Root and Sprout | Toddlers
As our seedlings grow, they begin to take root and this is the next level of child development. Your child is mobile (around 13-14 months) and perhaps down to one nap a day. Your child is ready to discover the world in a new way, but is still learning language and how to articulate needs verbally. In our nurturing Root classroom, they will be given the language skills and early literacy they need to develop.
Toddlers are in the act of discovering the world. Toddlers spell love by playing! They enthusiastically use their senses to purposefully explore everything they can. They find pleasure in causing things to happen and in contemplating basic tasks. They also enjoy sharing interesting learning experiences with adults and may use gestures and simple sounds or speech to ask adults questions. Since language skills are still developing, they rely more heavily on nonverbal, physical strategies to reach simple goals.
Toddlers need a schedule that is regular enough to be predictable and flexible enough to meet their individual needs by respecting their unique biological rhythms.
At Nourish, the Toddlers’ daily schedule consists of some basic routines and activities that occur throughout the day. Although the toddler daily schedule is more time focused than our infant daily schedule, our teachers will take the same special care to ensure that these routines and activities correspond to the individual schedule of each toddler in our care. Our days are structured to allow the toddlers time with others, time alone, active times, quiet times and one-on-one time with a special adult during the course of the day.
Example of Daily Activities
Arrival/Daily Greeting/Contact with Parents
Breakfast, if needed
Diaper Changing every 2-3 hours, or more if needed and potty training, as needed
Large Group Time
Activities/Center Time/Sensory Play
Snack
Cuddle Time
Story Time
Outdoor Play/Gross Motor
Lunch
Sleeping/Naps
Departures/Goodbyes/Contact with Parents
Parent communication and partnership is pivotal in the toddler stage of development. As the children learn to verbalize their thoughts, needs and feelings, we too must verbalize on behalf of our children.
