains a selection of psychosensorial exercises – such as bead stringing, sewing, puzzles, stacking and balancing – which help the children in developing eye-hand coordination and dexterity.