Guided Discovery Toddler Curriculum

Guided Discovery Curriculum truly begins in our Toddler program. Children are now upright; walking, eating table food and taking only one nap a day. They are on a schedule where their friends are doing the same type of activities at the same time. Our program focuses on the following developmental areas: physical, emotional, social and cognitive. In addition, children will be able to use their newly discovered independence skills as they explore their environment. Staff will encourage children to use self-help skills as they provide basic need care. Routines are essential at this age to help children predict the events that will occur during the day. Consistent limits are set for children so they can determine boundaries.

Creative Arts & Dramatic Play

The Toddler program is designed to encourage a toddler’s innate curiosity. Our dramatic play area allows children to act out roles they see adults play, they are often found chatting on a toy phone or rocking a baby doll to sleep. Exploring the arts is also a key interest at this age. Children love to dabble in fingerpaints and discover how glue makes objects stick. Other activities toddlers will enjoy in these areas are:

• Dress up and discovery of their transformation in a mirror
• Working along side other children on art projects
• Manipulating props such as kitchenware in the dramatic play area
• Learning to deal with conflict
• Exposure to colors and different properties
• Singing, dancing, and mimicking

Manipulatives and Sensory Play

Our Toddler program is designed to help children begin to work logically in their environment individually and in a group. Staff expose children to various activities where they can use their senses and see how objects are manipulated through cause and effect. Children are given opportunities to engage in the following activities:

• Block building
• Exposure to cause and effect toys
• Basic puzzles
• Sand and water play
• Opportunities to experience various textures
• Problem solving individually and in a group

Books and Language Development

Toddlers are given many opportunities to experience books and reading. Staff offer many story times throughout the day and encourage children to look at picture books independently. In addition, the onset of major language development occurs in the toddler years. Our staff are very skilled at encouraging language by repeating what they hear and naming objects when interacting with children. Toddlers participate in the following activities:

• Singing songs and fingerplays
• Listening to story books
• Interacting with staff and other children
• Participating in circle time
• Reading with adults

Physical Development

Your child will also have wonderful opportunities to develop physically. We have a large variety of indoor and outdoor equipment that enhances physical development throughout the day. You will see children participating in the following activities:

• Riding scooting toys
• Using the teeter tottler
• Sand play and digging
• Running, jumping and climbing
• Various fine motor activities

Milestones to be focused upon in the Toddler experience

• Increased language development
• Interest in joining groups of children
• Developing fine motor control
• Learning songs
• Increased ability to communicate verbally
• Ability to problem solve
• The need to have a routine
• Showing more independence skills
• An awareness of self and others
• Desire to explore environment freely