New England Country Day School

Toddlers Program

Your baby is more independent since he's stepped out into the walking world. He's a toddler. Now he can walk, climb, run and perhaps even talk! A powerhouse of energy and curiosity! Your toddler is becoming more and more curious. He enjoys playing games, music and finger plays, and he's into everything! It's time to move on to bigger and better things - a slide, blocks, tables and chairs, and cots to sleep on. The Toddlers Program offers more challenges with a suitable degree of discipline, and opportunities to be successful in developing motor skills and self-assurance, as well as learning more about our wondrous world.

The routine in the Toddlers Program is designed around the group. The children develop a sense of safety and security that comes from the responsive and predictable care they receive from our staff. Activities are conducted in a group setting as we begin to establish the social guidelines for acceptable behavior while still allowing for freedom of choice. Personal attention and one on one interaction between child and staff take place throughout the day. The Toddlers classroom provides a loving, relaxed and caring environment. Its design allows for freedom of movement and easy accessibility to equipment for the children. It uses an open atmosphere to establish primary activity areas.

The curriculum in the Toddlers Program is designed to include areas such as:

Discovery Opportunities and Sensory Experiences - In the Toddlers Program opportunities are provided for exploring, learning and social interaction through activities that stimulate the senses. Outdoor experiences awakens the children's interest in nature. Indoors sensory experiences stimulate sight, taste, smell and touch. Explorations occur in texture, color, size, shape, weight and patterns. The senses give information about the world. Ideas are formed and words are learned to go with them.
Language and Cognitive Thought - The Toddlers Program provides an environment for language development. Toddlers begin to learn to use words to express their needs and feelings. Teachers continually talk about what the toddler sees, does and feels. Adult-child conversations are encouraged throughout the day, as are reading and language play. It is a time of leaps and bounds in verbal communication skills.
Creative Expression - The Program provides a joyful, spontaneous and enthusiastic approach with children. Art helps the toddler to know they can do things by themselves. Exploration in music helps the toddler to practice new words, rhyme and make new sounds. Movement aids in muscular development. Creative activities are not only fun, but allow the toddler the opportunity to do things independently. Opportunities are offered which help to instill in each child a feeling of autonomy and a positive self-concept.
Science, Cooking and Math - Science is explored in the Toddler Program through everyday activities and experiences. While the child explores toys, pictures, and other familiar things, the teachers point out shape, size and color attributes. Cooking is an opportunity to explore new tastes and textures. As the child grows, so do the activities, which include simple matching skills and puzzles.
Self-help Skills - Beginning to establish foundations for the respect of ones self, others, and equipment. Independence in self-care... handwashing; bathrooming when appropriate, and learning manners... please and thank you; waiting one's turn, are all aspects of the Toddler Program.
Fine and Gross Motor Skills - Toddlers are very active. They work on skills such as balancing, gripping, manipulating, climbing, pushing, pulling, throwing, kicking and jumping.

Learning takes place every second of the day primarily through play. Play is one of the most important activities in which a child will engage. All activities are steps to helping the child develop the independence so essential to the establishment of a healthy self-esteem. Our goal is to have each child feel good about himself and enjoy life.