Infants Toddler 1 Toddler 2 Pre-k 3 Pre-k 4-5
A warm environment and positive interactions foster an infant’s sense of trust and self-esteem. Daily routines and sensory experiences are used to promote listening and language skills, and to help infants learn about the world around them. Play activities and interactions focus on the development of large muscles for sitting, crawling, standing, walking, and small muscles for grasping, reaching, holding, and picking up objects .
Space and materials are provided to support the toddler’s need to physically explore, to discover, and to be independent. Teachers provide comforting words and lap time to help toddlers cope with separation from parents. Toddlers are encouraged to participate in daily routines to develop self-help skills and to feel good about themselves. Activities provide repeated opportunities with sensory experiences that help develop large and small muscles, and that promote thinking and communication skills. Stories, pictures, and books are introduced to help toddlers experience reading as a pleasure activity. Staff members reinforce positive behaviors, set limits, and are consistently available to support the toddler’s conflicting need for independence and comfort.
Space and materials are organized to support the older toddler’s increased need for independence in making simple decisions, engaging in pretend play, and playing cooperatively with others. Toddlers are supported in their self-help skills and encouraged to help with daily routines to become familiar with the sequence of routines and foster their self-esteem. Activities provide opportunities to practice skills, increase communication about sensory experiences, and promote listening and speaking skills. Indoor and outdoor activities focus on helping toddlers strengthen and develop small muscles, large muscles and hand-eye coordination.
Materials and space are organized to support young preschoolers’ initiative to practice their new skills; test things out, and express their ideas and feelings. This space is organized to encourage preschoolers’ to select activities, engage in hands-on exploration and pretend play, and develop the ability to play cooperatively. Small muscles and hand eye coordination continue to be strengthened through art activities, sand and water play, work with manipulative toys, and blocks. The daily schedule includes many activities for large muscle development. Stories and books are used to increase familiarity with the meaning of letters and words (emerging literacy) and to foster the idea of reading as a pleasurable activity.
A daily schedule and organization provide increased opportunities for independent and small group play. Interest centers support older preschoolers’ developing ability to organize their own play, assign roles and tasks, and work towards a common goal. Staff interaction focuses on assisting preschoolers to organize information that they gather, develop and understand number concepts, practice reasoning/problem solving, and expand communication skills. Independent and group activities with books and stories promote reading readiness. Teachers create a print rich environment with signs, labels and charts and provide daily opportunities to draw, paint and engage in writing activities, Children are increasingly involved in helping to set limits for positive and caring behaviors.