YOUNG TODDLERS: HUMMINGBIRD AND DRAGONFLY CLASSROOMS
OLDER TODDLERS: FIREFLY AND DRAGONFLY CLASSROOOMS
Toddlers are insatiably curious! They need warm, patient, flexible and nurturing educators by their sides as they investigate their ever-expanding world. Toddlers should be encouraged to explore in a safe, homelike environment while receiving intentional, individualized care that inspires them to wonder, explore, discover and grow! They are eager learners who are striving for independence while building new skills. Educators thoughtfully create individual child profiles for every toddler which includes a wealth of information, and incorporate the needs of the family as well as the child's unique temperament and needs. Child-led curriculum is intentionally planned incorporating the Vermont Early Learning Standards, and includes opportunities for learning in language, early literacy, math, science, art, music, sense of self, social relationships and much more. Your toddler will explore and discover through play in a supportive environment where educators inspire and encourage them to become their best selves. Here are just a few examples of activities your toddler may experience:

• dancing to music or singing songs with simple hand gestures and familiar repetitive lyrics
• exploring books independently and listening to books read aloud
• engage in group activities that require following simple directions
• exploring art such as finger painting, manipulating play dough, drawing with crayons, markers and easels while exploring color and texture
• water sensory play with simple tools, and exploring varied sensory play materials (like sand and rice) as we learn about quantity and volume
• manipulate objects, toys and puzzles with large knobs, count objects, sort and stack materials
• learn to identify objects, increase vocabulary and comprehension
• conversing with teachers who model communications both one on one and in groups
• connecting our action (taking a toy from a peer) to an effect (making the peer sad)
• problem solving activities such as fitting shapes into a shape sorter, puzzles and busy boxes
• develop social emotional skills by having caregivers identify, validate and acknowledge our feelings while setting age-appropriate, consistent limits and boundaries
• teachers model empathy and help peers to work together and express their feelings
• begin trying new skills like feeding ourselves, picking up our belongings, and putting our own clothes on
• investigate musical instruments and the different sounds they make, listen to a variety of music such as nature sounds, classical, jazz etc.
• explore the outdoor world on the playground or on short neighborhood walks
• continue growing our physical skills by dancing, running, jumping, hopping and climbing
• encouraging children to problem solve by asking open-ended questions such as "What do you think will happen?"

Children are carefully observed and assessed as they grow and develop. Educators look forward to sharing your child's accomplishments with you in person each day, and at family conferences twice yearly. Our program also utilizes a wonderful digital platform that enables us to share pictures, videos, your child's daily slip and more throughout the day with you.
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Upon enrollment, you will receive additional information about our toddler classrooms:
Young Toddlers (1 - 2 yrs.)
Older Toddlers (2 - 3 yrs.)