Thank You for Inquiring about our Toddler Room!
Each day, we have eleven children in our class and two teachers, Miss Joann and Miss Pam. Our teachers like to help our children learn through play (without them even knowing) and they always have time for hugs! We would be delighted to have your child with us, and we want to assure you that your child will have the best care possible while receiving all the T.L.C. we have to offer. Here is some information about us:
The toddler room is a very busy and active room. We have an arts and crafts project each day, which may consist of painting, gluing, coloring or it may be texture play (messy play!). This is the time our teachers encourage creativity, curiosity, and experiencing with new things. We are never forced to participate, but are always encouraged to join in. Our teacher is always working on our developmental, social, and academic skills. Some of the messy plays we experience are playing in shaving cream, water, rice, paint, goop, etc. This type of play covers many areas of learning. For example, when we play in shaving cream, our teacher will give us each a pile that we get to put our hands in and squish it between our fingers. We can make big circles, little circles or draw pictures in it. Sometimes our teacher will add a drop of paint and we can change the color or maybe we will drive a small car through it. We may even make animal prints with our plastic animals. There are a lot of different objects that can be incorporated in this play. Now, what have we learned?
First, we are developing the small muscles in our fingers (fine motor skills) and developing eye-hand coordination. When we make big circles, we work on our gross motor skills. We use our sense of touch, smell, taste (yuck!), vision and, of course we listen to our teacher and each other. Our social skills are enhanced as we learn to play next to our friends without using their cream and by not putting shaving cream on them. We learn to follow rules because if we get up and walk around the room, Miss Joann will remind us to come back to the table....and you thought all we were doing was playing!
Gross motor development is a biggie in the toddler room. We have a large playground and try to get outside twice a day. Our teacher facilitates our play but we are allowed to choose with what or with whom we play. Recent studies show that we learn best when we are allowed to choose our own play and are given enough time to have fun. Other types of gross motor play are marching band, exercise, dance, climbing, and tunnel. This type of play is important in developing our larger muscles and coordination.
We are also wonderful helpers! We help pick-up our toys, put our dishes away at lunch time and help each other. Our teacher encourages us to put on our own shoes and socks, jackets, hats, wash up at the sink and even use the potty. Usually, we like to do these things (sometimes we don't). But, that's OK too! Miss Joann and Mis Pam encourage us to use our words and try but they will always helps us!
We are also working mothers and understand how hectic things can get. If you forget anything, we have extras. We will not let your child go without. Our goal is to work closely together with you to provide the best care for your child.
Sincerely: The Toddlers, Miss Joann, Miss Pam and The Clubhouse Staff
