Early Discovery Begins Here

The terrific twos is a time when your child will be busy discovering anything and everything in their path! Since Bright & Early individual age programs are truly progressive, they expand the experience for children as they move from one program to the next. The Toddler Program is an appropriate leap from the Young Toddler Program, as the classrooms change to present individual choices for a growing awareness and affinity to learn. Play-based learning is perfect for toddlers, who are naturally curious and explorative.

Toddlers ­­­­begin to express interest to move from independent play to parallel play, so we encourage comfortable play with friends and respectful interactions in a group setting. Throughout the day, teachers also engage each child in conversation with open-ended questions to encourage growing language skills. We encourage peer connections and emphasize social skills needed to play well with others, which will become increasingly important at the next developmental stage.

Toddler Classrooms with Room to Discover

Our toddler classrooms offer just the right number of choices for children to feel confident and not over-whelmed.

Toddler Toilet Training

Another important aspect of the Toddler Program is toilet training, which is integrated throughout the day and handled with respect and patience. We understand that children become ready to start this process at different stages, so we offer praise and encouragement while allowing children to approach this milestone at their own pace. Child-size toilets and sinks are available, and teachers encourage children to sit and attempt using the toilet during regular diaper changing times.

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    TODDLER CLASSROOM FEATURES:

    • Toddler-sized cots for napping
    • Clean, comfortable, and secure diaper changing stations
    • Toddler-sized toilets and handwashing sinks
    • Furniture with smooth, rounded corners
    • Children’s artwork on display
    • Toddler-height floor shelves with baskets of colorful and stimulating manipulatives
    • An increase in the number of areas of interest
    • Self-help features to encourage independence

    TODDLER LEARNING CENTERS:

    Circle Time Area

    Where children and teachers gather daily as a class.

    Block and Floor Toy Area

    Where children have access to blocks for creating small structures and experimenting with the physics of building.

    Literacy Center

    Where children curl up with a favorite book to read quietly.

    Manipulatives Center

    Where shelves hold baskets brimming with curriculum toys for fine motor development.

    Art Center

    Where children have access to drawing, coloring, and painting materials to experiment with as they explore their creative expression of self.

    Sensory Table Center

    Where children conduct science experiments with sand and water.

    Dramatic Play Center

    Where toy food and plastic dishes are stocked in a play kitchen area, and where costumes and props are available for children to dress up and play or act.

    Outdoor Classroom

    Where teachers bring activities and items outside to continue the group learning through play.

    What will my Toddler learn today?

     

    Toddlers are comfortable and enjoy the anticipation of daily routines. This structure allows them to feel comfortable to discover what their individual interests are.

    Our days are structured to fit the needs of every child while offering plenty of room for each child to grow in their own unique direction. There is no “standard” day, but this flexible structure developed by our team allows you to see what types of activities your child will engage in with us each day.

    DAILY ACTIVITIES for a TODDLER

    • Morning Outdoor Experience
    • Morning Snack
    • Planned Curriculum Activities
    • Circle Time
    • Learning Center Exploration
    • Lunch
    • Nap/Rest Time
    • Afternoon Outdoor Experience
    • Afternoon Snack
    • Planned Curriculum Activities
    • Storytime
    • Learning Center Exploration

    Sharing the Moments & Milestones

     

    We believe in technology that improves the classroom experience for both teachers and children. Each classroom is equipped with a Bright & Early iPad that teachers use for Tadpoles, Pandora Radio, and the B&E Meditation App.

    Parents can download Tadpoles to their smart devices, where they can receive a Daily Report each evening with information about the following happenings:

    • Daily notes
    • Naps/Sleep
    • Snacks/Meals
    • Individual and class activities detailing development standards

    Teachers may also send parents snapshots of their children engaging in activities and having fun throughout the day.

    Bright & Early hosts two parent-teacher conferences each year, during which each child’s developmental assessments are reviewed in depth. In addition to these sit-down meetings, we highly value daily communication between parents and teachers, which means our teachers are available to provide updates to parents throughout each day, and we encourage parents to use pick up and drop off times to discuss their child’s progress and mindset with their teacher.

    How Children Grow, Explore, Discover, & Learn

    Each moment of caring for a child is a potential learning experience. Everyday activities allow for valuable interactions between teachers and children. These experiences, such as diaper changing, toilet training, and meal time, are opportunities for individualized learning experiences. Our teachers know that learning occurs in the tiny moments, and these small lessons have a significant cumulative effect on a child’s development. When you entrust us with the care of your child, the Bright & Early community loves and knows how to educate and care, engaging together with smiles, laughter, and learning.

     

    Our Toddler Program focuses on the following Early Learning & Development Standards:

    Cognition

    When toddlers present an inquisitive stream of questions, and when they begin to increase their attention span and patience to anticipate answers.

    Social & Emotional Development

    When toddlers manage drop-offs and separations with ease, and when they can name emotions or expressions in pictures, and when they seek out and comfortably play with friends.

    Physical Development & Health

    When toddlers can walk and run on various surfaces confidently, and when they understand the reasoning behind basic self-care such as eating healthy, being clean, and taking rest time.

    Early Language, Communication & Literacy

    When toddlers are comfortable speaking, when they can differentiate nouns, verbs, and pronouns, and when they inflect their questions with heartwarming emotion and curiosity.

    Creative Arts

    When toddlers describe or ask questions about a work of art, and when they can show appreciation for the creative work of their friends.

    Early Mathematical Discovery

    When toddlers compare groups of different items with an increasing vocabulary regarding number, size, and measurable quantity.

    Early Scientific Inquiry

    When toddlers gather information, such as recognizing different ways things can move (roll, bounce, spin, slide), and when they identify observable properties of objects (heavy, soft, green).

    We are proud to offer “EVEN MORE!”

    B&E Meditation App

    We partnered with Cloud9 Online, a meditation and healthcare company, to develop a customized mindfulness and meditation app specifically for Bright & Early. During the day at the centers, our teachers will use the app on the B&E classroom iPads to practice meditation and mindfulness with the children. Teaching children to be mindful, to connect with their minds and bodies, and to practice breathing helps them learn to reduce stress and stay calm.

    Toddlers enjoy the “Mindful Child,” “Storytime,” and “Nature Sounds” categories, which include meditations such as “I Have Two Donkeys,” and “Babbling Brook.” Families have access to the app at home so that they can enjoy the “Mindful Family” category, which includes meditations to help children start their day off with positive energy as well as meditations to help them settle into their nightly routine to help them drift off to sleep.

    The meditations were written and selected to be beneficial for the physical and mental well-being of our children. The library of meditations is large, with over 30 guided meditations and songs written for children, nature sounds to soothe, and even some meditations for the whole family to practice together at home!

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    American Sign Language (ASL)

    Bright & Early teachers use a number of basic ASL signs with toddlers. Learning and using ASL provides a number of benefits for children, including an increase in communication and language processing skills, a strengthening of connections with parents and teachers, and a decrease in frustration. Please visit our American Sign Language page for more information on our program.

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    Enrichment Programs

    Opportunities, options, and choices. The Bright & Early learning experience also includes additional and optional enrichment programs such as Early Soccer Classes or Gymnastics for toddlers & preschoolers to add depth to your child’s holistic education.  Your child may choose to participate in these programs for additional fees. See your center director to see which programs are offered at your center or for more information.

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